Sunday 17^th May

For general public

Event

Dawn Chorus - Kilkenny

Venue

Kilkenny

The Kilkenny event will be in Jenkinstown Wood - about 10 km north of Kilkenny city on the N78. Meet in the car park at 4:30 am. Participants may attend an interdenominational church service at 6:00 am. Participants can bring breakfast or a barbeque with them if they like.

Time

4:30am

 NB: Sunday Morning

no booking required

Sunday 17^th May

For general public

Event

Dusk Chorus

Venue

Waterford Institute of Technology Carriganore Campus

Eric Dempsey author and broadcaster will lead this woodland bird walk

Time

7:00pm

Directions

Leaving Waterford by the N25 towards Cork, turn right at the ring road roundabout onto the ring road extension (past B&Q) at next roundabout turn left onto the Old Kilmeadon road. Take the next right turn (which is at a bend - take care). continue down this straight narrow road and near the end there is a right turn into WIT West campus- continue down driveway to carpark.  

Click here for map 

Monday 18^th May

For primary schools

Event

Guided Forest and Nature Trail

Venue

JFK Arboretum, New Ross Wexford

Dr. Nick McCarthy, WIT will give a guided walk around the JFK Arboretum

Time

10:00am

Max Group Size 30

11:30am

Monday 18^th May

Event

Wonderful World of Feathers

Venue

Auditorium Waterford IT Main Campus

Eric Dempsey is well known from the Mooney show and for his bird books. This illustrated presentation shows how wonderfully adapted birds are for their environments

Time

10:00am

12:00pm

Tuesday 19^th May

For primary schools

Event

A magical woodland walk

Venue

Lismore Heritage Centre

Participants will learn about how a seed develops and grows into a large tree, how there are many different layers of growth in a woodland habitat, look a different birds and insects. With the Lismore heritage Centre Science Team

Time

10:30am

Primary (10-12)

Directions       Carpark, The Towers, Ballysaggartmore, Lismore. Approaching Lismore from Cappaquin side on N72 turn right at start of Lismore Bridge and follow the R666 for 2 - 3km to find Carpark on right hand side. 

Click here for map

Tuesday 19^th May

For Primary Schools

Event

Water quality investigation of a small river

Venue

Kill, Co. Waterford

Dr Michael Breen of WIT will guide groups investigating a small river

Time

10:30am

Primary

Tuesday 19^th May

For Transition year secondary

Event

Comeragh Mountain Walk

Venue

Kilclooney Woods Waterford

Environmental field trip, observing landscape, flora and fauna and considering human impacts on these with Mr Jack Bergin, WIT

Time

10:00am

Max group size 16

Duration 2 - 2.5  hours

Tuesday 19^th May

Event

Exploring Fenor Bog

Venue

Fenor, Co Waterford

Visit Fenor Bog to explore bog wildlife and surrounding geology with Alan Walsh, Fenor Bog

Time

10:00am

Group Size 30

Click here for map 

11.30am

1.5 hours duration

Tue 19^th May

For primary schools

Event

Biodiversity is Everywhere

Venue

National Biodiversity Data Collection Centre, Carriganore

Learn about the  diverse mini-beasts found in the Irish countryside with Andrew Byrne and Collette O Flynn of the National Biodiversity data collection centre      

Time

10:00am

12:45pm

Duration : 1 hour 45 mins

Directions: Leaving Waterford by the N25 towards Cork, turn right at the ring road roundabout onto the ring road extension (past B&Q) at next roundabout turn left onto the Old Kilmeadon road. Take the next right turn (which is at a bend - take care). continue down this straight narrow road and near the end there is a right turn into WIT West campus- continue down driveway to carpark

Click here for map 

Wednesday 20^th May

For secondary schools

Event

Biodiversity is Everywhere

Venue

National Biodiversity Data Collection Centre, Carriganore

Learn about the  diverse mini-beasts found in the Irish countryside with Andrew Byrne and Collette O Flynn of the National Biodiversity data collection centre      

Time

10:00am 

12.45pm

Duration : 1 hour 45 mins

Directions: Leaving Waterford by the N25 towards Cork, turn right at the ring road roundabout onto the ring road extension (past B&Q) at next roundabout turn left onto the Old Kilmeadon road. Take the next right turn (which is at a bend - take care). continue down this straight narrow road and near the end there is a right turn into WIT West campus- continue down driveway to carpark

