Irish Wildlife Trust

Ireland’s nature and wildlife will take centre stage from 15th - 24th May, with hundreds of free events across the country for @national.biodiversity.week 💚 Here's a selection of nine events we have organised, across the country. For details on these, see iwt.ie/events Welcoming the launch of National Biodiversity Week, Karen Ciesielski, Chief Executive Officer of the @irishenvnet said: “Spending time in nature is so beneficial to our physical and mental wellbeing. This annual 10-day celebration of nature and wildlife offers a variety of free events and activities for the whole family and highlights the need to protect and enhance our biodiversity for now and for future generations. The beauty of National Biodiversity Week is that it not only educates but brings the fun and wonder of nature back into our lives. With more than 300 events planned all around the country, there is so much for all the family to see and enjoy. I’d advise people to get outside and see what’s happening in their communities.” #BiodiversityWeek2026 Thanks to our collaborators and co-hosts: @nationalbotanicgardens_ireopw @kilcornan_tidy_towns @the_pearse_centre @npws_wicklow @fairseasireland @muineachanlegaeilge @_an_nead_ @castleblayneylibrary @cecas.ie @greenskibbereen @kenmaretidytowns @carnegie_arts_kenmare @swimming_head

Found an animal? If you're not sure what to do, then use the following reliable resources. While the Irish Wildlife Trust doesn't offer animal rescue or rehabilitation services, we can point you in the right direction for quick assistance! 🆘 Wildlife First Aid Information: http://irishwildlifematters.ie/animals/ Irish Wildlife Matters is a fantastic resource with lots of information on animal specific first aid and contact details for service providers who can help. 🦊 @kildarewildliferescue is a volunteer-run charity organisation responding to wildlife casualties in Dublin, Kildare and surrounding counties. If you find an injured or orphaned wildlife, please send an email to [email protected] and include your phone number, location and short video of the animal for assessment. The email is covered by volunteers 7 days a week, 8 am to 11 pm, and emails are responded to in a timely manner. All reports of wildlife casualties are treated as urgent and advice on the best course of action will be provided based on the location, species, age and condition of the animal. #wildliferescueireland #kildarewildliferescue @kildarewildliferescue

📢 Join us outside Leinster House at 1pm on Thursday 21 May 2026. Let's call for long-awaited and urgently needed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) legislation to be published. Stand with us. Make your voice heard. #FairSeas

Biodiversity Week spotlight on Monaghan 🌱 ✨ IWT Monaghan Branch have just released their project Seeds of Inspiration, in collaboration with the Monaghan Biodiversity Office. The full length doc plus videos and booklets (in English & as Gaeilge) are now available to watch/download from iwt.ie/seeds_of_inspiration In addition, they are running two events this @national.biodiversity.week 💚 Bithéagsúlacht agus Gaeilge | Biodiversity and Irish, with Oisín Ó Neill on 21 May 🦆 The Birds of Lough Muckno, with Billy Flynn on 23 May See iwt.ie/events for details. Both events are free and no booking required #BiodiversityWeek2026 @monaghancountycouncil

🌱 Seeds of Inspiration 🌱 IWT Monaghan Branch are thrilled to announce a feature length documentary + book (available in English and Irish), coming Friday 15 May 2026. This project showcases the extraordinary dedication of Castleblayney man John McKeon, who over the past 25 years has committed himself tirelessly to the growing, preserving, and celebrating of Ireland’s native trees, with particular attention to those of Monaghan provenance. Monaghan is a county whose landscapes and communities are enriched by the quiet presence of woodland, hedgerows, and solitary trees that have stood for generations. This project was born from the desire of the Monaghan Branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust and the Monaghan Biodiversity Office to preserve John’s legacy. The initiative was made possible through generous funding from National Parks and Wildlife Service under the Local Biodiversity Action Fund, with additional support from Monaghan County Council and the Irish Wildlife Trust. For more see: iwt.ie/seeds_of_inspiration @monaghancountycouncil @npwsireland @castleblayneylibrary @theheritagecouncil #SeedsOfInspiration #IWTMonaghanBranch

Tá eagraíocht nua de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge agus Gaelic Woodland Project, Craobh na Coille, ar an bhfód le cúpla mí anuas. D’eagraigh siad turas treoraithe le déanaí leis an nasc idir an talamh agus an teanga a léiriú.

