Online Cultural Resources
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
The COVID-19 crisis has rapidly changed how artists present their work and reach audiences.
With science and technology, our capacity to create, to innovate, and to share our culture and heritage has never been greater.
Our culture has never been more diverse, more able to draw on the many traditions of our island, our continent, and our world.
The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is working with key stakeholders – the National Cultural Institutions, the Arts Council, Screen Ireland, RTÉ and TG4 – to ensure that the best of our artistic, cultural and creative resources remain available to the public in the days and weeks ahead.
The department wants to continue to support artists and other cultural workers to share the fruits of their labour with their fellow citizens, albeit in a very different way and is progressing a number of new initiatives, such as:
Many community groups, cultural organisations and individuals have already responded to the situation and have re-purposed many of their work programmes to facilitate online access.
As so many of our people will be staying at home in these coming weeks, we would like to highlight many of the online resources available to them. This trying time may be a moment in which people rediscover their love of the Irish language.
It may be a time to uncover some of the treasures in our national collections preserved in our National Cultural Institutions.
We are bringing these resources together below so that people can easily see and access what is available to them. The list below is not exhaustive, some items are still in development and others will be added in the coming days and weeks.
This section details the Irish language resources available online.
Dúchas.ie are inviting users of the site to transcribe, on a voluntary basis, the stories that were collected as part of the Schools’ Collection. Dúchas.ie hopes that this work will increase community participation in the project and make the material more accessible.
Fáilte Online provides online courses in Irish language and culture for ab initio learners from across the globe.
Log in here to access the online TechSpace Members area and download resources, guides, programmes and more! Access other TechSpace Educators and see if there are any inspiring projects happening near you.
Logainm.ie are inviting the public to enter Irish and English names, as well as other data, regarding minor placenames on this website. This is an opportunity for people to preserve and share the minor placenames in their native areas.
Trinity College are working on speech recognition for Irish (think, for example, of Alexa). To achieve this they need as many recordings as possible. It would be of great help to them if you could record a couple of sentences.
A collection of recordings of seanós singing from TG4 and An tOireachtas.
An tOireachtas's literary competition includes 23 different competitions this year - 15 directed at adult writers and 8 directed at young writers. The syllabus covers a broad range of genres, including; novels, short stories, fiction for adult learners, prose, poetry, drama and more.
Local organisations are providing a range of supports in their communities - shopping deliveries, meals on wheels, email/WhatsApp groups, prescription deliveries, gteic (digital hubs) spaces.
Irish language programming, available all over the world.
Social media channels. Content for young people, aged 15-25 is available on BLOC. Molscéal publishes online content covering current affairs, communities, lifestyle, culture, and so on.
Edcite As Gaeilge is an initiative to share a bank of Irish digital resources with teachers. This initiative has developed 200+ digital tasks that can be used in the classroom as well as two translated educational platforms: Edcite.com and PhET science simulations into Irish. All materials are free and available for primary and secondary teachers to use in their classrooms.
Videos and lessons for Irish language learners. During the school term, video clips featuring from Nuacht TG4’s bulletins are uploaded on the platform, along with Irish language lessons based on the news reports.
A collection of digital resources and activities is available on the site. The course compliments the primary curriculum – Irish language. It is based on the communicative approach and combines four skills – speech, listening, reading and writing.
You can search here for words and phrases in a range of over 3000 texts published in Irish between 1600 and 1926. Search results can be selected and words and phrases can be read in the context in which they were originally written.
Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, in cooperation with Tuairisc.ie, are providing daily Irish language activities for families who are out of school.
You can search online through the resources known to COGG (An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíocht.
The Seó Bóthair roadshow is an interactive workshop which makes use of games, discussion and debates to promote the Irish language in a positive way. We discuss where Irish can be used and discuss their language rights. Conradh na Gaeilge are developing an online interactive seminar for the weeks ahead, available free. Teachers can register here.
An audiovisual educational tool developed for Irish language learners of all levels to help develop their language skills. Lessons are based on video clips from TG4's programming, and are based on topics included in the Leaving Cert syllabus. Available free online.
Online resources available to parents/teachers. Weekly programme providing daily content via social media.
Conversation circle on the phone. Digital versions of their publications available online.
The Be Prepared Grant is available to Údarás na Gaeltachta clients (microenterprises, small and medium businesses) who would benefit from additional research and external expertise in preparing a contingency plan in relation to Covid-19 and examine how to reduce risk, manage cashflows, human resources and marketing. This support grant is up to €5,000 or 50% of the total cost.
The Act On Initiative support will be available to Údarás na Gaeltachta's client companies which export and whose businesses will be affected by the virus. It will provide access to 2 days consultancy engagement at no extra cost to assess financial management, strategic sourcing and transport and logistics advice.
The Mentoring Scheme provides support for a business mentor to assist you in the initial stage of your business or who will give advice on specific areas of your business plan.
Finance in Focus offers Údarás na Gaeltachta's clients funding of up to €7,200 to cover third party consultant’s fees. The grant supports the development of a financial and business plan that identifies funding needs and potential sources of funding.
