Heritage Week Events LIST 2025: Exploring our Foundations
Price
Free of charge
Dates
16/08/2025 - 24/08/2025
Heritage Week takes place this year between August 16th - 24th and the OPW are delighted to participate with a variety of events across the country that tie into the theme of 'Exploring our Foundations'.
Ireland's foundations can be explored through our built, historical, and natural heritage.
Explore your Foundations with our wonderful events
Events:
Adare Castle:
Free Admission day at Adare Castle
Altamont Gardens:
Carlow Quakers, Altamont and the Lecky Watson connection
Arbour Hill Military Cemetery :
Tour of Arbour Hill Military Cemetery
Ballyhack Castle:
Arrrows Away Archery Demonstration
Shield Making in Ballyhack Castle
Reclaiming an Irish ‘Way of St. James’, an illustrated talk by Damien McLellan
“Ballyhack Millstones” An illustrated talk by Andrew Doherty
Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre:
Cahir Castle:
Puppet Show ‘The Princess and the Dragon’
Casino Marino :
Turas threoraithe trí nGaeilge den Casino Marino
Sir William Chambers: Architect to Royalty
Charlemont and the Royal Irish Academy
Castletown House :
Turas trí nGaeilge de Theach Bhaile an Chaisleán
Charles Fort :
Beneath the Bastion : Special Guided Tour
Illustrated Talk: Seamus Breathnach Cultural Nationlist; His Life and Legacy
Illustrated Talk; ‘The Kinsale Railway Line, Past and Present’, by Cathal Deasy
Illustrated Talk: ‘Piracy in late-medieval Ireland: Facts and Fiction’
Guided Tour of James Fort, Castlepark with OPW guide, William Butler.
Custom House Visitor Centre :
Women of The Custom House Tour
Dark History of The Custom House Tours
Physical and Spiritual Foundations Tour
Heritage Week – Children’s Tour and Workshop
Donegal Castle :
Discover Bats at Donegal Castle
Doneraile:
Turas Treoraithe Trí nGaeilge de Cúirt Dhún ar Aill
Dungarvan Castle :
A History of the Waterford to Mallow Railway Line
Emo Court:
Turas trí nGaeilge de Cúirt Ioma
Sarah Luttrel mezzo- soprano and Rebecca Warren performance
Ennis Friary :
Open day at the 13th Century Ennis Friary
Farmleigh House:
Traces of Classical Antiquity at Farmleigh House
The Guinness Girls: Power, Privilege And A Life Less Ordinary
The Art, The Artist & The Art Collector
Turas Trí nGaeilge de Theach Farmleigh
An introduction to Shirin – yoku – Forest Bathing
Conservation of the Nineteenth Century Silk Embroidered Portieres
Music in the Bandstand with St George’s Brass Band
The Story of Three Guinness’ – an illustrated talk
Ferns Castle:
Meet the Makers of The Ferns Tapestry: Heritage Week Event
Gaelic and Viking Shield Making Workshop 19 August 2025
Gaelic and Viking Shield Making Workshop 23 August 2025
Ferns Comhaltas
Glebe Gallery:
Vinyl Sundays at the Glebe House & Gallery
Plein Air Workshops at the Glebe House & Gallery
Garden Talk at the Glebe House & Gallery
Glendalough Monastic Site and Visitor Centre ;
Family Fun Day to celebrate Heritage Week
A celebration of the 800th anniversary of the cannonisation of St Laurence O’Toole
Grangegorman Military Cemetery:
Tour of Grangegorman Military Cemetery
Hill of Tara:
Irish National War Memorial Gardens :
Tour of Irish National War Memorial Gardens Islandbridge
Viking Tour of Irish National War Memorial Gardens
Jerpoint Abbey :
JFK Arboretum :
Stories that shaped us with storyteller Joe Brennan
A Time and a Place, with award winning photographer Edno Delaney
Dinosaur Trees Family Tour of the JFK
Pond Dipping with Lorraine O Sullivan
Kilkenny Castle:
1st Battalion Kilkenny Brigade 1916-1923
Kilmainham Gaol:
Children’s Tour of Kilmainham Gaol
Turas Treoraithe Trí nGaeilge de Phríosún Chill Mhaighneann
Hangings and Hangmen at Kilmainham Gaol
An Alternative Tour of Kilmainham Gaol
Maynooth Castle :
Free Talks and Tours at Maynooth Castle
National Botanic Gardens – Glasnevin:
Turas Trí nGaeilge de Garraithe na Lus
Old Mellifont Cistercian Abbey:
Paint your own Medieval Mellifont Tile
Paint your own Mellifont Tile 2
Free Guided tours by guides in 12th Century Style Dress
Music at Mellifont with Navan Silver Band
Parke’s Castle:
Pearse Museum:
Turas Treoraithe Trí nGaeilge de Músaem na bPiarsach
The Fascinating Follies of St. Enda’s Park
Phoenix Park:
Turas trí nGaeilge i Lárionad Bitheolaíochta Pháirc an Fhionnuisce
Turas Dátheangach de Theach Túir – Bilingual Tour of Ashtown Castle
Tour of the Knockmaree Cromlech
Rathfarnham Castle :
Fooling the Eye; Faking Grandeur in Neoclassical Design
Turas Treoraithe ar Chaisleán Ráth Fearnáin
Reginald’s Tower :
A History of the Waterford to Limerick Junction Railway Line
Uncovering Uncomfortable Histories- Women’s Place in Waterford’s History and Heritage
Naval Visitors – A voyage through the Years 1900 – Present
Heritage Blue Plaques of Waterford
Rock of Cashel:
Bilingual Tours (Irish and English) of the Rock of Cashel
Talk with Archaeologist Patrick Gleeson
Ross Castle :
Guided nature walk of Ross Island Mining Trail
Royal Hospital Kilmainham:
“The Root of All Evil” Boundary Commission Talk
Scattery Island :
Traditional Fishing Methods of Scattery Island
Scattery Island Celebration 2025
Traditional Willow Basket making on Scattery Island
Knot-Tying Workshop on Scattery Island
Sligo Abbey :
The Cloister Boys: in harmony since Harry met Barry in Sligo Abbey
Centuries of Sound: Sligo’s Long History of Traditional Music
The Main Guard :
A History of the Waterford to Limerick Junction Railway Line
Clonmel Scouts Display & Demonstration
Tintern Abbey :
Screening of ‘Before it Fades; Remembering Miss Colclough’
