Sligo Heritage Office

24/05/2026

The final event of National Biodiversity Week takes place this afternoon in beautiful Longford Demesne Wood at 2:30pm.

Full details below.

Sunday afternoon woodland walk with Crann Trees for Ireland
24th May 2026 2.30p.m. - 5.00 p.m.

Crann Trees for Ireland Director Diarmuid McAree is delighted to lead a guided walk here in the woodland, highlighting Irish Biodiversity during National Biodiversity Week.
The event includes a presentation of the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme, Native Woodland Establishment Scheme and Native Forest for Water (FT2) Scheme.
Other topics will include:
HNV Farming (NPWS), Wild Bird Cover, Pollinator Strips, Bee Boxes, Species Rich Native Hedgerows and Wild Flower Meadow.

Please note that NO dogs are permitted on site in order to protect the variety of wildlife.
Please wear weather appropriate clothing and footwear.
Come join us and enjoy nature at it's best!
National Biodiversity Week is organised by the Irish Environmental Network (IEN) , with thanks to funding from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
PLACES LIMITED - BOOKING ESSENTIAL -
CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE VIA EVENTBRITE LINK.

22/05/2026

🦋 Calling all nature enthusiasts, experts, recorders, and anyone who would like to learn more! 🌿

Tomorrow's annual National Biodiversity Week Bioblitz takes place at Kilglass House and Woodland and Enniscrone beach!
Come along for moths, bats, birds, plants, marine, freshwater and much more!!

From 12 midday.. full timetable below!

www.biodiversityweek.com
Kilglass House and Woodland
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nR8RuA1a2FoheMLP7

Sligo County Council Woodrow Sustainable Solutions Biodiversity Ireland Dark Sky Ireland Bat Conservation Ireland Nature Learn Sligo IWDG Enniscrone Tidy Towns Kilglass House & Woodland

20/05/2026

This evening as part of National Biodiversity Week, tune into a fascinating online talk:
🐾'Tails of three woodland species: The All-Ireland Squirrel & Pine Marten Survey'🐾
⏰ 7 - 8pm

Join Dr Colin Lawton (University of Galway), Katy Bell (Ulster Wildlife), and Vicky Knight (Vincent Wildlife Trust) as they share insights into these woodland specialists and how they interact in the wild.

Get the latest updates on the 2026 All-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey and find out how you can help.

Register for your ticket here:
https://events.humanitix.com/tails-of-three-woodland-species-the-all-ireland-squirrel-and-pine-marten-survey

www.biodiversityweek.ie

Discover the fascinating world of Ireland's squirrels and pine martens!

20/05/2026

Tonight we are headed to Ballymote for a Bat Walk with Bat Conservation Ireland!

Come along to learn about Ireland's bats and the world's only flying mammals! We'll walk through the beautiful parks and open spaces of Ballymote as dusk falls to watch bats in flight, listen to their echolocation calls and learn about why we, and nature, need the dark!🦇

📍 Ballymote Train Station, Carrownanty | 🕘 9:00–10:30pm
(Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Dress for the weather. No dogs please.)
🔗biodiversityweek.ie/event/ballymote-bat-walk/

www.biodiversityweek.ie Sligo County Council Ballymote Tidy Towns CLG Ballymote Heritage Group Ballymote Community Library

20/05/2026

🦇Today at Sligo County Library...Mary Roberts will be speaking about Ireland's bats from 12:30 - 13:30. 🦇
Learn about these magnificent animals, and the world's only flying mammal!

There are spaces available, you can book yours at:
📞 0719111675
📧 [email protected]

www.bealtaine.ie www.biodiversityweek.ie

🦇✨ 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘀! ✨🦇

Join us at 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗼 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 this Bealtaine for a fascinating lunchtime talk with 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱.

Learn all about these amazing creatures and why they’re so important to our environment 🌙💚

📅 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘆
⏰ 𝟭𝟮:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺
🎟️ 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱)

Perfect for nature lovers, the curious-minded, and anyone keen to see Ireland’s wildlife in a whole new light!

📞 Book your spot: 0719111675
📧 [email protected]

Sligo Environmental Network Sligo Heritage Office Sligo County Council

08/05/2026

Cathaoirleach Cllr. Dónal Gilroy and Sligo County Council will hold a special National Biodiversity Week launch event on Friday 15th May:

🦈 An Ancient Visitor: The Greenland Shark in Sligo presented by Dr. Monica Sullivan🦈

Venue: National Surf Centre, Strandhill.
Time: Refreshments will be available from 6pm.
Proceedings will start promptly at 7pm.

Reserve your spot at https://bit.ly/GreenlandShark

Sligo County Council Sligo IWDG

07/05/2026

🌿 It is almost time for National Biodiversity Week, an annual celebration of all things nature, running from Friday 15th - Sun 24th May. 🌿

We are looking forward to an action packed week in Co. Sligo, with events all over the county including fascinating talks on Ireland’s eagles, squirrels and pine martens🐾, as well as a dawn chorus🐦, bat walk🦇, nature walks , cycles🚴‍♀️ , aquatic safari, whale watching 🐬 and much more!

