Wicklow Uplands

A Brief History of Sheep & Wool in Wicklow
2025-08-21 19:30 - 20:30 UTC | Manor Kilbride Community Hall, Manor Kilbride, Wicklow, Ireland
A vibrant and engaging exploration of the sheep and wool industry, showcasing its historical, cultural, and environmental impact across the country. Through visual displays and live presentation, we will trace the story of sheep farming—how it shaped the landscape, supported rural communities, and contributed to identity.
Oliver Fallon Bailey, contracted under our Community Heritage Grant from the Heritage Council, has been collecting stories and insights from across the county. Drawing from his earlier work with the Roundwood Folklore, Historical and Archaeological Society, particularly on the Roundwood Sheep Market, Oliver has expanded this research to include broader economic, social, and environmental narratives. Through this work we will look forward—exploring how the wool industry might support conservation goals such as peatland restoration in Wicklow’s uplands.

'Waggy Tails & Dirty Trails, How Dogs Impact Our Waters'
2025-08-24 14:30 - 16:00 | Knocksink Nature Reserve, Enniskerry, Enniskerry, Wicklow, Ireland
On Water Heritage Day, Wicklow Uplands Council (wicklowuplands.ie) in collaboration with LAWPRO (lawpro.ie) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service at Knocksink Nature Reserve will welcome Professor Wim Meijer from University College Dublin. Prof. Meijer will deliver a thought-provoking talk at our “Waggy Tails – Dirty Trails” event.
Drawing from his research at UCD, Professor Meijer will highlight how something as ordinary as dog poo can become a serious environmental problem when left behind in nature. While many people assume it’s harmless or that it will naturally break down, the reality is quite different — especially when it comes to water quality.
The talk will look at a variety of water pollutants and human health issues which can be attributed to uncollected dog faeces which often get washed into nearby streams and rivers via rainfall and stormwater runoff.
Once in our waterways, dog waste introduces harmful bacteria and parasites such as E. coli, giardia, and campylobacter, along with excess nutrients that can lead to algal blooms and oxygen depletion. These impacts not only threaten aquatic life and biodiversity but also pose direct risks to human health — especially for children and swimmers.
The session will conclude with a short Q&A and an invitation for families to explore hands-on activities — including viewing poo under the microscope and a fun modelling clay station for kids to make their own (non-smelly!) animal droppings. This talk promises to be an engaging and accessible way to highlight a surprising yet crucial link between everyday behaviour and the health of our environment.
Beyond pollution, the presence of dog mess in public spaces affects how we enjoy nature and erodes the shared experience of our parks and trails. Justin Ivory from LAWPRO will guide us on a short walk where we will casually address the importance of responsible dog ownership in protecting our water heritage. Key actions like keeping dogs on leads in natural areas, consistently picking up waste, and avoiding letting dogs swim in sensitive waterbodies can make a significant difference.

'Good Bog Bad Bog' - Culture Night Celebration
2025-09-19 19:00 - 21:00
Step into the world of bogs — wild, mysterious, and full of hidden life. Join us at the Schoolhouse for Art, Enniskerry, this Friday from 7–9pm for the Good Bog Bad Bog Exhibition.
Experience the joyful work of artist @sharonwellsart, created in collaboration with local community groups. Wander through art and craft that celebrates and questions our relationship with peatlands, discover stories of these wondrous ecosystems, and be mesmerised by what the contribute to our world. Come for the art, stay for the inspiration — and leave with a deeper connection to Wicklow’s living landscapes.

'A New Fleece of Life' Weaving Wicklow’s Sheep Wool Heritage into a Sustainable Future
2025-11-05 20:15 - 21:45 | Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh, Co Wicklow
Join us for a fascinating audio-visual presentation and discussion exploring how Wicklow’s wool heritage can help shape a more sustainable future. Hear insights from NPWS Conservation Ranger and Pat Byrne (Circular BioEconomy expert) as we look at how heritage, ecology, and innovation can work together to strengthen Ireland’s wool industry — and influence policy for real change.

Coffee, Cake & Catchments - SpongeWorks Project Launch
2026-02-26 19:00 - 21:30
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.
