On Saturday Nov 12th, kindly supported by a grant from the Heritage Council, we visited the midlands for the first time. Travelling on two buses, one starting in Bray, and the other in Mosney Direct Provision Centre, we arrived with 50 guests at the Irish Peatland Conservation Council Bog of Allen Nature Centre at 11.00 am. We were greeted by Nuala Madigan, IPCC CEO, and Tristram Whyte, Conservation Policy Officer, and served tea, coffee and scones. 

We then split into two groups, one helping weed raised beds, and the other pond dipping for water beetles and other small creatures. Both groups had so much fun that parents and children moved easily between them. There were creatures in the raised beds, too, especially newts, which fascinated many of our guests. 

We also visited the centre’s very informative museum on the history of Lullymore ‘island’, and on the ecology of peat bogs and their associated wildlife and social history. Many of our guests commented on how the images and displays of 19th century and early 20th century rural life in Ireland echoed their memories of their own countries.

After more refreshments, we moved on to Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park, where Stephen Nolan met us and guided us into the restaurant for a delicious lunch. There was an adjacent exhibition of the magical bog photographs of Tina Claffey Photography. The close-up portraits of tiny flowers and insects really fascinated some of the children, with one little boy so intrigued by the massive image of a caterpillar climbing a stalk that he was still asking about its life cycle on the bus home hours later.

Stephen then gave us a very lively tour of exhibitions on the history of Lullymore, ranging from the development of Christianity from Druidism, to the colonial period and the famine. Meanwhile, many of the children enjoyed visiting the farm animals and the playground.

Then we did a bog tour on the Lullymore train, and finally a walk through woodland right into the bog, where Stephen talked about the past and future of peatlands in Ireland in relation to biodiversity and climate change. Some of our guests even tried their hand at ‘footing’ turf on a demonstration bank.

We had 50 guests from countries ranging from Kashmir and Afghanistan to Albania, and 7 volunteers plus two children. 

We are very grateful to Lorcan Scott of the Heritage Council for planning and supporting this event in so many ways. Thanks to the IPCC and Lullymore staff, and also of course to all our volunteers. And to Kate Kavanagh and Lorcan for the photos