National Heritage Week 2026 - Mayo Events

Each August, Ireland opens up in a way it rarely does the rest of the year. National Heritage Week - running from 15 to 23 August 2026 - brings nearly 2,000 free and low-cost events to communities across the country, with County Mayo playing a full part. The 2026 theme is “Heritage at Risk,” inviting families, locals, and visitors to look more closely at what is worth protecting and why. It is a good week to arrive in the west with children in tow or simply with a bit of curiosity about what has shaped this county.

What to expect

Mayo’s programme spans the full nine days and draws on the county’s remarkable range of heritage sites. The anchor venue is the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life at Turlough Park, just outside Castlebar town, and admission there is always free. During Heritage Week in previous years the museum has offered guided tours of its Irish Folklife Collection, drop-in craft workshops (lantern-making has featured), and activity trails for children around the Green Flag-award-winning grounds. The wider week also includes Wild Child Day and Water Heritage Day as dedicated strands - both well suited to Mayo’s blend of coastline, bogland, and river systems.

Beyond Turlough Park, events are scattered across the county’s towns and villages: expect guided walks at local archaeological sites, open doors at historic houses and churches that are normally closed, community archive displays, and the occasional re-enactment or living history demonstration. The Heritage Council runs a “Cool for Kids” spotlight within the programme to flag the events most suitable for younger visitors. Full listings are not finalised until closer to August, so checking heritageweek.ie in July is the practical move.

Getting there

Castlebar is the county town of Mayo and easy to reach from most directions. From Dublin, the N5 runs directly west and the drive takes roughly two and a half hours. Regular Bus Eireann services connect Castlebar with Dublin, Galway, Westport, and Ballina. The town is also on the Western Rail Corridor from Galway to Ballina, with Castlebar station a short walk from the town centre. Turlough Park is about 5km east of Castlebar on the N5; there is free car parking on site. Within the town, parking is available at the Linenhall Arts Centre car park and along Spencer Street.

While you’re in Castlebar

A Heritage Week visit fits naturally into a longer stay in the area. The 10km Museum Greenway links Turlough Park to Lough Lannagh in Castlebar town, making for an easy half-day out on foot or bike. There is more to see in Castlebar and across Co. Mayo.

Good to know

• Dates: Saturday 15 August to Sunday 23 August 2026
• Times: varies by event - check individual listings at heritageweek.ie
• Price: Free (most events; some workshops may require booking)
• Book or browse: heritageweek.ie/event-listings - filter by county when listings go live in July
• National Museum - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar is free year-round and family-friendly