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heritage · Saturday 15 August 2026 · Various 
National Heritage Week in County Wicklow
At Multiple Venues, County Wicklow · Various venues, Co. Wicklow
At Multiple Venues, County Wicklow · Various venues, Co. Wicklow
National Heritage Week runs across County Wicklow from Saturday, 15 August to Sunday, 23 August 2026, part of the nationwide week coordinated by the Heritage Council. Local museums, historical societies, churches and community groups put on more than 60 events over the nine days, nearly all of them free. It is the one week of the year when volunteer researchers, local archives and buildings normally closed to the public open their doors at once.
The 2026 programme covers the length of the county. In the mountains, the Brockagh Centre in Laragh hosts an evening of Military Road stories with historian Fin Dwyer of the Irish History Podcasts. Rathdrum Library runs a family workshop on barn owl pellets and what they reveal about local wildlife. Wicklow Library looks at reading historic graveyards. Church open days are planned at St Kevin’s in Hollywood, St Kevin’s at Glendalough Monastery, Old Conna graveyard in Bray, Nuns Cross Church, Glenealy Church and Christ Church in Bray. Blessington Tourist Office puts on a small exhibition on the old Dublin and Blessington steam tram, and Tinahely and Carnew both show archive material on their local history. Guided walks are scheduled at Delgany, Tinahely, Greystones, Bray, Enniskerry, Roundwood, Kilmacurragh Arboretum, Killruddery, Knocksink, Castleruddery, Glenmalure and Dunlavin, along with open days at Altidore Castle, Killruddery House, Russborough House and the ESB’s Turlough Hill hydropower station.
Heritage Week events are spread across the whole county, so transport depends on the specific event chosen. Wicklow Town, Bray and Rathdrum are all served by Dublin trains from Connolly and Pearse, and Bus Éireann and Wicklow-based bus routes reach most of the larger towns. Venues in the mountains, such as Glenmalure and the Brockagh Centre, are easiest reached by car.
Heritage Week is a good excuse to explore beyond the one event you came for. Wicklow Town itself has its own free Saturday heritage trail, running through the same summer season, and the county town makes a natural base for a day that takes in two or three Heritage Week venues. There is more to see in Wicklow and across Co. Wicklow.
Heading to Multiple Venues, County Wicklow in Wicklow? Wicklow has plenty more to see. Read the Wicklow area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.
In town for Multiple Venues, County Wicklow? These Wicklow tours book out in summer.