Join us at the BOG CAFE in Ardee!
WHERE: The Old Church, John Street, Ardee, Co. Louth. Some events will take place off-site, including walking tours around Ardee town and out in Ardee bog.
WHEN: September Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th, 2022
WHY: The BOG CAFE is a celebration of Ardee Bog and our precious peatlands. Friday September 23rd is the Global Climate Strike. We will start our weekend of activities with creative workshops with local primary school students. The BOG CAFE supports Rights of Nature and is supported by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Community Wetlands Forum, Irish Wildlife Trust, BirdWatch Ireland, and others. Funded by the Arts Council.
FREE. Everyone is welcome! *Some events have a small fee to help cover costs.
FRIDAY, September 23rd
9am - 3pm: PRIMARY SCHOOL WORKSHOPS. FREE
9.30am-3pm: IRISH PEATLAND CONSERVATION COUNCIL FREE
12pm: GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE in Ardee Bog (Details TBC. Please email for more info)
3pm: CHAT WITH PÁDRAIC FOGARTY, IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST. FREE: REGISTER HERE
4pm-late: CULTURE NIGHT AT THE BOG CAFE FREE
4-6pm: BOG PAPER MAKING & STORY COLLECTING with the active retirement and tapestry group, in cooperation with Ardee Library. FREE
6-7.30pm: BOG GARDEN WALKING TOUR in Ardee Bog with Fiona Crawley, as featured on RTÉ’s Garden Heroes. *REGISTER HERE
5-8pm: FILM SCREENINGS: BOG STANDARD (An Táisce, 2021) with An Táisce’s Climate Ambassadors; Sliabh Beagh: Where Community, Climate, Biodiversity and Water Meet (DCU & LAWPRO, 2022) WITH TALK BY BEN MALONE; The CANN Story (CANN, 2018); Ireland Says Goodbye to Peat (ARTE, 2022) with Carbury Bog; and more. FREE
8-8.30pm: NUALA LEONARD POETRY PERFORMANCE. FREE
9-10.30pm: BOG BINGO, BATTLE OF THE BANDS: THE TURFMAN FROM ARDEE, RAFFLE, and more. FREE
SATURDAY, September 24th
10-11am: LOUTH BARN OWL PROJECT TALK. FREE: REGISTER HERE
11am-12pm DRUMMIN BOG CHAT WITH CATHY FITZGERALD & JULES MICHAEL. FREE
12-1pm: BIRDWATCH LOUTH TALK. Starting in the old church with a slideshow, followed by a walking tour around town to look at Swift nesting sites, weather permitting. FREE: REGISTER HERE
Early Afternoon: Mícheál Callaghan from the Community Wetlands Forum will join us to share their mighty work supporting community groups around the country. Join him for a chat over a pot of tea. FREE
1-2pm: PEATLANDS ARE SUPERHEROES: BADGE MAKING WITH ROBIN, OUR YOUNGEST FAB MEMBER. FREE Ages 7+
2pm - late: MAKING A BOG IDOL with the HiVis Witches & Spooky Beore. FREE
2.30 - 3.30pm: PEATLANDS, PLANTS & PEOPLE. Workshop & Talk with Kate Flood. FREE: REGISTER HERE
4-5pm: BOG SOUNDS: THE SONIC ENVIRONMENT OF ARDEE BOG. Talk by DEAN MCDONNELL. FREE: REGISTER HERE
6-8pm: ARMAGH RHYMERS. Family friendly performance. *REGISTER HERE
9pm-late: PAUL CALLAN | SOPHIE COYLE | JINX LENNON *REGISTER HERE
SUNDAY, September 25th
11am-1pm: NURTURING GUT FLORA with PLENITUDE. *REGISTER HERE
11.15am-12.15pm: CURLEW CONSERVATION TALK WITH BIRDWATCH IRELAND. FREE: REGISTER HERE
1-2pm: LUNCH. Pot-luck with BOG BUTTER MAKING WORKSHOP. FREE
3-6pm: WALKING TOUR OF ARDEE WITH BRYAN ROGERS FROM THE COUNTY LOUTH ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Starting at the old church and ending in Ardee Bog. REGISTER HERE
6pm: CLOSING CEREMONY IN ARDEE BOG CELEBRATING COMMUNITY & THE RIGHTS OF PEATLANDS. FREE
STANDS & DISPLAYS: FRIDAY-SUNDAY
A Magic Table
Bee Hotel
Irish Peatland Conservation Council
STILL IN FORMATION!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US PLEASE EMAIL INFO@ARDEEBOR.ORG
BOG CAFE: SCHEDULE & INFO
The BOG CAFE is an arts & eco festival in the form of a pop-up living museum and event space in the Old Church on John Street in Ardee, Co. Louth. It will take place over three days in September: Friday September 23rd — Saturday September 24th — Sunday September 25th.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23rd
