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The month of August is here and for all of us heritage enthusiasts, that means that National Heritage Week is just around the corner. Over 125 events have already been organised throughout the County of Cork and for details of all heritage events and more visit www.heritageweek.ie.
This August update also includes details on a range of other initiatives and announcements, from a new map detailing the archaeological heritage of North and East Cork to details in relation to the Burial Records of West Cork and beyond. Details of Cork County Council's Grant Scheme for Irish Language Events and Initiatives are also included as well as many updates on the national level pertaining to heritage.
News and details now in full...
National Heritage Week is shaping up to be one of the largest in recent years, and in the County of Cork, there are already over 125 events are set to take place. Heritage Week takes place from Saturday 12th to Sunday 20th August, and was launched recently by the Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, TD.
This year’s Heritage Week will see a colourful range of events and projects celebrating all aspects of our heritage taking place across the country as communities, families, holiday makers and people of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to get out and explore their heritage.
Over 1,000 free events and projects have already been registered nationally with that figure expected to reach close to 2,000 before the festivities kick off. Galleries, gardens, historic houses, barnyards and studios will play host to events covering everything from architecture to archaeology, film to foraging, philosophy to genealogy and music to storytelling.
The theme for National Heritage Week this year is ‘Living Heritage’, which is defined as the practices, knowledge and skills that have been passed from one generation to the next, and are still in use today. Anybody interested in hosting an event or a digital project can register it online at www.heritageweek.ie, up until Sunday August 20th.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Noonan said: “With thousands of free events all over the country, Heritage Week is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the places, traditions, crafts and skills that have woven their way through the fabric of Irish society. I’d like to commend the hundreds of people, community groups and organisations across Ireland who, every year, give freely of their own time to host events and share their interest in heritage with the public and with the next generation of heritage lovers and tradition keepers. It is thanks to their efforts that the understanding and love of our heritage is kept alive, and passed on to the next generation.”
CEO of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan said: “Whether we are conscious of it or not, we are all torch holders of our heritage in one way or another and this year’s theme of Living Heritage provides an opportunity to explore this idea further. Anybody who has learned a skill from a family member, who has repeated a story told to them by an ancestor, or even anybody who has played GAA, has played a part in preserving our cultural heritage. Many of the events registered this year will highlight how valuable these traditions are and how richly they contribute to our understanding of who we are as a people.”
Coordinated by the Heritage Council since 2005, Heritage Week has become one of Ireland’s largest cultural events, celebrating Ireland's built, natural and cultural heritage and aiming to generate awareness, appreciation and preservation of our wonderful resources. At the national level, the National Lottery and Fáilte Ireland are joined by the Office of Public Works (OPW), the Irish Landmark Trust, and the Local Authority Water Programme as partners of National Heritage Week 2023. At county level, National Heritage Week is co-ordinated and supported by local authority heritage officers, their colleagues and with numerous local heritage groups and organisations.
The Mayor of County Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn has launched a new guide map offering an introduction to the archaeology of East and North Cork. The comprehensive guide showcases thousands of years of human activity, offering a remarkable insight into the region's rich and diverse archaeology.
Entitled ‘101 Archaeological Sites to Visit in North and East Cork’, the map is specifically designed to highlight the rural landscape, complementing the Cork County Council’s Historic Town Map series. Mayor O’Flynn welcomed Cork County Council’s latest heritage publication saying, ‘I am delighted to present the '101 Archaeological Sites to Visit in North and East Cork' guide map to our community and visitors. This remarkable map offers a unique opportunity to explore the fascinating archaeological heritage of our county. It is a testament to the Council's commitment to preserving and sharing our rich history, making it accessible to all. I encourage everyone to embark on this journey of discovery and gain a deeper appreciation for Cork County’s remarkable heritage.’
In the map, the prehistoric period is represented by monuments that show the importance that people in that period placed in venerating the dead and how their beliefs were tied into a worship of the sun. For example, the magnificent stone tomb at Labbacallee, near Glanworth, was carefully constructed of massive stone blocks according to strict rules including its shape and the entrance facing the south-west. The Bronze Age Stone Circle at Knocknakilla, overlooking Millstreet, also observes a defined pattern in the way the stones forming the circle are arranged. Both monuments are easily accessible and feature on the map along with other prehistoric sites.
The Early Christian period has left a rich legacy in the area and many important early monastic sites feature on the map. These include Tullylease, with its internationally renowned carved cross, Labbamollaga, where the shrine tomb of its founding saint St. Molaga can be seen and Cloyne in East Cork, with its tall round tower and medieval cathedral.
North and East Cork were bustling locations during the medieval period. There are numerous castles of different periods such as the great stone edifice at Glanworth, where an important medieval bridge is still in use, numerous tower houses built by the Gaelic lords, such as Conna and Carrigadrohid and later castles such as Mallow and Kanturk. The church is represented by impressive monastic remains like Ballybeg Priory in Buttevant, Kilcrea Friary near Ovens and Bridgetown Priory, near Castletownroche. One of the best-preserved monastic sites in the county set in a wonderful rural location on the banks of the river Blackwater, Bridgetown Priory, is in the care of Cork County Council who maintain it as a public amenity.
The more recent past is also represented in the map, including two important visitor attractions in the care of Cork County Council, Camden Fort Meagher, Crosshaven, and Fort Mitchell, Spike Island.
'101 Archaeological Sites to Visit in North and East Cork' is a production of Cork County Council’s National Monuments Advisory Council (NMAC) and is part of a wider project by the Council’s Heritage Unit to foster a greater public understanding and appreciation of the county’s wonderful and unique archaeological and built heritage. The text was written by Elena Turk and the watercolour illustrations are by Rhoda Cronin Allanic.
 The 2023 Celebrating Cork Past Heritage Exhibition Day is scheduled to take place on Saturday 30th September next in the Millennium Hall, City Hall, Cork City.
This year, we are encouraging as many groups as possible, to exhibit on the day; groups that have been with us for many years, and groups that would like to participate for the first time. The day is a most memorable occasion for heritage groups throughout the city and county to meet one another and highlight to one and all, what they are about, what pride they take in their local place and all the heritage it encompasses.
At this juncture, we are simply seeking expressions of interest from each group, to determine if they would like to be part of the action in 2023 – thanks to those groups who have already been in touch.
The exhibition will run from 11am to 6pm with set-up time between 9am and 11am and also on Friday 29th September from 2pm to 5pm. Groups should also have the opportunity to collect their boards/exhibits on the Sunday, with more details on this shortly.
This year, each group will be asked, if they are keen to partake, to give all present an overview of their activities and initiatives (c. 5-minute slots) and where groups have undertaken video productions of heritage in their locality, a number of these will also be shown on the day.
To indicate your interest in participating on the day, please email richardtcooke@yahoo.com / Conor Nelligan at corkheritage@corkcoco.ie and we’ll get back in touch with additional information. We would be very grateful if you could confirm by Friday 18 August.
That’s it for now and we look forward to hearing from you.
The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank O’Flynn has announced the launch of a grant scheme aimed at providing financial support to groups and organisations involved in Irish language projects. Cork County Council has established the initiative to assist and promote Irish language events and initiatives throughout the county.
The grant scheme is open to support projects that utilise and promote the Irish language, including festivals, concerts, family event days, films, plays, or any art form that celebrates and encourages the use of Irish.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn welcomed the launch of the scheme, ‘Cork County Council considers the Irish language as a very important part of our culture and identity. As a county with two Gaeltachtaí within our boundaries, along with many Irish speakers and communities throughout the county, support for projects which promote Irish as an exciting, vibrant, living, and vital language is essential. I encourage any event that will encourage the use of the Irish language and make it more visible and accessible in our communities to apply for support under this grant’.
The maximum amount granted for any event is €1,500 under this scheme, and the ability by the organisation in question to match funding is required. Organisations may apply for more than one event within the application period, and these will be considered subject to availability of funding and the initiative meeting the grant criteria.
