A chara,

The long Winter is finally releasing us from it's damp grip. Signs of Spring are showing and I for one couldn't be happier about it!

With the new lease of life in the air it feels like a good time to pick up some new knowledge with one of the courses on offer below, or discover something new at an event. There's some really interesting free courses available, as well as talks and field trips. Celebrate all things Potato today in Leitrim. Hear from writer Kerri Ní Dochartaigh in conversation with Eoghan Daltun in Galway, or from John Gibbons in Wicklow. Meet the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group on their Local Groups Roadshow around the country, and more below.

I'd like to draw your attention as well to the renewed Hands Off Nature campaign from the Environmental Pillar. The European Commission is again seeking to weaken environmental laws under the guise of 'simplification'. You can read more and take simple and quick action now on our website.

There is so much more below, including other ways to help biodiversity from home listed in the surveys section, funding opportunities for groups who are looking to expand their activities, jobs and other training opportunities too. See the overview of this months newsletter in the Contents section, I'm sure you'll find something that interests you!

Wishing you lots of motivation and energy as the days warm up!

Le meas,

Catherine

Community Groups Showcase

Long Garden Bees (Longford)
Offaly Climate and Biodiversity Action Group (Offaly)
Waterford Environmental Forum (Waterford)
Bat Conservation Ireland

Events

See 'Quick Guide to Events'

Resources

IWT Webinar: Hedgerows Under Threat: Protecting Ireland’s Living Landscapes
A beginner's guide to the leafcutter bees and related species (Megachilidae) of Ireland
Helping Nature at School
Report: Identifying knowledge gaps on the impacts of offshore renewable energy on biodiversity at sea.

Announcements

ECO-UNESCO's Young Environmentalist Awards: Expanding ECO-Dens Semi-Finals 2026
2026: ECO-UNESCO'S 40th Anniversary & Year 2 of the 4-Year Strategic Plan
The MSc in Sustainable Development (part-time / full-time) at TU Dublin
SDG Advocate Training

Public Consultations, Surveys, Campaigns

Hands Off Nature – The Campaign Continues!
Invitation to Participate in a Study on Lighting Effects on Health and Wellbeing
Hop To It National Frog Survey
Muir launches draft Strategy to protect nature for future generations

Funding Opportunities

Creative Climate Action Fund III Now Open for Applications
Community Heritage Grant Scheme

Job Opportunities

FEASTA - Project and Event Coordinator

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Find out more about IEN member groups

Quick Guide to Events

March

1st @ 11am: Gather and tend, honour and mend - Galway
1st @ 12pm: Potato Day - Leitirm
4th @ 7.30pm: West Wicklow Environmental Network AGM and guest speaker John Gibbons - Wicklow
6th & 7th: Native Irish Honey Bee Society Annual Conference 2026 - Westmeath
Mid March: This Spring, IWDG Is Hitting the Road! - Nationwide
20th @ 6.30pm: Mark World Rewilding Day with CELT Writer in Residence Kerri ní Dochartaigh in conversation with Eoghan Daltun - Galway

May

15th - 24th: National Biodiversity Week
29th - 31st: IWDG Residential Weekend Whale Watching Course - Wet Cork

June

3rd @ World Ocean Week Conference - 3rd June 2026 - Cork City Hall

Community Groups Showcase

Join those who are making a difference for nature and climate in your county! Find people in your area who share your interests and goals for 2026. Below are just three groups out of hundreds in Ireland.

Find more on your PPN's website. Go to their 'members' section and sort by 'Environmental Pillar' to see some of the groups in your area.

Already in a group of your own? Find your PPN online (search 'your county' and 'ppn') to join for free and receive free training, information on local events and funding, and the opportunities to affect local policy creation in your County Council.

Long Garden Bees

Longford

We install and maintain beehives for Ireland's leading organisations

We support businesses, through our Corporate Hive Programme, as they learn from the most effective and efficient organisation: The Honeybee Colony

Long Garden Bees strive to share the incredible story of the Native Irish Honeybee and the lessons we can learn from them.