9AM-3PM PRIMARY SCHOOL WORKSHOPS
Students from local primary schools are invited to take part in three creative workshops exploring Ardee Bog: Past, Present and Future. The pupils, in collaboration with Friends of Ardee Bog will create a giant map and installation telling the story of Ardee Bog, past and present and imagining what its future could be. The finished artwork will be on display in the Old Church for the weekend and open to the public for Culture Night. Ardee Library will host a stall to meet pupils and introduce them to the Magic Table.
Tickets: Free
Info: Please email info@ardeebog.org for more information
Venue: The Old Church
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9.30AM-3PM IRISH PEATLAND CONSERVATION COUNCIL
The IPCC’s mission is to protect a representative sample of the peatlands of Ireland for people to enjoy today and in the future. Nuala Madigan will join us to share her knowledge and the wonderful work that they do.
Tickets: Free
Venue: The Old Church
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3-4PM CHAT WITH PÁDRAIC FOGARY, IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST
Friends of Ardee Bog will host an informal, round table chat and cup of tea with Pádraic Fogarty. Pádraic is the campaign officer with the Irish Wildlife Trust, editor of Irish Wildlife magazine and author of Whittled Away - Ireland's Vanishing Nature.
Tickets: Free, via Eventbrite or at the door
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chat-with-padraic-fogarty-from-the-irish-wildlife-trust-tickets-412370550417
Venue: The Old Church
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4-6PM BOG PAPERMAKING WORKSHOP
Friends of Ardee Bog will facilitate a papermaking and storytelling workshop with some of the community groups who meet in Ardee Library. The finished bog paper will be on display while drying over the weekend in the Old Church and will later be displayed in Ardee Library.
Tickets: Free. Open to Ardee Library community group members. If you are not a member but would like to attend please email info@ardeebog.org and we will try to accommodate you.
Registration link coming soon!
Venue: The Old Church
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6-7.30PM BOG GARDEN TOUR
Join Fiona Crawley for a tour of her Bog Garden in an emerging oak forest. Fiona is a gardener by trade with a focus on permaculture principles, conservation and preserving bogs and natural habitats. Fiona is also a social care worker with a degree in applied social studies and disability studies. Her Bog Garden was featured on RTÉ One’s Ireland’s Garden Heroes in August 2021.
Tickets: Tickets €5, booking essential via Eventbrite due to limited capacity.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/412388243337
Venue: Details and location will be sent out to ticket holders.
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5PM-LATE Film Screenings, Exhibition & Info Stalls
The Old Church is open for CULTURE NIGHT with stalls and exhibits from local community groups and artists. Film screenings will include Bog Standard (An Táisce, 2021) filmed in Ardee Bog; Sliabh Beagh:Where Community, Climate, Biodiversity and Water Meet (DCU & LAWPRO, 2022) followed by a talk from Ben Malone, Community Water Officer with the Local Authority Waters Programme; and Ireland Says Goodbye to Peat (ARTE, 2022) with Carbury Bog. A BOG ALTAR will showcase FAB’s bog restoration project. Listen to Bee Box Radio produced in collaboration with Carrickmacross sound artist Dean McDonnell. See the artwork produced by local school groups. Drop in, say hello, stay for a chat and treat yourself to a refreshing cup of BOG WATER, a refreshing mocktail inspired by the flora of Ardee Bog in autumn.
