Open the door to Heritage during National Heritage Week in Fingal
National Heritage Week 2021 is all about getting as many people involved in heritage as possible. This year, we’re trying to connect with groups or individuals in their community who may not feel included in local heritage and to explore aspects of local heritage that are seldom considered or celebrated. Heritage is for all. A wide range of events will be held across Fingal during National Heritage Week from Saturday 14 until Sunday 22 August.
Even if you have just a few minutes you can listen to a one of the stories form the Fingal Heritage: Two Minute talks. Coordinated by Heritage Officer Christine Baker a range of Fingal County Council staff who encounter heritage in their work, share short stories that shows the rich and diverse nature of the heritage of Fingal, whether it is about creativity and heritage or the historic curtains in Newbridge House. Concerned about the effects of climate change on our heritage? You can take positive action and get involved in our citizen science project Heritage X Climate.
Fingal Libraries have organised a number of Heritage Week events for young and old from a live online workshop on family records preservation with Fiona Fitzsimons to fun facts, crafts and stories about Round Towers and Vikings in the Dig It Kids workshops. Archivist Karen de Lacey in an online talk traces the history and development of St. Fintan’s Cemetery and Dr Maebh O’Regan explores the Irish legacy of the Bronte family.
Local heritage groups, organisers, families and communities have developed projects relating to our built, cultural and natural heritage, that are online and in some cases at in person events (with all public health precautions observed). Be a Farmleigh Tree detective; take a Biodiversity walk on Howth Head; visit the Skerries sea Schiff regatta; hear about the Rock of Ages in Loughsinny; 18th century gravestone in the Naul, the Cúl stories of Swords or the founder of the Mother’s Union.
Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Seána Ó Rodaigh commented “Heritage Week is a great time to engage with and celebrate the many aspects of our Heritage and with the wonderful variety of online and in person events happening in Fingal there is plenty to attract even the ‘heritage newcomers’ that National Heritage Week aims to connect with this year.”
Chief Executive of Fingal AnnMarie Farrelly said “I would like to congratulate all the local groups and Fingal staff on developing these innovative Heritage Week projects. Fingal has a rich cultural, natural and built heritage to be enjoyed and celebrated and the Council is committed to protecting and preserving this for future generations.”
‘Our connection to our heritage is not just to events in the past but to each other’ said Fingal Heritage Officer Christine Baker ‘National Heritage Week is a great opportunity to share, explore and enjoy our heritage places and stories that mean so much to local communities and I encourage everyone to look into and enjoy the heritage in their immediate vicinity’.
The Heritage Council has also announced details of the National Heritage Week Awards 2021, which will recognise successful heritage projects showcased during this year’s National Heritage Week. The county award recognises the best heritage project in each county. There will also be prizes for Heritage Hero, Heritage newcomers, Heritage sharing, Heritage for all ages, Water Heritage, Wild Child. All participants who successfully upload a heritage project on the National Heritage Week website by Monday, 30th August 2021 will be considered for a National Heritage Week Award.
National Heritage Week 2021 has something to interest everyone. For further details of projects and event in Fingal and beyond see https://www.fingal.ie/national-heritage-week-fingal-2021 and https://www.heritageweek.ie/
