West Offaly group honoured at Heritage Week awards

A west Offaly bog heritage group has said it is “more motivated than ever” to preserve the rich cultural and natural legacy of historic Lemanaghan bog after being named as runners-up in for one of seven category awards at the 2024 National Heritage Week awards.

The Lemanaghan Bog Heritage & Conservation Group was named as one of two runners up for the prestigious Intangible Heritage award at the National Heritage Week awards ceremony in Kilmainham, Dublin last week. The award was presented to the Offaly group for their dedication to preserving the cultural and natural legacy of Lemanaghan, a place which is deeply rooted in history and tradition.

The Lemanaghan group has described their local bog as a “living connection to our ancestors, a source of community pride, and a space of immeasurable cultural value.” They added that the national recognition of their efforts to preserve the rich traditions of the area has strengthened their resolve to “protect and share this heritage and ensure its enduring presence for the next generation.”

The west Offaly group shared their runners-up National Heritage Week award for their event “Lemanaghan Stories: Tales of Tradition, Routes, and Connections” which explored the deep physical and cultural links that have shaped the local heritage of the interntionally-renowned historic corner of Offaly.

The winner of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Award (also known as the Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh award) was the Maharees Currach Making Workshop with the O'Leary Family by the

Maharees Conservation Association CLG in county Kerry.

Lemanaghan Bog Heritage & Conservation group shared the runners-up award with the Traveller Living Heritage by Meath Traveller Workshop.