Click here for map 

Wednesday 20^th May

For Secondary schools Junior Cycle

Event

Recycling & Waste Workshop

Venue

Waterford City Library, Lady Lane, Waterford

Learn about recycling and waste with Ella Ryan, Environmental officer, Waterford County Council

Time

11:00am

Wednesday 20^th May

public

Event

Whale Watch

Venue

Cliff House Hotel and Ram Head, Ardmore

Time

2:00pm

 2-3hrs duration

Directions: Meet Cliff House Hotel Ardmore, Co Waterford

For Cliff House Hotel Directions Click here 

Wednesday 20^th May

for primary schools

Event

Water quality investigation of a small river in Co. Waterford

Venue

Kill, Co. Waterford

With Dr. Eddy Fitzgerald, WIT

Time

10.30am

Wednesday 20^th May

for Secondary schools

Event

Water quality investigation of a small river in Co. Waterford

Venue

Kill, Co. Waterford

With Dr. Eddy Fitzgerald, WIT

Time

2:00pm

Wednesday 20^th May

General Public

Event

Guided Walk of Bonmahon, Stage Cove and Knockmahon Beach

Venue

Bonmahon, Stage Cove and Knockmahon Beach

Guided Walk of Bonmahon, Stage Cove and Knockmahon Beach with a particular emphasis on the geology of the area with Sean O'Connor of the Copper Coast Geopark

The Copper Coast Geopark runs between Tramore and Dungarvan, in Co. Waterford and comprises 25 km of beautiful coastline. But did you know that this part of Ireland was once close to the South Pole, exposed to violent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes? Did you know that the area was once a desert, dissected by large rivers, long before the landscape was gouged by glaciers? Here's your chance to find out. The Copper Coast Geopark has it all, 460 million years of Earth history recorded in the rocks, explained on panels, brochures or during school visits and excursions throughout the year and guided tours in the summer. For more information, visit:  Copper Coast Website

Time

7:00pm

Directions: Bonmahon is approx 18 km from Waterford on the Coast Rd (R675). On entering Bonmahon village, the car park is on your left as the road swings right to exit village

Click here for map

Thursday 21^st May

primary

Event

Visit to Kilfarrasy Beach

Venue

Kilfarrasy Beach, Co. Waterford

Visit to Kilfarrasy Beach  to learn about the rocks, landscape and erosion with Sophie Préteseille & Geological Survey of Ireland

The Copper Coast Geopark runs between Tramore and Dungarvan, in Co. Waterford and comprises 25 km of beautiful coastline. But did you know that this part of Ireland was once close to the South Pole, exposed to violent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes? Did you know that the area was once a desert, dissected by large rivers, long before the landscape was gouged by glaciers? Here's your chance to find out. The Copper Coast Geopark has it all, 460 million years of Earth history recorded in the rocks, explained on panels, brochures or during school visits and excursions throughout the year and guided tours in the summer. For more information, visit: Copper Coast Website

Time

10:00am

1.5 hours duration

Directions: From Tramore take coast road (R675) towards Dungarvan. Just before the village of Fenor take the turn to the left which is signposted Kilfarassey. The car park is about a mile down this road.

Click here for map 

Thursday 21^st May

For Primary (10 - 12 yrs)

Event

Building Birdboxes

Venue

Auditorium Waterford IT Main Campus

Learn how to build a birdbox, and watch the birds progress, from nest building to the hatching of the chicks with Dr. Nick McCarthy, WIT

Time

9.30am

Max Group Size 30

11.15am

12.45pm

Thursday 21^st May

For General Public

Event

Guided tour of the geology of Annestown beach

Venue

Annestown  Beach, Co Waterford

Guided tour of the geology of Annestown beach with local guide Kathryn Curran from the Copper Coast Geopark.

