HHI unites for Heritage Week 2024!

Exciting new additions to our HW line-up for 2024!

Historic Houses of Ireland is delighted to announce that more of its members than ever are opening their doors to celebrate the theme of "Connections, Routes & Networks" for Heritage Week 2024 (August 17th to 25th)!

Our houses are inextricably interwoven into both the lives of their local communities and Ireland’s broader cultural and natural heritage, a rich tapestry of connections that have been passed down through generations. Not just their houses and estates but also their archives, collections, oral and written histories, are all part of that rich tapestry. We were extremely proud, in fact, that our member Beaulieu House in Co. Louth was selected to host the launch of Heritage Week 2024 in July.

All of our full members are protected family homes, spanning the spectrum from large castles to modest country houses. Many of our houses have been in the same hands for generations and so both they and their contents have been preserved almost intact over the centuries creating a deep connection with the past as well as hope for the future: Birr Castle in Co. Offaly has one of the most pristine archives in the world while Castlegarde in Co. Limerick is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Ireland.

Other member houses were more recently acquired by passionate new owners who have dedicated themselves to restoring both their homes and regenerating the lands they stand on. Ballysallagh House in Co. Kilkenny, Loughton House in Co. Offaly and Rokeby Hall, for example, in Co. Louth have all been meticulously restored by their current owners over many years. Perhaps the most stunning example, however, is Killua Castle in Co. Westmeath which has been restored from a complete ruin to a spectacular treasure trove of art and beauty. Its generous owners are opening its grounds to the public throughout Heritage Week from 10 am to 5 pm.

We were also delighted this year to introduce a new Associate Member category which includes the likes of Russborough House in Co. Wicklow and the Bishop’s Palace in Limerick City, both of which are making valuable contributions to celebrating Heritage Week.

We are extremely proud that a long list of houses are opening their doors to the public on our behalf for the very first time this year. In County Cork alone, visitors will have a rare opportunity to see the lovingly restored interior of Laurentinum House in Doneraile, to enjoy a talk from the owner of Glenlohane House in Kanturk about both his beloved home and the Battle of Knocknanuss, and tour stunning Inish Beg Estate on Inish Beg Island near Baltimore.

Our Roscommon member, Frybrook House in Boyle, is opening its doors to celebrate its renovation and connections to the town, also for the first time. We are thrilled too that imposing Milford House in Co. Tipperary, which is home to the Live Art Ireland Collective, is staging a performance in honour of its 17th century bee boles. The remarkable insights yielded by the archive of our new member Ballinderry House in Co. Kildare is also the subject of a fascinating talk by Dr Ciaran Reilly of the Centre for the Study of Historic Houses & Estates at Maynooth University. Truly magical Larchill Arcadian Gardens are another very welcome addition to our membership and are open throughout the week. Lovely Moyglare Glebe in Maynooth, Co. Kildare is also open for tours. Further houses will be added as we move closer to Heritage Week! So please keep an eye out on www.heritageweek.ie and also our Instagram and Facebook pages!

HHI unites for Heritage Week 2024!

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