event
'Stone Shelters' - river walk and sculpture event
DATE: 28 Sep, 2025TIME: 12:00 PM - 02:30 PM
all times are in Irish time unless noted otherwise
Join Wilderland Artist Mary Conroy and Wild Nephin National Park rangers on World Rivers Day for a guided river biodiversity walk and collaborative sculpture event.
Starting at Letterkeen Trailhead we will be led on a short walk along the Altacooney river to explore river systems and rivers as biodiverse habitats in the park. We’ll learn about the human impacts on these river systems, the threat from climate change and invasive species, and what we can do to help protect our rivers.
We will then do some kick sampling and test water quality to get a deeper understanding of the health as wellbeing of this important habitat, and use citizen science tools to record the information we find and add it to the national database to map the conditions of our water systems in Ireland. Bring your phone or camera and take some time taking photographs of these rarely seen, but always present, fascinating aquatic creatures.
As a continuation of Mary's 'Stone Shelters' project, participants will be invited to place a handmade ceramic 'Stone Shelter' sculpture into the river.
These sculptural works will become an integrated element of the river's ecosystem and, over time, will be dispersed by the river herself, eventually becoming a safe home or resting place for any of the small creatures that live in or near the river. In time, they may be found again and thought of as artefacts, reminders of how deeply we are connected to our waterways and the life they support.
All welcome.
FREE event, no booking required.
Please dress for the weather, and wear wellies or suitable footwear as we will be stepping into the water for the river kick sampling and sculpture installation.
Find out more about Mary's 'Stone Shelters' on its project page.
event artist(s):
related project(s) / collaboration(s):
event location:
Letterkeen Trailhead Car park, Wild Nephin National Park, Co. Mayo