Tickets: Free
Venue: The Old Church
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8-8.30PM Nuala Leonard Poetry Performance
Originally from Co. Mayo and now living near Ardee—Nuala Leonard has been performing her poetry around the country for many years. She was winner of the 2017 All Ireland Poetry Slam Championships and represented Ireland at the European Slam Championships in 2019. In between the personal, observational and political poems—she makes sure to give enough space to her comic poems too. Her work has been described as powerful, beautiful and exceptional. She is thrilled to be performing for Friends of Ardee Bog this coming Culture Night in her own local town (and we are equally as thrilled to be hosting her!)
Tickets: Free
Venue: The Old Church
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9.30-11.30PM BOG BINGO & TURFMAN FROM ARDEE BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Friends of Ardee Bog are delighted to host Ardee’s most popular sport—BINGO—with our very own bog themed twist (thanks to pupils in Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire for the idea!). This is a once in a lifetime opportunity happening for ONE NIGHT ONLY! Play and be in with the chance to WIN!
The evening will also feature a special Turfman from Ardee Battle of the Bands to find out which local musician does the best rendition of the famous country classic, The Turfman from Ardee. The song is said to be Ardee’s most well known cultural export, made famous by céilí and showband legend Dermot O’Brien. Do you think you have what it takes to perform it? If you would like to take part, please sign up by emailing info@ardeebog.org. We are asking acts to come ready to perform with either an acoustic set up or your own amplification.
Special spot prize for the best dressed “Turfman” on the night—open to musicians and bingo guests.
Tickets: Free. Bingo €5 at the door.
Registration link coming soon!
Venue: The Old Church
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SATURDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER
10-11AM Talk & Chat with the LOUTH BARN OWL PROJECT
The Louth Barn Owl Project is a volunteer led project to help increase Barn Owl numbers in Co. Louth. Initiated by the wildlife rehabilitators of Drogheda Animal Rescue, and working in association with The Barn Owl Project, guidance from the Louth branch of BirdWatch Ireland, Louth Nature Trust, they hope to find and record existing nesting and roosting sites as well as the hunting grounds used by Barn Owls in the wee county. They will host a presentation on their work.
Tickets: Free, with tickets via Eventbrite or at the door.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talkchat-with-the-louth-barn-owl-project-tickets-412407059617
Venue: The Old Church
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11AM-12PM CHAT with Cathy Fitzgerald & Jules Michael from DRUMMIN BOG
Cathy & Jules will join us for a chat over tea and coffee to share some of the community artwork and ecological restoration work they are doing in Drummin Bog in Co. Carlow.
Tickets: Free.
Venue: The Old Church
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12-1PM WALK & TALK with Peter Phillips of BIRDWATCH LOUTH
Peter Phillips is a member of BirdWatch Ireland (Louth branch). He is involved in Swift conservation with Swift Conservation Ireland and is a founding member of the Louth Nature Trust. Peter will host a talk and walk (weather permitting) about Swifts in Ardee town. Although the Swifts will have migrated for the winter, participants will visit nesting locations around town and talk about practical conservation measures that could be implemented in Ardee.
Tickets: Free, with tickets via Eventbrite or at the door.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walktalk-with-peter-philips-of-birdwatch-ireland-tickets-412411823867
Venue: Meet in the Old Church for a talk followed by a walking tour around town (weather permitting).
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1-2PM Badge Making with Robin
Friends of Ardee Bog’s youngest active member will host a badge making workshop.
Tickets: Free, family friendly event, suitable for ages 7+.
Info: Email info@ardeebog.org for more info.
