National Heritage Week 2026
Athlone Castle presents events to celebrate Ireland’s cultural, built and natural heritage during National Heritage Week 2026
Athlone Castle Visitor Centre will present an exciting series of events during National Heritage Week 2026. This year’s events will explore the preservation of Irish heritage by making history and heritage accessible to all ages.
Athlone Castle team will share ways to preserve local knowledge and history during Documenting Athlone Castle’s Collection workshops on Saturday 15th of August at Abbey Road Artists’ Studios. Hands-on workshops will take place throughout the day to suit different age groups. Workshops for children aged seven to twelve years will take place from 11 am to 12:30 pm, for teenagers aged thirteen to seventeen from 1:30 pm to 3 pm, and for participants aged eighteen onwards from 3:30 pm to 5 pm.
During each session, participants will learn how museum collections are monitored and catalogued by handling artefacts safely, photographing and measuring objects, recording materials and condition, and writing catalogue entries for inclusion in a digital collections catalogue. These workshops aim to provide a fascinating insight into the work involved in preserving Athlone’s tangible heritage for future generations. Places for these free workshops are limited, so booking in advance is required. Visit www.athlonecastle.ie/events for more information.
On Sunday 23rd August 2026, Athlone Castle will host Checkmate! An Epic Live Chess Battle Between the Connaught and Leinster Sides of Athlone. This free event aims to bring the ancient game of chess to life for a modern audience. The location at the public park at Abbey Road Graveyard is located near Athlone Castle and the River Shannon. This symbolic setting, linking landscape, history, and community, provides the ideal backdrop to reimagine Athlone’s friendly Connaught–Leinster rivalry. Local children aged seven to fourteen are invited to sign up to participate in the event, during which they will don medieval-style costume props and step onto the board as life-size pieces, directed by youth players from Athlone-based clubs.
The Castle team is delighted to collaborate with Jonathan O’Connor, CC-IM, Chess Bud Partner, Chess Coach & Irish Senior Champion, who will be on-hand on the day to guide and speculate on what promises to be a dramatic contest of strategy and skill. Once checkmate is declared, spectators will be invited to step forward and play their own games, either on the life-size chessboard or at standard chess stations in the area.
Booking in advance at www.athlonecastle.ie/events is required only for children who wish to take part as the live chess pieces. This project has been supported with funding from The Heritage Council
For further details on events and bookings, visit www.athlonecastle.ie/events
