Press Release | Ballyhoura and Galtee Peatlands
PRESS RELEASE
Cork, Ireland
Creative Communities Shine a Light on the Ballyhoura & Galtee Peatlands
Community workshops will gather local stories and knowledge to create a collaborative exhibition, which will be unveiled at the project’s launch event!
People living in and around the Ballyhoura and Galtee Mountains are being invited to take part in a series of free creative community workshops on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October 2026, exploring the rich wildlife and our connections that make these peatlands so special.
Hosted by Nature Network Ireland in partnership with Ballyhoura Development, the workshops will bring together the local community to co-create a public exhibition inspired by the people who know these landscapes best.
The hands-on workshops will offer participants the opportunity to learn more about peatland ecology and biodiversity, explore their own connections with these remarkable habitats and contribute to a shared vision for their future.
Rachel Dowling will introduce participants to the ecology of these internationally important habitats, highlighting the vital role peatlands play in supporting biodiversity, storing carbon, improving water quality and building climate resilience. Creative facilitator and artist Becky Hatchett will then guide participants through a series of collaborative activities exploring the Ballyhoura and Galtee Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) peatlands, bringing together local stories, knowledge and experiences to co-create a series of artworks for public exhibition.
The resulting artworks will form part of a public exhibition celebrating local knowledge, community voices and the enduring value of the Ballyhoura and Galtee peatlands.
Rhiannon Laubach, Development Officer with Ballyhoura Development said:
“These workshops are about recognising and celebrating the wealth of knowledge that already exists within the Ballyhoura and Galtee Regions. Everyone has a different connection to these landscapes—whether through farming, walking, wildlife, family history or simply spending time there. By bringing those experiences together we’re creating an opportunity for local people to help shape how these special places are understood, valued and cared for into the future.”
Participants are also invited, if they wish, to bring along an object that reflects their personal connection to the Ballyhoura or Galtee peatlands, such as a photograph, map or keepsake. Bringing something is entirely optional and all materials will be provided. No artistic experience is needed and everyone is welcome!
Saturday 10th October Forrest Hall Mitchelstown 11am to 3pm and
Sunday 11th October Deebert House Hotel, 11am to 3pm.
Free Registration online: https://naturenetworkireland.ie/support/attend-events/
For more information contact: Cathy Fitzgibbon, Project Manager
Notes to the Editor
Project background and description
The Peatlands and Communities Visioning Project 2026 is an eight-month pilot initiative led by Nature Network Ireland in partnership with Ballyhoura Development, focused on connecting communities with the Ballyhoura and Galtee peatlands through education, creative engagement and public participation. Running from March to November 2026, the project combines school programmes, guided walks, community outreach, creative workshops and a public launch event to increase understanding of peatland ecology, biodiversity and the vital ecosystem services these landscapes provide.
By bringing together local knowledge, lived experiences and scientific understanding, the project aims to build pride of place, strengthen community connection and inspire long-term stewardship and protection of these internationally important habitats.
“This Nature Network Ireland project in partnership with Ballyhoura Development is
funded by the Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme administered through the National Parks and Wildlife Service.”