Hi IEN,

Autumn brings a bounty of events your way in this month's newsletter! There are weekend festivals celebrating our natural crafts and landscape, courses in permaculture, whale watching, and vetinary treatment, apple festivals, workshops, conferences for hedgerows and wildlife crime, and more! Browse through our quick guide for an overview, and find more info on each event below.

In our News and Announcements, you'll find details of the Sustainable Fashion Competition. You can also help out Leave No Trace, who have been nominated for the Small Charity, Big Impact award. There are also a rake of job opportunities currently open in Dublin and Leitrim.

Did you notice our banner image this month? It fittingly features basking sharks, the second biggest fish in the world and a gentle giant in Irish waters. Fair Seas is calling all ocean lovers to join them outside Dáil Éireann on Sept 25th at 12 noon to call for the publication of the Marine Protected Area Bill, which has been delayed again and again. Use your voice to call for new laws to safeguard Ireland's marine life.

Do you believe that policy is a vital tool for change? Would you like to help steer local policy creation but don't know where to start? Coming up this October we are hosting a webinar to introduce you to one of the structures in place that you can get directly involved in: the Strategic Policy Committtees. These are in place in each Council, and are open to the public for nominations. This is participatory democracy in action! Join us to learn how to get involved and be a local voice in your council for climate and biodiversity.

All this and more below!

Enjoy!

Catherine.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

2-Day Permaculture Design Course at Cloughjordan Ecovillage

Sept 14th and 15th

10am - 5pm

Tipperary

This introductory 2-day course ‘taster’ will provide an opportunity to actively learn about the principles and see examples of permaculture design in Cloughjordan Ecovillage.

The course offers an opportunity to discuss vitally important issues in a positive, creative and supportive space. Whether your interest is in building community, organic horticulture or engineering, designing a homestead or how to best navigate the transition to a resilient and more self-reliant society, studying the principles of permaculture and regenerative design will be invaluable.

Venue: Community Enterprise Centre, Cloughjordan Ecovillage

During the two days, you will learn about:

• The history of permaculture
• Ethics & principles of Permaculture
• Closed loop and whole systems thinking
• Patterns in nature
• Regenerative design

Book here

Whale Watching Courses

The Irish Whale & Dolphin Group is delighted to announce their return to the wonderful CECAS Ctr, in Leap, West Cork, for their 2024 summer series of Residential weekend whale watching courses. Participants will attend a series of indoor presentations and guided land-based watches, during which they will learn the field-skills required to observe, identify and record these magnificent marine mammals. Incorporated into the weekend will be a 4-5hr boat trip with our partners at Cape Clear Ferries. The second of these two courses is September 20th - 22nd.

Book Sept 20th - 22nd

Introduction to Wildlife Rehabilitation Course

Sept 21st and 22nd

Full Day

Meath

Learn the basics in wildlife rehabilitation coming this autumn from Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland.

Book your tickets here

Autumn Woodland, Hedgerow and Pond Life

Sept 21st, 12 - 2pm

North Cork

Discover the range of biodiversity with us as we tour woodland, hedgerow and pond habitats that have been well-stewarded alongside a working farm. Learn how land can be managed for greater biodiversity as we explore the abundance of plant and insect life in these habitats.

About our speaker:

John O'Sullivan is a Guest Lecturer with UCC and has a background in Plant Science. His research interests include conservation, regeneration and urban ecology, with particular emphasis on entomology. He reported the first instance of the alien Harlequin Ladybird breeding in Ireland, and has also recorded several insect species new to both Cork and Ireland

More info and register here

Féile na nÚll

Sept 21st, 1pm - 6pm

Tipperary

Féile na nÚll, the annual community apple festival, will take place at Cloughjordan Ecovillage on Saturday 21 September from 1pm. E53 VP86.

Now in its seventh year, Féile na nÚll is a celebration of nature, community and art. The festival offers a vibrant day filled with engaging activities, tours and talks centred around the wonderful world of apples!

Free entry, more info here

Registrations are now open for the Big Beach Clean 2024

September 20th - 22nd

Clean Coasts is thrilled to announce the return of the Big Beach Clean initiative from the 20th -22nd of September. The Big Beach Clean is an annual call to action as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), operated internationally by Ocean Conservancy. This call to action invites communities and volunteers around the country to remove litter from around the Irish coast after the end of the bathing season. 

