County Cork to Host Record Number of Events for National Heritage Week 2026

County Cork is set to host a record number of events for National Heritage Week 2026, with close to 200 heritage events and activities scheduled to take place across the county.

National Heritage Week is an initiative of the Heritage Council. It is a nine-day celebration of Ireland's cultural, built and natural heritage, running from Saturday 15 August to Saturday 23 August.

This year's theme, "Heritage at Risk," encourages people to revive and reimagine aspects of our heritage that are endangered. The annual event brings together volunteers, community groups and heritage enthusiasts, inviting people to share their experiences, knowledge, culture and practices.

Cllr. Bernard Moynihan, Mayor of the County of Cork:

"National Heritage Week celebrates all of the heritage we hold dear, involving the wonderful people and places of County Cork. There is tremendous credit due to the dozens of events organisers and the amazing volunteers involved. As Mayor of the County of Cork, I would encourage everyone to attend an event near them this National Heritage Week."

Selected events are taking place across all the Municipal Districts.

• In Carrigaline, the Tracton Natural Heritage Festival runs across the weekend of Friday 21 August to Saturday 22 August, alongside a heritage talk at Camden Fort Meagher.
• Macroom Library will host a willow weaving workshop with Cois Laoi Willow.
• Cobh has a range of events across the week, including tours of St. Colman's Cathedral, a heritage walk of the town, and a new exhibition at Spike Island marking 110 years since the 1916 Aud mission.
• East Cork events include heritage tours of Cloyne Cathedral and a heritage talk at St. Mary's Collegiate Church about the legacy of Richard Boyle, the 1st Earl of Cork.
• In Bandon-Kinsale, an engaging talk on how people in the past bought and sold goods takes place at Kinsale Library, alongside the Bandon Walled Town Festival, which runs across the week.
• Fermoy's programme includes a children's creative workshop with Lisa Cliffe and Fiona O'Reilly at Christ Church Fermoy, a Quilt and Caint Workshop exploring the historical emergence of the craft in Ireland, and an evening of traditional music with The Cross Keys.
• Kanturk-Mallow will see a heritage talk and photo exhibition at St. Anne's Church in Mallow, along with a walking tour of Kilcorcoran graveyard with Duhallow Heritage Society.
• In West Cork, events from the Ellen Hutchins Festival take place in various locations, alongside a nighttime bat walk in Rosscarbery and a heritage tour of Drombeg Stone Circle.

A number of these events have been supported by the County Cork Heritage Grant Scheme 2026, backed by both the Heritage Council and Cork County Council.

The full list of events is available at www.heritageweek.ie.