• 1) Heritage Week in 2011 ran from 20th to 28th August. This year alomst 100 events took place around the County of Cork to celebrate our heritage, who we are and where we have come from. There were walks and talks, exhibitions, medieval festivals, music, storytelling and much much more. Click here to download a copy of the County Events Leaflet. For more information on events all around Ireland go to www.heritageweek.ie 

• 2) The County Cork Biodiversity Action Plan has recently been published. This document aims to address how the wildlife resources of the county including our native plants, animals and the ecosystems that they combine to produce will be managed and protected over the next five years. To download a copy of County Biodiversity Action Plan please click here. Please contact the County Heritage Office for a paper copy of the plan. 

• 3) The Heritage Council Grants Scheme will be advertised in September 2009. This aim of the scheme is to support individuals and communities in their efforts to research, protect and manage aspects of their local heritage. For more information on this scheme go to www.heritagecouncil.ie/grants.  

• 4) This year Cork County Council in association with its partners on the County Heritage Forum is working on a number of projects arising from the County Heritage Plan and the County Biodiversity Action Plan.

 These are:

• The production of a book on the Flora of County Cork (in partnership with Cork City Council);
• An oral history project collecting information on religious customs and practises in Cork County (in partnership with Cork City and County Archives).
• The natural heritage survey of the Midleton Electoral Area;
• The delivery of training in biodiversity to Local Authority Staff;
• The production of guidelines for the integration of new development into architectural conservation areas;
• An audit of archaeologically investigated sites around a number of towns in the county and the development of a database and map of these sites;

A number of these projects have received support funding from the Heritage Council.  Please contact the Heritage Office for more information on any of these projects. 

For more info on Heritage Week 2012 and a review of 2011's event please click here.