National Heritage Week
Towards the end of August each year we celebrate Ireland’s natural, built and cultural heritage with an inspiring, informative and enjoyable programme of events.
The Heritage in Schools Transition Year (TY) Pilot Programme is a new and exciting initiative from the Heritage Council, building on the success of our long-running programme for primary schools .
This pilot programme funds visits by heritage specialists to Transition Year students in participating schools. Our specialists deliver interactive sessions on various aspects of Ireland’s heritage from local history and archaeology to biodiversity and traditional skills. Visits are designed to support the curriculum and serve as an additional educational tool and resource for teachers.
Students will gain a deeper understanding of heritage by exploring its presence in the places where they live, as specialists will use local heritage sites, historical landmarks, and natural environments as living classrooms.
The programme aims to develop a more tangible understanding of heritage amongst young people and its role in Irish life.
How it Works
Participating schools receive allocations of visits and modules, funded by the Heritage Council, allowing students to benefit from in-person sessions and collaborative projects. These sessions can range from single visits to multi-week modules, providing flexibility to meet the needs of each school. Schools also play a key role in evaluating the programme by providing feedback to The Heritage Council.
The services offered by heritage specialists include:
- In-person day visits, which can be:
Full-day visits (over 5 hours contact time)
Half-day visits (3 to 4 hours contact time)
Single session visits (1 to 2 hours contact time) - Collaboratively developed TY modules, consisting of:
Six single sessions in total per module (usually 1 session per week for 6 weeks)
Liaison and planning time between the heritage specialist and the relevant teacher
Get Involved
Participating schools were invited to join the programme during the summer term of 2024. For more detailed information about how the programme works, read the information booklet below.
Further Information
For further details, or to enquire about how your school might enrol on the TY Pilot, please contact Dr Eoin Ó Donnchadha , the Heritage Council’s Heritage in Education Policy Development Officer.
