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> Dutch Irish Bog Exhibition |
Dutch Irish Bog Exhibition
Nederlands-Ierse Venen Tentoonstelling
When you lose something it is a sad day. That is the story of peatland
conservation in The Netherlands.
The Dutch were the first country to use up
all of their peatlands. Dutch researchers coming to Ireland over
twenty-five years ago saw a similar trend here and they were the first to
shout "STOP". And so a conservation campaign to protect Ireland¹s bogs
began.
This exhibition, prepared by the Irish Peatland Conservation
Council, is about the Irish and Dutch partnership in bog conservation, bog
art and bog research over the last twenty-five years.
The exhibition,
entitled The Dutch and Irish Bog Story will be open to the public from the
8th of November in both
- the ENFO Centre, 17 St. Andrew¹s Street, Dublin 2
- and the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare.
"The preservation of Ireland's boglands is a matter that goes to the heart
of many Dutch people, especially because so much in our country has been
lost". Her Royal Highness Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, 1990.
Not only did the Dutch shout stop, the Dutch put their money where their
mouths were and largely through the inspiration of Matthijs Schouten, the
"Father of Peatland Conservation", they raised enough funds to purchase
three peatlands in Ireland: Scragh Bog, Co. Westmeath, Cummeragh River Bog,
Co. Kerry and Clochar na gCon, Co. Galway. The Dutch then handed these
peatlands over to the Irish nation as a gift.
Nuala Madigan of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, the prinicipal
researcher on the Exhibition says " This exhibition is a celebration of the
tireless work and support of both the Irish and Dutch people in the
conservation of peatlands in Ireland. Today Ireland can boast the fact that
we have protected over a quarter of a million hectares of the finest
peatlands in the world. This might not have happened but for the Dutch".
The exhibition consists of ten panels about the Dutch and Irish
conservationists, art and peatland culture in the two countries. There will
be workshops running for school children for the duration of the exhibition
in ENFO. The Irish Peatland Conservation Council are constructing a nature
of bogs garden in the ENFO centre. This will be one of the highlights of
the exhibition for the enjoyment of the public.
Irish Peatland Conservation Council wish to thank the sponsors of the
exhibition:
- ENFO,
- The Royal Netherlands Embassy,
- Kildare County Council and
- Stichting tot Behoud van de Ierse Venen.
The exhibition will be on show at the ENFO centre until schools break for
Christmas and will be permanently on show at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre
there after.
The Bog of Allen Nature Centre is open all year round from 10am-4pm Monday
to Friday (except bank holidays and over the Christmas holidays).
Contact details for both venues are:
Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare.
Tel: 045-860133, fax: 045-860148, e-mail: bogs@ipcc.ie,
website: www.ipcc.ie
ENFO, 17 St. Andrews Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 1890200191 (lo-call) or 01-8883910, fax: 01-8883946,
e-mail:
info@enfo.ie, website: www.enfo.ie
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