Kilkenny County Council Library Service is delighted to announce an exciting programme of events for Heritage Week 2026, taking place from the 15th to the 23rd of August. This year’s theme “Heritage at Risk” encourages us to explore the built, natural and cultural aspects of our heritage that are endangered, to reimagine and revive these sites, artefacts customs and practices.
Libraries across the county will host a diverse range of talks and workshops celebrating Kilkenny’s rich cultural legacy. Highlights include talks by historian Michael Reynolds on the recently released 1926 Census and the role of Kilkenny Gardaí as the State’s first enumerators, offering a fascinating insight into everyday life in the county a century ago.
A key feature of this year’s programme is the Kilkenny Library Local Studies Roadshow, which will visit some library branches throughout the county. Members of the public are invited to bring photographs, letters, documents, maps and memorabilia to uncover hidden gems and discuss digital scanning and preservation. The initiative aims to safeguard valuable local heritage while helping to expand the Kilkenny Digital Archive for future generations.
Additional events include a talk on Tom Treacy and the aftermath of the 1916 Rising, a celebration of the 300th anniversary of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, the story of Cushendale Woollen Mills, an interactive workshop on Barrow Navigation Placenames, a talk on the Thomastown Workhouse, and genealogy sessions using historic online newspaper archives.
Alicia Dunphy, Local Studies Librarian, said: “Heritage Week offers a wonderful opportunity to discover, share and celebrate the stories, people and places that have shaped Kilkenny’s identity while highlighting the importance of preserving our heritage for future generations.”
Some events require booking due to limited capacity.
For full details and registration information, please follow us on Instagram or Facebook or visit: www.kilkennylibrary.ie .
