Celebrate Heritage Week with family-friendly events at Dublin City Libraries

Taking place from August 15 - 23, Heritage Week aims to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation through plenty of exciting event across Dublin City Council Libraries

News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 12:56, 13 Aug 2026 View Image Charleville Mall Library in the north inner-city, which first opened in 1900 and is the oldest working public library in Dublin city (Image: Dublin City Council)

Celebrate National Heritage Week with a whole host of events hosted by Dublin City Council Libraries.

National Heritage Week is an initiative by the Heritage Council that brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation. Taking place from August 15 - 23, this year’s theme is ‘Heritage at Risk’ and aims to highlight the endangered aspects of heritage.

Whether looking at the history of Irish folklore at Ballymun Library or exploring ‘The Art of Celtic Knots’ at Charleville Mall, there are lots of fun and family-friendly activities, workshops and presentations happening across the city. Since the Heritage Council assumed responsibility for National Heritage Week in 2005, it has grown from a small 500 events to almost 2,000 events in 2023.

Come along for a fun and creative workshop where we transform recycled cardboard into a menagerie of cut-out animals. Using drawing pencils, papers and woolly yarn, young and old artists bring their creatures to life. Good for the imagination and the planet. Limited to 20 children and their parents or guardians. Free, booking essential

An illustrated presentation that features aspects of the life of the Monaghan poet Patrick Kavanagh and his arrival in Dublin in 1939, on the eve of WW 2. Imbued already with a deep poetic understanding of nature and the beauty of growing things from his childhood country in east Ulster, he believes he is destined to become a great poet but must struggle to gain a foothold in history during the war-torn years of Dublin.

He realises his ambition eventually, ‘at the end of a tortuous road’ on the banks of the Grand Canal, always remembering the Monaghan Hills that plied his imagination with indelible memories. The presentation will offer an opportunity for Interaction and responses.

Ballymun Library in association with the Ballymun Heritage Group is delighted to announce the talk Stories From the National Folklore Collection Schools Collection on Tuesday 18th August at 2.30pm. The stories, retold with storyteller Aideen McBride, were collected in 1934 from St. Pappin's School in Ballymun. This event is suitable for children aged 8-12 years and their families. All are welcome, no booking required.

Presenter Mark Crowther will examine how the city spread northwards from its medieval core, leading up to the construction of the garden suburb of Marino. It will show the original shape of Dublin Bay, the restrictions it placed on maritime access to the city, how the spread of bay was gradually reduced through the construction of the city quays, and how the land was reclaimed and used, firstly for agriculture, and later for housing development.

It will then show how the city spread towards Fairview, notable aspects of the new suburb, changes to transport provision to facilitate the new residents, ultimately leading to the development of the Marino estate.

The shadow of the medieval town of Kilmainham still exists, straddling the River Camac near the bridge at Kearns Place. Here a town developed from the 13th century near where two ‘highways’ out of Dublin are linked - the road to Naas and Munster on Old Kilmainham and the road to Inchicore and the west of Ireland on Kilmainham Lane.

Are we at risk of losing the ancient character of the Kilmainham streetscape through the twin forces of dereliction and modernisation? Is there a way to facilitate change and appropriate housing development while maintaining and enhancing the historic ‘village’ core? With one of our oldest 17th century houses at risk of demolition, Peter Keenahan, a local resident, architect and long-time advocate for and researcher of Kilmainham, will give his perspective on some of these heritage issues.

August night sky is often lit by falling stars. Taking inspiration from the Chester Beatty collections and exploring the late summer skies, join us for a multi-disciplinary workshop focusing on the astrological signs of the zodiac. Discover how different cultures across history mapped and mythologised the stars. Then use your observation and analytical skills to create an original artwork with mixed-media techniques and craft your very own zodiac star sign. Limited to 15 participants aged 12-17 years. Free, booking essential.

Visit the Central Library on 20 August at 18:00 for a screening of The Camino Voyage (Iomramh an Chamino). This inspiring bilingual film follows the crew of a naomhóg, a traditional rowing boat, on their journey from Ireland to Northern Spain over a three-year period. Featuring Brendan Begley, Glen Hansard, Liam Holden, Brendan Moriarty and Danny Sheehy. No registration required. Buen Camino!

This National Heritage Week come to the Coolock Library to weave your own mini loom using recycled materials, textiles, foraged plants and twigs. Weaving is one of Ireland's most treasured traditional crafts. We will be trying out different weaving shapes and designs, and looking at the ways these looms can be used – as decorative wall hangings, or a device to preserve and display dry flowers.

Timeless, fascinating, intricate - the Celtic knot is one of Ireland’s most iconic and enduring artistic traditions. Join artist Roxana Manouchehri at Charleville Mall Library for an immersive two-hour workshop exploring the art of knotwork, from its roots in Iron Age Europe to the breathtakingly illuminated manuscripts of early medieval Ireland. Guided by the rich decorative traditions found in the Chester Beatty collection, you will learn to design and draw beautiful Celtic knot patterns. Suitable for all levels of ability.

Step back in time and explore the story of Coolock through the Coolock Heritage Wall. Created by Coolock Library, the display brings together photographs, historical material and some of the memories shared by local people, offering a glimpse into the area's rich history and community life.

The Heritage Wall was developed by Coolock Library, with contributions from Dublin City Historian in Residence Elizabeth Kehoe and local historian Gillian Ryan, whose research and community engagement helped uncover some hidden gems from Coolock's past. You can visit the Coolock Heritage Wall at Coolock Library all week during Heritage Week during the Coolock Library's opening hours.

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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