Community spirit and environmental stewardship shine at Lough Carra meeting

THE Lough Carra Catchment Association has held its first public meeting of the year, at Clogher Community Centre, marking a positive and hopeful start to 2026.

Attendees heard brief updates on the association’s ongoing work and warmly welcomed Nicola Byrne, the new project manager for the Lough Carra LIFE Project.

The highlight of the evening was an inspiring presentation by guest speaker Michael Kingdon, who spoke passionately about the remarkable work of the Clogher Environmental Group.

Established in its current form in 2021, the group began with a simple but powerful mission: keeping their local environment clean through litter picking. Since then, their vision has grown, and their efforts now focus on long-term environmental care and hands-on conservation projects.

Based at Clogher Heritage Centre, the group has developed walking trails around Clogher Bog and along the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail, creating opportunities for locals and visitors alike to connect with this special landscape. One of their proudest achievements has been securing funding to have the Clogher Heritage Centre rethatched, preserving an important piece of local heritage.

A significant reduction in the use of herbicides in the area has allowed native plants to flourish, helping to restore the natural balance of the area. Michael

highlighted the ecological richness of Clogher Bog, which provides a home for rare insect species such as the Marsh Fritillary butterfly and the Large Carder Bee.

With support from Mayo County Council, the group constructed a nesting wall for the amber-listed Sand Martin, providing 70 nest holes for these migratory birds that return each year to breed. The site was generously donated by a local landowner.

While Great Tits and Blue Tits have already made use of the wall, Sand Martins were seen entering the nesting holes in 2025, raising hopes for their return again this year.

In front of the nesting wall, a wildlife pond was created as part of the Hare’s Corner initiative, with funding from Burren Beo. This pond has quickly become a thriving habitat, with the very rare Emperor dragonfly observed there, along with a wide variety of other wildlife.

Additional projects include the establishment of a native Irish apple orchard and a breeding bird survey carried out last summer, which recorded an impressive 30 species.

Throughout the summer months, Clogher Environmental Group hosts free weekly guided eco-walks, inviting the wider community to experience and appreciate the beauty and biodiversity of Clogher Bog.

The protection of the bog springs from a deep, heartfelt appreciation of this landscape by the local community. Looking ahead, the group has ambitious plans, including partnerships with Mayo Dark Skies, the creation of a wildlife observatory, and the development of a fruiting bog garden.

Clogher Bog lies within the catchment of Lough Carra, making the care and stewardship of this area especially valuable to the health of the lake. The work being carried out is a powerful example of what can be achieved when communities come together to protect their natural heritage.

The Lough Carra Catchment Association meets every second month. For more information, visit www.loughcarra.org.