Connecting Youth and Heritage the focus of annual Heritage Ireland 2030 Summit
- Published on: 29 October 2025
- Last updated on: 29 October 2025
Annual conference brings together heritage practitioners to share knowledge and advance the national heritage plan, Heritage Ireland 2030
The engagement of young people with heritage was to the fore at the fourth annual Heritage Ireland 2030 Summit, which was held in Trinity College today (Wednesday 29 September).
This year’s summit was opened by the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD and focused on the theme of Connecting Heritage and Youth.
The Summit brought together practitioners, heritage bodies and members of the public to celebrate heritage, and to promote and support collaboration and knowledge-sharing. The context for the Summit is the ongoing implementation of Heritage Ireland 2030, the national heritage plan published by Government in 2022.
The Summit theme this year focused on connecting young people with heritage. Local ‘on the ground’ heritage projects from around Ireland centred on engaging young people with heritage and biodiversity in new ways were represented, including:
- the establishment of a crack team of heritage detectives on Inishowen;
- the adoption of a ringfort behind their school by children from Inch National School in Co Clare;
- how the voices of children are being incorporated into heritage stories at local National Parks;
- and how young minds are re-imagining the days of the ‘big house’ at Larchill in Co Meath.
Minister of State O’Sullivan said:
“Strengthening engagement with heritage is at the very core of Heritage Ireland 2030. Every year, this Summit is a celebration of heritage, and the theme of this year’s Summit is one that is close to my heart. It recognises the fundamental importance of connecting young people with heritage in all its forms – whether natural, built and archaeological or cultural.
This year’s Summit acknowledges the crucial work being carried out across the wider sector and across our schools and communities to share and explore heritage with our young people.”
Minister O’Sullivan added:
“I want to thank all our speakers and attendees who joined us in what has become an annual celebration of heritage. Heritage Ireland 2030 is so important, as a long-term framework that maps progress and seeks to chart a path towards achieving the best possible conservation and management of heritage in Ireland.
By working together, we ensure that we can do justice to the heritage, nature and the legacy of the past and carry its richness long into the future. Getting young people involved – at any stage – will do just that.”
The one-day event heard from participants involved in heritage management and custodianship, including representatives of government departments, state agencies, heritage bodies and community groups. The summit also heard of improving and inspiring young people to access the heritage sector, be it in the built or natural environment.
Community heritage project speakers were joined on stage by representatives from the Heritage Council, The Irish Heritage Trust, National Monuments Service, the National Museum, Historic Houses of Ireland, Irish Heritage School, School of Irish Archaeology, Dublin City Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The summit also heard how festival goers at this summer’s big music festivals were engaged with nature and wildlife by local NPWS staff.
Celebrating its 25th birthday this year, the Heritage in Schools Scheme, run by the Heritage Council, provided a panel of heritage specialists who visit primary schools to help children and their teachers learn about and appreciate their local heritage.
The Summit concluded with a panel discussion and Q&A with by heritage practitioners who spoke of their very different experiences of the sector and their thoughts on its future. A report on the Summit’s proceedings will be published on the dedicated Heritage Ireland 2030 Summit webpage in the coming months.
ENDS
Notes to Editors / Further information
Heritage Ireland 2030 was approved by Government in February 2022. As part of the implementation structure it was agreed to hold an annual Heritage Ireland 2030 Summit.
The drafting of Heritage Ireland 2030 was closely informed by public consultation (with 2100+ written submissions received) and collaboration with key heritage partners and colleagues in other departments. The objectives are set out under three themes: Communities, Partnerships and Leadership, broken down into an action plan comprising over 150 discrete actions.
Implementation of Heritage Ireland 2030 is overseen by the Department (National Monuments Service; NMS).
Coordinated by NMS, annual Heritage Ireland 2030 implementation update reports provide annual snapshots of activities delivered under each of the 158 actions in the strategy’s action plan. As documented in the reports, since publication of the strategy, overall implementation has supported increased investment in heritage, as well as increased cross-sectoral awareness and integration of heritage across a broad range of strategic national and sectoral plans.