As County Mayo gets set to hold a record number of events for National Heritage Week, the Heritage Council coordinators of the week have issued a call for County Ambassadors in Mayo.
National Heritage Week 2011 takes place nationwide from Saturday August 20 to Sunday 28. Ireland’s heritage is a key attraction for overseas visitors each year and there is an opportunity to engage with tourists while they are here on holidays. The Heritage Council County Ambassador Volunteer Programme will recruit volunteers to become County Ambassadors, located in the local Tourism Information Office throughout National Heritage Week. Their role will be to provide tourists with information on what is happening in the local area as part of the week. Training and support will be provided by the council and Fáilte Ireland to all volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a County Mayo Ambassador for the week, log on to www.heritageweek.ie Speaking about the week, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, said: “The range of events taking place during National Heritage Week demonstrates the diversity of our heritage that is very much part of us both individually and as a nation. We must never take our heritage for granted; our heritage can play a central role in shaping and contributing to the future of Ireland. Now, more than ever before, the employment it provides and the opportunities it presents for sustainable economic development are being recognised by all sectors of society. This year there is a nine-day programme of nationwide activities scheduled for National Heritage Week. I am very much looking forward to participating in many of the events taking place across the country during Heritage Week. It is fantastic to see Ireland embracing the opportunity to promote and celebrate our uniquely Irish heritage.”
This year will see the old Irish tradition of storytelling being celebrated as the first day of National Heritage Week (Saturday August 20 ) designated National Tell Tale Day. While Heritage Week in itself tells the rich and diverse story of our heritage more than 100 specific storytelling themed events for children and adults will take place across the country during the week.
Some 50,000 copies of the National Heritage Week Event Guide are now available free throughout the country in Fáilte Ireland tourist offices, libraries, OPW sites, Bus Éireann stations, county council offices, etc. Complete event listings are also available on the National Heritage Week website, www.heritageweek.ie For updates on events throughout the week, log onto www.heritageweek.ie or follow it on Twitter @heritageweek or the Heritage Week Facebook page.