Offaly Climate and Biodiversity Action Group

Offaly

Our mission is to enhance, protect and promote nature to create a healthy and more sustainable Offaly.

Waterford Environmental Forum

Waterford

WEF aims to develop and nurture a respectful and harmonious relationship between the people of Waterford and its environment, both natural and built. WEF aims to improve the long term welfare of not only Waterford Citizens but also of Waterford ecosystems. This will be done through innovation, collective action and collective responsibility. WEF aims to achieve its vision through local and national policy advocacy.

IEN Member spotlight

Bat Conservation Ireland

Bat Conservation Ireland works to protect and expand existing bat populations and to develop a widespread understanding and appreciation of bats amongst the public, state agencies and other organisations.

More info and get in touch

See all IEN members here

Events

MARCH EVENTS

Gather and tend, honour and mend

March 1st, 11 - 1pm

Galway

Join CELT Writer-In-Residence Kerri ní Dochartaigh to share and record stories of the Great Forest of Aughty.

Slieve Aughty Centre, Kylebrack West, Loughrea, Co. Galway, Ireland

What does the forest mean to you? Do you live within her folds? Do you tend to her through your days in a way you’d like to share? Or maybe you simply feel a deep, ancestral, life affirming love?

This gentle workshop is suitable for everyone and is part of a project to pay tribute to the Great Forest in a small publication.

This workshop is free but spaces are limited and booking is essential.

Book your place here

Potato Day at The Organic Centre

March 1st, 12 - 4pm

Leitrim

Join the Organic centre for its annual Potato Day on Sunday March 1st, 2026 from 12-4pm.

Browse the bustling craft and food market, with local artisan produce. Get planting with the large national supply & variation of quality seed potatoes to choose from.

Grab Sundays lunch, with all things potato on the menu of the Grass Roof Cafe. Be inspired with potato themed talks, tours & demonstration’s. See how past generations planted with the 'Loy association of Ireland'.

The centre is delighted to have talks on food waste and security including the ROSETTA project by Angelo Galatolo, Food Scientist at the Teagasc Food Research Centre. John Brennan from Leitrim Organic Farmers and Talamh Beo to speak about their advocacy work including on food sovereignty and fostering resilient communities.

Learn how to plant your own potatoes with head gardener Aaron Mc Gowan, 'Chitting & Chatting'! Enjoy boxty making, hailing from the region with Cavan's v own Paula Heatley. Step back in time for Irish natural crafts, wool spinning & basket weaving and games with Steffi Otto of Heritage Crafts alive. Relax with arts/crafts for the children and live music with the Cleary Family and Mary T.

Free Entry on the day.

More info

West Wicklow Environmental Network

AGM and guest speaker John Gibbons

March 4th, 7.30pm

Wicklow

Potato Day a celebration of the humble spud, is on Sunday March 1st from 12-4pm at the Organic Centre, Rossinver, Leitrim.

There will a focus on all things potato, with seed potatoes for sale, a demonstration of boxty making, exhibitions from the Loy association, and talks on potatoes by the experts. With an onsite craft and food market, all things potato on the menu of our grass roof cafe, craft making and entertainment. Free entry.

More info

Native Irish Honey Bee Society Annual Conference 2026

March 6th & 7th

Westmeath

Athlone Springs Hotel

Theme: Native Irish Honey Bee Society – Apis mellifera mellifera in a Changing Environment.

View the conference programme here

Get tickets here

This Spring, IWDG Is Hitting the Road!

March & April

Clare, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Wexford, Louth, Northern Ireland

This spring, the IWDG Local Groups Roadshow is travelling all around our coastline. We’ll be visiting IWDG local groups county by county to build community, strengthen capacity, hear from experienced local members, and learn more about Marine Protected Areas in collaboration with Fair Seas.

At the heart of this roadshow is meeting our members, listening to what matters locally, and strengthening our all-island community. The events are open to all including long-standing members, new members, and anyone interested in supporting whale and dolphin conservation from their local area.