This scheme is open to applications until close of business on Friday, August 11th. Visit https://www.yourcouncil.ie/ for more information.
Cork County Council has announced the opening of the successful ‘To The Letter’ exhibition by Dolores Lyne in Macroom Town Hall at 3pm on Saturday, August 5th.
Award-winning artist and theatre designer Dolores Lyne has been marking the centenary of her grand-uncle Liam Lynch, Chief of Staff of the Anti-Treaty IRA, with exhibitions and talks across the county. The exhibition was inspired by a trove of personal letters written by Liam to his brother Tom, the confidant in whom he felt safe writing unique letters that covered the most dramatic and tragic events of his life in the War of Independence and the Civil War.
Announcing the exhibition’s opening in Macroom, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn said “I am looking forward to seeing the latest iteration of To The Letter after its successful run in Fermoy earlier this year. The large exhibition space in Macroom Town Hall is the perfect setting for the extensive body of work that Dolores Lyne has created over the course of the project, including paintings, drawings and photography. The artist’s sensitive approach has created an environment for us to share and commemorate our history.”
Dolores followed the letters back to the locations across County Cork where they were written, visiting the remote and beautiful hill farms and the safe houses that provided sanctuary where Liam was protected and cherished. For this exhibition in Macroom, the artist comes closer in miles and in spirit to the Muscraí Gaeltacht in County Cork. It was here that Liam Lynch made one of his most important HQs. She met the descendants of those who had sheltered him, and they shared their stories with her. 100 years later, the Chief of Staff’s grand-niece Dolores retraces his steps to former safe houses in central Cork and Gaeltacht Mhuscraí.
The exhibition runs from Sunday 6th to Thursday 31st August, and in recognition of Heritage Week, Dolores will give at talk at 14:00 on Sunday 13th August in the Town Hall, providing a background to the exhibition and how precious the letters have become over time.
 Over 57,500 burial records from 112 graveyards around Cork county are now available to access online free of charge on www.skibbheritage.com.
The team at Skibbereen Heritage Centre have been digitising Cork County Council burial registers for some time, creating a database of records that cover most of the graveyards around west Cork and this now extends into the east Cork and Macroom areas too.
The records are searchable either by individual name or graveyard and the original pages of the registers can also be viewed for each burial.
This latest upload includes the very poignant records for the Lusitania victims buried in mass graves in Cobh in May 1915, many of them unidentified.
As well as the burial records, the Skibbereen Heritage Centre website features video tours of some west Cork graveyards, which give a brief history of each graveyard alongside some of the stories of those buried there as well as a 'virtual tour' of the monuments.
The Cork Graveyards database and videos are available to view free of charge on Skibbereen Heritage Centre's website www.skibbheritage.com alongside an interactive map of all the graveyards covered and a tutorial video on how best to use the database.
the Heritage Council is currently seeking to establish a new Grants Assessor Panel from 2024 to 2027. They are looking for suitably skilled and experienced consultants in a wide range of disciplines such as built heritage; natural heritage; maritime heritage; museums, and archives; and intangible heritage or community heritage, who will assess and monitor grant scheme applications. Members of the Panel may also be requested by the Heritage Council to make occasional site visits to Irish buildings, monuments, habitats, and places, to survey and assess the condition of buildings, sites, and other assets of heritage significance, to make detailed conservation recommendations and / or to report on the quality of works being carried out or completed.
The application form for the 2024-2027 Grants Assessor Panel, and all relevant information, is available at https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/news/jobs/grants-assessor-panel-2024-2027 and the closing date for applications is 5pm on 28th August 2023. Further information can also be obtained by emailing grants@heritagecouncil.ie.
Met Éireann, Ireland's National Meteorological Service, has published a comprehensive summary of Ireland's latest climate averages, for the period 1991-2020. These are the 30-year averages of observed variables such as rainfall and temperature.
The key findings from Met Éireann’s analysis of the 1991-2020 climate averages highlight changes in Ireland's climate over the past three decades. The most notable one being an overall increase in air temperature compared to the previous 30-year period with the average yearly air temperature for Ireland standing at 9.8°C (1991-2020). This represents an increase of 0.7°C. Furthermore, mean temperatures are higher across the country for all seasons in the most recent 30-year period.
The research also shows that sunshine hours have increased by approximately 5% when compared to the 1961-1990 period, with May as the sunniest month of the year followed by June.
Met Éireann’s analysis also reveals an increase in rainfall of approximately 7% over the last 30 years when compared to the 1961-1990 period, with annual average rainfall for Ireland at 1,288 mm (1991-2020). Regional variations are also evident, with the West and North of Ireland showing the greatest increases in annual rainfall.
The release of these findings by Met Éireann comes ahead of the World Meteorological Organisation's (WMO) publication of the Global Climate Averages (or Climate Normals) for 1991-2020, due to take place this August. Met Éireann contributes to the development of this global dataset through the provision of data from Ireland’s equivalent 30-year period averages.
Met Éireann Climatologist and Project Lead, Mary Curley, said: “The publication of Ireland’s most recent climate averages allows us to assess how Ireland’s current climate compares to the previous 30-year period. We know that the atmosphere is warming and what we’re seeing at the local and national scale fits the international picture.
Importantly, the data provides information about typical climate conditions for a particular location and is a crucial benchmark for weather and climate conditions. This serves as an important resource for Government and relevant stakeholders to enable informed decision making to benefit society.”
While these averages give us an up-to-date baseline to compare our current and future weather to, it’s important to remember that weather patterns can vary significantly from year to year.”
The findings in these new 30-year averages align with the results from Met Éireann’s TRANSLATE climate projections, optimised for Ireland, which were released in June. TRANSLATE confirms the likelihood of a warmer and wetter climate annually for Ireland, in relation to future potential global warming under different green-house emission scenarios.
Met Éireann will publish a comprehensive technical report on the 30-year averages 1991-2020 on met.ie later this year, which will provide more detailed information.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D. and the Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., have celebrated 20 years of the Official Languages Act together with one year of the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee.
With the Irish language being recognised as the first official language of the State in Bunreacht na hÉireann (the Constitution of Ireland), the signing of the Official Languages Act on the 14 July 2003 gave statutory recognition and protection for the first time to the rights of Irish citizens’ to use the Irish language in their daily business with the State.
The Act laid the foundation for increasing and improving the number and quality of services provided through the medium of Irish by public bodies. This was done through placing direct duties on public bodies under the Act which related to, for example, providing responses to communications in the official language in which they were received, as well as communicating information to the public in Irish only or bilingually. A number of documents from public bodies were also specified to be published bilingually at the same time. Under Section 9 of the Act, regulations were also made in 2008 which set out additional duties in relation to pre-recorded verbal announcements, stationery, signs and Gaeltacht placenames.
Of course, Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga was also established under the Act in 2004. The principal duties assigned to that office under the Act are to monitor the compliance of public bodies with provisions of the Act and to take necessary measures to ensure that public bodies fulfil their duties under the Act.
It goes without saying that life has changed a lot in the past 20 years with the country coming through an economic crisis and other crises in the meantime, therefore it cannot be said that the Principal Act was without criticism, in particular around the implementation of the language schemes.
To that end, the President of Ireland signed the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 into law on 22 December 2021. This new legislation is a strengthening of the Official Languages Act 2003, and it is widely recognised that it will make a significant contribution to the quality of Irish language services provided to the public by State bodies.
The primary objectives of the strengthened Act are that:
- 20% of recruits to the public sector will be competent in the Irish language by the end of 2030;
- all public services in the Gaeltacht and for the Gaeltacht will be provided through Irish;
- all public offices in the Gaeltacht will operate through the medium of Irish;
- the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services will be developed; and
- a system of language standards will be introduced in place of the system of language schemes.
Central to these efforts will be the work of the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee. The Committee was established on 20 June 2022, and the work of the Committee will be primarily focused on the preparation of the first National Plan for Irish Language Services for the first two years, to ensure that this is completed before the deadline of 19 June 2024.
