World Wetlands Day in Irelan
World Wetlands Day Celebrations 2006
Island of Ireland
| Celebrations, information and awareness raising events
The programme below will be added to over the coming days. We would be delighted if you added your event for joint all Ireland press release on Monday 30th |
Thursday Feb 2nd 06 the real World Wetlands Day
| Venue: Trinity College Dublin Organiser: Coastwatch and TCD Beckett Centre Staff |
Time: 1.00 to 2.00 pm Beckett Theatre
Events: Opening of World Wetland Day Celebrations by the Provost of TCD (tbc)
Short play, by Paul Kidd, for a Wexford Wetland and performed by Camolin National School, followed by music and light refreshments.
Booking: Free of charge, space limited, booking advised. Chrissy Poulter ext 2295
or Karin Dubsky coastwatch@eircom.net or 086 8111 684.
Time: 1.50 to 2.20 pm College Park, meet at Pavilion
Events: Water divining
Quality test demo. & learn how to do simple Nitrate test yourself.
Booking: Free of charge, Karin Dubsky coastwatch@eircom.net or 086 8111 684.
| Venue: Natural History Museum, Dublin Organisers: Nat Hist M Education officer |
Time: 2.30 - 3.00 pm
Events: Discover wetlands and their inhabitants now and in the past.
Booking: Tour booked out. To arrange other time contact: Education and Outreach
Department Ph: 01 6486453 Fax: 01 6791025 education@museum.ie
| Venue: ENFO Andrew Street, Dublin Organisers: Coastwatch hosted by Enfo |
Time: 3.00 to 4.30 pm
Event: Workshop: 'Wetland protection'
Introduction
Wetland is not waste land: new DoEnv Wast policy translated to local action.
Eamon Hore, Sen. Engineer, Wexford County Council
Discussion: implications for our wetland stocks and recommendations.
CD demo: Wexford wetland type inventory and linked info/ed materials
Eoin Dubsky, CD design for Coastwatch.
The invasive Zebra mussel, from recent findings of effects on native species to
action to prevent spread.
Sorcha O Brian research student UCD
Official Close
---------------------------------------
Friday Feb 3rd World Wetland Days 06
| Venue: Tramore Beach T bay Surf Centre Organisers: T Bay Surf Centre |
Time: 10.00 - 5.00 pm
Events: Learn to surf
Booking: Pre booking essential to secure gear and board. 10% reduction on
lessons and rent for the day. contact: Billy Butler Ph: 051 391 297, web: info@tbay.com Fax: email
| Venue: Coastguard Station Tramore hosted by Organisers: Coastwatch |
Time 1.00 pm
Events: Official Welcome - Lola
Wetland music and songs: including Hooks and Crook Chantee Group, Tramore Gospel Choir (tbc) and Newtown School Chamber Choir
Special Announcement - Paul Daly, Sen Eng, Waterford County Council
Light refreshments
| Venue: Tramore Beach T bay Surf Centre Organisers: T Bay Surf Centre |
Time: 2.30 - 3.40 pm
Events: Discover Tramore back marsh wetlands and their inhabitants.
Tour 1 with adults and teenagers. Bring wellies. Local knowledge specially welcome.
Tour 2 and activities for families and small children.
Booking: essential, Karin Dubsky coastwatch@eircom.net or 086 8111 684.
James Mc Cartan
------------------------------
Saturday Feb 4th World Wetland Days '06
| Venue: Coastwatch Boyne fields, Mornington |
Time: 12.30 - 3.30 pm
Events: Variety of wetland celebration, information and action - see program below
Booking: very much appreciated but not essential,
Karin Dubsky coastwatch@eircom.net or 086 8111 684.
Aina Walsh Aiwalsh@eur.ko.com
Michael Gunn
PROGRAM: Coastwatch Boyne fields, Mornington, on the edge of the Boyne Estuary Ramsar site
11.00 Meeting with National Parks and Wildlife Service - Coastwatchers only.
12.00 Onward Register for activities, information and challenges
12.30 A quick shared bite - Bring your own hot flask & cups; tuck into host picnic food Music and getting ready for turning the sod for the mini wetland centre
12..50 The mini wetland centre: Karin Dubsky, Coastwatch, Mike Haslam, Solearth and Meath Leader representative.
1. 00 Joint sod turning. If you want to be a turner, bring a spade, or even an old spoon.
1.10 Planting to remember World Wetland Day and symbolize Future Hopes. Mairead McGuinness MEP leads the planting together with one Northern Ireland representative and one from the Republic.
A few minutes to find your group or ask about architecture or conservation.
1.30 Group activities start: Discover our Boyne - From here I see, hear and smell.
Gather at relevant group flag. Activities take 15 to 30 minutes, so you may participate in a second activity. First come, first served. Pre book or on the day.
a. Mussels and boats - Leo Boyle Mussel Fisherman
b. Canoe demo - silver kayak club (tbc)
c. Hedgerow audit of Boyne field hedge and advice to plant a new native species wildlife hedge - Anja Murray An Taisce Biodiversity Officer
d. Birds feed, rest, shelter and shout. They have families just like you. Birdwatch Boyne Branch
e. Grassland management and golf links sods - the organic way -
Stephen Hoey, Laytown and Mornington Golf club
f. The Boyne, saltmarshes, mudflats and channels, wading in life - 1 for children as treasure hunt, 1 for adults Aina Walsh, Karin Dubsky, Michael Gunn, Coastwatch
g. Learn to make baskets or St Brigit crosses Jacinta Walsh
2.30 End
Bring Wellies and warm wind proof clothes, tissues, a hot drink and something to sit on
Also consider bringing:
Binoculars if joining bird walk,
A pen, to jot down information
A sod turner - spade, trawl or even a spoon
Willow thin branch freshly picked
Camera
-------------------------
-- Reported by Karen Dubsky, Coastwatch, Ireland (and Ramsar CEPA NGO Focal Point)

Coastwatch is the non government focal point for the Rasmsar Wetland Convention for Ireland. Many groups are organising events in the three days from 2.2.06 the 'real world wetlands day' until Saturday 4.2.06. In Northern Ireland the programme is being collated and own events arranged by the Castle Espie Wetland Centre. 