🎉We launch on 15th May with a very special event in the National Surf Centre, Strandhill, where Dr. Monica Sullivan will share the wonders of the world’s longest known living vertebrate – the Greenland shark🦈, a recent visitor to Sligo!

🌳🍂🐚 We look forward to our annual Biodiversity Bioblitz with Woodrow Sustainable Solutions! We invite all ecologists, wildlife enthusiasts and members of the public to help record as many species as possible in a set time in beautiful Kilglass House & Gardens and Enniscrone beach on Saturday 23rd May. Full schedule to follow. 🍂🐚🌳

Keep an eye on this page for further information and links to booking where necessary. See https://biodiversityweek.ie/ for details of in-person and online events taking place all over the country.

🌷A sincere thank you to all the wildlife groups and individuals who help to make Biodiversity Week such a significant part of the wildlife calendar in Sligo.

National Biodiversity Week is organised by the Irish Environmental Network and the Local Authority Biodiversity Officer Network, and is supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Sligo County Council Sligo IWDG Sligo Weekender The Sligo Champion Sligo Tidy Towns Drumcliffe Rathcormac TidyTowns Enniscrone Tidy Towns Leave No Trace Ireland Nature Inspires Nature Learn Local Authority Waters Programme Tubbercurry Forest Trail Ballymote Tidy Towns and Tourism Ltd. Ballymote Community Library Sligo County Library BirdWatch Sligo Sligo Walks Wild Sligo Longford Demesne Wood TalamhBeo Sligo IWDG Bat Conservation Ireland Dark Sky Ireland Cliffoney Community Forum - CCF Dromore West Tidy Towns Easkey Kilglass House & Woodland

20/04/2026

Sligo County Council are delighted to support Sligo IWDG this Saturday with a hands-on training course on how to respond to live strandings of dolphins on our coastline. Places are limited.

When: Saturday 25th April 10am - 4:30pm
Where: Mullaghmore Sailing Club, Co. Sligo

For more information and to register, follow the link:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/sligo-iwdg-cetacean-live-stranding-training-tickets-1986890203083

This course is supported by the Local Biodiversity Action Fund 2026 through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Local Authority Biodiversity Officer network.

The Heritage Council Irish Whale and Dolphin Group

Ever wondered what to do if you come across a stranded dolphin?

Join IWDG in Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo (25 April) for a hands-on training course in live stranding response. Learn how to assess the situation, work safely as a team, and respond in the best interest of the animal — whether that’s refloating or providing palliative care.

Best suited to those comfortable in and around the sea. Full details are within the Eventbrite link attached. Places limited.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/sligo-iwdg-cetacean-live-stranding-training-tickets-1986890203083?aff=oddtdtcreator

17/04/2026

🦈 A rare stranding took place in Co. Sligo this week when a Greenland shark washed ashore at Finisklin.🦈

Thanks to the swift response and collaborative effort of all involved, the shark was retrieved from the shoreline by crane, and transferred to the DAFM Regional Lab in Sligo for post mortem.

Tissue samples will be analysed in an effort to reveal more information about this fascinating species, including its age. Greenland sharks are the longest-living vertebrates known to science, capable of living for many hundreds of years, native to the deep and remote waters of the Arctic and North Atlantic. This individual was a male, likely approaching sexual maturity - which occurs at around 150 years of age. This Greenland shark has already outlived all those who came into contact with it.

From those to first spotted and reported the shark, the volunteers who secured it until recovery, and the Sligo IWDG, National Museum of Ireland, DAFM Regional Lab, Sligo Harbourmaster, Celtic-Anglian Water, Quinn Crane Hire and Sligo County Council, this was a truly collaborative effort. Thanks to everyone involved, the shark was preserved intact, and hopefully future generations will have the opportunity to see this remarkable animal at the National Museum.

See below for full press release from National Museum of Ireland

10/04/2026

See below for details of CLÁR funding which is now open for applications until 22nd May 2026.

Eligible projects include:
• Applications to remediate light pollution (terrestrial and marine) through restorative lighting strategies to protect and/or restore Ireland's dark skies
• Sensory Gardens/Community Gardens/Allotments/Biodiversity planting
• Access to unique local heritage sites/areas of natural beauty

For full information see: www.sligococo.ie/grants

📢𝗖𝗟𝗔́𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀🌿

CLÁR is a targeted investment programme that provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation, socio economic disadvantage, or geographic remoteness.

📅Closing date for Expressions of Interest application form: 4.00pm, Friday 22nd May 2026

✉️EOI application forms should be submitted by email to: [email protected]

🔗Further information and the EOI application form are available at: www.sligococo.ie/grants

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