If you’re already an IWDG member, or thinking about becoming one :), we’d love to meet you, come check us out!

Times, dates, and venues will be available on the IWDG website at iwdg.ie, and shared across IWDG and Fair Seas social media channels.

Find more details here

Mark World Rewilding Day with CELT Writer in Residence Kerri ní Dochartaigh in conversation with Eoghan Daltun

- for an inspiring evening of conversation, community and creativity.

March 20th, 6.30- 8.30pm

Galway

CELT are delighted to invite you to join Writer-In-Residence Kerri ní Dochartaigh in conversation with farmer, writer and rewilding advocate Eoghan Daltun at The Slieve Aughty Centre, Kylebrack (H62DX77) for World Rewilding Day 2026. Tickets €15

To book please visit our website here

Join us on March 20th for World Rewinding Day and be a part of this vital conversation on Rewilding for the times we are in.

LATER EVENTS - Dates for the diary

National Biodiversity Week 2026

Save The Date

May 15th - 24th

Nationwide

Explore the rich variety of life in Ireland this May with a host of wonderful events and activities for the whole family.

2026 brings the 14th annual Biodiversity Photographer of the Year competition, Scavenger Hunts for school and at home, and free events every day on all things wildlife in Ireland! Events will be both in person and virtual, so everyone can take part.

Keep an eye out for our new website launching soon!

IWDG Residential Weekend Whale Watching Course

May 29th - 31st

West Cork

Looking for a weekend with a difference? Why not join the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) www.iwdg.ie, Ireland’s leading marine conservation NGO, on an immersive, residential weekend whale-watching course in West Cork over the June bank holiday weekend on May 29-31st. Combining indoor presentations, land-based watches and an offshore pelagic trip, this course will cater for all levels of interest, from the complete novice to the wildlife enthusiast who’d like to learn more about Ireland’s marine megafauna, how to observe and identify them, IWDG’s recording schemes and research, and how you, as Citizen Scientists, can contribute to their conservation. In taking part, you will also be supporting whale and dolphin conservation in Ireland. Suitable from ages of 18 years upwards.

Get tickets here

World Ocean Week Conference - 3rd June 2026 - Cork City Hall

June 3rd, 9:30am

Cork

Join us in Cork for the second Fair Seas Conference in 2026. We will be kicking off World Ocean Week 2026 with a splash in Cork Harbour. We will again bring ocean advocates, the fishing community, government, industry and key stakeholders together to map out Ireland’s next steps for designating and managing a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Learn from best practices from across the world, be part of the conversation and develop an understanding of how Ireland can become a world leader in ocean conservation.

Join us in Cork City Hall on Wednesday, 3rd of June, from 9. 30 am to 4.30 pm.

Book your ticket today

Resources

IWT Webinar: Hedgerows Under Threat: Protecting Ireland’s Living Landscapes

Join the Irish Wildlife Trust, Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland and Hedgerows Ireland for a webinar discussion on the importance of hedgerows for nature as well as how to protect our hedgerow network from wildlife crime and destruction.

In a country with little natural woodland, our hedgerows are a vital habitat for much of our wildlife. Our hedgerow network provides shelter, food, navigation and connectivity for our birds , bats, mammals and wildflowers but they are under attack. We are losing hedgerows all the time to illegal damage and destruction.

In this webinar we will learn about the laws protecting hedgerows and how to report wildlife crime.

With:

Aoife Mc Partlin, Education Officer, WRI

Mark McDowell, Public Relations Officer, Hedgerows Ireland

Kieran Flood, General Manager, IWT

Watch here

A beginner's guide to the leafcutter bees and related species (Megachilidae) of Ireland

Free course from the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

In this course, you will learn to identify Ireland's leafcutter bees, mason bees, sharp-tailed bees and wool-carder bees.

