Local group to host series of events as Cornafulla Bog Bothy arrives
A special series of events is being planned to take place at a Bog Bothy at Cornafulla Bog.
The Bog Bothy is a touring, purpose-built shelter and community gathering space, designed to reimagine the future of peatlands through architecture, culture and climate action.
The bothy (pictured) is visiting Cornafulla from July 4 to August 9, for a series of workshops, events, and lectures.
The visit is being hosted by Cornafulla Micro Reserve, an organisation established recently to highlight the biodiversity and ecological value of the bog. Owners of some 47 acres of bogland have joined up the reserve.
Amanda Ralph, a member of the organising group, said: “The big thing for us is to draw people out to the bog.” As a result, the events being held during The Bog Bothy visit are designed to cater for as many different constituencies as possible.
She said the initial focus of the group was to widen and deepen local appreciation and understanding of the bog, and the presence of experts in a variety of fields will help to increase public awareness.
She pointed out that the group recently recorded the presence of some 230 Whooper Swans on Cornafulla Bog, making it a nationally significant habitat for the species.
Amanda currently has a solo exhibition of artwork, Field Station: Cornafulla, on display at Luan Gallery, which includes a LED ticker display naming all 221 species of plants which can be found along The Shannon Callows.
The programme of Bog Bothy events will be launched on Saturday next from 2-4pm with an opening event and refreshments, featuring readings by local poets Jackie Gorman and Tadhg Carey, both of whose writings deal with ecological themes, as well as music by The Coyles and tea and refreshments.
The series continues on Sunday, July 12 (2pm), with “The List of 60 Words” event with poet and Irish speaker Mel Mac Giobúin, looking at traces of the Irish language in plant, animal and place-name words.
Wildlife specialist Owen Murphy will update locals on the Birds of the Shannon Callows and Cornafulla Bog on Thursday, July 16, at 7pm. And on Saturday, July 18, at 2pm, those in attendance can enjoy a workshop with Jason Rohan, on building your own nesting bird or bat box, with all supplies provided.
There will be a relaxed Tea and Bog Stories event, featuring local personalities, on Sunday, July 19, at 5.30pm, also incorporating a local photography exhibition.
Peatland Ecologist David Fallon will speak on the subject of Deep Peat Bog Restoration Potential, with a focus on Cornafulla Bog on Thursday, July 23, at 6.30pm, while hydrologist and researcher Howard Cross, a PhD student from Trinity College Dublin, will speak on Peatland Hydrology and Land Use on Saturday, July 25, at 2pm
Local writer Emma Harney will conduct a two-hour writing experience, ‘Writing the Bog’, on Sunday, July 26, at 12.30pm. The workshop is open to all level of writers. Space limited to 12. RSVP @ emma.harney.writer@gmail.com
Thursday, July 30, will see Ella McSweeney of The Irish Times chair a discussion on the topic Law and Environment, at 4.30pm, followed by a Nature and Education panel, kicking off at 5.30pm and featuring Patrick Kirwan, Irish Schools Sustainability Network.Archaeologist Noel Dunne will conduct a walk and town on the bog on Saturday, August 1, at 2pm on how archaeologists read worked bog landscapes, while Bank Holiday Monday, at 11am, there will be a family-friendly event, Moths of Cornafulla Bog + Bog Time Machine with geography teacher Eugene Dunbar, exploring moths from an overnight trap.
Portaloos will be available on site during The Bog Bothy visit, whilst a local farmer is providing parking facilities.
Signage will be erected shortly to direct visitors to the location of the Bog Bothy. However, the general directions are: take the old Ballinasloe Road/Galway Road to Michael Kenny Car Sales (N37 X9A2). Turn onto the L2036 towards Creggan. Continue for six minutes. At the T-junction, keep right and stay on the L2036. Nearest Eircode N37 FF10. Email: cornafullamicroreserve@proton.me