merrion street

Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht today (Monday, 22^nd August,2011) is celebrating National Heritage Week which takes place from Saturday 20^th to Sunday 28^th August, 2011. The main aims of Heritage Week are to promote awareness of our built, natural and cultural heritage thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation.

The Heritage Council co-ordinates the initiative in close partnership with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Local Authorities, State bodies such as the OPW, museums and libraries and voluntary groups throughout the country.

Minister Deenihan is a long-time supporter of the Heritage Week and in his first year as Minister with the heritage brief he particularly wishes to highlight the importance and fun of participation by people of all ages in Heritage Week events which he hopes will act as a catalyst for all to adopt a lifelong interest in learning more about Your History, Your Culture, Your Nature - the themes of the initiative.

Speaking about the week, Minister Deenihan said, "the range of events taking place during National Heritage Week demonstrates the diversity of our heritage that is very much part of us both individually and as a nation. We must never take our heritage for granted; our heritage plays a central role in shaping and contributing to the future of Ireland. This year there is a nine-day programme of nationwide activities scheduled for National Heritage Week. I am very much looking forward to participating in many of the events taking place across the country during Heritage week".

During Heritage Week Minister Deenihan will take part in a series of events, from visiting the Junior Ranger Camp at Killarney National Park, to participating in a 10km heritage walk from Newcastle West to Barnagh in Limerick. In the course of the week, Minister Deenihan will also visit and join in events at sites in Cork, and Mayo.

Further information about events is available on www.heritageweek.ie, from local authority heritage officers or by calling Callsave 1850 200 878.