Over 70 events in Laois for Heritage Week
An open afternoon at Ballintubbert House is among the events during Heritage Week in Laois. File image
HERITAGE Week 2026 will see over 70 events staged in Laois between Saturday 15 and Sunday 23 August.
The theme this year is ‘Heritage at Risk’, which is designed to encourage those engaging with the festival to consider the built natural and cultural aspects of heritage that are endangered, in order for people to be able to reimagine these sites, artefacts and practices in a modern context.
Heritage Week in its current format has been around since 2005, when the running of the celebration was taken over by the Irish Heritage Council. It had previously been run directly by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. since 1991. Since the then-newly formed Heritage Council took over the management of the event, it has exploded in popularity; the 20 years since then taking it from 500 events run across the island of Ireland to over 2,000.
Some highlights this year include ‘Ancient Irish Wakes: The Merry Wake, Keening and the Art of Crying’ in the atmospheric setting of Donaghmore Workhouse, aimed at exploring the origins of wakes and why the Irish hold death rituals in such high regard within communities.
There will be open afternoons in some of the county’s most historic and breathtaking gardens, including Aghaboe Grange Gardens and Ballintubbert House and the premiere of the Abbeyleix commissioned famine film , to name but a few.
Up to next Tuesday, 18 August, events will include a tour of Aghaboe Grange Gardens; a talk on 200 years of Mountmellick embroidery; a Heritage, Steam and Diesel Trains exhibition at Stradbally Woodland Railway; various woodland and biodiversity walks, a tour exploring the history of St Kevin’s Church in Camross through the ages and another exploring the history of the Malt House in Stradbally.
For children, Emo Court will be offering a Seek and Find tour alongside their more adult-themed tour offering, while the Laois Moon Gardens guide to wild pollinators may also offer some fun for young ones.
And finally, those looking for a dash of Halloween a few months early can avail of a tour of the Kilcombane Graveyard in Portlaoise.
A full list of events can be found on the Irish Heritage Council’s website.
Talking up this year’s Heritage Week ahead of its launch, Thomas Carolan, Heritage Officer at Laois County Council, said: “It is always fascinating to see the variety and creativity of the events from local groups and organisations for Heritage Week. I believe that Heritage Week is a truly unique opportunity for people to learn and experience something new about the built, natural or cultural heritage in their area."
