Biodiversity Week 2026
The Office of Public Works is delighted to celebrate Biodiversity Week 2026 with a programme of events taking place across many of our heritage sites. This year's theme, Acting Locally for Global Impact highlights the important role we can play in protecting and enhancing biodiversity for our future generations.
We are inviting visitors to come and enjoy a wide range of engaging ativitities and workshops including pollinator themed garden tours, pond dipping, beekeeping demonstrations, guided garden tours with twilight rambles and exploration into healing traditions and library tours.
Biodiversity Week: Pollinators Paradise
Biodiversity Week: Pollinators Paradise- National Botanic Gardens
Join us daily at 3pm from May 16th – 24th to discover the heroes, tricksters and villains of pollination.
What do bees, bats, birds, lizards and humans all have in common? They are linked through the phenomenon of pollination, plants using animals to carry their pollen from flower to flower, giving rise to new plants, for a price.
Biodiversity Garden Tour
Biodiversity Garden Tour – Royal Hospital Kilmainham
In Honour of Biodiversity Week, we are hosting tours tours will explore the various trees and shrubs that are growing within the grounds.
Biodiversity Walk on Ross Island
Biodiversity Walk on Ross Island – Ross Castle
Join our guide and biodiversity champion Conal Guilfoyle on a guided walk of Ross Island and explore the natural wonders of the area at present.
Discussion on Bats at Dunmore Cave
Discussion on Bats at Dunmore Cave
John Kinsella will will host discussions on the bat colony at Dunmore Cave throughout the day on both 16th and 17th May 2026.
Beekeeping in Medieval and Modern Times
Beekeeping in Medieval and Modern Times – Glendalough
OPW Guide and Beekeeper John Price will host a demonstrative talk on beekeeping and a discussion on it’s relevance both in modern and early medieval times.
Biodiversity Week: Library Tours
Biodiversity Week: Library Tours – National Botanic Gardens
Join Librarian Rachel Hynes for a tour of the Gardens’ Library treasures
Pond Dipping with Ecologist Lorraine O Sullivan
Pond Dipping with Ecologist Lorraine O Sullivan- The JFK Arboretum
This workshop will link science and nature using exhibits to stimulate children’s curiosity about the range of biodiversity in ponds.
Walk and talk on the plant-life around Dunmore Cave
Walk and talk on the plant-life around Dunmore Cave
There will be a walk and talk on the plant-life around the cave with Caitriona Bolger.
Birds of the Botanic Gardens
Birds of the Botanic Gardens – National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin
Join Head Guide Glynn Anderson for a guided bird walk around the Botanic Gardens. The Botanic Gardens has a great variety of native birds from the ‘common-or-garden’ to the more elusive rarities like the Buzzard, Dipper, Jay, Kingfisher and many more. Glynn will help to identify the birds by sight and sound and tell a little of the history of the birds in Ireland.
Biodiversity Garden Tour
Biodiversity Garden Tour – Royal Hospital Kilmainham
What plants thrive, why they have been chosen and the continuous work done to promote biodiversity and native Irish flora in our green oasis.
Hands-on Biodiversity: A Series of Fun and Interactive Workshops Exploring the Aquatic Life of Lough Gill
Hands-on Biodiversity: A Series of Fun and Interactive Workshops Exploring the Aquatic Life of Lough Gill – Parke’s Castle
Join us at Parke’s Castle, on the shores of Lough Gill, for an interactive workshop with your school. Meet and get to know the bugs and fish that live in the lake
Coastal Management Citizen Science and Seagrass
Coastal Management Citizen Science and Seagrass – Charles Fort, Kinsale
The Charles Fort team are delighted to welcome Emma Armshaw, SWAN Marine Policy Officer who shall discuss the management of the marine environment and how this connects locally. Bernie Connolly, TEF and Coastwatch Regional Coordinator will also highlight Coastwatch Citizen Science activities including the Seagrass Campaign and Autumn Shore Survey. We also hope to explore the seagrass bed in the vicinity of Charles Fort (weather permitting).
Dusk Chorus
Dusk Chorus -Kilkenny Castle
OPW Kilkenny Castle is delighted to collaborate with the Kilkenny branch of BirdWatch Ireland for another Dusk Chorus this year on Thursday 21 May.
Bug Hotel Workshop
Bug Hotel Workshop – Kilkenny Castle
To celebrate Biodiversity Week join us for our fun and creative Bug Hotel Workshops at Kilkenny Castle on Sunday 24th May.
Twilight Nature Ramble
Twilight Nature Ramble – National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin
Setting off before sunset, we will look and listen for birds going to their night roosts. When the sun has finally gone down for the night we will redirect our attention to nocturnal creatures..
Natural Beekeeping
Natural Beekeeping – Kilkenny Castle
Peek inside the world of bees with Tanguy de Toulgoët from Dunmore Country School in Durrow, Co. Laois. Explore hive life up close to understand the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystems and learn practical ways to support their survival, all inspired by the rich biodiversity of the parklands at Kilkenny Castle.
Colours of Nature at Ormond Castle
Colours of Nature – Ormond Castle
Pigments, history and hands-on creativity. Discover the Medieval Art of Natural Pigment-Making.
Workshop includes: guided pigment foraging, making and griding natural pigments, egg tempera introduction, sample creation and swatch making, history biodiversity and stories…
Hen Harrier talk on Scattery Island
Hen Harrier talk on Scattery Island
NPWS warden Carles will be informing visitors all about the island’s Hen Harriers who are a rare bird of prey and are a protected species.
