National Heritage Week 2025
National Heritage Week is an annual celebration of Ireland's Heritage.
Coordinated by The Heritage Council, National Heritage Week is a 9 day long celebration of Ireland's Heritage.
This special week brings together heritage organisations, local groups, volunteers, national institutions, and heritage sites to host a diverse range of events that highlight Ireland’s cultural, natural, and built heritage.
From hidden gems to iconic landmarks, doors are opened, stories are shared, and everyone is invited to explore and connect with the heritage that shapes our identity.
Theme for 2025: Exploring Our Foundations
This year’s theme, Exploring Our Foundations, invites everyone to dig deeper into what underpins our heritage. It's a chance to uncover not just the structures and buildings that surround us, but also the traditions, landscapes, and communities that define who we are.
Special Highlights
Heritage Open Doors
In line with our theme "Exploring our Foundations", this year we’re encouraging owners and businesses in historic buildings to open their doors to the public on the first weekend of National Heritage week to share the stories behind these unique places, revealing the layers of history woven into our everyday places that we sometimes miss.
OPW sites will once again offer free entry to visitors on this weekend.
Wild Child Day
Taking place on the second weekend, Wild Child Day encourages children to get outdoors, explore, and discover the natural and cultural heritage that surrounds them.
Water Heritage Day
On the final Sunday of Heritage Week, we turn our attention to one of our most precious resources - water. Water Heritage Day celebrates our rivers, lakes, coasts, and wetlands as integral parts of our natural heritage and essential to our future.
Water Heritage Day is held in partnership with the Local Authority Waters Programme.
Get Involved
National Heritage Week is not only about celebration, it’s about participation. Everyone has a role to play in preserving, sharing, and enjoying Ireland’s heritage. Whether you're attending an event, hosting one, or simply exploring a nearby site, you're part of a collective effort to honor our past and shape our future.
Visit heritageweek.ie for full event listings and details.
National Heritage Week is part of European Heritage Days. These are a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union in which over forty countries participate each year.