Online information sessions for third level students, discussing the future and possible opportunities available to them.
Glór na nGael are publishing videos, activities, crosswords, challenges, etc on their social media channels for parents and children at home.
Irish language children's programming, available all over the world.
Mini-series for children; dance, art, story of the day, science, clubs, book reviews, and so on.
Facilitating the programme for traditional arts via online classrooms. Singing and musical instrument tutorials will be made available online.
Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, supported by An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, are compiling a special book focussed on sixth class students, which will be published before the end of this school year.
Sixth class students from Gaeltacht schools around the country are invited to submit their own written pieces, focusing on themes relating to the years they have spent in primary school. A copy of the book will be made available to each student and school involved in the project.
For further information, contact eolas@tuismitheoiri.ie
This section details the heritage resources available online.
The online teacher manual Archaeology in The Classroom programme is available for teachers and students.
The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is running an online children's art competition. Each week we will announce a nature topic on the Notice Nature Facebook page as inspiration for the art pieces.
A social media-based series on the history of fanlights.
Learn more here.
Lectures and talks to be provided by 10 different speakers online, focusing on different aspects of our heritage.
Everybody in Ireland has a bog story to tell, so now that families are gathered together, here is your chance! The Living Bog project is asking young people to record their family’s memories of the bog – whether it was helping grandad cut the turf, or investigating rare plants and animals, chasing butterflies or watching birds. The Living Bog website will publish the best stories, and a selection of young story-tellers will be invited to read their story at a national Living Bog event during Heritage Week.
[external-link www.facebook.com/LIFEraisedbogs | Click here to visit Stories from the Bog ]
A social media-based series on the Built Vernacular Heritage of Ireland.
A digital media campaign showcasing the work of Adopt a Monument scheme with interpretation by community based participants
People are invited to send in photos of their bakery constructions in a weekly competition held on Facebook.
A social media campaign that shares images and facts on our bogs.
[external-link www.facebook.com/LIFEraisedbogs | Click here to visit Bog of the Week ]
Work on the Dublin North City Suburbs book is underway. Photographs of buildings will be posted daily, with users asked to caption it. The best captions will be used in the book, the authors will be credited in the final publication, get a free copy and be invited to the official launch. We also invite users to submit their own images of buildings of note in the area.
A series of articles by the Architectural Conservation Officer (Aco) network showcasing the "good news" built heritage stories resulting from the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Daily social media posts on architectural highlights of individual counties finishing with a link to NIAH Introduction for that county
The National Monuments Service will share video footage on Facebook of about 15 monuments taken last year on social media, including an introduction to each site.
Publication of Stage 4 of NIAH Survey of Dublin City with Ministerial Recommendations issuing and access to online records.
Learn more here.
The public can find information on their local monuments online using the historic environment viewer.
The public can find information online on protected structures and historic buildings in their locality on the website.
The department is asking the public to share images of buildings now no longer standing, for example churches, houses, even old villages/towns, and so on.
The coordination of Heritage Week is being altered so that organisors at local level will be able to coordinate events within the current situation.
Release of appropriate National Monuments Service archive material with stories about Ireland’s past. This would include informative posts on some of our collections such as the Topographical Files, site files, O.S. 1st Edition maps, and also preservation techniques and stories of historical interest.
The Irish Walled Towns Network is developing a social media campaign around Irish Walled Town Network to hightlight the significance of historic towns.
The Heritage Council s developing a toolkit to help local heritage groups to conduct online research into local history.
Learn more here.
The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will continue to publish our monument, building and shipwreck of the month on our social media channels.
The National Monuments Service will publish images from Rathmichael Historical Society. There are large prints of monuments taken by then department photographer Jim Banbury - the prints are about 70 years old and were exhibited around Europe at the time.
Learn more here.
A photo competition, images to be submitted on social media, focusing on Irish Heritage.
The Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme supports initiatives by local peatland communities, local groups, local schools and individuals in relation to the conservation and revitalisation of raised bog Special Areas of Conservation, Natural Heritage Areas and other raised bog areas.
Heritage in Schools expert will record video about flowers and explanations about each flower. Heritage in Schools expert will develop a series of videos helping children to draw different species of birds.
Building on Heritage Ireland 2030 schools competition held last year, ask school kids to develop more heritage emojis and submit to us.
Online jigsaws of prominent heritage sites and buildings are posted on the National Monuments Service social media channels.
Learn more here.
We are asking young people to submit images of national monuments that they have created at home using lego/minecraft.
Learn more here.
A tutorial on making podcasts on heritage themes etc using the technology that children have in their have in their homes.
Learn more here.
Online tutorial on how to access the Schools Folklore Collections - includes activities where kids have to ring grandparents with questions about what they have read about their locality, family, etc.
A drawing competition for younger people linked to our architectural heritage.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service social media pages are where you can find a wealth of videos, activities and other content to keep you up to date and connected with our National Parks.
This live-streaming webcam was set up by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to monitor a pair of white-tailed sea eagles breeding in County Cork.
