Local groups urged to register Heritage Week events

Published: Wed 15 May 2013, 9:42 AM

Last updated: Wed 15 May 2013, 10:42 AM

PLANS to celebrate National Heritage Week are gathering pace, with people urged to harness the Gathering theme when organising events to showcase local natural and cultural heritage. Online event registration for this yearÃ¢€â„¢s National Heritage Week event guide is now open and a free, event organiser training day will be held on Friday, May 24 for those hoping to host events. In previous years, Co Galway has featured a range of diverse events for heritage week, with medieval fairs, night-time bat walks, wildlife walks and lectures, classical music and poetry recitals, traditional music sessions, storytelling, historical re-enactments, and local history walks and talks all being featured. [private] The week focuses on getting people involved in the heritage of Ireland and particularly the heritage of the local community, making it accessible to everyone. Many events organised are free of charge and national heritage sites also offer concession rates. Ã¢€Å“Every year peopleÃ¢€â„¢s involvement in National Heritage Week continues to grow,Ã¢€Â said Isabell Smyth, Heritage Council. Ã¢€Å“The week is a great platform for people to highlight their heritage assets and to promote what makes their community so unique. We have some great plans underway for the week. This yearÃ¢€â„¢s theme is Ã¢€ËœDiscover the Past. Build the FutureÃ¢€â„¢ because we believe that heritage is about today, about our quality of life and about the things we value. Ã¢€Å“We rely on people across the country who organise events for the week to come up with creative ideas to tell their story, and encourage people to get involved in something unique and fun.Ã¢€Â All events registered on www.heritageweek.ie by May 31 will be listed in the National Heritage Week event guide, which will be available free at OPW sites, heritage centres and historical societies, FÃƒÂ¡ilte Ireland tourist offices, libraries, county councils, An Ãƒâ€œige hostels, various museums, Bus Ãƒâ€°ireann stations and some hotels. To attend the Heritage CouncilÃ¢€â„¢s training day in Tullamore on Friday May 24 check out the website or call 1850 200 878. Registration is required as places will be limited.[/private]