This initiative is also an opportunity for volunteers to get involved in a worldwide citizen science project, which entails collecting the amount and types of litter on Irish beaches and filling in Clean Coasts’ Marine Litter Data Cards. This will help heighten awareness about the issue of marine litter serving as an indicator of the magnitude of the problem and help shape future policies and campaigns.

Last year, in an extraordinary display of environmental stewardship and community spirit, 7,700 Clean Coasts volunteers rolled up their sleeves and removed a staggering over 46 tonnes of litter all across the country as part of the Big Beach Clean and Clean Coasts 20th year anniversary. That is the equivalent of 12 hippos!

When you register for the Big Beach Clean, you will receive all you need to host a clean-up and join our citizen science project. Your pack will contain bags, gloves, hi-viz vests and marine litter data cards, to record information on the types and quantities of litter you find. If you have any clean-up kit materials from previous calls-to-action, you can opt out from receiving them.

Register here

Rally for Ireland’s Seas

Sept 25th, 12 - 2pm

Leinster House, Dublin

Calling all ocean lovers! Join us outside Dáil Éireann on Sept 25th. Use your voice to call for new laws to safeguard Ireland's marine life.

The Irish Government have delayed and delayed the publication of the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Bill. This new law is needed to ensure Ireland meets its targets of protecting at least 30% of our seas by 2030.

With a general election due before March 2025, the next few months are this Government’s last chance to publish the MPA bill.

If the MPA Bill isn’t published as soon as possible, there’s a risk this important legislation is yet again delayed, spelling disaster for life in our seas that urgently need protection.

The ocean is our greatest ally in the fight against climate change as it stores more carbon than anywhere else on Earth.

Marine biodiversity is in sharp decline and now we need something done about it.

Join us from 12:00-2 PM on Wednesday 25th of September outside the gates of Dáil Éireann (across the road from Buswells Hotel).

Make signs, come in costume, wetsuits, divegear or dryrobes, and most importantly, tell your friends.

Reserve a spot here.

Retrofit Ready Host Mid-Programme Conference

Sept 26th, 10am

Monahgan

The Retrofit Ready home energy saving project, which was launched in May 2023, will host its Retrofit Ready Mid-Programme Conference on Thursday 26^th September 2024 in the Íontas Theatre, Arts & Community Centre, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, the home of one of its partners, Monaghan Integrated Development, (MID).

This programme aims to facilitate eligible organisations to collaboratively develop supports, tools, know-how and approaches to assist local communities in taking climate action.

The strand focus is on climate education, capacity building and learning by doing – moving beyond ‘raising awareness’ to build the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to respond to the challenges of climate change at community level. Projects will demonstrate inclusivity in design and practice so that no one is left behind.

The focus of this Conference is to showcase works that have been carried out on the Retrofit Ready programme since its launch eighteen months ago. Keynote speakers include, Dr. Barry McCarron, FCIAT, Dr. Rob Mooney, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, (DECC). Mr. Mel Gavin. R&D Coordinator at the Contract Research Unit, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo, (ATU) and Mr. Gavin Forkan Managing Director with Plan Energy.

There will be a welcome reception that will include a sign-in and refreshments as well as a meet and greet session with dignitaries, guests and supplier’s exhibition stands.

Read more about the event here

Weekend in the Hills

A weekend of craft learning and community building.



Sept 27th & 28th

Galway

CELT are delighted to invite you to our Autumn Weekend in the Hills Festival of Traditional Crafts for a weekend of craft learning and community building.

Come and join us, learn a skill, soak up the culture, have fun and make everlasting friendships! ​​

The Weekend

Saturday begins at 9am with registration and a short introduction. Courses start at 10am and finish up at about 5pm each day. Organic lunch is usually at 1pm. Saturday night is spent around the camp fire telling tales and singing, so remember to bring your instruments and warm up your vocal chords!

Courses include: Mixed Metal and Silver Jewelry, Longbow Making, Herblore, Foraging, Bushcraft, Survival for adults, Woodcarving, Willow Weaving, Fish Skin Tanning, Súgán Chair Building, Bowl turning on a Foot Powered Lathe, Leather Work, Print Making (A course for children), Felting, Stone wall building, Stone carving, Forest school {a course for children}, Traditional style of frame drum making.

