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)

To mark World Wetlands Day 2026, the Biodiversity Office of Westmeath County Council invites the public to a guided walk and talk at Lough Derravaragh.

The event will take place on Sunday, 1st February 2026 at 11.00am, meeting at Lough Derravaragh Caravan Car Park, County Westmeath. The walk and talk will be led by Gordon Wycherley, BirdWatch Ireland Westmeath Branch, who will highlight the birdlife of Lough Derravaragh and the importance of wetlands. It would be great to hear any local stories, memories, or cultural connections people may wish to share about wetlands and the landscape.

Lough Derravaragh is an important site for nature conservation in County Westmeath and is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) due to its importance for wintering waterbirds and wetland habitats.

The walk will last approximately one to two hours, depending on weather conditions. Walking distances will be short and not strenuous. Participants are advised to wear appropriate waterproof clothing and suitable footwear, as ground conditions may be wet and uneven. This free event is open to all and provides an opportunity to celebrate wetlands, learn from local expertise, and mark World Wetlands Day in a meaningful way.

Please note: As this event takes place within a Special Protection Area (SPA), any dogs present must be kept on a lead at all times to avoid disturbance to wildlife.

Biodiversity Office, Westmeath County Council
biodiversity@westmeathcoco.ie
087 166 5584

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.

Join us in celebrating World Wetlands Day 2026 (a day early) at the Shannon Callows!

With expert Brian Caffrey from BirdWatch Ireland will lead us to a number of sites close to Banagher to observe a range of birds that overwinter on the callows.

All are welcome, dress for the weather!

This event comes as part of the #Offaly Naturalists’ Field Club Programme, supported by The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and The Heritage Council in partnership with BirdWatch Ireland

To celebrate World Wetlands Day 2026, the Biodiversity Office of Westmeath County Council invites the public to a guided walk and talk at Milltownpass Bog, County Westmeath.

The event will take place on Saturday, 31st January 2026 at 2.00pm, meeting at the Milltownpass Bog Car Park. The walk and talk will be led by George Smith, a specialist wetlands ecologist, who will highlight the mosses, wetland habitats, and ecological importance of the bog. It would be great to hear any local stories, memories, or cultural connections people may wish to share about bogs and wetland landscapes.

Milltownpass Bog is an important wetland site in County Westmeath and is designated as a Natural Heritage Area (NHA), recognising its value for peatland habitats, biodiversity, and
landscape heritage. The walk will last approximately one to one and a half hours, depending on weather conditions. Walking distances will be short and not strenuous; however, ground conditions may be wet and uneven. Participants are advised to wear appropriate waterproof clothing and suitable footwear.

This free event is open to all and provides an opportunity to celebrate wetlands, learn from specialist knowledge, and mark World Wetlands Day in a meaningful way. Please note: As this event takes place in a sensitive wetland area, any dogs present must be kept on a lead at all times to avoid disturbance to wildlife.

Biodiversity Office, Westmeath County Council
biodiversity@westmeathcoco.ie
087 166 5584

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.