Explore Offaly’s cultural roots with diverse mix of events for Heritage Week
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Heritage Week makes its return beginning this Saturday (August 16) bringing a vibrant mix of events to heritage sites across Offaly.
Taking place from Saturday, August 16 to Sunday, August 24, the week will celebrate the rich threads of our shared history through interactive workshops, guided tours, and engaging talks that pass on stories from generation to generation.
Whether you’re rooted in Offaly or visiting for the first time, there’s plenty to discover.
Organised by the Heritage Council, National Heritage Week has become one of Ireland’s largest cultural celebrations.
Supported by the Office of Public Works (OPW), the event encourages individuals, families, and groups to explore the remarkable heritage that Ireland has to offer.
This year’s theme, "Exploring Our Foundations", invites us to look beneath the surface, to discover the structures, landscapes, traditions, and cultural activities that have shaped our communities over time.
Here's a selection of what's happening in Offaly.
For the full list see www.heritageweek.ie
Carrigeen Farmhouse Traditional Music Evening
WHEN: 17 August, 5pm - 7pm
WHERE: Carrigeen Farmhouse, Carrigeen, Fivealley, Birr
WHAT: Enjoy traditional Irish music in this uniquely surviving vernacular family home. Everyone is welcome to bring an instrument, story or song and join the craic agus ceol.
Voices of Geashill - A Walk through Time
WHEN: 18 August, 7pm - 8pm
WHERE: The Old Schoolhouse, Geashill Village
WHAT: To celebrate the recently launched Audio Guide, you are invited to join us on a walk around the village highlighting its unique architecture, social history and rich mythology. Meet outside the Old Schoolhouse. Parking available by the green.
Our Musical Heritage: Folksongs with Ruairí O’Shea
WHEN: 19 August, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
WHERE: Tullamore Library, O’Connor Square, Tullamore, R35 X226
WHAT: Reflecting the themes of landscape, nature, and climate, join Irish folk artist Ruairí O’ Sé for a performance that will entertain, soothe and refract thoughts and conversations through the prism of live music.
Camcor and Syngefield Looped Heritage Walk
WHEN: 20 August, 6pm - 8pm
WHERE: Departing from Camcor River Park, Birr
WHAT: This unique events consists of a two-hour looped walk. Walkers will meet in the Camcor River Park (by the wildlife information board) for a walk along the river banks, through the town park and along the newly maintained river bank walk to Syngefield Demesne. At Syngefield we will visit the 2025 research project at Clonoghil Castle.
Book Launch: The Extraordinary life of Kerr Brien - the Great War and back
WHEN: 22 August, 8pm - 9:30pm
WHERE: Pull Inn pub, Pollagh, R35 RH28
WHAT: Join Pollagh Heritage Group for the launch of the new book about the life of Kerr Brien, which tells his story from the theatre of World War 1 to his life back in Offaly in the aftermath of that bloody conflict.
"And Who Were They?" - Faces of the Past
WHEN: 22 August, 7pm - 9pm
23 August, 2pm - 5pm
24 August, 2pm - 5pm
WHERE: Cloughmoyle School House, Main St. Shinrone, Birr, R42 YN97
WHAT: This exhibition invites you to rediscover the forgotten faces captured in the DeRoe and Griffin-Hough Photographic Archives, with images spanning from the 1890s to the 1950s.
Bog Guardians
WHEN: 23 August, 12pm - 2:30pm
WHERE: Lemanaghan, Meet at the level crossing on R436 which is just before Lemanaghan Church and Graveyard/Schoolhouse. Talks and refreshments will take place in the Granary, Boher Church, Ballycumber, R35 HR61
WHAT: A guided walk into the bog to explore archaeological features and hear stories embedded in the landscape, a series of short talks on local heritage,
and A kite flying event to reflect on the impacts of altering the archaeological landscape.
Open Day Clonmacnoise Monastic site
WHERE: Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre
WHEN: 16 August, 9am - 5:45pm
The Warriors of Erin: Clonmacnoise and the Irish Revolution
WHERE: Education Hub @ Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre, Clonmacnoise, Shannonbridge.
WHEN: 16 August, 2pm – 3pm
Echoes of the Callows - Ireland's Native Waders and Their Place in Our Heritage
WHERE: Clonmacnoise Education Hub (beside the Visitor centre - N37 NC59), Clonmacnoise Monastic Site
WHEN: 22 August, 5pm – 6pm
Irish Sign Language Tour of Clonmacnoise Monastic Site
WHERE: Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre, Clonmacnoise
WHEN: 23 August, 12:45pm – 1:45pm
Poetry & Storytelling with Patrick Carton
WHERE: Education Hub @ Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre
WHEN: 23 August, 4pm - 5pm