Please see our Weekend in the Hills page for booking info and full details on all courses. If the event you prefer is booked out, please email us on celtskills@celtnet.org and we can add you to the cancellation list.

Sun, Leaves & Stems: A Cyanotype Making Workshop

Sept 28th, 11.30am - 1.30pm

Cork

Cork Nature Network is delighted to offer a creative workshop with artist Ashleigh Ellis on Saturday 28 September at 11:30 am- 1:30 pm in Beaumont Quarry. Ashleigh will lead us through the process of making cyanotype prints involving species identification of plants growing in the quarry. Cyanotype printing is one of the earliest forms of photography that captures the image of objects placed onto light sensitive paper. Participants will also do their own sensory mapping of the site, an activity that utilises mindfulness and drawing. No previous artistic experience is required. All materials will be provided. Places are limited and booking is essential.

More info and register here

Apple Day Harvest at the Organic Centre

Sept 29th, 12-4pm

Leitrim

Join us for our Apple Day-Harvest Festival on Sunday September 29th from 12 -4pm. We will have all the seasonal sights and smells that make up our famous and free event. There will be talks and tours from the apple experts like our v own Phil Wheal, with craft demos, music, weaving and wood carving, not to mention the centre piece of apple pressing.

Free entry, more info here

OCTOBER EVENTS

Hedgerow Conference & All-Ireland Hedge Laying Championships

Oct 4th & 5th

Kildare

We're celebrating our 20 Year Anniversary in Co. Kildare on 4th & 5th October. Join us on Friday 4th Oct for our Hedgerow Conference which will focus on their biodiversity and climate benefits, or on Saturday 5th Oct for the All-Ireland Hedge Laying Championships. It will be a great chance to meet like-minded people and ask questions from hedgerow specialists.

More info

Start your own tree nursery and save and collect seeds

Oct 5th - 10am

Galway

Join us for a fun, one-day outdoor workshop with Saul Mosbacher, former CELT Tree Nursery Manager, renowned for his wealth of knowledge about native trees and the wide variety of local seeds available for collecting at this time of year. 

We all know Trees are essential to life and with increasing awareness of their vital role in tackling the crisis of global warming and biodiversity loss, we wish to support and empower people and communities to take action, engaging in NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS and playing a part in restoring trees to our Irish landscape..

More info

Beginner's Bike Maintenance Class

Oct 5th - 2pm

Dublin

Last spot left! Join Mark from Rediscover Cycling for a beginner's bike maintenance class and learn essential skills to keep your bike in top shape.

Get your tickets here

Repair Skills Demonstration: How to Patch a Hole in Trousers & Jumpers

Oct 12th - 10am

Dublin

Join us this October for a repair demo with Arran Murphy. Learn to patch trousers and jumpers, giving your clothes a new lease on life!

Get your tickets here

Repair Skills Demonstration: How to Take Up a Hem & Adjust a Waistband

Oct 12th - 2pm

Dublin

Join us this October for a repair demo with Arran Murphy. Learn hemming and waistband adjustments to perfectly fit your clothes!

Get your tickets here

Making an impact in local policy creation: Introduction to Strategic Policy Committees

Oct 14th, 7pm

Online

Each County Council uses Strategic Policy Committees to review, create and inform policy decisions in their County. You can get involved and take part directly to make an impact for your community!

Learn more about the potential of the Strategic Policy Committees and how they work, hear examples of community driven policy from across Ireland, find out how you can get involved and what supports exist to help you in this role. Join us for this introductory webinar!

Register here

Wildlife Crime Conference 2024

Oct 17th - 8.30am to 5.30pm

Meath

This Conference aims to enhance cross-sectoral collaboration for wildlife and environmental protection. It hopes to bridge the gaps between government bodies, conservation groups, legal experts, and community stakeholders. It focuses on unravelling the complexities of existing legislation protecting wildlife and the environment, and highlighting the necessity of cohesive efforts to tackle wildlife crimes and conserve biodiversity.

Through a series of engaging talks, interactive workshops; mock crime scenes and court cases, and networking sessions, participants will explore innovative strategies for policy integration, share best practices for enforcement and compliance, and foster partnerships that leverage the strengths of diverse sectors. This conference represents a unique opportunity to catalyse action, inspire change, and advance collective efforts towards sustainable environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation.

