Local community groups nominated for National Heritage Week awards

Two community groups from South Westmeath have been announced as category finalists at this year's National Heritage Week Awards.

Connaught Street & Environs Group and the Tubberclare Local Action Group have been recognised for their respective community initiatives during Heritage Week which took place in August.

Nominated in the 'Exploring Our Foundations' award category, the Connaught Street & Environs Group 'Echoes of Old Athlone' initiative brought the local community together for a 'day to enjoy, remember, reflect and reconnect with the stories that shape our identity'.

This award reflects the 2025 theme 'Exploring Our Foundations' and celebrates projects that looked at the roots of our shared heritage, the stories, traditions, and places that ground us and connect us to the past.

The market day in Connaught Gardens was featured a short introduction to the history of St Peter’s churchyard and headstones, 'a forgotten gem of old Athlone'.

The was a live performance from the Army Band, while market stalls dotted around Connaught Gardens reflected a time in Athlone when it was renowned as a bustling market town.

Tubberclare Local Action Group have been nominated for the 'Inclusive Event' award for their 200th anniversary commemoration of the construction of the Low Road.

This award recognises events that placed inclusivity at their heart, ensuring that heritage could be experienced and enjoyed by as wide and diverse an audience as possible.

The festivities included a guided walk along the historic and scenic 3.5km Low Road, where attendees explored its rich heritage and stories, while a fascinating photography exhibition at the Glasson Heritage Centre brought the past back to life through images of the road and the village over the years.

Over 2,500 events took place nationwide as communities embrace the Heritage Council’s invitation to explore this year’s theme, 'Exploring Our Foundations'. These events highlighted a shared commitment to preserving and celebrating Ireland’s heritage.

The winners of all categories will be unveiled at the National Heritage Week Awards ceremony on October 17, which will be live-streamed on heritageweek.ie.