The Society is delighted to welcome Ms Virginia Teehan, the Chief Executive of The Heritage Council, to speak about the importance of heritage and issues relating to heritage. The Heritage Council is a public body whose mission is to develop a wide understanding of the vital contribution that our heritage makes to our social, environmental and economic well-being. The council has a particular responsibility to promote interest, education, knowledge and pride in national heritage, and is responsible for a wide variety of programmes and initiatives, ranging across heritage funding, education, community involvement and raising public awareness.

Virginia is an art historian, writer, curator and archivist who has led the Heritage Council since January 2019. She was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy in 2022. Her publications include The Honan Chapel: A Golden Vision (with Elizabeth Heckett) (Cork University Press 2005) and Provision of Genealogical Services in Ireland (The Heritage Council, 2000). She is a former Chair of the Archives and Records Association Ireland and has also served as director of the Hunt Museum in Limerick.

The lecture will be held in the Gateway Hotel (formerly the Crowne Plaza) in Dundalk (Eircode A91 EF88) on Thursday 26 March 2026 at 8 p.m.

All are welcome to attend. Voluntary donations at the door are welcome to support the work of the Society.