{{Short description|Annual cultural event in Ireland}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
[[File:Digital Eye–2015–Band 1st Brigade in Charles Fort-11.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.6|The Band of the 1st Brigade at Charles Fort, Kinsale for Heritage Week 2015]]
'''National Heritage Week''' ({{langx|ga|Seachtain Náisiúnta na hOidhreachta}}) is an annual series of thousands of events, usually held during the last week of August, organised by the Heritage Council of Ireland. It is one of the country's largest cultural celebrations with over 2,400 events taking place nationwide in 2025.<ref>Multiple sources: * {{cite web | title = Free entry to over 70 OPW sites as heritage week begins | first = Jennie | last = O'Sullivan | date = 2025-08-15 | website = RTÉ News | url = https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2025/0815/1528606-heritage-week/ | quote= Organised by the Heritage Council, National Heritage Week has become one of the country's largest cultural celebrations with almost 2,400 events taking place during the week. }} * {{cite web | title = What's On | access-date = 2025-08-17 | website = The Heritage Council | url = https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings }} * [http://www.heritageweek.ie/en/intro/about_us_introduction.aspx Introduction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227200054/http://www.heritageweek.ie/en/intro/about_us_introduction.aspx |date=27 February 2012 }}, Heritage Week, Ireland.</ref>
It is a celebration of Ireland's culture, history, gardens, and architecture that gives visitors free entry to landmarks that usually charge an entry fee or are closed to the public. The week's attractions includes tours, events and activities related to history and culture.
National Heritage Week is part of the European Heritage Days, a joint action between the Council of Europe and the European Commission.<ref>[http://www.ehd.coe.int/ European Heritage Days: A joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission], Council of Europe.</ref> There is a volunteer programme associated with the organisation of the events.<ref>[http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/news-press/media/press-releases/national-heritage-week-launches-volunteer-programme/ National Heritage Week launches volunteer programme] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107081740/http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/news-press/media/press-releases/national-heritage-week-launches-volunteer-programme/ |date=7 November 2010 }}, [http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/ The Heritage Council], Ireland.</ref>
Event guides are available at tourist offices, libraries, heritage centres, museums, bus stations, and in many hotels. Competitions are held as part of the weeks' activities, and awards – nominated by the public – for the volunteers and organisations who put on the best events.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.heritageweek.ie/| title = Home {{!}} National Heritage Week 14–22 August 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Sligo Abbey lit up for Heritage Week 2013.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|Sligo Abbey lit up for National Heritage Week 2013.]]
==Awards== * Heritage Hero, for a person or organisation * Hidden Heritage, for lesser known sites * Reaching Out, for attracting new audiences * Cool for Kids, for family events
== See also == * European Heritage Days * Heritage Open Days in England
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.heritageweek.ie/ Heritage Week website]
Category:Entertainment events in Ireland Category:Annual events in Ireland