In accordance with its functions under the Act, a research contract was agreed with the University of Galway in December 2022 to support this work. The Advisory Committee met with members of the research team for the National Plan at its last meeting on Friday, 30 June 2023.
Dr. Kerron Ó Luain, who is to be the Research Fellow and head of the project, was appointed through a recruitment process run by the University of Galway earlier this year. Dr. Ó Luain presented a work plan for the research to the Committee at this meeting, which was well received.
This research and Plan will look to:
- identify the gaps in the current provision of public services through the medium of Irish and propose strategies to address them;
- identify the public services provided in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas (LPAs) and specify strategies to ensure that Irish is the working language of offices located in LPAs and that services are being provided through the medium of Irish;
- identify the current level of Irish language competence in the public sector;
- make recommendations regarding recruitment.
A specific commitment has also been given in the Civil Service Renewal Strategy 2030 to implement this National Plan.
In relation to other significant provisions of the amended Act, there is the advertising provision (Section 10A). That provision was commenced on 10 October last year (2022) and places a duty on all public bodies to carry out at least 20% of their annual advertising in Irish and to spend at least 5% of their annual advertising budgets on advertising through the medium of Irish in Irish language media. It is an extremely positive provision that has already greatly increased the visibility of the language across all media platforms used by public bodies.
Of course, developments in the digital media in particular are to be addressed with the amended Act, with posts on social media to be responded to in the official language in which they are received, before the end of the year. Additional duties will also be placed on public bodies in relation to the use and recording of names, addresses and titles in Irish - including the length accent, and they will be given a set period of time in which to ensure that their ICT and other systems are configured in such a way to accept same, if not done so already.
Speaking on the day, Minister Martin said: “It gives me great pleasure to mark this anniversary today - 20 years since the enactment of the Official Languages Act 2003. Much has been achieved under the Principal Act and we’re now looking ahead to achieving more under the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. My Officials are working hard to commence all the provisions of the Act before the end of the year. If this is achieved, it would be an entire year ahead of the mandatory commencement schedule set out under the Act. Every step forward taken with this work is one step closer to normalising the Irish language as a normal language of work and business in the public sector - empowering Irish language speakers to use it in all aspects of their lives - particularly in their dealings with the State.”
A major awareness campaign is to be launched in the autumn regarding the significant employment opportunities that exist and will exist as a result of the Act for those with Irish in the public sector, with the aim of several competitions for roles with the Irish language coinciding with that - in the area of communications for example.
The Department also approved an increased grant for Gluaiseacht (Conradh na Gaeilge’s Roadshow) earlier this year, up 85% on the 2021-2022 grant, to enable them to deliver the message loud and clear to over 28,000 young people a year that these employment opportunities exist.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has today appealed to the public to keep their distance from vulnerable wildlife and to take great care when spending time with nature during the summer months.
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD said: “My simple appeal to the public is to let wildlife stay wild and keep a respectful distance from our wildlife. Most people are well-meaning and of course we’re delighted to see people’s interest in nature. However I really want to remind people not to lure birds out of nesting areas for a photo-op – it’s in nobody’s interests to interfere with precious nesting sites and it can be very detrimental to birds’ breeding success. It’s very disheartening for NPWS teams to see these birds being disturbed and it jeopardises the incredible work they’re doing to protect these birds, safeguarding their survival in Ireland.”
The National Parks and Wildlife Service is also a partner of the Leave No Trace campaign and asks that the public familiarise themselves with the campaign’s guidance on good practices to avoid damaging vegetation, water bodies, soil and wildlife.
Director General of the NPWS Niall Ó ’Donnchú added “We are delighted to welcome visitors to our national parks and nature reserves throughout the year. Many people don’t realise that areas such as sand dunes, lakes and woodlands are homes for wildlife that we’re working hard to protect and that wild animals and birds should not be upset in their natural habitat. If you plan to visit areas of natural heritage this summer then please acquaint yourself with our advice available on good practice so you too can play your part in protecting nature. We’d also like to remind the public that anyone intending to film or photograph a protected wild animal must apply for a licence.”
MEPs in the European Parliament have voted to adopt the Nature Restoration Law, paving the way for the final stage of negotiations, known as ‘trialogues’, between the European Commission, the Council and the Parliament.
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, said: “I welcome this important step forward to restore nature across the European Union. This wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless and passionate efforts of so many across the EU and at home in Ireland. I’d like to pay tribute to them, and to my colleagues in the European Parliament for unanimously backing the Nature Restoration Law today.
“I know that there are some communities who will be very concerned at today’s news. Let me be clear: nature restoration can only be delivered with the full support of the farming, forestry and fishing communities who own and/or manage our lands and seas. This support is something that, with the help of colleagues across Government, I intend to earn.
“My objective now is to find the common ground between the farmers, foresters, fishers, NGOs, businesses, scientists and the public to develop a National Restoration Plan that will benefit people and nature in Ireland. I will do this through a broad and deep public participation process, informed by robust ecological and socio-economic impact assessments in order to enable honest debate.
“I will also continue to advocate for a Nature Fund at the national level that is separate to the CAP in order to underpin the implementation of long-term restoration measures, as I have done since the very beginning of the debate on this issue.
“The Irish government demonstrated its support for the Nature Restoration Law as agreed at the European Council, the Dáil demonstrated its support for nature restoration with a vote of 121 to 9 just last week, and 71% of Irish people want the Nature Restoration Law, according to a recent Ireland Thinks poll. This is in addition to 3,000+ scientists, hundreds of businesses including multinational corporations, and hundreds of thousands of citizens across the EU. Today, the European Parliament has echoed this support and endorsed the Nature Restoration Law. It’s a great day for nature, for society and for our collective future on this beautiful planet.”
All water users are being urged to take precautions after confirmation of an outbreak of crayfish plague on the River Blackwater and the detection of crayfish plague causative agent in the River Awbeg and Spa Glen Stream which are within the extensive Blackwater River catchment. This worrying situation is being monitored by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the Marine Institute and independent ecologists.
Crayfish plague was first discovered in Ireland in 2015 in Co Cavan, and has spread to several other rivers across the country. However, this is the first recorded outbreak of the deadly crayfish plague in Co Cork.
In response to the outbreaks of crayfish plague, a National Crayfish Surveillance Programme was established in 2018 as a Memorandum of Understanding between NPWS and the Marine Institute. This programme uses environmental DNA (eDNA) a novel, non-invasive method of detection of the DNA of crayfish and the disease from water samples. It monitors the spread and persistence of crayfish plague throughout Ireland and the distribution of the White-clawed Crayfish.
The White-clawed Crayfish is a globally threatened species and Ireland holds one of the largest surviving populations. The crayfish plague is devastating, causing 100% mortality of White-clawed Crayfish. Given the experience of outbreaks elsewhere, a total kill of the crayfish population is expected which will have major consequences for the ecology of the Blackwater, Awbeg and the whole of Munster Blackwater catchment.
There is no indication of how crayfish plague reached the catchment but the disease is easily transmitted in water or via contaminated equipment (e.g. kayaks, waders or nets). It is completely harmless to people, pets, livestock and all other freshwater organisms.
This outbreak is of great concern as it is within the Blackwater River (Cork/Waterford) Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which contains an internationally important population of White-clawed Crayfish.
The Blackwater catchment is popular with anglers, kayakers and other recreational users. NPWS and IFI are urging all users of any river to implement the Check, Clean and Dry protocol which involves routine checking, cleaning and drying of equipment after leaving a river and before entering another waterbody.
Cleaning everything that has been in contact with the water using hot water (above 45oC) or a high pressure spray if possible followed by a drying period where all equipment and wet gear is dry for at least 48 hours, should be adopted as standard practice in all freshwaters. Disinfect everything if complete drying is not possible.
Containment of the outbreak is essential to prevent spread to other as yet unaffected populations in Ireland. If the crayfish plague continues to spread, there is a high probability that the White-clawed Crayfish will become extinct from most rivers in Ireland.