Venue: The Old Church
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EARLY AFTERNOON: Mícheál Callaghan from the COMMUNITY WETLANDS FORUM
Join Mícheál Callaghan for a pot of tea or cup of coffee as he shares a presentation on the CWF’s work, and reasons to get involved. The Community Wetlands Forum is a representative platform for community led wetland conservation groups. It aims to support the protection, management and wise use of Ireland’s wetlands for sustainable communities, by providing a network for community wetland groups to share knowledge, ideas, research, and best practice. “The Community Wetlands is like a portal to experts in every aspect of wetlands wrapped in friendship in your fingertips.” – Anne Lennon, Friends of Ardee Bog..
Tickets: Free
Venue: The Old Church
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2PM-LATE Making a Bog Idol with the HiVis Witches & Spooky Beore
Art Coven HiVis Witches, joined by Bog Hags Spooky Beore, will be on site to engage in participatory bog inspired magic as they create Ardee Bog’s very first and only (we think) BOG IDOL, inspired by the 1600-year-old pagan idol found in Gortnacrannagh Bog in Roscommon in 2021. The Hi-Vis Witches cast spells that witch the Earth for better living conditions, and experiment with what shapes magic could take in the modern industrial world. Spooky Beore create social spaces through performance, play, community radio and acts of participatory magic. Interested in folk customs and vernacular culture, Spooky Beore are known to haunt ringforts, Coillte plantations, roundabouts & other cursed places.
Tickets: Free. Public performance.
Registration link coming soon!
Venue: The Old Church
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2.30-3.30PM PEATLANDS, PLANTS & PEOPLE: Workshop & Talk with KATE FLOOD
Kate Flood is a peatland researcher whose work explores the relationships between people and peatlands focusing on community engagement and the social and cultural dimensions of peatlands. Kate will discuss her experiences with peatland community groups including Girley Bog Meitheal, the natural and cultural heritage of the bog and some of the wild and medicinal plants growing there.
Tickets: Free, via Eventbrite or at the door.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/workshoptalk-with-kate-flood-tickets-412417741567
Venue: The Old Church
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4-5PM BOG SOUNDS The Sonic Environment of Ardee Bog with DEAN McDONNELL
Dean McDonnell is a field recordist who is interested in recording and documenting the sounds of nature. He posts and discusses his recordings on his website www.habitatsounds.ie. Over the past few months Dean has been recording and collecting sounds in different parts of Ardee Bog. Sounds recorded include birds and bats, wind and water. The talk will showcase these sounds and discuss the importance of archiving the sounds of the bog. Dean will also talk about his ongoing habitat sounds project and will give insights on how to record nature sounds using different microphone techniques.
Tickets: Free, with tickets via Eventbrite or at the door.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bog-sounds-the-sonic-environment-of-ardee-bog-with-dean-mcdonnell-tickets-412423167797
Venue: The Old Church
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6-8PM Performance by THE ARMAGH RHYMERS
The Armagh Rhymers are one of the most celebrated traditional music and theatre ensembles on the island of Ireland. The masked tradition of rhyming with its unique blend of music, drama, song and dance dates back over 2,500 years and the Rhymers incorporate customs, rituals and local practices into their performances. Friends of Ardee Bog are delighted to host the Armagh Rhymers for a very special family friendly performance in the Old Church.
Tickets: Adults €15, Children €5, via Eventbrite
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-armagh-rhymers-in-the-old-church-tickets-412428172767
Venue: The Old Church
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9PM-LATE JINX LENNON | SOPHIE COYLE | PAUL CALLAN
FAB are absolutely over the moon to host local legends Jinx Lennon, Sophie Coyle and Paul Callan for a special gig in the Old Church. Paul Callan is an Ardee local and member of Friends of Ardee Bog. Paul has been playing music most of his life and this year saw the release of his first solo album and an EP, with another EP coming this autumn. We are thrilled to have Paul perform on his home turf! After the launch of her critically acclaimed album Blame Me for the Storm, Sophie Coyle returns with songs from her forthcoming album Cuentista. Coyle delivers story-driven songs fusing the laid-back vibe of her native Galway with the lyrical style of her current home Dundalk. Jinx Lennon is an Irish punk and urban poet from Dundalk who has been described as “one of the country's singular talents,” and “an unstoppable force of Nature.”
