’25 years on’, a special programme of events celebrating quarter century of Abbeyleix Bog will take place from Thursday, July 24, to Sunday, July 27.
On Monday, July 24, 2000, members of the Abbeyleix community took a stand. By blocking the entrance to Abbeyleix Bog, they prevented the likely harvesting of peat on the 500-acre site.
This act of local defiance marked the beginning of a nine-year period of discussion and arguments that ultimately secured a 50-year lease for the community.
That moment marked a turning point in how we view and value our bogs and prompted the foundation of the Abbeyleix Bog Project.
This July marks the 25th anniversary of the blockade with a special programme of events organised to commemorate the occasion.
Thursday, July 24
The official launch will be at 7pm in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel featuring a mix of speakers, presentations, an exhibition and a short documentary.
An exhibition by photographers Annie Holland and Tina Claffey, the RePEAT exhibition ‘The Changing Story of Irish Boglands.’ Exhibitions will continue at the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel on Friday 25 July and will then move to the Abbeyleix Bog.
A short documentary screening by local filmmaker Brendan Phelan of Video Nation – 7pm, Abbeyleix Manor Hotel.
Speakers on the night will include ABP Director Garry Luttrell, festival co-coordinator Alison McEvoy, wetland ecologist and TAG member Jim Ryan, with members of the local community involved in the original blockade present.
Friday, July 25
Friday features a range of outdoor, family friendly activities including Outdoor Art Activities with Lynda Gyves (10am to 1pm), bat detecting and a range of Guided Bog Walks; tours exploring the natural beauty and ecological significance of the bog.
There will be Historical and Biodiversity Guided Bog Walks from 1pm to 3pm and from 5pm to 7pm.
The day will close with a panel discussion at 7pm, Abbeyleix Golf Club, moderated by acclaimed journalist Ella McSweeney and featuring renowned ornithologist and sound recordist Seán Ronayne and Shirley Clerkin (National Parks and Wildlife Service).
Saturday, July 26
Seán Ronayne will lead a Walk at Dawn on the bog at 5.30am – a rare opportunity to accompany Seán as he observes the diverse birdlife of our bog-lands.
Attendees will then be invited to witness the marvellous variety of moths that our traps have attracted overnight at our ‘Mothing’ event at 7am
Textile artist Jo Howard will lead a series of Textile Workshops, guiding participants to respond creatively to the landscape of the
bog from 10am to 1pm and from 3pm to 6pm at the Manor Hotel.
There will be two opportunities to experience ‘Distillation’ by artist Luke Casserly at both 1pm and 4pm in the Parish Hall; a performative journey which takes you to the Irish bog landscape through scent.
The day will end with another Guided Bog Walk at 5pm.
Sunday, July 27
The final day of festivities is defined by a series of creative workshops that will take place throughout the day including Bat Box building with Abbeyleix Mens Shed in the outdoor classroom, a Collage workshop at Preston House as well as basket weaving workshops led by the finely skilled basket maker Cathy Hayden.
Sunday will open (7am) and close (7pm) with an outdoor yoga class on the bog boardwalk, bringing the programme to a tranquil end. All workshops are curated in collaboration with Of Hands Festival.
“The Changing Story of Ireland’s Boglands” RePEAT exhibition will move to Preston House, Lily Toomey (Researcher) will be present from 12noon.
Building Bat Boxes with Abbeyleix Men’s Shed will be at 9am, at the Outdoor Classroom plus Bug Hotel Making again with Abbeyleix Men’s Shed at 1pm in Preston House.
Earlier in the day at Preston House there will be a Bog Collage Workshop at 10am, followed by Basket Weaving Workshop with Cathy Hayden from 3pm to 6pm
There will be one final Guided Bog Walk at 12 noon and a Garden Party at 5pm in the Abbeyleix Community Garden.
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