LAWPRO invites you to celebrate World Wetlands Day on February 2^nd with a walk and talk. Join an engaging event with experts: Shane Sweeney Breeding Waders EIP Mayo Project Officer and Mark Reed LIFE on Machair Project Officer. It is an opportunity to learn about the importance of wetland habitats and discover Roonah Lake area through the lens of protecting our breeding waders, as well as vulnerable Machair and sand dune habitats.

The event is suitable for people of all ages. Please remember to wear weather appropriate clothing. We encourage you to bring binoculars if you have any, for a chance of birdwatching. Due to sensitivity of the habitats and possibility to encounter wildlife, please do not bring your dog.

Meeting point: Carrownisky Beach, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo
Date and Time: February 2^nd at 11am

Photo credit: LIFE on Machair Project

Community Led river Restoration

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) is delighted to invite you to a special World Wetlands Day webinar exploring the power of community led river restoration. With a strong emphasis on the “World” in World Wetlands Day, this event brings together voices from across the globe.

We are thrilled to welcome both Eva Ford, Catchment Officer with the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee in Queensland, Australia, and Dr. Trish Murphy of the Inishowen Rivers Trust in Donegal. Though separated by thousands of kilometres, their catchments share strikingly similar challenges and successes.

This engaging discussion will explore river rehabilitation, community action, accessing support, and building meaningful connections with local waterbodies. It’s a conversation about what’s possible when communities step up for their rivers.

Join us to learn, connect, and be inspired, whether you’re part of a community group, work in the water sector, or simply care about the future of our rivers.

To celebrate World Wetlands Day Event, LAWPRO will be hosting this Community Led River Restoration event at Tralee Bay Wetlands.

 Free of charge.  You can register with the link on the poster or directly with Tralee Bay Wetlands.  If you cannot attend in person, the webinar is online.  Feel free to share.  Go raibh maith agaibh.

Link to Register  here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/343ada43-b2ee-4813-91ef-779c0381d271@2e4b31ae-b1ed-4fb8-a10d-f1b13a2c61e9

Agenda 

10:00-10:10am - LAWPRO introduction

10:10-10:50am - Eva Ford, Catchment Officer, Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee

10:50-11:00am - Tea break

11:00-11:40am - Dr. Trish Murphy, Project Officer, Inishowen Rivers trust

11:40am-12:00pm - Q&A

Ballyseedy Walk - Discover Ireland's Alluvial Wet Woodlands

Sunday 8th February 11am

Location: meet at the South Car Park of Ballyseedy Woods

Fee: 5euro per adult, children free

Supported by Kerry County Council, this World Wetlands Day walk in Ballyseedy will discover this ancient woodland, meaning it has been continuously covered with trees since the mid-1600. Along with this it is a Wet Woodland which is an annex habitat meaning that there is precious few of these ecosystems still left in Ireland. Explore these ancient habitats with your ecologists from the Wetlands. More information and booking here.

Ensure to wear warm clothing and waterproofs!

Tralee Bay Wetlands Talks, Walks & Workshop

2 February 2026 at Tralee Bay Wetlands

Join Tralee Bay Wetlands on 2 February 2026 as Tralee Bay Wetlands Ecology Park proudly honours World Wetlands Day, a global celebration recognising the vital role wetlands play in sustaining life, culture, and community.

The schedule of events for the day;

10am - Opening with Eleanor Turner, Kerry County Council Biodiversity Officer
10:30am - Bird Watching with Ed Carty
11:30am - LAWPRO Projects with Bláthnaid O’Loughlin, Community Water Officer
12pm - Wetlands Talk with Ger Scollard, Irish Wildlife Trust
2pm - Marsh Walk with Senior Ecologist Alan Balfe
3pm - Wetlands Willow Creation Workshop with Philip McSweeney

All events on the day are free of charge for adults and children (children must be accompanied by an adult). As activities take place outdoors, attendees are advised to wear warm, waterproof clothing and suitable footwear.

Launch of the Birds of the Shannon Estuary Story Map

Sunday 1st February 2pm – 3.30pm

Location: Ballylongford Community Hall, V31 RK80

Join Ballylongford Tidy Towns and others, supported by LAWPRO, Kerry County Council, and NPWS for a day all about the birds of the Shannon Estuary. If it's fine, we will walk over to the shore and spend some time bird watching with Sean O' Brien, NPWS Conservation Ranger and Alan Balfe, Ecologist with Tralee Bay Wetlands. They will share info on the birds that visit the local area, how to take part in a winter bird survey and more. If it's not fine, we'll do the same thing but inside the community hall and without the birds. More information here and any questions email eleanor.turner@kerrycoco.ie.

Tea and coffee and refreshments afterwards in the community hall.

This event has been kindly supported by The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO)