Events

Meet the creator of Sky Train!

Posted on by Neil Farrell

The creator of the iconic Sky Train at Lough Boora Discovery Park will give a rare talk at Lough Boora on Culture Night 2019.

For a unique perspective on Lough Boora, join artist, Michael Bulfin on a walk through its nature and landscape, focusing on his artwork ‘Sky Train’ and his creative response to Boora’s natural and industrial heritage.

Bulfin is a renowned Irish artist with a body of work that constantly explores, interprets and defines facets of interconnectivity with the natural world. He has won many public sculpture competitions and contributed to several environmental and land art projects, including West Cork Sculpture Trail; Kraakamarken ‘Art in Nature’, Aarhus, Denmark; Castlewellan Forest Park, Northern Ireland as well as the Sky Train in Lough Boora Sculpture Park.

Enquiries: please call 057 9340010

Place: Lough Boora Discovery Park Visitor Centre

Date: Friday 20th September

Time: 6.30pm – 8.00pm

A Big Hello from Lough Boora Park

Posted on by Neil Farrell

Offaly County council are organising ‘The Big Hello Event’ at Lough Boora Discovery Park on the 5th of May 2019, from 11-4pm.

This event aims to bring people together for a day of fun activities, music, food and games! Come along to enjoy the unique sound of Paddy Buckley and Dairmuid Guinan, have a go at Tug of War or Wellie Throwing, taste the delight of Ballyshiel Chocolate and enjoy a BBQ with Dave’s Barbeque. The children will enjoy some face-painting, arts and crafts and much more!

Last September, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, TD, announced the launch of a National Community Event, to be held for the first time over the May Bank Holiday weekend, 2019.

The event is a celebration of the great spirit of community that exists across the country and an effort to help people who share communities to come together, get to know each other and deepen the sense of community in their area. There are many wonderful communities coming together all over the county to celebrate ‘The Big Hello’ on the May Bank Holiday Weekend., so be sure to come along to your local community event or come visit Lough Boora for ‘The Big Hello’. Entry free and all welcome!

 

Enjoy two free Bord na Móna Heritage Week 2017 events this weekend

Posted on by Neil Farrell

This weekend you can go pond dipping and see dragonflies, curlews, hares and all the other life that fills our bogs and waterways as Bord na Móna’s Ecology team lead two free Heritage Week events.

On Saturday the Ecology team will be bringing people pond dipping, where you can dip the waterways for beetles, pond skaters, dragonflies, damson flies, larvae and much more. The guided eco-cycle will involve spotting wildlife such as the Hares that live in Lough Boora. This Heritage Week event is focused on exploring the wonders of Irish bogs that are teeming with life.

People are asked to meet at the Lough Boora Discovery Park Visitor Centre Co. Offaly and the Bord na Mona Ecology team will take people Pond dipping this Saturday 19th,2017,  at 12 pm sharp and will follow with an eco-cycle through the Sculpture Park at approximately 1.30pm. The team have a limited amount of pond dipping equipment so you need to book ahead at 057 9340010 or email info@loughboora.com.

On Sunday 20th The Bord na Móna Ecology will host the second Heritage Week outdoors event exploring the wonders of a newly restored bog. Bord na Móna is in the process of restoring thousands of hectares of bog across Ireland that result in a significant increase in the biodiversity of the rehabilitated lands.

On Sunday Ecologist David Fallon will be leading a Bog Restoration Walk at Killeglan Bog Co Roscommon to see the way life has returned to a restored Bord na Móna bog. On the walk you may get to see the Curlew, Red Grouse and all the flora and fauna that have returned to the area. You will also be able to enjoy the bog at a time when the heather is in full bloom, a sight everyone should take time to experience.

Pond Dipping and Eco-Cycle

Bord na Móna Lough Boora Discovery Park Visitor Centre, Co. OffalySaturday 19 August, 12pm – 3pm

Saturday 19 August, 12pm – 3pmAdmission is free, booking is required at 057 9340010

Admission is free, booking is required at 057 9340010

http://www.heritageweek.ie/whats-on/event/lough-boora-ecology-event

Bog Restoration Walk (Killeglan Bog, Roscommon)

Meet David Fallon Bord na Móna at Taughmaconnell Community Centre, Co. RoscommonSunday 20 August 2017, 2 pm – 5 pm

Sunday 20 August, 2 pm – 5 pm Admission is free, no booking required

Admission is free, no booking required

http://www.heritageweek.ie/whats-on/event/bog-restoration-walk

Bord na Móna To Attempt World Record as Fairies Descend on Lough Boora Discovery Park in July 2017

Posted on by Neil Farrell

Fairy Festival, in association with The Irish Fairy Door Company, Returns this July, 2017

Bord na Móna, along with The Irish Fairy Door Company, have announced the return of the spectacular Fairy Festival in Lough Boora Discovery Park, Co. Offaly on Saturday 22nd July 2017. This year’s event promises to be even more exciting with a World Record Attempt for the largest gathering of Fairies in one stunning location.

