Heritage Keepers

Heritage Keepers A programme for schools and communities that explores the heritage of their local place
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Project Diaries 2026Our Lady's Abbey, AdareThe class made outdoor signs to highlight interesting biodiversity and herita...
28/08/2026

Project Diaries 2026

Our Lady's Abbey, Adare

The class made outdoor signs to highlight interesting biodiversity and heritage aspects of our school grounds that featured QR codes containing information that they researched about their biodiversity or heritage feature. They now have a lovely trail around our school with a tree section, bird section, mini- beast/mammal section, historical section and one wildflower poster and a poster about ivy and fern found on the stone walls. Each poster has both English and Gaeilge on it!

Back to School!As classrooms across Ireland fill up again, we're celebrating the curiosity, creativity and sense of plac...
26/08/2026

Back to School!

As classrooms across Ireland fill up again, we're celebrating the curiosity, creativity and sense of place that make school such an important part of our communities.

Just last spring, the pupils of St. Mary's NS in Castlerahan, Co. Cavan explored the stories of their own community as part of their Heritage Keepers project. They created a booklet about the old schools in their area, interviewing past and present pupils and members of staff, gathering photographs and memories, and bringing these stories together in a beautiful record of their local history.

Their Heritage Keepers journey also took them to Cavan County Museum in Ballyjamesduff, where they explored the heritage of their county through artefacts, photographs, documents and stories spanning thousands of years.

From the Killycluggin Stone to the memories of former pupils, their project is a lovely reminder that heritage isn't only found in museums. It's also in our buildings, our photographs, our memories and the stories people share.

Here's to a new school year full of questions, discoveries and opportunities to learn more about the places we call home.

Fieldtrip Diaries 2026Our Lady's Abbey, AdareThe class travelled to Mary's Organic Garden in Woodlands House Hotel, Adar...
25/08/2026

Fieldtrip Diaries 2026
Our Lady's Abbey, Adare

The class travelled to Mary's Organic Garden in Woodlands House Hotel, Adare to see how things worked on an organic farm and get a 'taste' of their local environment!

Project Diaries 📖📍 Lurga NS, GalwayThe 5th and 6th class at Lurga NS delved into local history through the Schools’ Coll...
23/08/2026

Project Diaries 📖

📍 Lurga NS, Galway

The 5th and 6th class at Lurga NS delved into local history through the Schools’ Collection, a remarkable archive of stories gathered across Ireland in 1937–1938 and now available through Dúchas.ie.

The children explored stories collected in their own area, selecting the ones that captured their imagination. They carefully rewrote them where needed, preserving the original stories while making them accessible to a new generation, and brought them to life through their own illustrations.

A wonderful blend of research, literacy, creativity and local heritage — connecting today’s young people with the voices and traditions of the past. 🌿📚

Project Diaries St.Comgall's, Clones, Monaghan"We were absolutely delighted to be part of this wonderful initiative and ...
21/08/2026

Project Diaries
St.Comgall's, Clones, Monaghan

"We were absolutely delighted to be part of this wonderful initiative and it’s safe to say it made a real buzz in our school!

Creating a bee garden turned out to be a fantastic choice for us. With plenty of space to work with—and a strong appreciation for honey among our pupils—it was the perfect fit.

By the end of the project, our pupils had not only developed a strong understanding of bees and their importance to the environment, but they also cultivated a sense of responsibility for protecting local wildlife. It’s an initiative that truly brought learning to life—and one we’ll be proud of for a long time to come." Ann-Marie Powell, Teacher

Project Diaries 🌿📖📍 Bunniconlon, MayoFor their Heritage Keepers project, members of the group did extensive research usi...
20/08/2026

Project Diaries 🌿📖

📍 Bunniconlon, Mayo

For their Heritage Keepers project, members of the group did extensive research using primary and secondary sources and connected with the local community to uncover the stories, places and traditions that have shaped Bunniconlon over generations.

The result: 18 heritage panels tracing the village’s history from its pre-Christian origins to the present day, exploring everything from ancient sites and churches to language, farming traditions, biodiversity and key local events. The project also included new signage and restoration work at the Joe Ring Monument.

And the stories are now being shared beyond the initial project itself: the panels featured at the Bunniconlon Agricultural Show in August, alongside a Heritage Walk, and information gathered through the project has also been used for new heritage boards in the village.

Local research, local stories, shared with the community. 🌿

What stories are hidden in the names of the fields around us? 🌿Throughout Heritage Week, the Heritage Keepers from will...
19/08/2026

What stories are hidden in the names of the fields around us? 🌿

Throughout Heritage Week, the Heritage Keepers from will be displaying their Hollywood Field Names map at Hollywood Community Centre.

The project explored the names of local fields and the stories, people and history connected to them, helping to capture and celebrate a piece of Hollywood’s local heritage.

The framed map will be on display daily from 9.30am–12.30pm throughout Heritage Week. Come along, have a look and discover some of the stories that are part of Hollywood’s landscape.

📍 Hollywood Community Centre
🕤 9.30am–12.30pm daily

All are welcome! 👏

Fieldtrip DiariesSt. Tolas, WestmeathThe class went to Delvin Castle in Delvin, Westmeath which was "a great way to get ...
19/08/2026

Fieldtrip Diaries
St. Tolas, Westmeath

The class went to Delvin Castle in Delvin, Westmeath which was "a great way to get the children to learn about their area. While a lot of children were familiar with the castle very few if any knew of its origins or its history and now we can safely say they do and they helped create a great resource for the school." Mr. Doherty, Teacher

What can you discover when you look at your place from above? 🌿Tonight, as part of Heritage Week, we’re delighted to hig...
18/08/2026

What can you discover when you look at your place from above? 🌿

Tonight, as part of Heritage Week, we’re delighted to highlight "Inniscarra from Above: Where Landscape Meets History", a 15-minute film created by the Inniscarra Historical Society through the Heritage Keepers programme.

Using drone footage, the film explores five areas of Inniscarra Parish, bringing together its natural and built heritage. The community chose the locations, developed the scripts and contributed to the voiceovers, working with Cork Community Media Hub to bring their vision to life.

The film will be screened tonight, Tuesday 18 August, from 7–8pm in the Ellis Room at Inniscarra Community Centre, as part of the local launch of the community’s new iCan heritage website.

And if you have photographs, documents or other memories of Inniscarra, you can bring them along to be scanned and added to the new community archive.

🎬 Inniscarra from Above
📍 Ellis Room, Inniscarra Community Centre
🕖 Tuesday 18 August, 7–8pm
🌐 The film can also be viewed on the iCan website: inniscarra.heritagecork.org

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Glebe House, Glebe Road
Kinvara
H91C3X2

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