Wicklow Uplands

Coffee, Cake & Catchments - SpongeWorks Project Launch
2026-02-26 19:00 - 21:30 UTC
Please note that this event has been rescheduled from Tuesday, 27th January, due to the significant impacts of Storm Chandra on the Aughrim community. We sincerely thank the community for their resilience and continued partnership.
In this regard you are warmly invited to the launch of the SpongeWorks Project in Aughrim —☕ Coffee, cake and chat provided — come along for an informal, friendly evening of learning and conversation.
An evening of information, exploring how working with nature (Nature-based Solutions, NBS) can help us manage water, protect biodiversity, and build climate resilience in our local landscapes.
The EU Horizon project ‘SpongeWorks’ focuses on helping landscapes act more like a sponge — slowing, storing and filtering water naturally through soils, wetlands, woodlands and river systems.
This nature-based approach can reduce flooding, improve water quality, support wildlife and create healthier, more resilient catchments for communities, farming and nature alike.
The evening will explain what the SpongeWorks Project is and why it matters, and why Wicklow County Council, East Wicklow Rivers Trust, Wicklow Uplands Council and LAWPRO all got involved.
We will hear from Dr Mary Bourke a lecturer in Geography at Trinity College Dublin, an engaging expert on Earth (and Planetary) Geomorphology with expertise in extreme environments including flooding.
An important part of the evening will be shared insights, and to discuss how our Aughrim Catchment Community can be involved.
This is a relaxed and accessible event open to everyone — landowners, farmers, anglers, community members, engineers, environmental enthusiasts, anyone curious about how nature-based solutions can support both people and place.

Baltinglass Ring: Uncovering the Archaeology of an Ancient Landscape
2026-03-27 20:00 - 21:30
We are delighted to host Dr Dirk Brandherm of Queens University, Belfast in a collaborative event brought to you by West Wicklow Historical Society in partnership with Wicklow Uplands Council, and funded by Wicklow County Council.The focus of the night’s talk is one of the most exciting developments in Irish archaeology in recent years, emerging from fieldwork at the Brusselstown Ring in County Wicklow.Recent research suggests this remarkable site may represent the largest nucleated prehistoric settlement in Ireland and Britain and Ireland’s earliest proto-town, predating known Viking urban settlements by more than two millennia.We’ll begin with an accessible overview of the archaeological landscape and findings, led by Dr Brandherm, contextualising the significance of the Brusselstow Ring discoveries within broader prehistoric settlement patterns.We hope this evening deepens your appreciation of our local heritage, enriches understanding across academic and community perspectives, and inspires further curiosity about our shared past and historical landscape.

Lessons Learned & Opportunities for Irish Rivers - from the River Dee (Scotland)
2026-04-23 19:30 - 21:00
Join us for an engaging and insightful webinar exploring the challenges and opportunities facing our rivers in a changing environment.
We are delighted to welcome biologist Dr. Al Reeve of the River Dee Trust, who will share his first-hand experience of restoration and management work on the River Dee. Dr. Reeve will discuss the impacts of a changing climate, combined with long-standing pressures on the river system, and outline the lessons learned from ongoing efforts. He will also highlight what needs to happen going forward to achieve meaningful success at an appropriate scale.
The webinar will also feature short presentations on work currently underway across the Wicklow Mountains. This includes a particular focus on an upcoming project in Glensoulan, as well as recent changes in forestry guidance that may support riverbank planting and wider catchment restoration efforts.

Uplands Spring Clean ! - Litter Collection Evening
2026-04-29 16:30 - 19:30 | Djouce Car Park (Lower)
Join us for the Wicklow Uplands Spring Clean 2026, an inspiring community event organised by Wicklow Uplands Council as part of the Annual An Taisce National Spring Clean and in partnership with the PURE Project and Pure Mile Programme.
Together, we aim to tackle litter in the beautiful Wicklow uplands and preserve these cherished landscapes for everyone to enjoy. The event will begin at Djouce Car Park on the L1035, where volunteers will check in, collect supplies such as litter bags and pickers, and receive a quick Health and Safety briefing.
Please bring your own gloves and dress in weather-appropriate clothing with sturdy footwear, bring water and other supplies you might personally need. This is an opportunity to meet like minded people and do a small thing with big reward for the landscape and nature.
After the cleanup, join us back for some cake and a drink to connect with fellow volunteers and reflect on the difference we’ve made together. By participating, you’ll be supporting the incredible work of local communities involved in the PURE Project and Pure Mile Programme while contributing to the preservation of our natural heritage.
Register now to be part of this mammoth effort to protect the Wicklow uplands—let’s make it an evening to remember!

Walk Through 5,000 years of Farming on Newtown Hill - Heritage Week Event
2026-08-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Johny Foxes Pub, Ballybetagh Road, Glencullen, Ireland
As part of National Heritage Week, Wicklow Uplands Council invites you to explore the remarkable archaeological landscape of Newtown Hill.
Join local landowner and long-standing WUC member Philip Maguire, together with his son Daniel, an archaeology student, for a guided walk through a landscape their family has cared for for generations. Along the way, discover evidence of more than 5,000 years of human activity, including ancient dwellings, burial sites and field systems, while hearing stories of the enduring relationship between people and place.
The walk concludes at the summit of Newtown Hill, with spectacular sunset views (hopefully!) across Dublin Bay, the Wicklow Mountains and surrounding countryside.
Please note: The 2 km route includes uphill sections and uneven ground, so a moderate level of fitness is required. Sturdy footwear and suitable outdoor clothing are essential. Please come prepared for changing weather — and perhaps a few midges!
Registstration is essential, on eventbrite or contact the office
