National Heritage Awards 2024

Join us on Friday 15th of November online for the 2024 National Heritage Week Awards ceremony hosted by Síle Seoige. 

The categories and shortlisted events for this year are as follows:

Connections, Routes, and Networks Award

This award recognises an event that fully embraced the 2024 theme, creating connections through heritage by exploring historic routes, networks, or paths that have shaped communities.

From Salt to Stone
Mountcharles Heritage Group
Donegal

A Journey of Discovery from Mount Leinster, Co. Carlow to Bangor, Co. Down
Friends of Columbanus Myshall
Carlow

Simulation of R L Edgeworth's Pioneering TElegraphic Message from Dublin to Galway 1803
The Maria Edgeworth Centre
Longford

Wild Child Event Award

In partnership with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, this award highlights events that encouraged children and families to engage with nature on Wild Child Day, August 24th, exploring their local biodiversity and heritage in a fun, outdoor setting.

Wild Child Day Treasure Hunt
St Canice's Cathedral
Kilkenny

From Wilderness to Wonderment on Wild Child Day
St.Mullins Heritage and Tourism Group
Carlow

Take a Walk on the Wild Side
Ahare River & Biodiversity Development Group
Wexford

Water Heritage Day Award

In partnership with the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) this award recognises events held on Water Heritage Day, August 25th, which celebrated local waterways and explored their importance to natural and cultural heritage.

A Boatman’s Journey: Navigating the heritage of the Grand Canal
Heritage Boat Association (HBA) and Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) and Waterways Ireland.

Inchcleraun Academic Tour
Lough Ree Access for all and Herbert Farrell
Longford

Folly Tales and Treasure Trails
Ballycumber Tidy Towns
Offaly

Inclusive Heritage Award

This award celebrates events that made a conscious effort to be inclusive, engaging with diverse communities, including people new to heritage, those with additional accessibility needs, and people of varying age groups.

Living Heritage Documentary
Good Day Cork
Cork City

Travelling Tales - Community led Traveller heritage work
Cork Traveller Women's Network
Cork City

Do you have a nose for history?
Athenry Castle OPW
Galway

Irish Language Award

This award is given to an event that promoted the use of the Irish language, encouraging engagement through Irish in activities that celebrate our heritage.

In Search of Airgíalla/Ar thóir Airghíalla
Monaghan County Council
Monaghan

Harmony and Heritage: A Milltown Tribute
Milltown Community Council and Milltown Heritage Group
Galway

Féile Saibhreas Mhachaire Rabhartaigh
Togra Fiontar & Cultúr Uladh CTR
Donegal

Sustainability and Climate Heritage Award

Awarded to an event that incorporated sustainable practices or raised awareness about climate change’s impact on heritage and the importance of sustainability.

Beaumont Blitz
Cork Nature Network
Cork

Cuan Beo Weekend of Marine Heritage Themed Events
Cuan Beo
Galway

Wild Bee Festival 2024
National Biodiversity Data Centre
Galway City Council

Intangible Cultural Heritage Award (The Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Award)

This award recognises an event that showcased an element of our intangible cultural heritage, whether through crafts, skills, customs, or other traditional practices. The winner of this award was announced at a special event on 4th October.

Winner
Maharees Currach Making Workshop with the O'Leary Family
Maharees Conservation Association CLG
Kerry

Runners-Up
Lemanaghan Stories: Tales of Tradition, Routes and Connections
Lemanaghan Bog Heritage & Conservation Group
Offaly

Traveller Living Heritage
Meath Traveller Workshop
Meath

In addition to the national awards, the Heritage Council is proud to present the County Awards, which recognise the best event or project in each local authority area. These awards celebrate initiatives that have successfully raised awareness about local heritage and actively involved the community in the process.

We are also excited to announce that the prestigious Heritage Hero Award for 2024 will be presented at the ceremony. This award honours an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the protection and promotion of heritage over a significant period of time, based on nominations from the public. This years winner is James Scully from County Offaly