Galway is gearing up to ‘Go Wild’ again this year on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th May. This free two-day festival of wildlife includes walks, workshops, talks and events at landmark locations across the city taking in the River Corrib and canals, NUI Galway and Merlin Woods.
BirdWatch Ireland’s John Lusby, who launches the action-packed programme with a dawn chorus on Silver Strand said “This years ‘Go Wild’ Festival in Galway kicks off bright and early (well initially dark and early ) with a Dawn Chorus at 04:30 on Saturday the 26th, meeting at Silver Strand car park. Last year we totted up an impressive species list in beautiful conditions as light drizzle in the darkness gave way to a spectacular sunrise. As well as listening to a range of birds greet the first light of the day, such as Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Stonechat and clacking herons in their nests, we watched nesting Sand Martin busily come and go from their burrows, Common Terns diving and Great Northern Diver in the bay….and also got to see some of the small mammals in the area using special live traps. The dawn chorus and small mammal survey will be led by BirdWatch Ireland and the Vincent Wildlife Trust, be sure to join us if you are in the area….it is worth getting out of bed for!”
The Dawn Chorus is just one event of many as part of Go Wild, which includes a weekend of free events to explore and appreciate the wonderful wildlife of Galway from the VWT, BirdWatch Ireland, NEAR Health, NUI Galway, GMIT, Galway Bat Group, Irish Wildlife Trust, Friends of Merlin Woods, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Galway Atlantaquaria, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Crossing the Line Films and more! The free events on Saturday include a Children’s workshop and a NEARHealth workshop to explore the different ways you can connect with nature to improve your health and wellbeing.
Sunday morning includes a Wildlife Walk in Merlin woods at 11am to explore small mammals, birds, insects and plants!
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Go Wild’ will culminate on Sunday with ‘Natural Connections’ – an evening of encounters and appreciation of the natural world’ in An Taibhdhearc from 6-8pm! This event is free and refresments are included but booking is advised. For a full timetable and booking visit: WildGalway2018.eventbrite.com “Come along this weekend to discover the wonder that is Galway’s natural world, and experience it with its wildlife organisations by your side!” said Ruth Hanniffy from The Vincent Wildlife Trust.
Go Wild is supported by The Heritage Council, Galway City European Green Leaf 2017 and the Irish Environmental Network
What: A free festival of wildlife with walks, workshops, talks and events
When: Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th May 2018
Where: Silver Strand; NUI Galway, Merlin Woods and An Taibhdhearc
Cost: All events are free, but booking is required for the workshops & An Taibhdhearc. For more information and booking contact: Ruth Hanniffy at [email protected] and (087 )1233347 or visit www.wildgalway2018.eventbrite.com or www.mammals-in-ireland.ie/