The Copper Coast Geopark runs between Tramore and Dungarvan, in Co. Waterford and comprises 25 km of beautiful coastline. But did you know that this part of Ireland was once close to the South Pole, exposed to violent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes? Did you know that the area was once a desert, dissected by large rivers, long before the landscape was gouged by glaciers? Here's your chance to find out. The Copper Coast Geopark has it all, 460 million years of Earth history recorded in the rocks, explained on panels, brochures or during school visits and excursions throughout the year and guided tours in the summer. For more information, visit: Copper Coast Website

Time

7.00pm

Directions: Annestown is located a few miles past Fenor on the Coast Road R675 travelling from Tramore in the direction of Dungarvan. Before entering Annestown village the car park is on your left as the road turns into the village

Click here for map 

Thursday 21^st May

For Secondary schools

Event

Archaeological Tour

Venue

WIT and various other locations

For a long time, little was known about the prehistoric people of County Waterford except for its megalithic tombs. Then, in the 1980s, a major archaeological complex dating from the Bronze Age (which lasted from about 2000 BC to 500 BC) was discovered in the Monavullagh Mountains. A range of different types of archaeological monument survives here, which together tell us things like how Bronze Age Waterfordians cooked food, farmed the land, conducted religious rituals and even engaged in basic astronomy! Participants will be able to explore the archaeological complex, learn how to identify each type of monument and understand what it was used for. Lead by WIT archaeologist Greg Fewer.

Time

9.30am

Directions: Meet WIT main campus Cork Road - main Entrance

Thursday 21^st May

General public, families welcome

Event

Bat Walk

Venue

Lismore, Co. Waterford

Explore the world of bats along the bat walk in Lismore Pat Smiddy, Waterford County Council

Time

9:00pm.

Directions: Meet carpark on Lismore town side of Lismore Bridge

Thursday 21^st May

General public -  adult

Event

11th Hour (Film)

Venue

Kilkenny - Cleeres Theatre, Parliament St,

Time

9:00pm.

Duration 2 hrs

Contact Person:  paul@futureproofkilkenny.org

 Friday 22^nd May

For Secondary school Transition year

Event

Geology of Ballydwane

Venue

Ballydwane Beach, Co. Waterford

Learn about sedimentary and igneous rocks, past environments, glacial geomorphology and coastal erosion with Tina Keating of the Copper Coast Geopark

The Copper Coast Geopark runs between Tramore and Dungarvan, in Co. Waterford and comprises 25 km of beautiful coastline. But did you know that this part of Ireland was once close to the South Pole, exposed to violent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes? Did you know that the area was once a desert, dissected by large rivers, long before the landscape was gouged by glaciers? Here's your chance to find out. The Copper Coast Geopark has it all, 460 million years of Earth history recorded in the rocks, explained on panels, brochures or during school visits and excursions throughout the year and guided tours in the summer. For more information, visit: Copper Coast Website

Time

10:00am

Max group size20

Friday 22^nd May

For Primary Schools 5^th & 6^th class

Event

Red Alert! Attack of the Alien Invaders

Venue

Waterford Institute of Technology

Non-native plants and animals can out-compete our established animals and plants and cause serious problems. As this is International Biodiversity Day and the theme is invasive species, Dr Nick McCarthy will tell the story of some animals and plants that are cause for concern, how they got here and what they effect they have

Time

11:00am

Fri 22^nd May

For General Public

Event

Charles Darwin - his Life and Legacy

Venue

Waterford Central Library

2009 is the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and also the 150^th anniversary of the publication of one of the most controversial books ever - the Origin of Species. Eoin Gill of WIT and coordinator of Darwin 200 events in Ireland will give a talk for non-scientists about Darwin's life and the work that lead him to the theory of evolution and also consider the reaction to the theory and the scientific assessment of his work after a century and a half.

Time

3.00pm

Directions: Waterford Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford City. 

click here for map 

Saturday 23^rd May

For General public

Event

Food for Free!

Venue

Kilfarassey Strand, Fenor, Co. Waterford

Seaweed identification and use in cooking, including samples of "sea vegetables" and dishes made from them; scramble on the rocks to see how they grow and how to collect in a sustainable way, and some beauty uses of seaweed. With Marie Power of the The Irish Wildlife Trust

Time

10.30am

Directions: From Tramore take coast road (R675) towards Dungarvan. Just before the village of Fenor take the turn to the left which is signposted Kilfarassey. The car park is about a mile down this road.

