Celebrate Ireland's cultural, built and natural heritage at the National Museum for Heritage Week 2026

From interactive exhibits and hands-on workshops to adventure trails and guided tours, the National Museum of Ireland has something for all ages to enjoy this National Heritage Week.

The Museum is once again delighted to participate in this vibrant and engaging initiative by the Heritage Council, celebrating Ireland's cultural, built, and natural heritage from 15 to 23 August 2026.

This year’s theme, Heritage at Risk, encourages us to explore the built, natural and cultural aspects of our heritage that are endangered. It invites us to consider how these sites, artefacts and practices can be reimagined, revived and protected for future generations, highlighting the vital role we all play in safeguarding Ireland’s shared heritage.

Take a look at some of our highlight events and be sure to visit one of our three Museum sites in Dublin and Mayo for National Heritage Week 2026.

HERITAGE WEEK 2026  | National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo

• HERITAGE WEEK: Traditional Craft Celebration

​13:00 - 16:00 | Sunday 16 August 2026 | Adults and Children | Free Admission | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Enjoy live demonstrations by expert craftspeople, including basket weaving, traditional woodworking and stonemasonry, and discover the skills, materials and stories that have shaped rural Irish life. This free, family‑friendly event offers a hands‑on opportunity to see heritage crafts in action and learn why these traditions remain vital today.

• HERITAGE WEEK: Lámha Ciúine: Ireland's quiet loss of traditional skills

15:00 - 16:00 | Sunday 23 August 2026 | Adults and Children | Free Admission | Booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Join Irish Folklife curator Tiernan Gaffney to learn about the history of traditional craftspeople in Ireland and the communities that once depended on them. This talk explores the artefacts and memories tied to traditional Irish skills and their quiet fading from everyday life. Learn how the museum is preserving these crafts and supporting the makers keeping these skills alive today. 

You might also be interested in:

• Discover a range of extraordinary exhibitions at the National Museum this summer

• Dublin by Dusk at the National Museum of Ireland

• Free guided tours at the National Museum of Ireland

• Summer Programme of Workshops, Tours & Trails at the National Museum of Ireland

• Synge & Byrne at Turlough Park & Collins Barracks

• Find the perfect gift in our Museum gift shops