Nettles and corncrake: Mayo group's research on display at National Museum

A FASCINATING piece of research by a voluntary history and heritage group from Mayo is being showcased in a new exhibition of natural history at the National Museum of Ireland in Collins Barracks, Dublin.

Louisburgh-Killeen Heritage Group is a member of the Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN), an initiative of the National Museum delivered in partnership with The Heritage Council and heritage officers in participating local authorities.

Over the last six months, they have worked alongside other iCAN members from around Ireland to create the new exhibition called 'Our Irish Natural History'. Their work is now on display in The Dead Zoo Lab - an exciting new space for natural history at Collins Barracks while the famous ‘Dead Zoo’ on Merrion Street is closed for works.

The contribution from Louisburgh-Killeen Heritage Group reveals the connections between stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) and corncrakes (Crex crex).

Through the community’s research of nettles as an ideal habitat for corncrakes, the group also uncovered a rich local history around the many traditional uses for nettles, from home remedies and recipes to textiles and dyes.

The aim of the Our Irish Natural History project is to highlight the role of communities as valuable stewards of Ireland’s natural heritage and to celebrate the important cultural meanings that native species embody for many Irish communities.

From willow-weaving in Wicklow to lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros) in the caves of Co. Clare, the community research explores interesting facets of Ireland’s natural history in the context of local histories and traditions.

Speaking on the launch of the exhibition, Paolo Viscardi, Keeper of Natural History, National Museum of Ireland, said: “I’m delighted to see this display from iCAN installed in the Dead Zoo Lab. This will be the first of many partnerships that will draw on our scientific collections to tell broader and more inclusive stories and spark a creative output. The research carried out by the iCAN community partners demonstrates how collections can illuminate connections between people and places.”

Adriana Ballinger, a Postgraduate Research Fellow at the National Museum, initiated and developed the Our Irish Natural History project. At the exhibition’s launch, Adriana said: “For nearly six months, eight iCAN groups have researched their connections to native species. The community members’ dedication to their research became apparent as they discovered and pursued new threads of interest, from nettle soup recipes to students’ nature-focused art.

“I’m very happy to see these local stories and traditions represented in the Dead Zoo Lab. I know that visitors will enjoy interacting with the narratives, visual art, videos, poetry and oral histories that the communities have curated for this exhibition.”

The participating iCAN groups are: Louisburgh-Killeen Heritage Group, Co. Mayo; Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage & Wildlife Group, Co. Clare; Woodlawn Heritage Group, Co. Galway / Galway Community Archaeology; Moycullen Heritage Group, Co. Galway; Blessington History Society, Co. Wicklow; Kilkeedy Heritage Group, Co. Clare; Glendalough Heritage Forum, Co. Wicklow ; and Milltown Heritage Group, with Milltown National School and Belmont National School, Co. Galway.

Our Irish Natural History is on display now at The Dead Zoo Lab at Collins Barracks, Dublin 7. Admission is free. See museum.ie for further details.