Tickets: Adults €15, Reduced €10, via Eventbrite. ( Proceeds from this performance will go towards the performers with a small portion going towards FAB’s bog restoration project.)
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jinx-lennonsophie-coylepaul-callan-at-the-old-church-tickets-412438453517
Venue: The Old Church
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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH
11AM-1PM NURTURING GUT FLORA with Plenitude
Niamh McDonnell (Plenitude) is an artist, occasional curator, researcher and fermented food producer, forager and teacher—in and out of the classroom. Niamh will host a fermenting workshop in the Old Church and participants will get to take home their very own, personally produced jar of delicious sauerkraut made using organic cabbage and locally sourced ingredients.
Tickets: Tickets €10, via Eventbrite with 2 free tickets to give away.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fermenting-workshop-with-plenitude-ferments-tickets-412449977987
Venue: The Old Church
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11.15AM-12.15PM CURLEW CONSERVATION TALK with BirdWatch Ireland
BirdWatch Ireland will share their Curlew EIP (European Innovation Partnership) Project. Working closely with the farming community, they aim to develop and trial new and innovative approaches to stem the decline of the Irish breeding Curlew population. Curlews are one of the most iconic birds of the Irish countryside but there has been a 96% decline in numbers since the 1980s and the Irish Curlew is in danger of extinction. In 2021 only 34 breeding pairs were confirmed in Ireland. This talk will inspire and show how we can all help protect this special bird.
Tickets: Free, with tickets on Eventbrite or at the door.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curlew-talk-with-birdwatch-ireland-tickets-412443177647
Venue: The Old Church
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12PM-AFTERNOON Making a Bog Idol with the HiVis Witches & Spooky Beore
The Witches will continue making the Bog Idol. Drop in and say hello!
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1-2PM Lunch with BOG BUTTER workshop
Do you love butter? Have you ever made your own butter? What would you do if you found butter buried in the bog? These are some of the important questions we will be asking over a casual butter making workshop and pot-luck lunch. The Bog Cafe will host local community groups and everyone is welcome to join. Bring some food to share and a story, recipe or food memory.
Tickets: Free. Please email info@ardeebog.org if you would like to join us.
Venue: The Old Church
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2-6PM WALKING TOUR with County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society
Drawing on the social and historical connections between the town and the bog, Bryan Rogers from the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society will host a tour of Ardee town which will finish out on the bog.
Tickets: €5, via Eventbrite
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walking-tour-with-county-louth-archaeological-and-historical-society-tickets-415230253867
Venue: Meeting at the Old Church and going from there. Location details and transport options will be shared in advance to ticket holders.
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6PM-SUNSET CLOSING CEREMONY
Join Friends of Ardee Bog to present the Bog Idol and Bog Butter to Ardee Bog in a joyful celebration of community and peatlands and a hopeful gesture to the future.
Tickets: Free. To learn more or join us please email info@ardeebog.org.
Registration link coming soon!
Venue: Ardee Bog. More info and directions available soon.
We are DELIGHTED to announce that Friends of Ardee Bog will be hosting an arts & eco festival called the BOG CAFE in the Old Church on John Street from the 23rd to the 25th of September. Over the weekend we’ll be hosting talks, workshops, walking tours, making BOG BUTTER, and amongst many other exciting events and activities we’ll be sharing the work we’ve been doing as part of our ecological survey on Corstown Bog. Oh also BINGO! We have so many amazing guests joining us for the weekend and we hope that you can join us.
The Bog Cafe is supported by the Arts Council.
Helen and Fiona on a site visit to meet the owner of the Old Church on John Street in Ardee.
Friends of Ardee Bog is very grateful to the owner of the old church for being so generous in allowing us to use the space. We can’t wait to share it with you in September!
