National Heritage Week is a nine-day celebration of Ireland’s natural, built and cultural heritage. The main aim of the week is to promote awareness of our heritage, thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation. It is part of European Heritage Days, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union. This year National Heritage Week will take place from 12th - 20th August and the theme is "Living Heritage".
Here are some Boyne Valley highlights that are taking place in Meath and Louth. For a full list of events see www.heritageweek.ie
12-13 August
Tours of St. Erc's Hermitage, Slane
Discover the hidden gem of Slane Castle Estate, St. Erc's Hermitage. Join our special guided tours during Heritage Week on August 12th and 13th and learn about the fascinating history of this ancient site and its connection to St. Patrick.
- Slane Castle
- Book here
12-20 August
Heritage Week at Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda
We have an assortment of activities talks, workshops and events for this year’s Heritage Week, all which are free, at Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda. Book here.
⦁ Poetry Is Fun / Poetry Is Adventure – Summer Sunday Poetry Sessions
⦁ The Dawn Chorus – Parent & Toddler Print Workshop
⦁ Louth Plein Air Workshop – Highlanes Gallery Heritage Week
⦁ Regenerative Agriculture/Regenerative Arts – Els Dietvorst & Karla Sánchez Zepeda
⦁ ‘A Large Handsome Town’ – The Architecture Of 18th Century Drogheda Lecture
⦁ Alzheimers & Dementia Azure On Artist – Teacher – Researcher Curate
⦁ Poetry SOS Clinic – Poems Prescribed For Your Health & Wellbeing
13th August
National Print Museum Pop-Up Print Shop, Kells
The National Print Museum, in collaboration with Meath County Council and Creative Ireland, ably assisted by Skills Transfer volunteers will host a pop-up print shop in Kells Courthouse Tourism and Cultural Hub.
- Kells Courthouse Tourism and Cultural Hub
- More info
Colmcille – Connecting Ancient and Modern
Through the vision and teaching of St Colmcille/Columba, Irish monks and scribes were to become the greatest scribes and painters of books in the world. This year connecting modern art form with the ancient we begin by taking a guided walking tour of Kells Type Trail which brings together a collection of modern art installations highlighting Kells unique heritage of lettering as an art form.
- Church of Ireland Gates, Church Street, Kells
- More info
Free Guided Tours of Old Mellifont Abbey by Guides in 12th Century Style Dress
Join the guides in 12th century style dress as we bring you on a journey through 900 years of history and archaeology. Learn about the history of the first Cistercian Abbey in Ireland founded by St. Malachy of Armagh in 1142.
- Tullyallen, Drogheda, County Louth
- More info
14 August
Guide Tour of Trim Town Walls
Walking tour of Trim Town Walls, starting from the coach park at Finnegans' Way / Trim Castle Hotel with local archaeologist Finola O’Carroll, to walk and talk about the town walls and defences of Trim.
- Finnegans Way, Trim
- More info
14 - 18 August
Tour of the Black Friary Excavations
The Blackfriary Archaeology Field School are running tours of the excavations at the medieval monastic site for Heritage Week. Artefacts found in the past 13 years of excavations, will also be on display.
- Blackfriary, Griffin park, Trim
- More info
14 - 19 August
An Exhibition of Work by Kieran Slyne
Kieran Slyne is an award winning documentary cameraman and photographer who now lives in Kells. He has been fortunate to travel the high roads and bye roads of this country, as well as the world. This collection looks at how we impose on nature both consciously and unconsciously.
- Toradh 2 Gallery, Kells Courthouse Tourism and Cultural Hub
- More info
16 August
Medieval Family Day at the Black Friary, Trim
Join us at the Black Friary Archaeology Site for a Family Fun Day! We will be giving tours of the excavations of the medieval monastic site. Artefacts we have found in the past 13 years, will be on display. We will also be running a Kids Dig for those who want to try their hand at excavation!
- Blackfriary, Griffin park, Trim
- Book here
Moynalty/Farrell Collection, Talk presented by Patricia Fallon, Archivist Meath County Library
" All to one side like Moynalty" : the development of Moynalty Village through the Farrell Moynalty estate Papers.
Connect with your local heritage through records of how the village developed around The Farrell Estate. A Talk presented by Patricia Fallon, Archivist, Meath County Library.
- Moynalty Steam Museum.
- More info
17 August
Paddle to the Devenish Lands at Dowth
Paddle your way, in one of Boyne Boats handcrafted traditional Irish currachs, to the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site at Dowth.
- Boyne Boats, Oldbridge
- Book here
19 August
Future Past Present Interactive LEGO workshop
Join Jessica Farrell, Ireland’s leading professional LEGO® Brick Artist and the Museum of Childhood Ireland, for a family workshop to explore Drogheda's built heritage.
- Droichead Art Centre, Drogheda
- Book here
20 August
Free Guided Tours of Old Mellifont Abbey by Guides in 12th Century Style Dress
Join the guides in 12th century style dress as we bring you on a journey through 900 years of history and archaeology. Learn about the history of the first Cistercian Abbey in Ireland founded by St. Malachy of Armagh in 1142.
- Tullyallen, Drogheda, County Louth
- More info
Click here to see what's happening in counties Meath and Louth for Heritage Week 2023.
Some events require booking in advance, please check ahead of time.
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