Glendalough

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NOTE: THE EVENTS BELOW ARE AN ARCHIVE OF 2007 EVENTS. 2008 EVENT LIST HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED YET. 

The education centre of the Wicklow Mountains National Park, hold a series of special FREE events through the summer and into autumn. The events are led by experts in the respective fields of history, nature and conservation themes.

Places are limited on some of the events and booking is advised. For those events where you need to book, a date is given indicating when the booking opens.

Bookings must be made to the Information Office of Wicklow Mountains National Park on +353–404–45425 or the Education Centre on +353–404–45656

The information below is extracted from http://www.wicklownationalpark.ie

MAY

DAWN CHORUS DAY

Sunday 20th May (in conjunction with Birdwatch Ireland) - 20th May is Dawn Chorus Day, and all over Ireland people will be getting up incredibly early to join a guided walk to listen to and learn the birds’ songs. The National Park is delighted to once again welcome the staff of Birdwatch Ireland to host this walk. There is no limit to the number of participants – all are welcome. There is an optional Birdsong Workshop in the Education Centre after the walk. Suitable for all ages. Booking is not required. Meeting at 5am at the Upper Lake car park in Glendalough.

WOODLAND WALK

Sunday 27th May - Explore the oak woods of Glendalough with a National Park Guide looking at the plants and animals there and the history of the woods. This walk is limited to 30 places. Participants should wear suitable footwear for venturing off track. Not suitable for young children. Booking essential. Meeting at 11am at the National Park Information Office by the Upper Lake in Glendalough.

JUNE/JULY/AUGUST

WILDFLOWER WALK

Sunday 24th June - Learn to identify our native wildflowers and discover a little about their ecology, folklore & history. Not suitable for children. Booking is essential. Bookings taken from Saturday 9th June.

BAT WALKS

9.30 pm Thursday 14th June

9.15 pm Thursday 12th July

8.30pm Thursday 16th August

See, hear and learn about bats on our ever-popular bat walks. Bring a torch and insect repellent. No booking required; all are welcome

(See also our list of summer lectures, also on Thursday nights.)

BUG WALKS

Sunday 17th June (bookings from Sat 2nd June)

Sunday 22nd July (bookings from Sat 7th July)

Sunday 12th August (bookings from Sat 28th July)

Take a safari through the amazing world of bugs. Bring a jar (with a lid!) to help examine the mini-beasts. Much loved by children and adults alike.

Family friendly, although not suitable for buggies.

BOG WALK

Explore one of Ireland’s most important habitats - the ever-declining bog. See insect-eating plants and explore the life of a bog pool. This walk will be off-track and wet underfoot, so all participants must be suitably equipped with boots & raingear. Bookings taken from Sat 30th June.

FAMILY TREE WALK

Learn how to identify trees and participate in some fun tree activities. Participants should wear suitable footwear for venturing off-track. For families, but not suitable for buggies. Bookings taken from Sat 11th August.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

TREE I.D. WALK

Sunday 9th September - Learn to identify trees and discover their history, folklore, ecology and uses. Participants should wear suitable footwear for venturing off-track. Not suitable for children. Bookings taken from Sat 25th August.

DEER WATCH

Sunday 7th October

Sunday 14th October

Sunday 21st October

In October the deer are mating, and are full of activity as stags fight for hinds. National Park guides will be in place with telescopes on the hill from 10.30am to 5pm, to discuss the deer and their ecology. Locations will be announced nearer the time, and will involve a hike in so bots and raingear are recommended. Suitable for all ages, no booking required.

CONSERVATION HIKE

Sunday 11th November - A hike of 2-4 hours on a way-marked hill route in Glendalough. A National Park guide will discuss conservation issues that face the Park. This walk is limited to 15 places, and all must be equipped for hiking in bad weather (walking boots and rain gear). Not suitable for children. Bookings taken from Sat 27th October.

SUMMER LECTURE SERIES

8pm Thursday evenings at the Education Centre, Upper Lake, Glendalough

Thursday 14th June - The Daubenton’s Bat Survey - Tina Aughney, Bat Conservation Ireland. Followed by Bat Walk

Thursday 21st June - A Midsummer Celebration with Don Conroy and Chris Wilson - A lighthearted foray through Ireland’s wildlife, with on-the-spot cartoons and banter guaranteed to amuse all ages.

Thursday 28th June - Beautiful Bogs; Their Wildlife and Conservation - Dr Catherine O’Connell, Irish Peatland Conservation Council

Thursay 5th July - The Old Farm Houses of County Wicklow - Chris Corlett, Archaelogist, OPW National Monuments Section

Thurdsay 12th July - Mountain Rescue in Wicklow - Ann Fitzpatrick, Team Leader, Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team

Thursday 19th July - The Irish Hare Survey - Neil Reid, Suvey Co-ordinator

Thursday 26th July - Mediaeval Pilgrimage in the Wicklow Mountains; Recent Discoveries on St. Kevin’s Road - Dr. Aidan O’Sullivan, UCD School of Archaeology

Thursday 2nd August - Iceland - From Blue Whales to Geysirs - Faith Wilson, Ecologist

Thursday 9th August - The Solar System, The Sun, and the Cassini Mission to Saturn - Deirdre Kelleghan, President of Irish Astronomical Society. * Sungazing with special sunscope before lecture, weather permitting .

Thursday 16th August - Bats For All The Family - National Park Education Staff. Followed by Family Bat Walk

If you’ve found this post/site useful, and want to buy me a cup of tea I won’t say no!

Filed under: Festivals and Events on May 12th, 2007