Biodiversity Week 2024 takes place across Ireland from Friday 17th – Sunday 26th May.
Sligo Gets Ready National Biodiversity Week 2024
May is a time when the natural world is bursting into life, days are lengthening, flowers are in full bloom and the dawn chorus fills our mornings! How better to celebrate nature than by getting involved in Biodiversity Week 2024, which takes place across Ireland from Friday 17th – Sunday 26th May. With hundreds of free events, Biodiversity Week runs annually to inspire people to learn more about the biodiversity on their doorstep and how we can all take action to protect and restore it. County Sligo has a full programme of events from whale watching at Mullaghmore Head to a dusk bat walk at Tubbercurry Forest Park.
Cllr. Gerard Mullaney, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council said,
“National Biodiversity Week is about connecting people with nature, communicating why our natural world is so important, and we want to inspire everyone to help protect it. In County Sligo we have a range of enjoyable events and activities taking place for people of all ages to explore the natural world around them”.
Cllr. Donal Gilroy, Chair of the County Sligo Heritage Forum added,
“County Sligo is known for its rich natural heritage, and we hope members of the public can join the many events taking place all over the county where they can learn more about the important species and habitats of the county and what they can do to conserve biodiversity for future generations.”
Some Biodiversity Week highlights in Sligo include:
Friday 17th May 2024 - Launch of National Biodiversity Week
Sligo County Council will launch Biodiversity Week at the Radisson Hotel on Friday 17th May at 7:30pm with a talk by Cork based ornithologist Seán Ronayne titled: Every Song - my mission to record all of Ireland's birds. Seán rose to prominence earlier this year when he appeared on the Tommy Tiernan show. During this talk he will share his story and his unique, and often surprising, recordings of mimicry, distinct dialects, and birds never recorded in Ireland before! No booking required.
Saturday 18th May 2024 – Whale Watch at Mullaghmore Head
The Irish Whale and Dolphin group are leading a Whale Watch from Mullaghmore Head at 5pm, perhaps we will spot some of the Basking sharks that have recently been spending time in Donegal Bay!
Monday 20th May 2024 – Dark Skies and Biodiversity at Kilglass House
On Monday night Dark Sky Ireland, Sligo Biodiversity Officer, Ruth Hanniffy and biodiversity educator Daithi Lavelle present ‘Starry Starry Night’ - Dark Skies and Biodiversity at Kilglass House and Gardens! Come along from 9pm to detect bats at dusk and learn about why dark skies are important, so we can truly enjoy seeing our stars and phenomena like last weekend’s Aurora Borealis!
Friday 24th and Saturday 25th May - Sligo BioBlitz at Hazelwood Forest
Hazelwood Forest will be the focal point for wildlife recorders, biodiversity specialists & other interested individuals to gather from 7pm on Friday 24th May until 7pm on Saturday 25th May where Ruth Hanniffy, Sligo Biodiversity Officer, Woodrow Environmental Consultants and Coillte Nature are hosting a SligoBioblitz in Hazelwood Forest! The aim of a bioblitz is to record as many species as possible in a 24-hour period and have lots of fun along the way! But this is not all about experts: running alongside the BioBiltz will be a programme of events for everyone with a bat walk on Friday at 9pm and a dawn chorus on Saturday bright and early at 5am, well worth setting the alarm for! Follow Sligo Heritage on Facebook for all free public walks taking place Hazelwood! Come along and share in a unique celebration of nature.
National Biodiversity Week is organised by the Irish Environmental Network and funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund. The Local Authority Biodiversity Officer Programme is sponsored by The Heritage Council.
For more information on all events taking place across County Sligo visit www.biodiversityweek.ie or check out Sligo Heritage on Facebook.