This section details the cultural resources available online.
Learning and exploration material.
Series of educational podcasts available along with Leaving Certificate History downloadable research guide.
Planned educational interactive material working with 15- to 25-year-olds.
Delivery of the FEÁCH (furthering enterprise, arts, culture and heritage) – artists' training and mentorship programme through online platforms where possible.
Planned performance recording from BlindBoy, Deirdre Kinahan, Rosaleen McDonagh, Frank McGuinness, Enda Walsh and Carmel Winters.
The Chester Beatty's browsable curated digitial collections, galleries and repositories are available here.
The Chester Beatty library also offers a collection of digitised photographs available worldwide here.
The public can search for records of family history for past generations.
There are 100,000 manuscripts relating to Ireland that can be accessed here.
The National Museum of Ireland has a range of resources available to the public online, including virtual tours of the Natural History Museum and educational resources.
You can find further information on some of the museum's exhibitions and collections at the links below.
Screen Ireland can be accessed here.
Archbishop Marsh's Library offers a number of online exhibitions here.
A series under the hashtag #FunIrishHistory which is a look back at some of the highlights of our lecture series over the past 8 years. There will be full talks which can be streamed via youtube.
A large amount of virtual tours and 360 walkthroughs can be accessed here.
A large archive of prior Other Voices performances can be accessed here.
A portal for over 40 heritage groups in County Galway who have digitised various aspects of their local heritage can be accessed here.
The #IrishMuseumsOnline campaign is aimed at helping the wider public and the media to connect with the work you going on in Museums.
As part of co-ordinated activities, DCCI plans to launch a ‘Get Ireland Making’ initiative which will invite our clients and member organisations to develop content for a series of online activities, video interviews and live classes.
National Concert Hall are inviting musicians’, both Irish and international, to create special content & small-scale performances for us to share with our on-line audience.
Design & Crafts Council Ireland: Enabling emerging craft designers to develop skills via online resources Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.
The Irish Design Challenge 2020, a competition that invites proposals from Ireland’s smartest designers and innovators who are driven to find solutions to the current challenges presented by COVID-19. The initiative will profile Irelands ‘hero companies’ who use design and innovation to problem-solve on a daily basis.
Children’s literature with Tall Tales & Deadly Drawings can be accessed here.
Colouring Kildare's Heritage an Online Colouring Book can be accessed here.
Virtual tours, digital exhibitions and online resources for children are available here.
You can learn more about exhibitions in the Crawford Art Gallery on their website. They also have resources available for children and their parents, young people, students, teachers as well as community groups.
Comhaltas Live is a daily programme, accessible to all free of charge, on the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann website featuring the best of Irish music, song and dance. available to view here.
Comhaltas have launched an online resource for all students of traditional Irish music at all levels to learn repertoire.
You can access the site here.
The Cois na hAbhna Regional Archive hosts a library of Irish traditional music, song, dance, and folklore relating to the Meitheal region of Galway, Clare, Limerick and Kerry. Available here.
CCÉ Coiste Chontae Chiarraí are inviting members to submit video recordings of themselves playing music or singing for the Kerry CCÉ Facebook page. Available here.
The Comhaltas Archive is available online.
This page provides video links to live the Comhaltas Concert Tour of Ireland 2019 and Concert Tour of Britain 2020 performances.
This branch of Comhaltas has set up a virtual classroom where notes, song words and recordings are uploaded for everyone to learn common tunes and songs.
These initiatives by Comhaltas na Breataine are available on the Comhaltas na Breataine Facebook page and website.
The Brú na Sí Online Academy enables members to learn tunes and hone their skills from their homes.
Enrolment for the new academy, for branch members only, is by email at youghal@comhaltas.ie
You can catch up on some rare performance down through the years on the festival’s archive section here.
This resource contains many Irish language poems and stories.
The Munster Comhaltas archive is an online resource for Irish Traditional Music followers in Munster.
The Creative Ireland Programme is an all-of-government programme focussed on how participation in creative and cultural activities contributes to national and individual wellbeing.
A wealth of free creative resources for people of all ages is available online via #createathome. The emphasis is on activities that contribute to mental health and wellbeing during this period.
Cruinniú na nÓg is Ireland’s national day of free creative activities for children and young people under the age of 18. Online supports and resources are being provided by the Creative Ireland Programme in partnership with Áirc Damhsa, The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, Great Lighthouses of Ireland, Fighting Words, Whizz Kids Training and RTÉ to enable children and young people to unleash their creativity.
Learn more here.
Galway City Museum have many resources that you can use to explore their collections from your home. Visit their past exhibitions and galleries; listen to their podcasts and explore of some of their artefacts.
Learrn more here.
The National Archives of Ireland is the official repository for the state records of Ireland.
The 1901 and 1911 censuses are the only surviving full censuses of Ireland open to the public. Both censuses cover the island of Ireland.
The National Archives' Decade of Centenaries website charts the historical development of Ireland from 1912 to 1923, a decade which was the most turbulent and transformative experienced by Ireland in the 20th century.