Heritage Week 2011
National Heritage Week 2011 runs from Saturday 20th - Sunday 28th August. With over 1,000 events across Ireland, Heritage Week has something for everyone: guided nature and archaeological walks, seminars and lectures, tours of historical buildings, food fairs, music, dance, storytelling, historic gardens, historical re-enactments and more.
Laois Heritage Week Events
Sample the delights of Laois during Heritage Week this year!
To view all the events planned for Laois each day during this year's Heritage Week, click on a date below, download a copy of the Programme of Events for 2011 or request a printed copy of the Heritage Week leaflet.
Daily Programme of Laois Events
Saturday 20th August
Week-long events and exhibitions
Events for Children
As always, Heritage Week in 2011 sees a wide range of events and activities for children.
Learn How to Draw Wildlife from wildlife author and artist Gordon D’Arcy on Wednesday 24th And Thursday 25 August in Libraries around the County. Art is used as a fun way to teach children about wildlife, ecology, folklore and special places. All materials supplied.
Michael Moylan of Irish History Live brings back his hugely popular historical re-enactment show to the libraries of Laois again this year. This hugely entertaining show will be on on Wednesday 24th August (Mountrath, Durrow and Rathdowney Libraries), on Thursday 25th August (Portlaoise and Mountmellick Libraries) and Friday 26th August (Stradbally and Abbeyleix Libraries). See listings for each day, for individual details.
Museums and Heritage Sites
In addition to these special events during Heritage Week each year, many of the county’s Museums and Heritage Sites have special open days. Laois is lucky to have a number of very high quality museums, which deserve our support. These include Donaghmore Workhouse Museum, the Irish Fly Fishing and Game Shooting Museum, Mountmellick Museum and Abbeyleix Heritage House.
In addition, we are lucky to have a number of State-owned sites in the County, including Emo Court, Heywood Gardens and the Rock of Dunamaise, and all of these will be open with some special events during Heritage Week. See www.heritageireland.ie for details.
Full details of events in Laois throughout Heritage Week are available from the Heritage Office of Laois County Council, phone 057-867 4348, or e-mail the Heritage Officer.
Heritage Week is co-ordinated by the Heritage Council with support from Fáilte Ireland. To check out events in other counties, visit the Heritage Week website or Callsave 1850 200 878.
So what next?
Heritage Week gives us the opportunity each year to revel in the best of the built and natural heritage of our County. But many of the sites and locations advertised during Heritage Week are available all year-round. The museums of the County, many built heritage sites and wildlife areas are all there to be explored at any time.Information and publications to help you explore the heritage of your local area are available from local libraries, Tourist Offices and the Heritage Office of Laois County Council.
Free Heritage publications are also available to download here.
National Heritage Week is co-ordinated in Ireland by the Heritage Council with support from Fáilte Ireland and is part of European Heritage Days, which is celebrated in over 40 countries across Europe.
For further information see www.heritageweek.ie, email: heritageweek@heritagecouncil.ie or Call Save 1850 200878