White-clawed Crayfish is the only native freshwater crayfish species found in Ireland and is present in lakes, rivers and streams over much of the island. Throughout its European range, this species has been decimated by the impact of crayfish plague which spread to Europe with the introduction of North American species of crayfish, especially Signal Crayfish. Many American crayfish species are resistant to crayfish plague, but can act as carriers of the disease which is rapidly fatal when passed to the White-clawed Crayfish. To date there has been no record of American crayfish species in Ireland, suggesting that the spread of the crayfish plague is solely due to human activities and lack of biosecurity.
White-clawed Crayfish are protected under Irish Law and the EU Habitats Directive and it is illegal to introduce any non-native species of crayfish to Ireland.
The combined impact of the introduced crayfish species (which may out-compete the smaller native crayfish) and crayfish plague have completely eliminated the White-clawed Crayfish from much of its European range, leaving Ireland as the last stronghold of the species.
Tánaiste Micheal Martin TD and Minister of State for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan TD, have expressed shock and disappointment at the poisoning of two young white-tailed eagles in Northern Ireland.
The two eagles, re-introduced in recent years by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, were found dead on a hill farm in the Glenhead Road area of Ballymena, Co. Antrim on the 15th May. The cause of death was only confirmed in the last few days by the Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI).
One of the birds had been released by the then Taoiseach Micheál Martin in August 2022 on the Shannon Estuary as part the by NPWS white-tailed Eagle reintroduction programme.
After learning of the death of the eagles, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said: “I am deeply saddened and shocked to learn of the death of the white-tailed eagles. I have closely followed the reintroduction programme for a number of years and to be involved in the release of the seven young eagles in 2022 was an experience that I will never forget.
“These are an iconic species, and the work of the NPWS in reintroducing them is something I, and the Government, am proud to support. There have been great successes in the programme over recent years, so to learn of a poisoning like this is very disappointing.”
The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, said: “Like everyone who is captivated by the sight of these magnificent birds in our skies again, I am appalled at what appears to be a poisoning incident that has led to the death of two white- tailed eagles. It has been encouraging in recent years to see birds nesting and rearing young hatched eagles here for the first time in over 100 years. An incident like this sets back our ambition but we won’t be deterred. Whatever misunderstanding that is out there needs to be challenged. Toxic substances such as carbofurans are banned and need to be handed over for safe disposal. NPWS will work with colleagues in Northern Ireland, An Garda Siochana and the PSNI to fully investigate this incident and hopefully secure a successful prosecution. Wildlife crime is wrong at any time but in a time of a biodiversity crisis it is socially abhorrent and I would urge anyone with information relating to this incident, to speak to the PSNI.”
Director General of the NPWS Niall Ó ’Donnchú added: “I was very saddened to hear of the poisonings. White-tailed eagles are beautiful and rare birds, and while we are in the midst of a successful reintroduction programme, these setbacks truly matter. The deliberate poisoning of birds of prey is a heinous crime against nature and an offence under the Wildlife Acts. These birds have no means of detecting that they have been baited and the malice of forethought in these acts doesn’t bear thinking about.”
One of the young white-tailed eagles, found dead had been brought in as a chick in 2022 from Norway under phase two of the white-tailed eagle re-introduction programme managed by NPWS. He was fitted with a satellite tag so his movements could be followed. After being released, the young eagle spent a number of months on the Shannon Estuary before starting to travel around the country. He crossed into Northern Ireland from south Donegal on the 1st May 2023 and was found dead just two weeks later, alongside an untagged young eagle. The origin of the second dead eagle is unknown, but NPWS staff believe it most likely fledged from a nest in Munster in 2021.
Investigations by the PSNI recently revealed that both young eagles had died as a result of ingesting an insecticide called Bendiocarb. It is not known how the eagles ingested this substance, but it was possibly from eating carrion (a dead animal) or other bait laced with the insecticide. According to the substance classification and labelling approved by the European Union, Bendiocarb is fatal if swallowed, is toxic in contact with skin and is toxic if inhaled. It is acutely toxic to many animals, particularly to birds, fish and some invertebrates such as bees and earthworms. Its use has been illegal in Scotland since 2005.
Despite their toxicity, Bendiocarb, Carbofuran and other poisons continue to be used to target wildlife. Earlier this year a white-tailed eagle was found poisoned by the illegal insecticide Carbofuran in Co Cavan.
White-tailed eagles are a protected species under the Wildlife Act. These birds were persecuted to extinction by the early 1900s but are making a successful comeback due the NPWS reintroduction programme started in 2007. Although some landowners may have in the past commonly used poisons to deliberately control crows and foxes, especially around lambing time, NPWS would like to issue a reminder that use of poisonous substances for the control of foxes and crows is illegal and has been since 2010.
The potential for positive economic benefits from the re-introduction of the eagles has been demonstrated in Mountshannon, Co. Clare, when the first breeding pair in Ireland in over a century nested within sight of the village in 2012, attracting thousands of visitors over the following years. Sadly one the Mountshannon pair of eagles died of avian Influenza in 2018. However there is good news from Mountshannon as the widowed male has paired up with a female released in 2020. The pair hatched two chicks this spring and they are due to fly the nest later this month. Last week the two chicks were ringed and one was fitted with a satellite transmitter.
Since 2020, almost all chicks released by the white-tailed eagle project are satellite-tagged, which enables the project to follow their movements as they disperse and establish in new areas and, in cases like this, to determine the locations of any tagged birds which may be in trouble.
The Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage is running a pilot scheme to provide grants for expert conservation advice to owners of vacant farmhouses in private ownership who are availing of and/or considering the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses will provide a grant of up to €7,500 (ex VAT) to cover the cost of having a conservation expert with proven and appropriate expertise to visit the property, conduct a survey, and compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner. The report will outline the condition of the building, suggest conservation repairs and improvements which would improve the building and enhance the building’s character, energy efficiency, integrity, and amenity.
What kind of building qualify?
Traditional (also known as ‘vernacular’) farmhouses are a key part of our rural landscape and shared heritage. Sometimes described as ‘cottages’, these buildings generally comprise modest houses constructed using local materials and traditional techniques by ‘ordinary’ people using locally available materials such as thatch, stone, slate, earth, wattle and unsawn timber. Later on corrugated iron, despite its imported, industrial origin, was also used.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
Properties must be vacant for two years or more and built up to and including 2007.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, said: “The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has proved very popular with more than 1,500 applications received. We have recently announced an expanded grant for off shore islands and I am delighted to launch this new pilot which further emphasises our desire to tackle vacancy and dereliction. Traditional farmhouse buildings present unique challenges when it comes to refurbishment and this new pilot scheme will help remove some of these obstacles by allowing owners to obtain the expert advice needed to restore these structures and bring them back into use. These traditional farmhouse buildings have the potential to become homes and this scheme can help make that happen.”
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, said: “I welcome the launch of this new pilot scheme, not only because it will provide an additional source of support to help bring more vacant properties back into use, but because it will do so in a way that respects our national heritage by allowing owners to get the expert advice needed to breathe new life into these traditional buildings which form such a distinctive part of our rural landscape.”
For more information visit https://www.gov.ie/en/service/c8cba-pilot-conservation-advice-grant-scheme-for-vacant-traditional-farmhouses/.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has launched the 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme – a €15 million Fund designed to revitalise and regenerate our rural towns and villages. The Fund will support dozens of projects nationwide with a focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction and bringing additional footfall into the centre of our towns.
Grants will be made available to support the development of outdoor projects such as plazas, parks, playgrounds and green spaces. Under the initiative, funding will be provided to local authorities to acquire land for regeneration purposes.
Farmer and artisan markets will be supported under the scheme and there will also be funding ring-fenced for projects on our offshore island communities.
Launching the 2023 Scheme, Minister Humphreys said: “I’m really pleased today to launch the 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme which will see €15 million invested to develop dozens of projects right across the country. To date, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme has had a hugely positive impact in rural communities in every single county. It has supported the regeneration and repopulation of our towns and villages – making them better places to live, work, invest and raise a family.