The Limerick Branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust are hosting two events in Curraghchase Forest Park for @national.biodiversity.week with @kilcornan_tidy_towns 💚 🗓️ Saturday 16th May 2026 🕰️ 11.00-13.00 🔎 A Hunt for Dragonflies at the Lake: Learn about the fascinating life cycle of dragonflies while getting up close to a few different species! 🌳 A Tour of the Arboretum: Explore the extensive collection of trees from around the world and keep an eye out for rare wildflowers! Attendance is free and no booking is required for either event. For enquiries, email [email protected] @irishenvnet #BiodiversityWeek2026

Woop Woop 🎉 We can't wait to be back in @patagoniadublin for another ocean after party! We'll have pizza, beers and an incredible panel all about #sharks - more info on this amazing panel coming soon. Please join us at the rally and see you at the afterparty. Make a difference and meet like minded people while you're at it ❤️ - Registration @fairseasireland link in bio. #FairSeas

Species of the Week for World Migratory Bird Day: Common Swift Irish name: Gabhlán Gaoithe Scientific name: Apus apus One of the most joyous sounds on a summer evening must be the high-pitched “sree-sree” of the Common Swift. These sociable and acrobatic little birds, which migrate here in late April/May from sub-Saharan Africa, spend virtually all their lives airborne. They feed on insects and spiders caught in mid-air, drink by skimming the surface of water, and even mate and sleep while on the wing. Their scientific name Apus is Greek for "without feet," as their legs are tiny and designed for clinging to vertical surfaces, not walking on the ground. Their Irish name Gabhlán gaoithe means “wind fork”. Throughout their lifetime, Swifts prefer to return to the exact same nesting site annually. Swifts are more common in urban areas, where they build bijou, cupped nests in small crevices in buildings, as well as on the eaves of houses. Unfortunately, modern housing design and insulation has seen the tiny gaps they once utilised sealed up, leading to a plummet in the Swift population. In the UK and Ireland alike, nearly 2 out of 3 birds have been lost since the mid-1990s, placing them on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. Fortunately, there is something we can do to address the Swift “housing crisis”. Because Swifts are faithful to their nest sites and nest in colonies, providing secure and permanent nesting opportunities is key to their recovery. A Swift brick is a special, hollowed-out brick that fits directly into a building's outer wall, providing a safe, maintenance-free, low-cost, and permanent nesting space. Swift Conservation Ireland provides extensive advice on installing nest boxes and attraction call systems in new developments. The latest issue of our members-only magazine, Irish Wildlife, contains an article on saving swifts. Become a member and receive this award-winning magazine in the post each season! @worldmigratorybirdday @birdwatchireland @swift.conservationproject #SpeciesOfTheWeek #CommonSwift #WorldMigratoryBirdDay

Happy Birthday to one of our earliest supporters, David Attenborough! 🎂 Here's a little piece of history: back in 1980, the fledgling Irish Wildlife Federation, as we were known then, invited David to Dublin. He delivered two lectures to a full house at the RDS. These landmark events gave us a great boost in membership! Watch our co-founder John Rochford recount how this in this excerpt from a 2019 interview celebrating our 40th anniversary. Why not celebrate Attenborough's 100th by becoming a member today? See link in bio. @rdsdublin #DavidAttenborough

Press Release: IWT welcomes EU Commission action against Ireland over failure to designate protected areas at seas 🌊 The European Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to Ireland over its failure to designate protected areas at sea. Ireland has two months to provide a satisfactory response before the Commission decides whether to issue a reasoned opinion. Grace Carr, IWT Marine Advocacy Officer: ‘Irish people have been fighting for better protections in Ireland’s marine area for decades... We have highlighted these shortcomings with the European Commission on a number of occasions and we are happy to see the Commission taking actions to hold the Government accountable. We are already decades behind in conserving nature, there is no more time to delay.’ 🔗 Read the full press release at iwt.ie/news @fairseasireland @irishenvnet @birdwatchireland @irishwhaleanddolphingroup @coastwatch_ire @sustainablewaternetwork @streamscapes.ie

*LINK IN BIO* - It has been more than five years since the government first committed to creating laws to protect our #seas, yet little real progress has been made. If we are serious about stopping the damage being done to marine life, we urgently need strong Marine Protected Areas legislation that actually works. That means clear plans for how areas will be protected and real involvement from coastal #communities in decisions that affect them. Ireland’s seas have been waiting long enough. For over five years, people across the country have been calling for proper protections and still, we don’t have the laws needed to make that happen. You can help by writing to Taoiseach Mícheál Martin and the Ministers responsible for the marine environment. Ask them to finally deliver strong and effective laws to protect our seas, without any further delay. #FairSeas