Mayo environmental advocates selected for Bean Feasa Portrait Series

TWO Mayo-based environmental advocates, Georgia MacMillan and Aoibhín Ní Bhroin, are among the stories of 13 women being featured in Bean Feasa, a national portrait series co-created by award-winning photographer Evanna Devine, Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration and Photo Museum Ireland.

Georgia has been selected for her work protecting Ireland’s dark skies, while Mayo woman Aoibhín has been selected for her contribution to river conservation, biosecurity and environmental stewardship through paddle sports.

Georgia is one of Ireland’s foremost advocates for dark sky protection and restoration. She is completing a Research Ireland Enterprise PhD Scholarship as Mayo Dark Sky Park development officer, in partnership with University of Galway and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Her research explores the role of dark skies in regenerative tourism, society and policy development, drawing directly on her work as a practitioner at Mayo Dark Sky Park. In this role, Georgia manages dark sky programming, interpretation and nightscape restoration, helping people understand the value of protecting natural darkness for wildlife, ecosystems and community wellbeing.

Georgia was a core member of the team securing international accreditation for Mayo Dark Sky Park at Wild Nephin National Park, Ireland’s first International Dark Sky Park. Georgia has developed community initiatives that encourage public participation in monitoring light pollution while promoting dark sky tourism as a sustainable opportunity for rural areas.

In a voluntary capacity, Georgia is chair of the Friends of Mayo Dark Skies community group and a founding board member of Dark Sky Ireland, an NGO working to restore and protect dark skies across Ireland.

Speaking about her nomination, Georgia said: “It is my hope that this project will help raise awareness of the value and appreciation for our natural nightscapes, upon which all living things depend. I am privileged to work in nightscape restoration, a practice that reconnects us with the basics of biological rhythm - natural day and night cycles.

“By exploring restorative lighting strategies that are both collaborative and practical, I believe we can enhance our nocturnal environment for the benefit of both humans and nature.”

Aoibhín is a kayaker and self-described lover of the outdoors and wildlife. Having studied environmental sciences, and an MSc in marine and freshwater resources management at the University of Galway, she works to empower paddlers to take positive action for our waters under the sport nature framework.

Working with Canoeing Ireland she has helped to implement a thorough environmental module into the instructor training course and developed educational resources and supports for people who move between waterways through sport to protect rivers, lakes and other freshwater environments.

Aoibhín has also devised connectedness-to-nature workshops for kayak instructors and is part of The River Collective, a global network turning knowledge into action for healthy rivers.

Speaking about her selection, Aoibhín said: “Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude for being selected for this incredible project. It is such an honour to be given this opportunity and to be able to promote the protection and restoration of our water bodies, both in terms of environmental quality and community connections. I am very lucky to be under the wings of many other amazing Bean Feasa restoration, including Amy, who I believe nominated me.”

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, said: “Bean Feasa is a powerful celebration of the women who are helping to restore, protect and reimagine nature in communities across Ireland. Each of the women featured in this series shows the vital role that local leadership, creativity and community action play in tackling biodiversity loss and building a deeper connection with the natural world.”

Commenting on the announcement, Shirley Clerkin, project manager with Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration, said: "Georgia has broadened the national conversation around nature restoration by highlighting the importance of protecting our dark skies. Her work demonstrates that conservation extends beyond the landscapes around us to include the night environment above us, which is equally important for biodiversity and ecological health.

“As Oscar Wilde said, 'We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars'. Georgia is spreading an inspirational movement to appreciate our planetary home within the solar system.”

She added: “Aoibhín represents the next generation of environmental leadership. Through her work with Canoeing Ireland and The River Collective, she is helping connect people’s love of rivers and outdoor recreation with practical action to protect water bodies and strengthen community relationships with nature. She is literally helping people to immerse themselves in nature.”

Evanna Devine was awarded the €15,000 Bean Feasa Photography Commission following an international open call. As the national centre for contemporary photography, Photo Museum Ireland is supporting the development, production and curation of the work, including access to its specialist image-processing facilities. The completed series will be presented, along with a bespoke publication, at Photo Museum Ireland later this year before touring nationally.

The commissioned portraits will form part of a public exhibition and publication launching in November 2026 before touring nationally.