National Heritage Week, an annual celebration of Ireland's Heritage is set to take place from 15th – 23rd August, featuring a bumper programme of over 80 events planned for County Wicklow. This week invites everyone to explore hidden gems and iconic landmarks, as doors are opened, stories are shared, and connections with our heritage are formed.

Coordinated nationally by The Heritage Council and locally by the Heritage Office of Wicklow County Council, National Heritage Week is a nine day celebration of our natural, built and cultural heritage.

This year's theme, "Heritage at Risk", shines a spotlight on the heritage that may be lost if it is not protected, shared and passed on. This includes historic buildings, archaeological sites to biodiversity, folklore, placenames, as well as traditional skills and practices.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Cllr. Dr. Caroline Winstanley stated, “Heritage Week is a fabulous opportunity for communities throughout county Wicklow to shine a light on their local place and heritage. This year's theme Heritage at Risk, invites everyone to explore the vulnerability as well as the value of our heritage, not just the structures and buildings that surround us, but also the traditions, landscapes and nature that contribute so much to our daily lives and wellbeing”

Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council Emer O’Gorman said  “Wicklow County Council is delighted to support this annual celebration of Heritage Week in County Wicklow through the work of our Heritage Team and the enthusiastic engagement of our Libraries and Archives services. I would encourage everyone to explore the programme and the 80 plus events taking place throughout County Wicklow”

The 2026 Heritage Week programme brings together heritage organisations, local groups, volunteers, national institutions and heritage site managers to host a diverse range of events that showcase Ireland’s cultural, natural and built heritage. 

For a full program of events, please visit: https://www.heritageweek.ie/

Highlights include:

• A diverse program of free events at Wicklow branch libraries, including genealogy workshops, local history talks, plant and seed swaps, creative writing workshops, author talks, folklore sessions, children’s storytelling, movie time, and other family-friendly activities.
• The West to East Mountain Walk: A celebration of Wicklow’s' sheep droving heritage finishing at Glenmalure
• Family day at Glendalough featuring a free hands-on archaeology  ‘Big Dig ‘ and a Lego workshop
• The Michael Dwyer Man of the Mountains bus tour from Rathdangan
• A weekend gathering and celebration of Lúghnasa at Glencree’s Shaking Bog festival with music, song, art, dancing, wool craft and nature talks 21st- 23rd August
• Delgany Village Heritage Day
• The launch of 80th anniversary publication of ‘Miracle on Djouce’ at Wicklow Library
• ‘Stepping back in time’, discover the stories of Tinahely
• A Literary Tour of Bray Seafront
• Nature Walk and Talk with Éanna Ní Lamhna at Newtownmountkennedy
• Demonstration of stone cutting techniques and tools at Ballyknochkan Quarry on 15th August and ‘meet the masons’ at nearby Flaherty stone works on 23rd August
• Tours of Christ Church Bray, a landmark building for over 160 years
• Minor placenames project workshops at Enniskerry, Carnew, Baltinglass and Arklow
• ‘Batty about Bats’, guided walk and talk Enniskerry
• Open Day at Wicklow Head Lighthouse
• The History of the Three Town Bells in Dunlavin
• ‘Beneath Your Feet’, conserving Russborough's historic floors talk and demonstration
• Our Native Hedgerows Walk & Talk, Led by Neil Foulkes at Curtlestown
• Shillelagh Heritage Trail, a guided tour
• A guided tour of Baltinglass Abbey
• ‘The Babbling Brook’, nature and history outing in Newtownmountkennedy
• See Inside the Freemasons Lodge Arklow
• Hollywood Village History Seminar
• A birdwatching walk along the River Vartry
• Circular Economy - Art from a Skip in Bray

For further information on booking, admission fees (if applicable), parking, accessibility, and contact details for organizers, please visit https://www.heritageweek.ie/ Events are taking place across County Wicklow, with the majority being free of charge and family friendly.

The Heritage Office of Wicklow County Council also has a stock of branded merchandise to distribute to event organisers (Hi-Viz vests, T-shirts, flags, and baseball caps). To request these items, please email dburns@wicklowcoco.ie.