February 2nd (Bank Holiday Monday) is World Wetlands Day!
@killorglintidytowns have asked Pascal Sweeney MSc Ecology to lead a guided walk.
It will start at the Bianconi car park at 11.30, to coincide with low tide. He will take a sample of the insect life in the Laune to look at in a tray, then walk up along the riverbank and talk about the habitat, tree species and ground flora. About one hour. 
Usual cup of tea etc. afterwards.
Be prepared for a muddy walkway!

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.

Lunchtime talk: An introduction to the Birds of the Shannon Estuary Story Map

Dooradoyle Library, Friday 30^th January,  12.30 – 13.30 – Free admission

With Sinead Mc Donnell, Biodiversity Officer, Limerick City and County Council

The Birds of the Shannon Estuary is an interactive digital resource that profiles 21 wetland bird species, highlights viewing points, and promotes citizen science initiatives such as BirdWatch Ireland’s Irish Wetland Bird Survey (IWeBS).

It also encourages responsible behaviour to minimise disturbance and prevent invasive species. Protecting estuaries like the Shannon means safeguarding the future of countless bird species and the ecosystems they depend on.

Estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, and the Shannon Estuary is one of Ireland’s most biodiverse landscapes. Stretching from Limerick City to the Atlantic Ocean, this unique environment supports rich communities of plants and animals, making it a site of international ecological importance. For birds, estuaries are lifelines. Each winter, thousands of waterbirds migrate from northern regions such as Greenland and Iceland to feed and rest on the Shannon Estuary’s extensive mudflats and saltmarshes. These wetlands are rich in invertebrates, providing essential food for species like Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Whooper Swan, and Cormorant. Birds are not only beautiful to observe but also act as indicators of the health of these ecosystems.

The Shannon Estuary is designated under European legislation as part of the River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries Special Protection Area (SPA) and Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC). These protections safeguard habitats that provide feeding, roosting, and refuge for birds.   Protecting estuaries like the Shannon means safeguarding the future of countless bird species and the ecosystems they depend on.

 Join Donal Beagan for an engaging talk on the wonders of our wetlands.

 Monday, February 2nd
 2:00pm – 3:00pm
 Ballybay Enterprise Park, Monaghan A75 Y098

For further information contact  Karen Nugent - karen.nugent@breedingwaders.ie

Green-Schools and Clean Coasts are delighted to celebrate World Wetlands Day with this webinar, with guest speaker Alena Kunkel from Breeding Waders EIP. Learn about some of the birds who spend winter in Ireland, their migration journey and the importance of conserving their winter and summer homes.

Suitable for Secondary School Students and Senior Primary (5th and 6^th)

 For further information contact Clare Patten - cpatten@eeu.antaisce.org