The Old Fair Day on the Green won best event in County Westmeath at the National Heritage Week Awards 2025.

Tyrrellspass Old Fair Day on Green event wins award

Published: Wed 22 Oct 2025, 2:00 PM

The Tyrrellspass Tidy Towns event, the Old Fair Day on the Green, has won best event in County Westmeath at the National Heritage Week Awards 2025.

The winners were announced at on Friday October 17 at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin. The awards are run by The Heritage Council, which promotes awareness of the importance of Ireland’s heritage to communities across the island.

At the ceremony, two other events from Westmeath were recognised as runners-up in their categories.

Echoes of Athlone by Connaught Street and Environs Group, who had a live-heritage event in the Connaught Street area featuring a pipe band parade, market stalls, music, a guided exploration of historic gravestones, and family activities to evoke Athlone’s past was a runner-up for the ‘Exploring our Foundations Award’.

Commemorative 200th Anniversary of the Construction of the Low Road by Tubberclare Local Action Group (TLAC), who had a celebration marking the 200th anniversary of the construction of the Low Road (L-1459) in Glasson, featuring a guided walk of the historic route, a photography exhibition and family entertainment, was a runner-up for the ‘Inclusive Event Award’ reflecting the county’s contribution to National Heritage Week.

This year’s National Heritage Week was the biggest yet, with more than 2,500 events registered and 400,000 people taking part in family-friendly activities that celebrate Ireland’s built, cultural, and natural heritage.

Overall winners

• A.K. ILEN, Ireland’s last wooden ocean-going ship, from the Sailing Into Wellness group from Cork won ‘The Exploring Our Foundations Award’.

• Wild Child Day- All about Otters from the Maigue Rivers Trust from Co Limerick won the ‘Wild Child Award’.

• Mealagh Valley Heritage Day from the Mealagh Valley Community Centre from Co Cork won the ‘Inclusive Event Award’.

• Celebrating Irish Road Bowling at Ballyvolane House from Ballyvolane House in Co Cork won the ‘Intangiable Cultural Heritage Award’.

• Paddling the Past – A Heritage kayak tour of the River Bride from the Conna Community Council Cork won the ‘Water Heritage Award’.

• Toibreacha Beannaithe Chontae na Gaillimhe from Galway County Council in Co Galway won the ‘Irish Language Award’.

• Native Woodland Re-Establishments from Woodlands of Ireland in Co Sligo won the ‘Sustainability and Climate Award’.

Virginia Teehan, chief executive of the Heritage Council, said: “The Heritage Council would like to extend congratulations to the runners-up of this year’s National Heritage Week Awards. The standard of entries was exceptionally high, and the projects recognised as runners-up demonstrated remarkable creativity, commitment, and community spirit.

“Each of them made an outstanding contribution to celebrating and safeguarding Ireland’s heritage. We are deeply appreciative of the passion and dedication shown by all those involved, and we take great pride in supporting their efforts to keep our shared heritage alive for future generations.”

Westmeath heritage officer, Melanie McQuade, said: “I am proud to say that two Westmeath projects were recognised as runners-up in the National Heritage Week Awards.

"Echoes of Old Athlone and the Commemorative 200th Anniversary of the Construction of the Low Road both showcased exceptional community spirit and creativity in celebrating our heritage. Congratulations to everyone involved for your dedication, imagination, and commitment to preserving and sharing Westmeath’s rich history.”