Ecoweb

HORIZONS: SEEKING HISTORY IN CAVESMore than 700 caves can be found in the limestone regions of Ireland.

Many of these hold archaeological secrets, dating back 10,000 years. A new project, led by cave archaeologist Dr Marion Dowd from Sligo Institute of Technology, will explore and document the facts and folklore of Irish caves.

The Irish Cave Archaeology Project has been prompted by finds of human bones, jewellery and sacrificial animals. Caves were used as burial chambers and places to live, and they reveal a complex web of cultural, religious and physical history. Anyone with unpublished discoveries about Irish caves can contact Dr Dowd on dowd.marion@itsligo.ie

CELEBRATING CONNEMARA

Connemara Sea Week, which starts next Friday is a celebration of the marine heritage, music, myth and magic of the western seaboard.

Events held in Letterfrack, Co Galway, include a conference from October 24th to 25th which will look back over 25 years of this lively and expansive festival.

Speakers include Dr Simon Berrow, from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group; wildlife photographer, Doug Allan; mountaineer, Dawson Stellfox; ecologist, Faith Wilson and broadcaster and traveller, Marguerite McCurtain.

Other events include a mini-boat regatta in Connemara National Park on Sunday. Full details are available on 095-41034 and ceecc.org

FLAT-OUT RECYCLING

Recycle More, Recycle Better is the theme of this year’s Recycling Week which begins on Monday. The aim is to encourage people to prepare packaging better before recycling it. This means washing out milk, yogurt and margarine cartons, shampoo and other bodycare containers and removing paper labels from larger plastic bottles before flattening them. Then, when the recyclables reach the depot, they can be processed more quickly. See www.repak.ie for information on recycling, and school and home carbon calculators. Speakers at the Repak annual conference on Thursday in the Croke Park Conference Centre include Ivan Yates, businessman, broadcaster and former politician, and Martin Duggan of Microsoft Ireland.

payscampaign.ie

Check out this innovative scheme which allows householders to have energy efficient upgrades carried out in their homes. The payment can then be spread over years through charges on their utility bills.

The scheme is already in place in parts of the US, and it is being promoted here by Construct Irelandmagazine as part of an economic stimulus package to help Irish people go green.