Féile an Dúlra – The Irish Peatland Conservation Council’s annual festival of nature
Join the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) throughout 2026 to explore and learn about peatland habitat and biodiversity. Full details of IPCC events for 2026 to be finalised in March but for now here are some dates for your diary:
Dates for your Diary
World Wetlands Day – 2nd February 2026 – Launch of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council Hop To It Frog Survey 2026. Since 1997, the IPCC have encouraged you to become citizen scientists by submitting your observations of the various stages of the Common Frog lifecycle to Ireland’s longest running survey the Hop To It Frog Survey. The Common Frog is Ireland’s only native frog and it is an important biological indicator of environmental quality. Hop To It and join the survey to celebrate World Wetlands Day 2026.
World Curlew Day – 21st April – Join the Irish Peatland Conservation Council for a free walk and talk to Lodge Bog. Meet at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre at 11am and enjoy a guided walk with IPCC staff who will share the history and status of this iconic bogland bird with you. Please wear clothes appropriate for the outdoors. Light refreshments will be available following the walk and talk.
National Biodiversity Week 2026 – 16th – 24th May– Join the Irish Peatland Conservation Council for bogland biodiversity themed week.
See below for list of events being held for Biodiversity Week:
Mad About Bats – Saturday 16th of May – Join the Kildare Bat Group for the Mad About Bats workshop at 10 am at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.
MAD ABOUT BATS: Kildare Bat Group’s interactive Bat and Science workshop is a child centric event (8 to 12 years old), organised to introduce Bats to a younger audience in a fun & interactive way, yet underscoring the workshop with a strong scientific and natural world ethos.This workshop introduced participants to our 9 resident Bat species, their habitats, biology, and the environmental challenges they face.The participants will come away with an increased knowledge of and an appreciation of “all things Bats”.
This workshop is been kindly hosted by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council at their premises in the natural bogland habitat of Lullymore West, Rathangan, Co. Kildare.Kildare Bat Group membershave dedicated their time and resources to creating several new educational resources and lesson plans that may be utilised continuously at future educational events.
Lodge Bog Walk and Talk- Monday the 18th of May – Join the IPCC for a free Walk and Talk on Lodge Bog. Meet at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre at 6pm and enjoy a guided walk with IPCC staff who will share information about the bog, its importance and its restoration. Please wear clothes appropriate for the outdoors.
Lullymore West Butterfly Walk – Tuesday the 19th of May – Join the IPCC for a free butterfly walk on Lullymore West Nature Reserve. Meet at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre at 11am and join IPCC staff for a walk to Lullymore West where we will share information of the reserve and the butterflies who live there. You will also get to give butterfly identification a go with IPCCs Bonding with Butterflies identification leaflet. Please wear clothes appropriate for the outdoors. Light refreshments will be available following the walk and talk.
Girley Bog Walk and Talk – Wednesday the 20th May – Join the IPCC for a free Walk and Talk on Girley Bog. Meet at the Girley Hall at 6pm and enjoy a guided walk with IPCC staff who will share information about the bog, its importance and its restoration. Please wear clothes appropriate for the outdoors.
International Bog Day 2026 – 26th July – Celebrate this world famous bog day with the Irish Peatland Conservation Council at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre. Expect peatland talks and walks and fun family nature activities from 12noon-4pm. Full details TBA
Heritage Week 2026 – 15th-23rd August Details to be announced later.
Stay tuned for more details on IPCC events, including bog walks, talks, and volunteer days!
You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky for further information and photographs as events take place. Or join our volunteer list and stay up to date with our fieldwork.
Irish Peatland Conservation Council Wildlife Watching, Bog Walks, Family Fun, Courses & Open Days
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council would like to acknowledge Kildare County Council and the Irish Environmental Network for supporting IPCC’s Féile an Dúlra. As part of this a number of events were held throughout the year, including for World Wetlands Day, Biodiversity Week, International Bog Day and National Heritage Week in 2025.
Contact Us
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council can be contacted at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare, R51 V293, Ireland. Tel: +353-45-860133; Email:bogs@ipcc.ie
World Wetlands Day – 2nd February 2026 – Launch of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council Hop To It Frog Survey 2026. Since 1997, the IPCC have encouraged you to become citizen scientists by submitting your observations of the various stages of the Common Frog lifecycle to Ireland’s longest running survey the Hop To It Frog Survey. The Common Frog is Ireland’s only native frog and it is an important biological indicator of environmental quality. Hop To It and join the survey to celebrate World Wetlands Day 2026.
World Curlew Day – 21st April – Join the Irish Peatland Conservation Council for a free walk and talk to Lodge Bog. Meet at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre at 11am and enjoy a guided walk with IPCC staff who will share the history and status of this iconic bogland bird with you. Please wear clothes appropriate for the outdoors. Light refreshments will be available following the walk and talk.