This year, there will be a particular focus on tackling issues such as vacancy and dereliction and supporting projects that will bring additional footfall into our town centres. I am also keen to support outdoor projects such as new plazas, parks, playgrounds and green spaces. And there will funding available for towns and villages that wish to develop their own farmer or artisan markets which are extremely popular amenities for families and visitors alike.
I am also pleased to announce that funding will be ring-fenced to support projects in our island communities.”
Priority will be afforded to projects that align with the objectives of Our Rural Future, Town Centre First and Our Living Islands with a focus on:
- Investment in infrastructure to support town and village centre markets;
- Bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into use a multi-purpose community spaces, or to address remote working needs.
- Investing in the development of parks, green spaces and recreational amenities in town centres;
- A new option to allow local authorities to acquire plots of land to enable development of town regeneration, such as town parks, plazas etc; and
- Refurbishment of existing community centres.
The Minister continued: “Our Rural Future’, the Government’s ambitious policy for rural development, is very much focussed on supporting the regeneration of our rural towns and villages. Additionally, the Town Centre First Policy is a cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.
This year’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme has been closely aligned with these two policies – and it will directly support our towns to be more attractive and economically and socially vibrant.
I am strongly encouraging local authorities to work closely with communities to put forward projects that are ambitious and will make a positive difference.”
Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, over €154 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects. The Scheme has made an important contribution to supporting vibrant and sustainable communities in towns and villages throughout Ireland.
The scheme is administered through the local authorities, who are required to work closely with local communities and local businesses to develop and implement proposals.
The Scheme typically funds rural towns and villages with a population of up to 10,000 people. Larger rural towns with a population of up to 15,000 people may be eligible where the application is particularly strong and the project will have a significant impact on the town in question.
The Minister concluded: “There are still some small towns and villages that have not yet benefited from the Scheme, so I would encourage all of these towns and villages, in particular, to consider applying for funding under the 2023 Scheme. This funding represents a real opportunity for communities to access investment in their own towns and villages, and continues to support the delivery of the Government’s ambition for rural Ireland as set out in ‘Our Rural Future’. I look forward to receiving high quality proposals from communities across rural Ireland in the coming months.”
Details of the 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme can be found here
The Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP Project is a €1.47 million Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine funded results based Agri-Environmental programme aimed at rewarding farmers for the protection, enhancement and restoration of waterbodies in the Allow River Catchment. The catchment has several high status objectives waterbodies located in the Blackwater River Special Area of Conservation.
The interconnection between farm and environment is becoming increasingly important to farming communities across Ireland and with this comes many changes. Words and phrases such as ‘riparian planting’, ‘nutrient flow pathways’, ‘hedgerows’ and ‘multi-species swards’ are becoming more and more a part of everyday vocabulary.
But what do they actually mean? How do they benefit the environment and different habitats? How can they benefit the farmer?
This booklet, using the lessons learned from IRD Duhallow’s EIP projects, aims to answer these questions and provide farmers with a guide to measures that can be taken to improve water quality and biodiversity on their farms.
Learn more:
An online version is available at: https://irdduhallow.com/site15/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Booklet-of-Measures-Interactive.pdf
The Government has today (13th July 2023) officially launched the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), marking a significant milestone in the State's stewardship of the maritime area including plans for renewable offshore energy development.
The newly established authority will be responsible for regulating development and activity in Ireland’s maritime area and its role will include assessing applications for Maritime Area Consents (MACs), which are required before developers of offshore wind and other projects in the maritime area can make a planning application. It will also be responsible for granting licences for certain activities in the maritime area.The establishment of MARA represents the beginning of phase two for Ireland's all-of-government approach to renewable offshore energy and will determine how we develop this valuable resource.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien TD, officially launched the new regulatory authority at an event in Rosslare Europort today, emphasising: "With the launch of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority here in Rosslare today, we now begin the second phase of our all-of-Government approach to the development of offshore renewable energy. Delivery of offshore renewable energy will be crucial as we strive towards our climate goals over the next few years and MARA will provide the regulation and clarity that this emerging industry needs and govern our extensive maritime resource and contribute to our nation’s sustainable future."
Chief Executive Officer of MARA, Laura Brien, added: “Ireland has one of the highest sea-to-land ratios in Europe and today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in how Ireland will manage that resource. MARA’s remit is wide-ranging reflecting the diverse marine resource that we will steward for this generation and the ones to come. MARA is confident in our ability to support the governance of our maritime resources. In achieving this, we look forward to working with the wide range of stakeholders in the seafood, tourism, transportation as well as offshore renewable energy sectors to deliver on our role.”
Ireland’s first ‘Designated Maritime Area Plan Proposal’
Today also saw the launch of the first Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) Proposal for Offshore Renewable Energy by Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD. This signals Ireland’s first step into the systemic, plan-led development of our huge off-shore wind potential.
DMAPS will determine the broad area where ORE projects can be developed, and will act as a management plan for a specific area of our marine waters.
This first ORE DMAP for the South Coast puts forward an initial ‘proposed’ geographical area within which future offshore renewable energy development may take place. This area will be refined through a process of public engagement and consultation, expert environmental impact assessments and other expert analysis of the maritime areas, to assess its suitability for offshore renewable energy development.
Following a period of public engagement, a ‘Draft DMAP’ (which is anticipated to encompass a significantly smaller footprint than the initially outlined in proposal) will be published. Following this, a further statutory public consultation will take place, before the Draft DMAP is presented to the Minister for Housing and both houses of the Oireachtas for approval.
Minister Ryan explained: "Today marks the start of our new plan-led approach to the development of our off-shore wind industry, which was supported by both Houses of the Oireachtas. It also aligns us with the strategic direction being taken by the world’s leading off-shore wind countries like Denmark and Scotland. The rigorous legislative approach included within the South Coast DMAP Proposal will offer the best approach to protect local marine environments, fishing communities and boost local community development. It will offer comprehensive opportunities for public engagement, including the engagement of local communities.”
Consultation process launched for next phase of offshore renewable auctions
In addition, Minister Ryan today also announced a consultation on the principles for the design of offshore wind auctions under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS), under the Government’s plan-led Phase Two policy. The ORESS 2 consultation process will seek the views of stakeholders on key design principles to help ensure ORESS 2 auctions are attractive to the offshore wind industry, deliver a route to market for significant amounts of clean renewable energy, and ensure value for money for electricity consumers. ORESS 2 auctions will be geographically aligned with available onshore grid capacity. Its first auction, ‘ORESS 2.1’, will see the development of offshore wind within an offshore renewable energy ‘designated Area’ - the South Coast DMAP. The consultation will run until Friday 25 August 2023, and it is expected that ORESS 2.1 will launch before the end of this year or early next year.
Minister Ryan pointed out: "ORESS 2 is another hugely important step towards achieving our aim of delivering sustainable electricity for homes and businesses throughout Ireland. The success of our first offshore wind auction earlier this year (ORESS 1) highlighted Ireland’s enormous potential in the offshore renewables space. Both The South Coast DMAP Proposal and the ORESS 2 consultation process are important elements of our wider offshore renewables plan. As well as helping to meet our climate goals, these processes, along with subsequent offshore development, will have a transformational impact on regional communities and on sustainable jobs creation."
Ireland’s swift and nature-positive transition to renewable energy has also been aided by the publication of a detailed map and notice of intention to designate a new Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive for the protection of birdlife in the North-west Irish Sea. The new North-west Irish Sea SPA covers more than 230,000 hectares of important marine waters for a range of bird species throughout the year.
In advance of the release of the printed and digital Irish Historic Towns Atlas (IHTA) Cork, and to mark Heritage Week 2023, a video about the project has been created to show people what they can expect and look forward to from the new atlas of Cork city. The video will be released on Wednesday, 16 August.
Irish Historic Towns Atlas (IHTA) Cork/Corcaigh by H.B. Clarke and Máire Ní Laoi will be published by the Royal Irish Academy in association with Cork City Council in 2024. The Digital Atlas of the City of Cork is under preparation and will be released in November 2023.
