Moate's Dun Na Sí takes home Wild Child Award at National Heritage Week Awards

Moate's Dun na Sí has received a Wild Child Award at the National Heritage Week Awards.

The awards took place yesterday, Thursday, October 29, celebrating the most engaging projects and events organised by National Heritage Week event organisers.

Dun na Sí was recognised for its Wild Child Day Exploring Bugs, Flowers and a Fairy Lake event, which explored the park's fairy lake, bugs and wildflowers in the park's unique habitat.

"We honestly didn’t expect it, and we are absolutely overwhelmed to have been chosen among so many wonderful events celebrating Ireland’s heritage and biodiversity during National Heritage Week," a post by the team at Dun na Sí read.

Athlone historian, writer and broadcaster Gearóid O’Brien was also named as Ireland's 2026 Heritage Hero, ahead of the National Heritage Week Awards ceremony.

During National Heritage Week 2026, Gearóid led guided tours of Athlone’s last remaining Napoleonic gun batteries and the medieval town walls of Athlone.

He took part in an afternoon of poetry, and wrote a play called What’s This Heritage Malarkey?, which was staged by members of the Connaught Street and Environs Community Group at Connaught Gardens.

Gearóid has championed Athlone’s heritage for more than 50 years, spending his professional life as Senior Executive Librarian with responsibility for the Aidan Heavey Library in Athlone until his retirement in 2018.

Another local finalist of the Heritage Council's National Heritage Week Awards was Lecarrow's Native Woodland Trust.

The group's event Drawing from the Woods - Wild Child Day at Rinnagan Nature Reserve, saw artists Lily Bernard and Judith Ryan, as well as General Manager Jeremy Casey, bring visitors along for a relaxed outdoor workshop combining art, biodiversity and heritage.

The full award ceremony can be viewed here.