Click here for map

Saturday 23^rd May

For Family groups. General public

Event

Mosaic on Annestown Beach

Venue

Annestown Beach Co. Waterford

Build a giant Mosaic on Annestown using natural materials found on beach with Artist Sinead Driver and geologist Tina Keating of the Copper Coast Geopark

The Copper Coast Geopark runs between Tramore and Dungarvan, in Co. Waterford and comprises 25 km of beautiful coastline. But did you know that this part of Ireland was once close to the South Pole, exposed to violent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes? Did you know that the area was once a desert, dissected by large rivers, long before the landscape was gouged by glaciers? Here's your chance to find out. The Copper Coast Geopark has it all, 460 million years of Earth history recorded in the rocks, explained on panels, brochures or during school visits and excursions throughout the year and guided tours in the summer. For more information, visit: Copper Coast Website

Time

12:00pm

Directions: Annestown is located a few miles past Fenor on the Coast Road R675 travelling from Tramore in the direction of Dungarvan. Before entering Annestown village the car park is on your left as the road turns into the village

Click here for map 

Saturday 23^rd May

For General Public

Event

Botany of Bunmahon Beach

Venue

Bunmahon Beach, Co Waterford

This is a joint meeting of the Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) and the local Waterford and Cork botany group and they hope to locate a rare plant not seen in Bunmahon since 1964. They will be examining and identifying many of the plants growing on the sand dunes and they would be happy to share their knowledge so beginners are very welcome. Lead by Paul Green, Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) and the local Waterford and Cork botany group

Time

11:00am 

(lasting to 4:00pm)

Directions: Bonmahon is approx 18 km from Waterford on the Coast Rd (R675). On entering Bonmahon village, the car park is on your left as the road swings right to exit village

Click here for map

Saturday 23^rd May

General Public

Event

Ancient Waterford

Venue

meet at WIT and drive to various other locations

Some of County Waterford's most distinctive archaeological monuments are its megalithic tombs, which were built in the Neolithic period (about 4500-2000 BC). Located mainly to the north and west of Tramore, WIT archaeologist Greg Fewer will lead participants on a tour of these monuments and learn about the different types of megalithic tomb and their contents, as well as current theories about how they were built and for whom.

Time

9.30am

Transport required

Directions Meet WIT main campus Cork Road - main Entrance

Sunday 24^th May

For General Public

Event

A magical woodland walk

Venue

Lismore Heritage Centre

Participants will learn about how a seed develops and grows into a large tree, how there are many different layers of growth in a woodland habitat, look a different birds and insects

Time

3:00pm

Directions   Meet at  Carpark, The Towers, Ballysaggartmore, Lismore. Approaching Lismore from Cappaquin side on N72 turn right at start of Lismore Bridge and follow the R666 for 2 - 3km to find Carpark on right hand side. 

Sunday 24^th May

For General Public

Event

Wildwatch

Venue

Mahonbridge/ Comeraghs - Mahonbridge Village

Wildwatch event - learn about the animals and plants that live in the Comeraghs with the Irish Wildlife Trust The Crough Walk which is a 2km woodland walk along the banks of the Mahon Stream, where we will do some nature-spotting - mammal-tracking, tree-naming, stream-dipping and bird calls. With Marie Power, The Irish Wildlife Trust

Crough Walk, Mahonbridge and Comeragh Mountains. The Comeragh Mountains form part of the largest SAC (Special Area of Conservation) in Co. Waterford, protected under law for important habitats. May 24^th is Wildwatch Day, when events take place all around the country for people to get out, experience the wild and learn about the nature on their own doorstep. The Irish Wildlife Trust volunteers organise regular outings to places with interesting natural history.

Time

2:00pm

Directions: From Waterford take the N25 (Cork road). Turn off (right) just past Kilmacthomas for Mahonbridge. Continue for approximately 4km until you arrive in the village of Mahonbridge 

Click here for map 

Sunday 24^th May

For General Public

Event

Plants of Ferry Point

Venue

Ferry Point, opposite Youghal

A joint meeting of the Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) and the local Waterford and Cork botany group. They hope to survey several rare plants. This is an opportunity to see rare plants like Rough Clover and Sea-kale growing in Waterford and a chance to examine early spring seaside vegetation. Lead by Paul Green, Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) and the local Waterford and Cork botany groups

Time

11.00am

Directions: Ferry Point, opposite Youghal

Click here for map