The eighteenth edition of Culture Night will take place on Friday 22 September 2023.
Cork County Council has appointed Crayon Creative to coordinate this year’s programme of events in the County and we invite proposals from artists, local arts organisations and venues, particularly in the 17 main Culture Night hub towns of Baile Mhúirne, Bandon, Bantry, Carrigaline, Charleville, Clonakilty, Cobh, Fermoy, Kinsale, Macroom, Mallow, Midleton, Mitchelstown, Passage West, Skibbereen, Watergrasshill, Youghal and the islands. We have limited funding to cover professional artists fees or for professional services costs and these should be outlined in the application.
To register an Expression of Interest in taking part please click here
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media, Catherine Martin, has today announced a funding allocation of €131,036 for 30 events to support Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools taking place around Ireland in 2023.
The scheme is designed to assist local cultural events which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events such as those supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies. Closing date for applications was 1pm on the 9th June 2023. Funding was allocated following a competitive applications process, with a maximum grant of €5,000 available.
Speaking today, Minister Martin said: “Culture and arts add hugely to our lives and to our community and supporting the Festivals and Summer Schools around Ireland and locally is a crucial part of the work of my Department. These projects make a very significant contribution to the development and promotion of Ireland's cultural tourism offering, to the benefit of both the domestic and foreign tourist. I wish the organisers every success; and I hope that the public will enjoy the wonderful programmes of events around the country over the coming months.”
Of the 30 projects supported, four relate to Cork and are as follows:
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Applicant
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Project Description
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County
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Allocation
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Cork Craft & Design (CAD Cork Art & Design CLG)
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Cork Craft Month: A festival celebrating all things art and design, which aims to ensure that Cork is nationally and internationally recognised as a destination for making, seeing, collecting, buying and learning about excellence in contemporary and traditional craft.
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Cork
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€5,000
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Drimoleague Singing Festival
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A festival specialising in contemporary folk and traditional singing.
The artists featured are primarily known for their distinctive voices and include Jack L, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Ashling Urwin and John Blek.
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Cork
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€5,000
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Durrus & District Community Council
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Durrus Summer Fest 2023: a celebration of cultural and musical heritage featuring public demonstrations of blacksmithing, basket weaving, and jewellery and pottery making by local crafts people; a children's art workshop, walking tours and musical performances.
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Cork
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€5,000
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West Cork History Festival (West Cork History Festival Limited)
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A history festival in Skibbereen encompassing local, national and international history. Aims to illuminate the links between history across time periods with talks and discussions designed to facilitate engagement from audience members.
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Cork
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€2,000
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The NPWS has announced a new call for applications to the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme. The deadline for applications is 10:00 on Friday 4th August 2023. The Farm Plan Scheme was launched in 2006 to support farmers and land managers to:
- Deliver actions that benefit habitats and species in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs), which are known collectively as Natura 2000 sites;
- To support farmland biodiversity more generally; and
- To provide a platform for the trial and development of new conservation approaches that can then be applied more widely.
Over the past 15 years, approximately 900 Plans have been delivered covering a variety of nature interests, from highly threatened birds such as Corncrake and Curlew and other species of conservation concern, to habitats such as species-rich grasslands, eskers, coastal dunes, fens and turloughs. Currently there are around 350 active Farm Plans across the country.
Malcolm Noonan T.D., Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, has welcomed the call for applications from landowners to join the Scheme: “I am very pleased to announce the opening of a new call for applications to the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme in 2023. This new call builds on the additional funding I have allocated to the scheme each year since 2020, and the many wonderful new farm plans which are now in operation across the country as a result. The Farm Plan Scheme supports and rewards farmers and land managers to deliver positive farm management on some of Ireland’s most important sites for biodiversity. The scheme has led to the creation of new solutions for nature conservation on farmland and delivers real benefits on the ground via direct action and positive changes in related policies. The scheme contributes as a significant part of Ireland’s wider efforts through agri-environmental schemes to address biodiversity loss. I greatly encourage eligible parties to get involved in this excellent scheme and make an application. I look forward to seeing a new group of farmers and land managers working with us to farm for nature in the coming years.”
How to apply;
Applications must be made using the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme application form. The application for is available via:
NPWS is prioritising plans that can be described under the following three headings:
- Plans that will deliver the Conservation Objectives of sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas
- Intervention plans for sites where there is a need to intervene and address the management of a particular area of land in agreement with the landowner (this is typically led by NPWS)
- Research and Innovation plans, aimed at advancing knowledge and testing new methodologies to inform wider application
Who can apply?
- Those managing lands in sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas
- Those managing lands that support habitats and species of conservation concern
- Important note: the double funding of measures on the same parcels of land by other agri-environmental schemes (such as ACRES or LIFE Projects) is not permitted, i.e. it is not possible to pay for the same measure under two schemes on the same parcel of land.
As the budget is limited, it is likely not possible to accept all applicants and NPWS reserves the right to select plans it deems most worthy (for example, where the need for conservation action is the greatest, or where a plan offers a significant opportunity for learning to inform improved practice and/or policy). A list of targets that have been prioritised in the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme is included in the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme application form.
 Update from the National Biodiversity Data Centre:
FIT Counts are an important way that you can help us monitor pollinators. Download the free FIT Count App, watch a 50x50cm patch of flowers for 10 minutes and count how many insects visit. You can carry out a FIT Count anywhere, and on any flower. However, where you can, we ask that you use one of our 15 target flowers. In July, its especially useful to carry out FIT Counts on Bramble or Hogweed. In 2022, the average number of insects recorded on a FIT Count was 8. Why not try one where you are to see how your site compares.
For those interested, the National Biodiversity Data Centre also runs a Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. You can help by counting the number of butterflies visiting your garden.
 Update from the National Biodiversity Data Centre:
NBDC: ‘As a result of No Mow May, we’ve had many emails from people who have spotted Bee Orchids in their gardens or local communities for the first time. If you’re aware of Bee Orchids in 2023, please submit the record to the National Biodiversity Data Centre. The return of this beautiful native Orchid is symbolic of how easy it can be to help biodiversity by choosing the right actions’.
Photo by John Fogarty, courtesy of the National Biodiversity Data Centre
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (21st June 2023) announced funding of over €209,000 to upgrade and enhance 23 walking trails across the country. The funding, under the Walks Scheme, will improve trail surfaces and deliver additional seating and signage for the benefit of walkers, tourists and families alike.
A number of trails and walks will also be ‘re-routed’ to improve their safety and to protect the rural countryside.
The initiative is designed to boost outdoor recreation and adventure tourism and to enhance some of the country’s most popular outdoor trails.
Under the Walks Scheme, funding is provided to farmers and other landholders to maintain the trails that travel through their land. Funding is also provided to local development companies for the management of the scheme and the upkeep of the trails.
Among the successful projects announced include:
- Kerry: Glanageenty Loops - Provision of Safety Fencing to protect the trail - €10,000
- Waterford: St. Declan’s Way – Resurfacing of trail and installation of drainage at Cush of Grange - €10,000
- Cork: Slí Gaeltacht Mhuscraí - Works include cutting back growth from path edges, installation of fencing, pedestrian gates and resurfacing of a short re-route of the trail - €10,000
Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said: “Our walkways and outdoor trails really showcase the unique beauty of our rural towns and villages. They are hugely popular assets among families, hikers, cyclists and tourists alike and it’s therefore so important that we continuously maintain and protect them. So today, I’m delighted to announce this funding of over €209,000 under my Department’s Walks Scheme. This funding will enhance 23 of our most popular walking trails across the country.
Outdoor recreation tourism is a growing sector internationally, and has the potential to have major economic spin-off benefits for our rural towns and villages. I would encourage everyone to visit their local trails to see the fantastic work that is being done in conjunction with our farmers and landowners. A visit to your local trail also gives you the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air, beautiful views and the peace of mind that being in the outdoors brings.”
