HORIZONS

Dates for your diary

Swooping on the Aillwee

The Burren Birds of Prey and Education Centre has just opened at the Aillwee Cave, Co Clare. It is home to the most comprehensive collection of eagles, hawks, owls and falcons in Ireland, and visitors will be able to see thrice-daily flight displays on the slopes of Aillwee Mountain. The centre will run breeding programmes for indigenous species, and many of the young birds will be on display. An incubation room for young raptors will also be open to the public.

"The opening of this centre is appropriate, with the current attention on the white-tailed sea eagle introduction programme in Kerry , the golden eagle project in Donegal and the red kite reintroduction programme in Wicklow," says Barbara Faulkner, marketing manager at Aillwee Cave.

The cave has 1km of passages, including an underground river and waterfall, stalactites and stalagmites. Originally privately owned by two local families, it was first opened to the public in 1976.

Eco explorations

The youth environmental organisation, Eco-Unesco, will run woodland treasure hikes based on the Lord of the Rings on July 16th and August 13th in Dublin's Phoenix Park. The aim of the hikes is to encourage team spirit while bringing young people closer to nature. Workshops on summer recycling, explorations of coastal habitats and an urban safari will also be held. Meanwhile, adults keen on learning how to engage young people in environmental projects can attend one-day workshops on July 17th and August 14th. For more details, call 01-6625491 or e-mail communications@ecounesco.ie

Clicking as the ice melts

Changing Climate, Changing People is a photographic exhibition at the Office of Public Works, 51 St Stephen's Green, Dublin, until July 11th. Mounted by the European Environmental Agency, the exhibition is made up of photographs taken by Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist John McConnico on a trip to Greenland in 2007, documenting the effects of climate change on the breathtaking Arctic scenery. On June 21st 2007, temperatures reached 22 degrees, the highest on record in the region where global climate change is expected to have its most pronounced effects. Sea ice has decreased by approximately 10 per cent in summer and 3 per cent in winter per decade over the last 25 years. The reduced polar ice also threatens species such as seals and polar bears. Opening hours for the free exhibition are 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

A longer life for art

The Irish branch of the International Network for the Conservation of Contemporary Art (INCCA) was launched yesterday in the Dublin City Gallery, the Hugh Lane, in Parnell Square, Dublin. The INCCA is a group of international professionals who collect, share and preserve the knowledge needed for the conservation of contemporary art. Central coordination and web-hosting is carried out by the Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage. See www.incca.org or www.ichawi.org(for details of the Irish branch), e-mail ichawi@eircom.net or telephone 01-6030904.

ECOWEB

[ www.irishgreengathering.com ]

Now in its second year, this music festival from August 8th to 10th in the grounds of Woodbrook House, Co Wexford, aims to be carbon-neutral with energy generated on site, plus eco-discussions and stands. The problem is that, due to its popularity, visitor numbers may have to be curtailed this year.