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