14 Aug 2024
Cork celebrates National Heritage Week 2024
Connections, Routes and Networks – Cork Celebrates National Heritage Week 2024
Cork celebrates National Heritage Week, showcasing the region’s cultural, built and natural heritage. This year’s theme “Connections, Routes and Networks” celebrates how we connect to each other, the links between people and communities. These could be physical routes such as roads, paths, boreens, rivers, pilgrim paths, rail tracks and canals. They may symbolise journeys undertaken to farm and to conquest, to trade and to discover, and to seek out new adventures.
It brings together volunteers, community groups and heritage enthusiasts to share their experience, knowledge culture and practices.
Cork Heritage Open Day
For one day only, over 40 historic and heritage buildings in Cork are inviting the public to visit their buildings for free. Cork Heritage Open Day is a celebration of the built heritage in the city and is a unique opportunity to explore buildings such as the Masonic Hall, Quaker Meeting House, Military Museum Collins Barracks, Carpenters Hall, Heineken Ireland, Cork Savings Bank, Backwater Artists Group and Riverstown House which are not usually open to the public.
To mark Heritage Week, 10 Guided Tours of the streets of Cork City will also take place in locations across the city including Douglas Street, Jewtown, The Victorian Quarter, the Middle Parish and the Coal Quay.
Cork City will celebrate its history in style as local historians take to the streets of Cork and deliver historical guided walking tours in locations such as Jewtown, Shandon, McCurtain Street, Douglas Street and the Middle Parish.
With over ten free walking tours taking place on Cork Heritage Open Day, discover the key geological locations in the city with Thomas Heising. Enjoy a walking exploration of the shopping and business history of the VQ area with Danielle O’Donovan. Learn about the history of Douglas Street and Red Abbey with David Ryan. Take part in a musical walk of Cork’s Jewish history with Ruti Lachs. You can also participate in a historic stroll through the Coal Quay with Michael O’Donovan.
I am delighted to see such a busy programme for Cork Heritage Open Day celebrating the fascinating heritage of Cork city. I commend all those involved especially the building owners and event organisers, who generously give their time free of charge and without whom this event simply would not happen.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle
Organised by Cork City Council in partnership with The Heritage Council, Cork Heritage Open Day will take place on Saturday August 17th and marks the start of National Heritage Week which runs until August 25th.
National Heritage Week across Cork County
Cork County Council is supporting a variety of community organised ‘Heritage Week’ projects including an exclusive screening of new documentary ‘The Castles of Cork’ in Bandon Library, An exhibition on the heritage of local historical buildings in Clonakilty Library, A talk on the life of Annie Moore in Cobh Library; The Ellen Hutchins Display in Bantry Library; and An exhibition of the social history of pubs in Midleton Library.
Local Studies Library staff will visit branches around Cork County to explain how you can begin your family history journey.
All talks are free to attend, and everyone is welcome.
Cork County Council Heritage Specialist Shannon Forde will host collaborative workshops in libraries around Cork County exploring the theme ‘Sustainable Heritage – Living in harmony with the Land.’
These workshops will delve into the inherently sustainable and environmentally conscious lifestyles of our ancestors. Explore their remarkable resourcefulness and profound connection to the natural world.
Attendees are encouraged to bring along their own photographs, stories and memorabilia relevant to the topics covered. These include traditional clothing, eating habits, farming methods, local crafts and transport.
The Seabed Sanctuary Collective will have an exhibition at Bantry Library as part of National Heritage Week. They are a local not-for-profit collective of environmentalists, artists, enthusiasts, and marine professionals. The exhibition can be viewed during opening hours from Friday August 16th – Friday August 23rd.
It is commendable, the number of groups, that have engaged year after year in the organising of exciting heritage events as part of the annual Heritage Week offering in County Cork. As Mayor of the County of Cork I urge everyone in the county to participate in local events this year and to support the endeavours of their local heritage ambassadors. I will be attending many myself in my home of West Cork and further afield.
The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll
There are over 250 events taking place across Cork City and County. So join us in celebrating our rich heritage and discover the connections that unite us all.
The full programme of events across Cork is available HERE.