Fairy Wings and Wands at the ready!

Kicking off from 12.30 – 3.30pm on 22nd July 2017, event-goers of all ages are encouraged to dress up in their best Fairy costumes and play their part in the first Irish World Record Attempt to have the largest group of fairies.

Bord na Móna’s Fairy Festival promises to be a truly magical day out for the entire family with activities to entertain kids of all ages across three stages, not to mention the stunning Lough Boora Fairy Door Trail which is ready to be explored. Stage One will see The Irish Fairy Door Company’s resident fairies entertaining the masses with enchanting fairy tales, parachute games, giant bubbles and magnificent puppet shows with the famous Fairy Clodagh. There will be a magical fairy note workshop where every child can write a special note and hide it inside their own balloon and release it at home.

Stage Two features a stunning arts and crafts area where kids can make everything fairy-related from Fairy Pencil Toppers, Fairy Wands, Fairy Pencil Toppers, Finger Fairies and Stick Fairies – an interactive hub destined to be a success with craft lovers of all ages.

The third stage will feature a kids disco with special dance lessons from our expert fairy dancers.

Dee Ahearn, CEO of Barretstown said: We’re absolutely thrilled to be Bord na Móna’s chosen charity partner again this year. Family events at Lough Boora are always a fantastic family day out with children and adults alike speaking very highly of them. At Barretstown we must raise over €5 million each year to provide our life-changing programmes free of charge to children and families affected by serious illness. Having successful partnerships, like the one we have enjoyed for a number of years with Bord na Móna, means we can continue to provide our programmes to children and families, and for that we are so thankful.

Speaking at the launch, Sara Byrne of Bord na Móna said: ‘We’re always really excited about our events in Lough Boora Discovery with The Irish Fairy Door Company. This year is a little bit different as we’re attempting to set a World Record. We encourage everyone to come dressed in Fairy Wings and a Fairy Wand so we can really smash this World Record attempt. We’re absolutely delighted to be working with Barretstown again for the fifth year – being able to support the amazing work they do is something we’re incredibly proud of’.

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with all event updates.

Re-live Last Year’s Fairy Fun!

Be Part of OurLand 2016 – The family festival powered by positive energy

Posted on by Neil Farrell

Bord na Móna is delighted to launch ‘OurLand’ – a brand new family festival with singer-songwriter Mundy and Phil Smyth – Star of RTE’s Insiders, who join a line-up of fantastic acts delivering a day of family fun set against the backdrop of the stunning Lough Boora Discovery Park on August 20th, 2016. ‘OurLand’ will feature four unique stages; Positive Energy, Air, Earth and Fire each featuring its own weird and wonderful entertainment to bring each element to life in a fun and multi-sensory way.

‘OurLand – The Family Festival powered by positive energy’ and Bord na Móna’s first furore into the festival world, will run from 1.30pm – 7.30pm at the picturesque destination, where families can enjoy a line-up packed with family entertainment, activities and oodles of artisan and local food producers across the four festival zones. A partnership with Imaginosity Children’s Museum will deliver interactive fun, games and educational elements for the children.

What’s happening across the day?

There will be a jam-packed programme of entertainment, educational and adventure activities across the four themed stage areas of Positive Energy, Air, Earth and Fire including: musicians Mundy and Ruaile Buaile, DJ Donal Dineen, Phil Smyth of RTE Insiders, an Imaginosity area, along with activities including Xtreme zip lining, ArtZone, a silent disco and the Bird, Bee & Butterfly Ball.  For line-up additions and stage times, check back on testing.loughboora.com.

Get involved

Performers, musicians, makers and do-ers who want to get involved and Be Part of the ‘OurLand’ are invited to apply to enter, by clicking here or going to our Facebook page, and fill out the entry form and send a picture, video or audio clip to be in with a chance of being a featured festival act. Terms and Conditions apply to all applicants.

For further information on Lough Boora events, keep in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Bord na Móna presents OurLand - The Family Festival Powered by Positive Energy