Waters of LIFE Stories for Water Quality Beyond The Pale
Waters of LIFE have collaborated with organisers of the Beyond The Pale festival to host a special event in the Avonmore sub-catchment on Saturday June 14th and Sunday June 15th.
Festival goers can attend Waters of LIFE: The storytellers of Annamoe River – a quick hit of fun and science for anyone curious about riverside wildlife.
The 30-minute walk and talk starts in the Acushla wellness area where the Waters of LIFE tent will sit alongside a tributary to the Annamoe River in the Avonmore_30 water body.
Catchment scientist Mark Desmond is the event lead with support from project partners Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO).
After a riverside chat about healthy rivers and the animals that depend on them, Mark will conduct a live kick sample to gather living creatures from the bottom of the river.
Back at the tent, festival goers can get a close-up look at macroinvertebrates – our best story tellers for water quality. There are small prizes up for grabs in our ‘catch of the day’ game and plenty to see and learn about riverside wildlife.
Waters of LIFE: The storytellers of Annamoe River
Beyond The Pale Festival, Glendalough Estate, Co. Wicklow
Saturday June 14th 2025: Waters of LIFE Tent, Acushla, 12:45; 14:15
Sunday June 15th 2025: Waters of LIFE Tent, Acushla, 12:45; 14:15
The Waters of LIFE tent is also shared with a special National Parks and Wildlife Service display. Head Guide Mark O’Callaghan and his team from the Knocksink Wood Education Centre will highlight ongoing projects of the Conservation Measures Unit featuring little tern and lapwing colonies.
Beyond The Pale is uniquely positioned to host the installation – it sits in a Blue Dot catchment where only Ireland’s best water bodies are found. It’s also one of only five Waters of LIFE demonstration sub-catchments.
“In terms of footfall, this is by far the biggest event staged in the areas we work,” says Waters of LIFE Stakeholder Engagement Manager Ross O’Donoghue.
“The festival organisers walked the land with us and were really enthusiastic about telling the story of healthy rivers and their habitats.”
“Engagement around our Pilot Agri-Environmental Programme has been a huge focus over the past number of months. We’re now looking forward to getting back out into the wider community and that starts with the thousands of people who’ll come through the gates of Beyond The Pale.
After that, we’ll have plenty of family friendly events in our other catchments. We’re excited to showcase our precious blue dots.”
Waters of LIFE are an EU-funded project that work to protect and improve water quality in Blue Dot areas.
Click here for more information on Waters of LIFE at Beyond The Pale