Fingal County Council offering a fantastic online programme for new look Heritage Week 2020

Fingal County Council Heritage Office is embracing the new format for Heritage Week 2020 showcasing the County’s heritage with a fantastic online programme. Coordinated by the Heritage Council since 2005, National Heritage Week has become one of Ireland’s largest cultural events, and will run this year from Saturday, 15th – Sunday, 23rd August.

Speaking about the Heritage week programme Mayor of Fingal Cllr David Healy said “Heritage Week every year offers a fantastic opportunity to engage with, celebrate and learn from our extraordinary shared Heritage. The Fingal Heritage office has met the challenges of the Covid-19 restrictions in creating this new online programme and the format may have the positive effect of bringing heritage to a whole new audience.“

Fingal Heritage Officer Christine Baker said ‘Heritage Week 2020 is an opportunity to access our heritage in a different way and to promote the sharing of experience and knowledge through different platforms.  Thank you to all who have adapted and worked tirelessly to ensure we can all continue to connect to our local heritage’.

Snapshots of Fingal’s Past presents photographs that capture Fingal’s past and the stories that lie behind them. This heritage project takes the form of an online exhibition featuring the stories of people, places, sports and traditions submitted by the people of Fingal. Members of the Fingal Heritage Network presented stories from their areas and these have been captured on Youtube to be enjoyed not just during Heritage Week, but for the future.  To view the Snapshots online exhibition go to https://youtu.be/-uWnyVcCjJk

An exciting series highlighting Fingal Heritage from Above will also launch during Heritage week. The first is a series of films featuring the heritage sites of Fingal will be launched during Heritage Week 2020. A collaboration between Mark Broderick, Digital Officer and Christine Baker, Heritage Officer the series begins with the intriguing stories of the Skerries Islands.  To view go to https://youtu.be/AbtzS1YxRHI

For younger Heritage enthusiasts, a wonderful colouring book Colouring Fingal’s Heritage will be published during Heritage Week 2020 depicting 24 wonderful illustrations that capture the essence of Fingal's exceptional heritage. By matching cultural heritage with creativity this publication aims to introduce these sites and stories to new and varied audiences, both young and old(er)! The project was undertaken by the Christine Baker, Heritage Officer in conjunction with Sara Nylund of Abarta Heritage. Copies of Colouring Fingal’s Heritage are available to collect from Fingal Libraries and can be downloaded here.

The Irish Language is very important in Fingal and enthusiasts can get together online to chat share stories, poems or songs in Heritage Week Zoom chat as Gaeilge hosted by Fingal County Council Irish Officer Bernie Kelly.  These will take place on Wednesday 19th from 7pm (822 3835 7119) and Saturday 22nd from 12 midday (852 9829 7432). Email [email protected] for more information.

Barry Smith of Fingal Libraries narrates a podcast entitled A Gentle Amble through some of Ireland’s Tree Heritage, which explores the role of trees in ancient Irish society. With a look at how myths and legends were woven around their complex meaning and symbolism the podcast shows how trees influenced our early society and became the inspiration for our first alphabet. To hear more go to https://soundcloud.com/user-977517789/a-gentle-amble-through-some-of-irelands-tree-heritage 

Fingal Events have put together a Year in the Life of Swords Castle to showcase the vibrant and varied events that bring together the local community in the wonderful surroundings of Swords Castle. See more on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQCtN43zwJk

Local heritage groups and organisers, families and communities across the country have also developed projects around this year’s theme of ‘Heritage and Education: Learning from our Heritage’. Projects from all over Fingal which include online talks and exhibitions, virtual tours, podcasts, and videos can be viewed on the National Heritage Week website www.heritageweek.ie  This focus on digital and online formats brings communities together by allowing the public to discover and explore national heritage treasures from their own homes.

Find out more about what's happening in Fingal here Heritage Week 2020