Press Release
Embark on a peatland adventure this summer with the IPCC’s Féile an Dúlra 2025
12th May 2025
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council have planned a busy summer of peatland and nature themed events for you as part of Féile an Dúlra 2025, IPCC festival of nature 2025. The festival kicked off on World Wetlands Day in February with the launch of the National ‘Hop to It’ Frog Survey and was followed in April by World Curlew Day.
Now that May has arrived it is time to share the busy week of free events planned for you as part of National Biodiversity Week 2025, running from 16th to 25th May. On Saturday May 17th, the IPCC will be holding a guided peatland nature walk to Lodge bog, starting from the Bog of Allen Nature Centre at 10am. IPCC guides will share the diversity of peatland birds that use this raised bog for nesting or feeding, and visitors will also get the opportunity to discover the variety of fascinating peatland plants.
From Monday 19th May to Friday 23rd May, 10-4pm, you can enjoy free admission to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre where you can discover the history, cultural traditions, flora and fauna and archaeological importance of peatlands within the peatland exhibition. The peat free wildlife gardens will also be open for you to explore the largest public display of carnivorous plants in Ireland and the UK.
On Tuesday May 20th at 11am, the IPCC invite you to join a butterfly walk to Lullymore West nature reserve. Lullymore West is known nationally as a butterfly haven, as 26 of Ireland’s 35 butterfly species have been recorded on the site, including the threatened marsh fritillary butterfly.
In collaboration with the Native Woodland Trust the IPCC will be guiding a walk and talk at Girley Bog, meeting at Girley Hall at 7pm. This will be a great opportunity to get out on a Wednesday evening and learn all about bog habitats and the various plants and animals that call this precious habitat home.
If you do not have time to join us on one of our biodiversity walks, there is still an opportunity to learn about peatland biodiversity from the comfort of your kitchen or office as the IPCC will be hosting an online talk at 1pm on May 22nd entitled ‘Lunchtime with IPCC’.
All the events planned are free and we encourage you to get involved and explore your peatland heritage this Biodiversity Week. For further details of on these events and how to register visit www.ipcc.ie and for events nationally visit www.biodiversityweek.ie. The IPCC have lots more planned for you later this summer with a bat walk on 20th June, International Bog Day on 26th July and Heritage Week from the 16th August. We look forward to welcoming you to the bog this summer.
Editors Notes
Féile and Dúlra is supported by Kildare County Council through their Festival Grant Scheme 2025, the Irish Environmental Network, with thanks to funding from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Heritage Council through their Organisational Support Fund 2025.