Get tickets here

No Dig Gardening

with Charles Dowding

Oct 26th and 27th

10am-4pm

Leitrim

Join pioneer Charles Dowding for his Irish visit in a truly memorable course. He will join the Organic Centre for two, one day events, Sat Oct 26th and Sunday Oct 27th, 2024. Learn about the No Dig gardening method with this international acclaimed instructor, in the backdrop of the grounds of the Organic Centre.

More info and book here

NOVEMBER EVENTS

Free Repair Café

Nov 2nd - 10am

Dublin

Do you have something at home that you have been meaning to fix? Bring your broken bikes, furniture and textiles on the 2nd November 2024.

Book your place

Advanced Wildlife Veterinary Treatment Course

Nov 16th and 17th

Full Day

Meath

For veterinary professionals, further your knowledge the in treatment of our native wildlife with this fantastic course coming this autumn from Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland.

Book your tickets here

Small Charity, Big Impact

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace Ireland has been nominated in the Small Charity, Big Impact category at the upcoming 2024 Charity Excellence Awards. This prestigious nomination recognizes the significant contributions Leave No Trace has made in promoting environmental stewardship and sustainable outdoor practices.

The awards celebrate charities making a transformative difference in their communities, with the winners announced at the CEA Gala dinner on October 3. Supporters also have the opportunity to make their voices heard by voting for the People’s Choice Award, a unique category where the public selects their favorite charity finalist. Unlike other categories judged by an expert panel, this award empowers the community to celebrate the work of organizations they believe in most.

Please vote for Leave No Trace Ireland here - https://charitiesinstitute.ie/pages/peoples-choice-award-2024

Ploughing Championships

Rediscovery Centre

Join the team in Laois during the Ploughing Championships this year, September 17th, where they'll be inviting the public to join us to write down community reuse and repair initiatives, using a creatively upcycled denim map of Ireland!

Relove Fashion

Sustainable Fashion Competition

Relove Fashion is going National! The Rediscovery Centre's sustainable fashion competition is now open to teenagers in participating local authorities across Ireland!

Relove Fashion provides an exciting project for young people to explore creative design skills while fostering an understanding of sustainability and the environmental impact of our clothes. The competition can be undertaken as a project within schools, Irish Girl Guide and Scouting groups, Youthreach and more.

As the project can be completed individually or as part of a team, it allows flexibility to fit within your specific programme. By participating, young people will not only design a one-of-a-kind sustainable fashion piece, but also gain hands-on experience in real-world sustainability projects while having fun.

Participation in Relove Fashion fosters growth and develops skills in: Sewing, Creativity, Sustainability, Creative problem solving, Leadership, Research, Teamwork, Communication, Project management, Independence and much more!

If you’d like to hear more about the competition, register your interest now for the latest news, key dates and inspiration from the Relove Fashion Team.

Register here

Zero Waste Alliance Ireland Joins Forces with Coldplay to Champion Sustainability at Dublin Concerts

In a monumental collaboration that underscores the growing synergy between music and environmental activism, ZWAI had the unique opportunity to participate in Coldplay’s highly anticipated Dublin concerts, held at Croke Park from August 29 to September 2, 2024. The partnership, facilitated by Global Citizen and endorsed by Coldplay, provided ZWAI with an extraordinary platform to engage tens of thousands of concertgoers on the critical issues of waste reduction and the circular economy.

Read more here

Some News from the Rediscovery Centre

After 20 years of dedicated service, Dr. Sarah Miller is stepping down as CEO of the Rediscovery Centre, Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy. From its early days as a community education project and cluster of social enterprises dotted across Ballymun, to its current status as a European leader in circular economy education, demonstration, research and policy, Sarah has been instrumental in the Centre's development, growth and success.

During her time at the Centre, she also played an active part in the IEN and other national and international networks, technical committees and working groups. We are extremely grateful to Sarah for her vision, ambition and commitment to the Centre, and the sector, and wish her well in her future endeavours.

As we celebrate our 20th year anniversary, we are delighted to confirm our continued commitment to the Centre's vision for society that is fair, inclusive and thrives within natural resource limits. We are also excited to share some incredible new jobs, including the role of CEO, to help us deliver on that vision. The roles present opportunities to be at the forefront of the transformative movement, driving positive behavioural change towards a circular economy for Ireland. Check our current vacancies here, with more to follow shortly.

