Offaly Climate and Biodiversity Action Group

16/05/2026

14/05/2026

It was wonderful to hear Jeremy from the Native Woodland Trust speak about the groups ongoing work preserving ancient native woodlands in both of their midland woodland reserves Camcor, Kinnitty and Ardan Woods, Kilbeggan.

A great way of keeping informed of their work and how you can volunteer is by following their social media pages local branches and national page.
or visiting
https://www.nativewoodlandtrust.ie/

We look forward to volunteering and supporting them with this important work.

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

Repairing 🪡Repurposing ♻️ Community 🚲

On Saturday May 9th our group volunteered at the Textile Reuse Roadshow 👕 🧵 & celebrated National Bike Week with a family friendly cycle along The Grand Canal Greenway 🚲🌼

The Textile Reuse Roadshow was a great event, all about rethinking our clothing. We learned and practiced upcycling skills along with swapping items we no longer needed. The event was a collaboration between Offaly County Council Climate Action Team and Change Clothes

In the afternoon some of our group along with members of Tullamore Tidy Towns Association cycled 4kms leisurely along Fiona's way and stopped to appreciate the wonderful spring flowers. This family friendly cycle celebrated the start of Bike Week. We plan to hold more cycling events in the future.

28/04/2026

🌳🌳 Urban Trees - Walk & Talk 🌳🌳

On May 16th as part of National Biodiversity Week, Crann - Trees for Ireland will give a walk in Llyod Town Park, Tullamore @ 2:30 pm, followed by a talk indoors at Tullamore Library.

Led by Crann – Trees for Ireland Directors, PJ Fitzpatrick and Diarmuid McAree, it will incorporate tree identification, forest ecology and forest eco-therapy and is family friendly.

Offaly Climate and Biodiversity Action Group and Tullamore Tidy Towns Association are delighted to welcome Crann to Tullamore for Biodiversity Week.

Entry is free and bookings can be made on eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/crann-guided-walk-at-lloyd-town-park-followed-by-talk-at-library-tullamore-tickets-1987317900337

28/04/2026

Thank you to Tullamore Credit Union for their support. Pictured is Joe Stewart our Treasurer receiving the grant from Tullamore Credit Union staff.

We look forward to using this Community Support Funding to carry out conservation measures and support local biodiversity. We will share progress on this initiative in time.

26/04/2026

Recently there was a large attendance of 40 people for Michael Carroll’s presentation on Tullamore Lion’s Clubs ongoing peatland conservation initiatives. The talk hosted by Offaly Climate and Biodiversity Action Group was held in Esker Arts. Michael outlined the progress Tullamore Lion’s Club have made through collaborating with the Grennan Family, the owners of Clonbeal Mor Bog, near Rath. Over the past couple of years, the disused bog has started to thrive once more, a variety of Sphagnum Mosses have started to grow and the bog is beginning to store carbon rather than emit.

Michael outlined their scientific approach from the initial ecological assessments, to the work carried out and to their ongoing maintenance and measurement of the hydrology and ecology of the bog.

Among the enthusiastic group of attendees, some knew a lot about bogs, and some didn't, but the presentation was very clear and accessible. Michael explained that Tullamore Lions Club had learned a lot throughout the process.

The talk was followed by questions and answers amongst which Brian Gorman the Contractor for the work at Clonbeal spoke enthusiastically about the progress made and some of his steps taken.

As well as conserving Clonbeal, a key aspect of their initiative has been education and raising awareness on the importance of peatland conservation. The group launched the children’s book: The Lions, the Bees, and the Bogs written by Dolores Keaveney. It has been well received and has been widely distributed about Offaly.


Last year, Tullamore Lions Club promoted the benefits of Clonbeal Conservation Project to other Lions Clubs. Some other midlands Lions Clubs have begun developing similar projects and Tóchar Wetlands Restoration have announced funding to support new initiatives. Michael highlighted how the group were supported by a number of bodies including the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Offaly County Council. He encouraged others interested in peatland conservation saying there is lots of support available.


The next phase at Clonbeal Mor is the development of a wild walkway to provide public access and create a wonderful natural resource.


Last year Tullamore Lions Club celebrated their 50th anniversary. They were recently awarded the All Ireland Club of the Year Award in recognition for their leadership and voluntary service contribution to the local community. They continue to work to improve communities locally, nationally and internationally.

To find out more about their ongoing peatland conservation initiatives and other projects visit: www.tullamorelionsclub.com.

Thank you Michael Carroll, Tullamore Lions club and the Grennan Family for sharing this information with us and members of the public. Well done on your ongoing conservation initiatives 😀

26/04/2026

One full truck of clothes is thrown away every second in the world (UN, 2025). Our committee is looking forward to helping at the event on May 9th.

👕♻️ Join and Change Clothes for a day of creativity, community, and real climate action at the Textile Reuse Roadshow in Esker Arts.

This free, drop‑in event is all about rethinking our clothing – swap items you no longer wear, learn simple upcycling skills, and discover how textile reuse can create new opportunities within our communities.

📍Esker Arts, Tullamore R35 NY50
📅Saturday 9th May

Come along, get inspired, try something new, and see how small actions with clothes can lead to big change 👕♻️


Offaly Independent
Independent Offaly
Tullamore Tribune

26/04/2026

On the lovely sunny Saturday April 25th we had a great team of volunteers participate in An Taisce National Spring Clean.

Great community spirit from all ages. The blue sky, ☀️ 😎 the lots of wild flowers in the hedgerows🌸 and the cake that followed kept spirits high 🧁

Below are photos of some of the other litter picks our volunteers participated in throughout the month of April on the edge of Tullamore and Mucklagh.

Well done to everyone involved 👏

16/04/2026

The Native Woodland Trust will speak about their ongoing work in Co. Offaly on Tuesday May 12th @ 7:30pm.

Jeremy Casey will present on their conservation work at their Offaly wood reserve near Kinnitty, in the Slieve Blooms Mountains.
The presentation takes place upstairs in St. Mary's Youth & Community Centre, Tullamore.

(As usual tickets will be available to book for free on eventbrite - see the link below)

For more information see:
https://www.nativewoodlandtrust.ie/

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/presentation-on-the-camcor-wood-reserve-tickets-1987568415635?aff=oddtdtcreator