Learn more here

Helping Nature at School

Free course from the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

This is a FREE course designed for teachers, educators, principals, caretakers, SNAs, secretaries, Parents' Associations and indeed everyone involved in our education community across Irish primary, secondary and preschools.

In a simple and relaxed manner, you will explore the importance of biodiversity and learn practical steps to help it at your school.

Learn more here

Report: Identifying knowledge gaps on the impacts of offshore renewable energy on biodiversity at sea.

Maréire announces the publication of their first report “Identifying Knowledge Gaps on the Impacts of Offshore Renewable Energy on Biodiversity at Sea”, written by Howell Marine Consultants with contributions from the MAREIRE team and some of our members.

The report was followed and accompanied by a workshop bringing together academics and eNGO members to work together on a prioritisation exercise of the identified knowledge gaps. The workshop was very well received with great feedback, networking and resulting collaborations among attendees. The report from the workshop is also available to read on their website.

Announcements

ECO-UNESCO's Young Environmentalist Awards: Expanding ECO-Dens Semi-Finals 2026

ECO-UNESCO is in the full swing of their Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) Programme, which rewards and recognises young people’s environmental action projects across the island of Ireland.

YEA calls for young people aged 10-18 to explore environmental issues that matter to them through inquiry-based learning and local action in their communities. As part of this, Dragons’ Den-style judging events called ECO-Dens, are held across the island in March, allowing young people to present their work to a panel of judges.

This year, ECO-Dens have grown, and a new location has been added to the current lineup of Dublin, Armagh, Cork, Galway and now including Limerick! With over 300 environmental action projects taking part in YEA this year, March is set to be a month full of energy, ideas and inspiration!

YEA culminate in the Final Showcase and Awards Ceremony in May, featuring a shortlist from the many exceptional action projects. Young people are given a platform to amplify their voice on their selected environmental cause, in front of peers, judges and the wider public.

To learn more, head to yea.ie or email yea@ecounesco.ie

2026: ECO-UNESCO'S 40th Anniversary & Year 2 of the 4-Year Strategic Plan

2026 marks 40 years of ECO-UNESCO's efforts protecting the environment and empowering young people. During 2026 we will be hosting a series of events and activities to showcase the continuing impact of our work over the past four decades.

Our events will also highlight our vision for the future: one where young people are confident, informed, and supported to take meaningful action for the environment, biodiversity and climate change. Alongside this, we aim to be the go-to organization for environmental education in Ireland.

As we welcome 2026 as our 40th anniversary year, it also marks the second year of our four-year Strategic Plan (2025-2028). This moment offers us an opportunity to reflect on our renewed vision for a better future and explore how ECO-UNESCO will continue to empower young voices to become active leaders in climate action. To read up on our mission to support this vision, please see our Strategic Plan document.

SDG Advocate Training

Become one of Ireland’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Advocates

Deadline to apply: March 16th

Are you looking for an opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in Global Citizenship Education (GCE)? Do you want to join Ireland’s network of Active Citizens and create long-lasting positive change at a local and global level by contributing to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS)

The SDG Advocate Training offers 23 Active Citizens in the Adult and Community Education sector and Community Leadership an opportunity to become one of Ireland’s SDG Advocates. This training course encourages participants to deepen their understanding of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals and lead transformative sustainable change in Ireland.

Project Coordinator: Margaret Downey

Email: applications@developmentperspectives.ie

Public Consultations, Surveys & Campaigns

Hands Off Nature – The Campaign Continues!

The European Commission is preparing another “omnibus” package that will weaken multiple environmental laws at once: from water and chemicals to nature restoration and industrial pollution. This deregulation is presented as “simplification,” but its real-world impact is far from simple. Fewer rules, less responsibilities for polluters, and greater risks to people’s health and safety.

Weakening environmental laws sends a dangerous signal: are we putting industry interests before people's health? When authorities fail to act and allow environmental harm to persist, real humans are the ones left paying the price.

These reckless attacks threaten our clean drinking water, safe food, fresh air, and healthy nature.

