Celebrating 25 years of the Heritage in Schools Programme
“I'm joyous to think that the scheme is now celebrating 25 years. It has enriched children’s lives and brought magic to our schools.” Leo Hallisey, Founder of Heritage in Schools
Heritage in Schools is a Heritage Council programme that facilitates visits to primary schools by a range of specialists on Ireland’s natural, cultural and built heritage. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the Heritage in Schools scheme, founded by Dublin-born Leo Hallisey, in Connemara, in 2000.
The six videos below were commissioned to mark this important milestone and they highlight various stories from the programme, featuring the voices of those who have benefited from it and those who have contributed to its nationwide success.
Leo Hallisey – founder of Heritage in Schools
“The great gift of the scheme is that the experts make contacts with the schools. They become friends and they build real education out of that friendship.”
Virginia Teehan – Chief Executive, Heritage Council
“This programme allows children...to explore their place and get a better understanding of where they live and an appreciation of the place in which they are based.”
Maria Walsh – Heritage in Schools Programme Manager
“One of our heritage specialists was working with a non-verbal student and by the end of that week, that child was asking questions about Vikings.”
Geraldine Tierney – Teacher
“It's active learning - the children are not behind desks. They're up. They're examining exhibits. They're asking questions.”
Síle Staunton – Teacher
“Those experiences I had in Letterfrack school have shaped me as a teacher today...I can't emphasise how much we benefited from it.”
Ciara Chamberlain – Student
“When you see someone have such a passion for something that really stuck with me as a child. I just fell in love with Aquatic Biology and I decided to pursue a degree in marine and freshwater biology.”