Bog Cafe festival in the Old Church on John Street in Ardee from 23-25 September
By Donard McCabe in the Dundalk Democrat
Friends of Ardee Bog at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ardee this year. Photo: Adrian Crawley
Friends of Ardee Bog (FAB) is a community-led group based in Ardee, made up of local artists, filmmakers, designers, health care workers, gardeners and retired people.
The group's mission is to preserve, promote and share the beauty and peculiarity of Ardee Bog with the community in Ardee, County Louth and beyond. FAB say they are delighted to announce that they will host the Bog Cafe festival in the Old Church on John Street in Ardee from 23-25 September.
The festival is a celebration of Ardee Bog and our precious Irish peatlands, and it begins on Friday 23 September to coincide with the Global Climate Strike, which also takes place that day. Over the three-days, there will be an inspirational programme of talks, workshops, walking tours, poetry, live music, and film screenings exploring Ardee Bog and the ecological and cultural heritage of Irish peatlands.
Friends of Ardee Bog with Catherine O'Connell, ecologist, visiting Ardee Bog in June. Photo: Adrian Crawley
Events will reimagine storytelling, nature, community and examine the opportunities to maintain biodiversity throughout Ireland, including recognising the Rights of Nature and the National Biodiversity Action Plan. FAB will also share what has been learned from their recent ecological survey of Corstown Bog.
The Bog Cafe will open on Friday 23 September with creative workshops with local primary school students, a conversation with Pádraic Fogarty from the Irish Wildlife Trust, followed by an evening of extraordinary events celebrating Culture Night, including a Bog Bingo extravaganza and Turfman from Ardee Battle of the Bands challenge.
FAB are thrilled to announce that the Bog Cafe will host two very exciting performances on Saturday September 24th. At 6PM, Folk legends The Armagh Rhymers will perform a special family show in the Old Church. At 9.30PM, Jinx Lennon, Sophie Coyle and Paul Callan are performing in what should be a magical evening.
The festivities will continue Sunday 25 September with a closing ceremony in Ardee Bog celebrating community and the rights of peatlands in Ireland.