The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (DCCS) in partnership with the National Monuments Service (NMS) is delighted to support the delivery of fourteen Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) projects during this year’s National Heritage Week 2025.

Taking place from 16^th to 24^th August 2025, National Heritage Week is an annual celebration of our natural, built and cultural heritage. Hundreds of events will take place across the country during National Heritage Week, including the engaging ICH events highlighted below.

DCCS invited practitioners of ICH practices inscribed on Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage to submit project proposals which celebrate, highlight and showcase elements of Ireland’s ICH. Below are the fourteen successful projects joined funded by DCCS and NMS:

• Cobh Carillon Playing – Live Carillon Recital by prize-winning carillonneur, Oisín Dilger, on Sunday, the 17^th of August, from 4.30-5.30pm at St Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, Co. Cork. Further details can be found here.

 

• Uilleann Piping – Coinciding with their events over National Heritage Week, Na Píopairí Uilleann will record a series of videos to showcase and highlight the cultural practices involved in making a chanter reed for uilleann pipes.  Further details on their workshops and performances can be found here.

 

• Letterpress Printing – Join skilled printers for a special showcase demonstrating the practice of traditional letterpress printing on the 23^rd of August, from 1pm to 3pm, in the National Print Museum, Dublin 4. Further details can be found here

 

• The Amateur Dramatic Tradition – Two workshops celebrating the longstanding tradition of amateur dramatics in Ireland;

Workshop 1:  “The Play in Development Workshop” in Killorgin on 16^th August from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Further details can be found here

Workshop 2: “Learn to Explore your Community’s Amateur Drama History” in Athlone, Co. Westmeath on 23^rd August from 10am to 12pm. Further details can be found here

 

• Irish Harping – ‘Harps for Heritage: Sharing the Tunes’ will take place at Muckross Schoolhouse in Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry on Sunday 24^th August from 12.30pm to 5pm. Further details can be found here

 

• Native Irish Cattle Breeding – Bunratty Folk Park and the Irish Native Rare Breed Society will host a celebration of indigenous livestock breeds. This event will take place in Bunratty Folk Park, Co. Clare on Sunday 17th August from 10am to 5pm. Further details can be found here

 

• Traveller Heritage – Meath Travellers Workshop will be hosting a Traveller Heritage Celebration Day on Friday 22^nd of August from 10:00am to 3:00pm in the CYWS Hall in Navan, Co. Meath. Further details can be found here

 

• Boyne Currach Making – Boyne Currach Heritage Group will host a series of events from 16^th to 24^th August in Oldbridge, Co. Meath. This will include a weaving demonstration, talk, walk and children’s crafts day. Further details can be found at here

 

• Dry Stone Construction –During National Heritage Week, the Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland will host a workshop for children to demonstrate and share the practices, techniques and heritage of dry stone walling in Moneygall, Co. Tipperary on Thursday the 21^st of August, from 11am to 2.30pm. Further details can be found here

 

• Hurling and Camogie – To celebrate the 45 new clubs that had signed up to promote hurling and camogie, the GAA will be filming one of these new clubs, Dingle GAA, as the sport is introduced to children for the first time. Further details can be found here.

 

• Sea Currach Building – The West Clare Currach Club will host an open day at Kilkee Boathouse, Co. Clare on Saturday the 23^rd of August from 11am – 6pm where the public can learn more about this traditional building technique. Further details can be found here.

 

• Irish Set Dancing – Join the set dancers of Brookes Academy as they showcase this traditional Irish form and invite the audience to participate on Wednesday the 20^th of August from 7pm – 9.30pm, in Henrietta Street, Dublin 1. Further details can be found here.

 

• Fingal Mummers – The Fingal Mummers will host two special performances on the 17^th of August in Ballyboughal Community Hub, Co. Dublin from 3pm-4.30pm on the 17^th of August. Further details can be found here

 

• Basketmaking – The Irish Heritage Craft Co-op will showcase a series of traditional practices and crafts on the 23^rd August from 11am to 2pm at the Dún na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park, Moate, Co. Westmeath. Further details can be found here

Don’t miss out on these wonderful opportunities to learn about Ireland’s Intangible Cultural Heritage directly from the practitioners dedicated to safeguarding these practices for future generations.

 

For more information on National Heritage Week please visit https://www.heritageweek.ie/

 

These projects received funding through a joint initiative by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the National Monuments Service to support practices inscribed on Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage is managed by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and can be viewed at  https://nationalinventoryich.ccs.gov.ie/ . The National Monuments Service is delighted to support this initiative that highlights the strong relationship between tangible and intangible heritage.