Move with Nature: Imbolc at Girley Bog
Booking: Fully Booked. Join the waitlist here. Free of charge, but places limited
Event organiser: Irish Wildlife Trust and Dr Kate Flood
Event contact: events@iwt.ie
Join the Irish Wildlife Trust and Dr Kate Flood, researcher and community volunteer, for a nature walk celebrating the changing season at Girley Bog. This is the first in a series of IWT Move with Nature events where we bring people together outdoors and explore local ecology while getting light exercise through walking and movement (with thanks to Patagonia for sponsoring).
Imbolc marks the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, signalling the return of light and the first stirrings of spring. It coincides with St Brigid’s Day, which symbolises hope, renewal, creativity, and female empowerment. On this walk, we will explore some of the history, folklore, symbolism, and ecology of both Imbolc and St Brigid’s Day. As liminal spaces, neither fully land nor water, bogs align with Brigid’s role as a figure who stands on the threshold of spring. With its deep layers of both living organisms and preserved ancient life, the bog also serves as a powerful symbol of hidden potential and the Earth’s regenerative cycle. Imbolc is also the day before World Wetlands Day, which is an annual opportunity to coordinate global, national and local efforts to raise awareness about wetlands.
Girley Bog is a designated Natural Heritage Area of considerable significance which first developed around 10,000 years ago. It is one of the few remaining raised bogs in Co. Meath and a rare habitat both in Ireland and Europe. It is managed by a collaborative group including NPWS, Coillte, the IPCC, and local groups working together to restore the habitat since turf cutting ceased in 2011.
Dr. Kate Flood is a researcher and and volunteer who has worked with communities over the past ten years to raise awareness of the importance of peatlands for climate, biodiversity and people, and the importance of people and communities for conserving and restoring peatlands. Her current work explores the cultural, social, medicinal and ecological uses of plants and of the bog itself. Kate works across art, science, history, geography, botany, ecology, and herbalism to imagine and invite others to imagine new futures for bogs and rethink how we live in relationship with them.
Meeting Point: Girley Bog Carpark at Drewstown Great See Map here
NB: There are two Girley Bog Carparks so make sure you go to the one at Drewstown Great and NOT the N52 car park as this can cause delays. The car park can take a good number of cars but please carpool where possible. W e will be walking on paths and bog bridge most of the time – boots are recommended as the path can be mucky and uneven in places. There are no toilets on site. There is a toilet in the Top Oil Cloncat Service Station and the town of Kells is also nearby.
