County Galway is gearing up for an action-packed week in celebration of Ireland’s biodiversity and natural heritage from the unique birdlife along the Shannon Callows in East Galway to the wildflowers on the limestone pavement of Inis Meáin.
Galway County Council Biodiversity Week from Friday 17th May to Sunday 26th May features a countywide programme of free events that celebrate the many aspects of biodiversity including family days out in beautiful natural amenities to information and discussions about threats to the local environment.
The weeklong programme of events also includes a bat walk, a talk about the bumblebees of Connemara, a sustainable gardening course and a biodiversity table quiz.
Cllr. Liam Carroll, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council said, “The aim of National Biodiversity Week is to encourage active learning about biodiversity through a range of enjoyable events and to increase public understanding that action taken locally has national and global importance. I encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to participate and learn about the importance of our biodiversity and, of course, have some fun.”
Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council stated, “County Galway has a rich variety of different animals and plants as well as some of the best examples of habitats in Ireland due to our contrasting landscapes from the mountains of Connemara to the lakes and rivers of East Galway. However, our biodiversity is continuously under threat and, therefore, it is more important than ever that the public participate in National Biodiversity Week to learn how they can play a role in protecting their local biodiversity.”
“County Galway is widely recognised for its rich biodiversity, and we are determined that this is reflected in the level of activity throughout the county during Biodiversity Week,” explained Rosina Joyce, Biodiversity Officer with Galway County Council.
She added, “With events taking place morning, noon and night all over County Galway, there will be activities to suit everybody during National Biodiversity Week. We hope members of the public who participate in one of over 20 free events taking place around the county will be inspired to take an active interest in helping to conserve biodiversity for future generations in their own community.”
The week commences on Friday 17th May at 7.30pm in Roundstone Community Hall where John Lusby from BirdWatch Ireland will provide a talk on the Breeding Birds of Connemara. Hosted by Roundstone Bicentenary Events 200 and supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NWPS) through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund, the event will offer an introduction to local birdlife found on the nearby bogs such as meadow pipits, skylarks, stonechats, curlew and cuckoo.
On Saturday 18th May, horticulturist Aoife Munn will host a Sustainable Gardening Course at Glenamaddy Community Garden from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Participants will learn how to garden in sustainable manner and support biodiversity in their garden. Advance booking is essential.
The natural symphony of birdcall will be the focus of the Roundstone Bog Dawn Chorus walk with BirdWatch Ireland’s John Lusby on Sunday 19th May. The special early morning event gets underway from the Wild Atlantic Way Signature Point in Derrigimlagh at 4.30am.
Brigit’s Garden in Rosscahill is the host venue for a Wildflower Walk & Talk on Monday 20th May from 11.00am to 2.00pm. Kay Synott of Living Gardens and Jenny Beale of Brigit’s Garden will present a talk on some of the common wildflowers found in County Galway and provide a guided walk through one of the most picturesque gardens of Ireland. The event also will feature the launch of the Volume 2 edition of the bilingual ‘Weed or Wildflowers’ publication, a copy of which will be presented to attendees on the day. It is necessary to book your place in advance for this event.
On Tuesday 21st May from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, Colette O’Flynn of the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) will be guest speaker on a webinar providing expert insight into the issue of invasive alien species such as Japanese Knotweed and Quagga Mussel and what can be done to tackle the threat. Organised by the National Network of Local Authority Biodiversity Officers in partnership with the Heritage Council and the NBDC, the online talk will be of particular benefit to those working with Tidy Towns, Community Gardens or restoration projects. The webinar Teams link may be accessed at https://biodiversity.galwaycommunityheritage.org.
Clarinbridge Cairde Club hosts a one-hour ‘Gardening for Biodiversity’ talk in Clarinbridge Parish Hall at midday on Wednesday 22nd May. Kay Synott of Living Gardens will inform attendees about how to support biodiversity in their garden and how to create space for nature.
On Thursday 23rd May, local schools have been invited to participate in a Bird Call Workshop and Biodiversity Table Quiz, presented by Biodiversity Officer Rosina Joyce in partnership with the OPW Athenry Castle.
On Thursday and continuing into Friday 24th May, the two-day Portumna Bioblitz and Biodiversity Festival with MKO will feature a whole series of events from bat walks, moth trapping, river kick-sampling and a demonstration of conversation dogs. Events will be hosted by Portumna Community School and will also see events taking place around the town in OPW’s Portumna Castle and Gardens and Coillte’s Forest Park
The local community of An Cheathrú Rua is invited to participate in a Seashore BioBlitz, Scavenger Hunt and Litter Beach Clean-up in Trá an Dóilín on Friday 24th May from 11.30am to 1.30pm. Organised by Galway County Council’s Biodiversity Office and Environment Section, the event is aimed at connecting the community with nature and promoting the biodiversity of Trá an Dóilín’s coral beach and crystal-clear waters. Can we mention the Galway Atlantaquaria? It is a partnership with them.
Also on Friday, BirdWatch Ireland’s Kathryn Finney will provide an insightful talk on the birdlife that lives in the stunning habitat of the Shannon Callows. The event commences at 7.30pm at The Irish Workhouse Centre, Portumna.
Saturday 25th May begins at An Fuarán in Moycullen at 11.00am with the launch by Biodiversity Officer Rosina Joyce of, the Moycullen Bogs Heritage Trail, the latest addition by Cumann Staire Ruaidhrí Uí Fhlaitheartaigh and Moycullen Heritage to the local series of trails around the village and surrounding area. The scenic 23km-loop starts and finishes at An Fuarán and cuts through Moycullen Bogs Natural Heritage Area, an extensive lowland blanket bog located 5 km west of Galway City.
Celia Graebner of the Clonbur Pollinator Project will host a fascinating talk from 11.00am to midday at All Saints Heritage Centre about the different types of bumblebees, including the threatened Large Carder Bee, that can be found locally and around the Western Lakes. Attendees will learn how to identify them, what they feed on and how they can help them. Celia will later lead a leisurely, family-friendly walk looking at spring wildflowers and the bumblebees and butterflies that visit them. The 90-minute Bumblebee Walk begins from the Clonbur Woods entrance at 2.00pm.
Biodiversity Week 2024 concludes on Sunday 26th May with a Wildflower Walk and the launch of Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh’s new booklet on the wildflowers of Inis Meáin, entitled ‘Pabhsaeir Inis Meáin’ . The Irish language walk begins from the Ionad Pobail at midday and will feature Aedín reflecting on local flower names and the cultural heritage of the flora found on the island.
Galway County Council Biodiversity Week is supported by the NPWS thought the Local Biodiversity Action Fund. The Local Authority Biodiversity Officer Programme is sponsored by The Heritage Council. For more information on the full programme of events taking place across County Galway visit www.biodiversityweek.ie / www.biodiversity.galwaycommunityheritage.org or email biodiversity@galwaycoco.ie.
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