The projects being funded are led by local development companies in collaboration with landowners, Community Trail Management Organisations and other stakeholders.
Under the Walks Scheme, funding is provided to farmers and other landholders to maintain the trails that travel through their land. Funding is also provided to local development companies for the management of the scheme and the upkeep of the trails.
The Walks Scheme Development Fund supports projects that require more extensive work, which would be additional to ongoing maintenance. Over the last two years the Department has provided funding of over €400,000 for 48 projects under the fund.
Along with the recent announcement of a major expansion of the Walks Scheme, this funding will support the growth of outdoor recreation across rural Ireland and will provide high quality recreation opportunities which are key commitments of the new ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors’, National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023 – 2027.
If you have seen an otter recently, or signs of their presence, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) want to know about it.
The NPWS is launching a new National Otter Survey and has teamed up with researchers in Queen’s University Belfast and the National Biodiversity Data Centre to collect and collate otter records from right across the country. The new survey will map otters and compare results to the last survey, carried out in 2010-11. NPWS teams will be looking for characteristic signs of otters at over 900 sites throughout the country, including rivers, lakes and the coast. Members of the public are asked to keep their eyes peeled for otters and to get involved in this national survey by adding their sightings to the survey results.
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan said: “While NPWS teams will be out conducting fieldwork research, people can play their part in giving us a complete picture of otter numbers in the country so we want as much public participation as possible on this. The public plays an important role in research such as this that ultimately helps us to develop the evidence to inform policy. Otters can be hard to find and mainly forage at night so keep your eyes peeled if you’re visiting a coastal, river or lake environment in the evening or night time and make sure to let us know if you’ve seen one.”
Dr. Ferdia Marnell, Mammal Specialist with the NPWS, emphasised: “The otter is one of Ireland’s most elusive animals so getting as many people involved in the survey as possible will be important if we are to get good coverage. Otters are rarely seen, so instead, over the coming months, NPWS staff will be searching for otter tracks and signs.”
He added: “Otters have large, webbed feet and leave distinctive footprints, but these can be hard to find. Fortunately, otters mark their territory using droppings known as ‘spraints’. Otters deposit spraints conspicuously on boulders along riverbanks, logs on lake shores or the rocky high tide line. Spraints can be up to 10 cm or 3 inches long, black through to white but commonly brown, tarry to powdery in consistency and straight or curved making them tricky to identify. Luckily, they commonly contain fish bones and crayfish shells which are the otters favoured diet making them easy to tell apart from the droppings of birds and other mammals.”
Otters are mostly active at night and most typically seen at dawn or dusk. They may be spotted from bridges swimming in rivers or along the rocky seashore. Otters are brown, about 80 cm (30 inches) long and can be seen gliding along the water surface before diving to show their distinctive long pointed tail which is almost as long again as their body.
The otter and its habitat are protected under the EU Habitats Directive which requires that Ireland reports on the status of the species every six years. The next report is due in 2025.
The otter suffered significant declines across the UK and much of continental Europe during the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s but remained widespread in Ireland. The most recent Irish survey (2010-2011) found signs of otter from all counties of Ireland and from sea-shore to mountain streams. The otter hunts in water, but spends much of its time on land, and as a result is vulnerable to river corridor management such as culverting, dredging and the clearance of bankside vegetation, as well as pollution, pesticides, oil spillages, coastal developments and road traffic.
Members of the public can learn more about otters and submit recordings of otter sightings at the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s dedicated webpage: https://biodiversityireland.ie/surveys/national-otter-survey/
Combining the national survey data with as many records from the public as possible will help fill in any gaps in the map allowing the otter’s range to be fully assessed.
The final report on how the otter is faring will be published in 2025.
Notes
National Biodiversity Data Centre’s national otter survey project webpage: https://biodiversityireland.ie/surveys/national-otter-survey/
For the last national otter survey report from 2010-11 go to: https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM76.pdf
Update from the organisers of the West Cork History Festival 2023
‘We're delighted to announce our 2023 Festival Programme for the weekend of 11-13 August.
We have two main themes, firstly a focus on the Irish Civil War and the Decade of Centenaries and secondly Munster and Ireland's mercantile connections in the 18th century, notably the trade and consumption of wine but also the Atlantic slave trade.
On Saturday (12 August) we will focus on the Irish Civil War, with speakers including Professor Robert Gerwarth, Dr Eve Morrison, Dr Edward Burke, Professor Caitríona Beaumont and Dr Nicholas McDowell.
On Saturday evening we will have our now traditional Festival concert, arranged by our long-term collaborator composer and musician Jessie Kennedy.
Sunday morning (13 August) will see a panel discussion on the Decade of Centenaries with some of the speakers from Saturday's programme.
On Sunday afternoon we'll be joined by speakers including Professor David Dickson, Dr Tara McConnell, Dr Patricia McCarthy and Professor Charles Ludington to discuss 18th century Ireland's international trading connections. There will be a focus on wine, both its trade and its consumption and we hope to organise a wine tasting featuring ‘Wine Geese’ wines. We will also consider the topic of Ireland's involvement in the Atlantic slave trade.
Our Festival Field Trips are back on Friday and early morning Saturday and Sunday of the Festival weekend. They will include guided tours of Castletownshend and Ballydehob, historically-themed kayaking with Atlantic Sea Kayaking and walks in the West Cork countryside with Gormú.
Find out more about all of this on our website.
Tickets will go on sale in early June, so we'll be back in touch to let you know as soon as they are available. Or you can check back on the website or keep any eye on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
We look forward to seeing you at the Festival in August at our new location, the beautiful Inish Beg estate.
Victoria & Simon Kingston and the West Cork History Festival team.’
Date/Time: Wednesday 2nd August 2023 at 19:00
Event: - Historical Walking Tour
Location: Kilbrittain Village, Co. Cork
Additional Information: Kilbrittain Historical Society will be holding a historical walk through Kilbrittain village at 7pm Wed 2nd August 2023 as part of Kilbrittain festival. Meet at the church carpark and all welcome. For more information see https://www.facebook.com/kilbrittainfestival/ .
 Date/Time: Friday 4th August to Sunday 3rd September 2023
Event: - 10 Hands Crafts Exhibition
Location: Working Artist Studios, Main Street, Ballydehob, Co. Cork
Additional Information: The 10 Hands Crafts Exhibition will take place in Ballydehob over the month of August and up until 3rd September. Talks will also take place on Tuesday 15th and Tuesday 22nd as part of the initiative. All welcome.
Date/Time: Saturday 5th August to Saturday 2nd September 2023 – Mon-Sat 11:00 to 17:00
Event: - Stephen Hayes's exhibition 'Solace'
Location: Gallery Asna, Clonakilty Community Arts Centre, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Additional Information: Stephen Hayes's exhibition 'Solace' opens on Sat August 5th at 5.30pm.
Stephen Hayes is an award-winning fine art photographer based in Clonakilty. Photography is his escape and passion. He uses long exposures & minimalism to capture not what is there but what he sees. Photography lets him experience nature at its most beautiful and living in West Cork, he is surrounded by endless beauty and inspiration.
Stephen loves seeing his images come full circle from conception, to capture and finally to print.
Stephen’s new exhibition, Solace, is a journey through his recent works which includes seascapes, wildlife, minimalism, long exposure and macro images.
“Photography gives me a feeling of peace, calm and solace and my aim with my work is to bring that feeling through to my images” – Stephen Hayes
‘Solace’ runs from 5th August - 2nd September 2023
Date/Time: Sunday 6th to Thursday 31st August
Event: To The Letter – Liam Lynch Exhibition by Dolores Lyne
Location: Macroom Town Hall, Macroom, Co. Cork
Additional Information: In response to the personal letters of Liam Lynch chief of staff circa 1917-1923, artist Dolores Lyne has undertaken a bespoke exhibition. Dolores, will give a talk at 2pm on Sunday 13th August as part of Heritage Week 2023 on the background to the exhibition and how precious the letters have become over time.
