Heritage Week returns to Kilkenny with huge slate of events

This year’s theme, Heritage at Risk, delves into endangered culture and heritage

Published 12th Aug 2026, 14:00 BST Heritage Week 2026 kicks off on August 15 This year’s theme, Heritage at Risk, delves into endangered culture and heritage Sign up to our Kilkenny Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kilkenny Live within your account.

Kilkenny County Council Library Service has announced a wide programme of events for Heritage Week 2026, taking place from August 15 to 23.

This year’s theme, Heritage at Risk, encourages us to explore the built, natural and cultural aspects of our heritage that are endangered, to reimagine and revive these sites, artefacts, customs and practices.

Libraries across the county will host a diverse range of talks and workshops celebrating Kilkenny’s rich cultural legacy.

Highlights include talks by historian Michael Reynolds on the recently released 1926 Census and the role of the Kilkenny Gardaí as the State’s first enumerators, offering a fascinating insight into everyday life in the county a century ago.

A key feature of this year’s programme is the Kilkenny Library Local Studies Roadshow, which will visit some library branches throughout the county.

Members of the public are invited to bring photographs, letters, documents, maps and memorabilia to uncover hidden gems and discuss digital scanning and preservation.

The initiative aims to safeguard valuable local heritage while helping to expand the Kilkenny Digital Archive for future generations.

Additional events include a talk on Tom Treacy and the aftermath of the 1916 Rising, a celebration of the 300th anniversary of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, the story of Cushendale Woollen Mills, an interactive workshop on Barrow Navigation Placenames, a talk on the Thomastown Workhouse, and genealogy sessions online newspaper archives.

Alicia Dunphy, Local Studies Librarian said: “Heritage Week offers a wonderful opportunity to discover, share and celebrate the stories, people and places that have shaped Kilkenny’s identity while highlighting the importance of preserving our heritage for future generations.”