Community groups invited to host a Water Heritage Day event

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) is encouraging community groups to apply under the Water Heritage Day Grants Scheme 2023 to help celebrate Water Heritage Day on 20th August 2023. 

https://consult.watersandcommunities.ie/en/surveys 

You are invited to organise a community water-related event for Heritage Week. The application deadline is 10th July and you are asked to consult with your local Community Water Officer in advance of making an application. You can find contact details on our website Communities Team - Local Authority Water Programme (lawaters.ie)

The theme of Heritage Week 2023 is “Living Heritage”.

Water Heritage Day on Sunday, 20th August will focus on discovering traditional knowledge, skills and practices associated with our natural waters and is an opportunity to explore our intangible cultural heritage and links with the past through customs, practices and traditions.

How can we connect with the skills and traditions of the past and pass them to the next generation? We want volunteers, community groups and heritage enthusiasts to share their experience, knowledge, culture and practice.

As an island nation we have a tradition of storytelling and many of our legends and folklore offer insights into the wisdom and customs of previous generations, and their associations with water.

This year is an opportunity to highlight past and more recent stories. Why not host your own Stories from the waterside - Stories from the waterside event?

There are lots of other engaging ways to celebrate this important cultural connection, for example, following a river from source to sea, a training event or workshop, a booklet on a local waterway, a digital water heritage project, an exhibition, a boat tour, or a river safari, etc.

The following guide offers a collection of ideas NHW23-101-Event-Ideas.pdf (heritageweek.ie)

Heritage week is a terrific opportunity to celebrate our pristine waters that have been passed down from previous custodians.

If you live near one of these waterbodies, you could host an event to tell people about the fascinating species that depend on healthy waters (including the Freshwater pearl mussel with a life span of over 100 years!) and how we can help protect and improve them.

We work in partnership with the Heritage Council, and you are invited to register your event on their website Home | National Heritage Week 12 – 20 August 2023. 

By applying, you could also be in with a chance to win a Water Heritage Award in 2023. See details of previous winners here National Heritage Week Awards | National Heritage Week 12 – 20 August 2023

For further information please visit our website www.lawaters.ie