The artist, originally from Kerry and based in Galway, has been commissioned by the Cork County Council Library and Art Service and Commemorations Committee of Cork County Council. Dolores followed the letters back to the locations across County Cork where they were written, visiting the remote and beautiful hill farms, the safe houses that provided sanctuary where Liam was protected and cherished. For this exhibition in Macroom the artist comes closer in miles and in spirit to the Muscraí Gaeltacht in County Cork, a place of wild beauty in a unique landscape. It was here, in a place of hard-won fields with people who overcame many obstacles to make a living, that Liam Lynch made one his most important HQs. She met the descendants of those who had sheltered him, and they shared their stories with her; retracing his steps brought her closer to understanding him. 100 years later, The Chief of Staff’s grandniece Dolores retraced his steps to former safe houses in central Cork and Gaeltacht Mhuscraí.
Date/Time: Friday 11th August 2023 at 14:00, 15:00, 20:30 and 21:30
Event: The Anne Boney Tale Preview
Location: The Speckled Door bar and restaurant near the Old Head of Kinsale, Co. Cork
Additional Information: The screening of a documentary on famous Pirate Anne Boney from Kinsale, undertaken by Colm Moloney and supported by Cork County Council’s Commemorations Committee.
 Date/Time: Friday 11th to Sunday 13th August 2023
Event: West Cork History Festival
Location: Inish Beg estate between Skibbereen and Baltimore., Co. Cork
Additional Information:
Update from West Cork History Festival:
The 2023 West Cork History Festival takes place 11-13 August in a new location, the beautiful and historic Inish Beg estate between Skibbereen and Baltimore. Our talks and discussions this year will be focused on two themes - firstly the Irish Civil War and the Decade of Centenaries. Speakers include Professor Robert Gerwarth, Professor Caitriona Beaumont, Dr Eve Morrison and Dr Edward Burke. We'll also have two panel discussions, the first with heritage and civic leaders from both sides of the border exploring what we have learned from the Decade of Centenaries about our past and our future and the second with academic historians discussing what has been achieved in this decade.
We'll also explore Munster and Ireland’s mercantile connections in the 18th century and we'll hear of the joys of the trade and consumption of wine (we'll have a wine tasting of 'Wine Geese' wines as part of the programme), but also of the misery of the Atlantic slave trade. Speakers include Professor David Dickson, Dr Kate Hodgson and Patricia McCarthy,
We'll have a Festival concert arranged by our long-time collaborator West Cork musician and composer Jessie Kennedy, with music inspired by Ireland's connections to the sea and to maritime exploration. In addition, we're running a number of guided field trips to places of historic and archaeological interest in West Cork - some on foot, others by kayak, as well as a dawn swim and history walk with our partners Atlantic Sea Kayaking and Gormú.
Find out more and book via our website www.westcorkhistoryfestival.org
 Date/Time: Saturday 12th to Sunday 20th August 2023
Event: National Heritage Week in County Cork
Location: Various Locations, Co. Cork
Additional Information: National Heritage Week takes place from Saturday 12th to Sunday 20th August 2023 and over one hundred events are expected to take place throughout the county of Cork. Registration of events is already underway and to see the listings, visit www.heritageweek.ie.
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Date/Time: Tuesday 15th August 2023 at 18:30
Event: - Mallow Field Club Fieldtrip to Glanworth
Location: Meet at Garda Station, Mallow, Co. Cork, to depart at 18:30
Additional Information: Mallow Field Club are on a field trip to Glanworth with local historian Christy Roche on the evening of Tuesday 15th August. All welcome. For more information email mallowlectures@gmail.com.
 Date/Time: Tuesday 22nd to Monday 28th August 2023 at 18:30
Event: FREE Half-Day Nature Arts Workshop:
Location: Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve
Additional Information:
Synocene – Beyond the Anthropocene
A sound art project that will bring local Glengarriff voices to a museum in Brussels.
Between Tuesday, August 22nd and Monday, August 28th, Paris-based multidisciplinary artist are Marina Wainer and New York-based musician Sam Nester will lead daily nature walks in Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve. During these one-hour walks, you will be invited to listen differently, see differently, and engage with your local woodland in new ways. From here, you will be invited to the Community Hall for a guided creative workshop using online artificial intelligence platforms to imagine new ways in which humans, the natural world, and technology come together. This fun, family-friendly activity is FREE and open to all ages and experiences.
Through this event, you will have the opportunity to contribute to a new public sound art installation that will open in Brussels in March 2024.
Your ideas for a future where humans, the natural world, and AI come together will be part of a special exhibition that contemplates a future Europe looking to achieve the Green Deal.
More detailed information is coming soon. Both advance registration and drop-ins will be welcome. In the meantime, please feel free to email synocene@gmail.com with any questions you may have.
This event is organised by the SciArt Resonances initiative of the European Commission Joint Research Centre in collaboration with the Natura 2000 Network and the Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service.
 Date/Time: Thursday 7th to Saturday 9th September 2023
Event: Conference: Origin’s of Ireland’s Biodiversity
Location: Western Gateway Building, University College Cork
Additional Information:
A conference looking at the formation of Ireland’s early and contemporary biodiversity. Sponsored by Fota Wildlife Park, this scientific conference will be hosted by University College Cork in September 2023.
Update from www.fotawildlife.ie: The post glacial colonisation of Ireland is a subject of remarkable scientific interest, supported by rich literature that captures both empirical evidence and measured inferences. To date, many of these scientific findings and hypotheses have been encapsulated by three published volumes, known as the Mind the Gap series. Yet a plethora of questions concerning the formation of Irelands early biodiversity and ecosystem function, its change over time, and the emergence of the island’s contemporary biodiversity remain.
In celebration of the Parks 40-year anniversary, Fota Wildlife Park are sponsoring a scientific conference to address matters surrounding the colonisation and persistence of Ireland’s biodiversity, early ecosystem formation and function, and biodiversity change over time. While the conference, Origins of Ireland’s Biodiversity, welcomes submissions on any relevant topic, a preference will be given for those that holistically address previously unanswered questions, such as community structure and prey gaps within early post glacial food webs, ecological interactions among species, and new genetic insights in to metacommunity dynamics. Submissions considering less studied taxa (e.g., parasites, microbiomes, and mycorrhizal fungi), along with the role of various human settlers in shaping Ireland’s biodiversity, are particularly welcome.
Wide ranging reviews that capture the mosaic of scientific findings and perspectives are encouraged. Reviews should detail a reasoned debate with the participation of all leading investigators from across Ireland and beyond. Full research and review papers will be published as a special volume entitled “Origins of Ireland’s Biodiversity”. Presentation of material at the conference does not guarantee publication in the final volume, and post conference submissions will also be considered for publication. It is envisioned that a discussion focused workshop will stimulate new collaborations among participants, leading to a cohesive effort to comprehensively address the issues surrounding Ireland’s biodiversity.
Registration is now open – click here to register, which includes details of costs and other information.
New exhibition at Spike Island
As part of this year’s Cork Harbour Festival, a brand new exhibition—Echoes of Isolation by Cork-based visual artist Sinéad Barrett of Sample-Studios, will be displayed in the Punishment Block at Spike Island. This solo art exhibition draws attention to the historical context of isolation in the Victorian prison on Spike Island, while also inviting reflection on the broader implications of isolation in contemporary society. Between 1847 and its closure in 1883 (exactly one hundred and forty years ago), thousands of convicts at Spike Island were subject to solitary confinement. Records indicate that almost 1200 convicts were buried on the island, with most dying in the first decade of the prison’s operation. This exhibition shines a light on these forgotten voices, exploring the emotional and psychological impact of isolation.For more information visit https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/echoes-of-isolation/
The exhibition runs from 2 June- 31 August 2023
Location: Punishment Block, Spike Island
Check the website for boat availability at www.spikeislandcork.ie
Contact us: admin@spikeislandcork.ie Tel. (021) 237 3455
For queries on any of the above or heritage queries in general email:
corkheritage@corkcoco.ie
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