Kildare celebrates as event recognised as runner-up at 2025 Heritage Awards

The winners of the National Heritage Week Awards 2025 were announced at a ceremony Friday October 17 at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin.

The awards are run by The Heritage Council, which promotes awareness of the importance of Ireland’s heritage to communities across the island. 

Ceardlann Tógála Bád by Cill Dara le Gaeilge in Co Kildare was a runner up for the ‘Irish Language Award’. At the event, participants constructed model boats from recycled materials, fostering environmental awareness, teamwork, and creativity.

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The workshop featured interactive talks on the history of boats on the Grand Canal and their local significance, culminating in a playful boat race using the crafted models.

The 2025 National Heritage Week Awards featured a wide range of national categories, reflecting the diversity of heritage across Ireland — from themes like Exploring Our Foundations, Wild Child, and Water Heritage, to Inclusive Heritage, Irish Language, Sustainability and Climate, and Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The awards celebrate the passion and commitment shown by individuals and communities across the country in protecting, sharing, and showcasing Ireland’s rich heritage. It was a wonderful occasion that highlighted the deep sense of care and pride people have for our cultural, built, and natural heritage. 

This year’s National Heritage Week was the biggest yet, with over 2,500 events registered and 400,000 people taking part in family-friendly activities that celebrate Ireland’s built, cultural, and natural heritage.

The overall winners were:

• A.K. ILEN, Ireland's last wooden ocean-going ship, from the Sailing Into Wellness group from Co Cork won ‘The Exploring Our Foundations Award’.

• Wild Child Day- All about Otters from the Maigue Rivers Trust from Co Limerick won the ‘Wild Child Award’. 

• Mealagh Valley Heritage Day from the Mealagh Valley Community Centre from Co Cork won the ‘Inclusive Event Award’.

• Celebrating Irish Road Bowling at Ballyvolane House from Ballyvolane House in Co Cork won the ‘Intangiable Cultural Heritage Award’. 

• Paddling the Past - A Heritage kayak tour of the River Bride from the Conna Community Council Cork won the ‘Water Heritage Award’. 

• Toibreacha Beannaithe Chontae na Gaillimhe from Galway County Council in Co Galway won the ‘Irish Language Award’.

• Native Woodland Re-Establishments from Woodlands of Ireland in Co Sligo won the ‘Sustainability & Climate Award’.

Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, said: “The Heritage Council would like to extend its warm congratulations to the runners-up of this year’s National Heritage Week Awards. The standard of entries was exceptionally high, and the projects recognised as runners-up demonstrated remarkable creativity, commitment, and community spirit. Each of them made an outstanding contribution to celebrating and safeguarding Ireland’s heritage.

“We are deeply appreciative of the passion and dedication shown by all those involved, and we take great pride in supporting their efforts to keep our shared heritage alive for future generations.”

Kildare Co Council Heritage Officer, Dara Wyer, said: “I am very proud to say that the Ceardlann Tógála Bád Boat Building Workshop in Naas, County Kildare, was recognised as a runner-up in the National Heritage Week Awards. This engaging, hands-on event combined creativity and environmental education, with participants building model boats from recycled materials, learning about the history of local waterways, and taking part in a playful boat race.

“Congratulations to everyone involved for their dedication, imagination, and commitment to preserving and celebrating our canal and maritime heritage.”