We demand that our European leaders defend the laws that protect people and nature, not bow to polluters and vested interests.

Because when nature’s protections are weakened, everyone pays the price, including our kids and future generations.

This is a choice: the health of 450 million Europeans vs. short-term gains for a few.

Sign now. Don't let polluters speak for you. Give nature a voice!

Use our webtool to remind EU leaders to keep their Hands Off Nature.

More information

Invitation to Participate in a Study on Lighting Effects on Health and Wellbeing

As lighting technology evolves, technology has moved from fluorescent and incandescent lighting to LED lighting for both indoor and outdoor use. While this change brings energy-saving benefits, we know little about how different types of lighting, particularly those with high blue-light content, may affect your health and wellbeing.

The Blu-RAY study, a project approved by TU Dublin Research Ethics Committee, is designed to help us understand the effects of artificial light with a focus on public health and wellbeing.

The project aims to establish a baseline dataset about blue light phototoxicity focusing on the impact of light pollution of LED lighting on:

Indoors on human health and wellbeing
Outdoors on environment and biodiversity

The team will use a multidisciplinary approach with collaboration in physics, optometry, psychology, engineering and environmental sciences.

Complete the Survey

Hop To It National Frog Survey

Every year IPCC needs the help of people all over Ireland to take part in the National Frog Survey Ireland. Please record where frogs, spawn and tadpoles occur in the Hop to It Irish Frog Survey.

Take part here

Muir launches draft Strategy to protect nature for future generations

Submissions closed: 18 March 2026

Members of the public are to be consulted on a draft Nature Recovery Strategy to restore, manage and protect Northern Ireland’s habitats for future generations.

More info here

Funding Opportunities

Creative Climate Action Fund III Now Open for Applications

Applications close on Wednesday 15th April 2026.

Creative Ireland is delighted to announce the launch of a new €6.5 million Creative Climate Action Fund. It will support imaginative, large-scale, creative, cultural and artistic initiatives that support communities around climate change and empower people to make meaningful behavioural change.

The Creative Climate Action Fund III (2026-2029) is an initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme in partnership with the Shared Island Initiative and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.

The fund will support ambitious, durational projects that bring together expertise from the creative sectors, climate science, and community engagement. We are seeking proposals that respond creatively to Ireland’s key national climate priorities, including those set out in the Climate Action Plan 2025, the National Dialogue on Climate Action, and the work of the Just Transition Commission. Funding between €400,000 and €750,000 is available for large-scale, public engagement projects, running from 2026 to 2029.

More info here

Community Heritage Grant Scheme

Deadline:8:00 PM on 20 March 2026:

An annual grant scheme for community groups and not-for-profit non-governmental organisations to protect, share, and celebrate the heritage that matters to your community.

A broad range of project types are eligible for funding under the scheme including:

Conservation management plans, surveys, and reports
Conservation works to buildings, biodiversity sites, places, collections, or objects. Can be phased works.
Workshops and training events that build heritage skills
Collections management and biodiversity projects
Digital resources that help make heritage more accessible
Purchase of specialised equipment for conservation

More info

Job Opportunities

FEASTA - Project and Event Coordinator

Feasta is seeking an experienced and highly organised Project and Event Coordinator for a project on ‘Regenerative Democracy’. Grounded in principles of social justice, ecological sustainability, and democratic participation, this project will create opportunities to share research, lived experience, and practical initiatives.

A major focus for the part-time position will be the coordination of the International Conference for Degrowth for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity, which will be held in Cork City from August 17-22 2027.

The role will also entail providing support for a series of workshops in the course of 2026 and 2027, and the delivery of a ‘Regenerative Democracy Framework’ at the end of the project.

Deadline for applications: COB on March 16.

More info and apply here

Find out more about the work of IEN members

The Irish Environmental Network has 34 nationally active members, who work on a wide variety of environmental, biodiversity and sustainability issues.

You can read more about their work, get involved, or sign up to their newsletters to hear directly from them on their websites.

See all members here