Check current vacancies

Ministerial Visit to Retrofit Ready at Virginia Agricultural Show

The 81^st annual Virginia Agricultural Show took place in the east Cavan town recently and as in years gone by, big crowds attend the event. The vast array of exhibitors and products on display, meant there was something for everyone.

Retrofit Ready had a space in the Trade Mall, giving out information to the general public on all aspects of retrofitting and the grants available.

This pilot programme is a home energy and retrofit advisory/information service available to all home owners in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim and Sligo.

The project is funded by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, administered by Pobal and involves a consortium of Cavan County Local Development, Monaghan Integrated Development, ATU Sligo, Plan Energy Sligo, LEADER Partnership Sligo, Leitrim Development Company and the Irish Local Development Network.

Pictured at Virginia Agricultural Show are from left: T.P. O’Reilly, Fine Gael Councillor in the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District Area and current Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council. Owen McConnon, CRC, Retrofit Ready, Cavan and Monaghan. Heather Humphreys TD, Deputy Leader of Fine Gael, Minister for Social Protection/Minister for Rural and Community Development and Nina Carberry, newly elected Fine Gael MEP for Midlands North-West.

Public Consultation

Strategic Policy Committee Draft Schemes

All County Councils are now looking for input into their draft Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) Schemes. Some public consultations are still open for submissions, or still to be opened.

The Environmental Pillar has put together their own submissions to support the inclusion of seats for Environmental Representatives and highlighting the need for meaningful participation through the Public Participation Networks.

You can view the Environmental Pillars submissions here, and are welcome to use them to inform your own submissions. You can also find a spreadsheet of the deadlines and links to each county's consultation here.

Climate Actions Work Engagement Fund

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) and Community Foundation Ireland would like to invite you to an informational webinar on the new Climate Actions Work Engagement Fund.

Climate Actions Work is a first-of-its-kind national engagement and communications campaign to support and encourage action on climate and community resilience. The campaign, led by DECC, will focus on hearing from, and working with, local communities – talking directly to people to help combat climate change.

The purpose of the Fund is to support widespread public and stakeholder engagement on climate action, empower people across all of society to adopt more sustainable behaviours, and be a vehicle to facilitate public participation in the Climate Action Plan.

DECC will be hosting the webinar to go through the grant round and the application process in more detail at 11:00am, Friday September 6th. You can register here to join – Climate Actions Work Engagement Fund webinar.

This webinar will be recorded and uploaded to the web.

Cuppa for Climate

Friends of the Earth is inviting people to bring a Cuppa for Climate to their communities! It's a coffee morning with a difference - in aid of Friends of the Earth's work on climate and to help engage and mobilise communities into local climate action together and explore positive changes in a friendly and informal way.

No need to be a climate expert to take part. You can host a Cuppa for Climate in your workplace, local community space or your home. You can even combine it with a fun activity, like a clothes swap or a hike!

To find out more and receive the toolkit to help you organise and run your Cuppa for Climate, visit the website here. See the Friends of the Earth Ireland's social media pages for recent examples of Cuppa for Climate.

The Organic Centre

Sales Coordinator

The centre is seeking a candidate who is flexible, ambitious and target-driven to work as the head of our sales team to develop both our online and on-site Eco shop. The successful candidate will be based in our shop in Rossinver, County Leitrim. 

Closing date for applications is Friday 6th September at 5pm

Rediscovery Centre

Community Training & Outreach Facilitator

The Rediscovery Centre are recruiting a Community Training & Outreach Facilitator.

Deadline: 6th September

Read more information on the role here

Rediscovery Centre

Paint Reuse Assistant

The Rediscovery Centre are recruiting a Paint Reuse Assistant.

Deadline: 9th September

Read more information on the role here

Rediscovery Centre

Administration Assistant (Finance)

The Rediscovery Centre are recruiting an Administration Assistant (Finance).

Deadline: 5pm 21st September

Read more information on the role here

Rediscovery Centre

Marketing and Communications Lead

The Rediscovery Centre are recruiting a Marketing and Communications Lead.

Deadline: 5pm 23rd September

Read more information on the role here