More than 500 events are planned for Heritage Week, from September 4th to 11th.
Described as a celebration of "who we are and where we've come from", the annual event includes guided tours and lectures, music recitals, historical re-enactments, art exhibitions and craft demonstrations.
Events are being organised in every county and most activities are free of charge or offer reduced prices. Many heritage sites will offer free admission or special concessions.
Heritage Week is part of European Heritage Days, a Council of Europe and European Union initiative. In Ireland the week is co-ordinated by the Heritage Council in conjunction with the Department of the Environment. In Northern Ireland, European Heritage Days are being marked with events on September 10th and 11th.
Over 130 events are being organised in Dublin, including free tours on Sunday, September 4th, of major visitor attractions such as Dublin Castle, the Chester Beatty Library and Kilmainham Gaol.
Saturday, September 10th, is being promoted as Water Heritage Day, to raise awareness and highlight the importance of water as part of our heritage. The Heritage Council has appealed to volunteer groups to help make the day a success by hosting an event relating to water heritage, on themes such as wildlife, aquatic habitats, folklore, industrial heritage and archaeology.
The week will be launched with an O'Carolan harp recital in Dublin Castle on September 3rd.
Further information is available on www.heritageweek.ie; from local authorities; the OPW site www.opw.ie; or in local libraries. There is also a callsave number 1850 200878.
HERITAGE WEEK: some of the highlights around the country
No 9 Merchants Quay, Dublin. Guided tours of conserved medieval slipway. September 4th-11th.
Tour times will depend on tides. Call (01) 222 2856 for details.
Guided tour of Bully's Acre and Military Graveyard, the oldest burial site in Dublin, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin. September 4th, 11am.
Courtyard of Barryscourt Castle, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork. Re-enactments of military life in Norman times. September 4th, all day.
Garinish Island, Glengarriff, Co Cork. Tour of Italian garden. September 4th, 12.30pm.
Dungarvan Castle, Co Waterford, tours relating to the castle's history. September 4th, 12.30pm and 3pm.
International Clann tSuibhne (Sweeney clan) gathering, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, September 4-10th.
Connemara National Park visitor centre, Letterfrack, Co Galway. Guided nature walk. September 5th, 10.30am.
