Events – Butterfly Conservation Ireland

EVENTS 2025 Provisional

Events are free to members and non-members unless otherwise stated. Seeking butterflies is completely weather-dependent. If unsuitable weather is forecast, the event will be cancelled with news of the cancellation posted on the Home Page of this website. Where an event is set down for Saturday or Sunday the event will proceed on Saturday if the weather allows, but on Sunday if the forecast for Sunday is more suitable. If an event is moved to Sunday, this notification will be posted on the home page. All persons attending events are responsible for their safety. Participation in all activities is entirely at your own risk. Butterfly Conservation Ireland Ltd does not carry insurance. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.

Saturday 22 February 2024

Scrub clearing at Crabtree/Lullybeg Reserve, County Kildare.

Meet on the site at 11:00 am for habitat creation for the Dingy Skipper, Dark Green Fritillary, Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moth and other species. We will uproot saplings and cut back re-growth encroaching on part of the site and place cleared material in piles. Please bring work gloves, boots and loppers.

Directions: This is reached from Allenwood by taking the R414 west and crossing Shee Bridge 1km from Allenwood on the left. Continue for 4 km and the Bog of Allen Nature Centre is on the right. Turn right here and continue for 100 metres to the T-junction. Turn left here along the track and continue. Pass through three gates. After the third gate, turn sharp left along the rough forest track for 500 metres and you will see the sign for the reserve. The site grid reference is N687 256. See Discovery Series 49.

Saturday 17th May 11:00-1:00 pm

Walk at Fahee North, Burren, County Clare.

This area contains superb habitat and some of Ireland’s rarest butterflies.
The walk will explore a beautiful area of the Burren where there are many species of butterflies, including the Marsh Fritillary. This lovely butterfly has a remarkable variety of colouring, patterning, and size, with no two ever alike. It is the only legally protected species in Ireland and its habitat must be maintained if it is to continue to survive.

Directions to Fahee North
Directions from Kinvara (approx. 30 mins)
From Kinvara take the N67 towards Ballyvaughan for 6km. Turn left onto L1014 towards Corofin. Continue for 13.5km to Carron. Turn left at Carron National School. After c.1km turn left. After c.2km the Holy Well is on the left. Parking on the grass verge.

Directions from Corofin (approx. 25 mins)
From Corofin take the R476 towards Kilfenora for c.7.5km. At Leamaneh continue onto R480 for c.2.5km. Turn right onto L1014 and continue for 5.3km to Carron. Turn right and continue for c.1km. Turn left. After c.2km the Holy Well is on the left—park on the grass verge. A grid reference for the site is M30067 00463. See Discovery Series 51.
Target Species: Dingy Skipper, Wood White, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Wall Brown, Common Heath, White-spotted Sable, etc.

Sunday May 18th 12:00-2:00

Walk in Clooncoose Valley, Burren, Co. Clare.
A walk down the “Burren Butterfly Road” to see a range of butterflies and moths. The special target is the Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

Directions: From Corofin, County Clare, travel north on the R476 and drive through Kilnaboy village. Continue for 1km and take the first right after the village (L5096). Continue carefully downhill on the L5096 and soon you will start climbing. After a steep climb, you will reach open limestone grassland. Continue for c.2 km and you will arrive at a crossroads with the Green Road sign on your right. Parking is in the Caherrcommaun car park – https://goo.gl/maps/7dR1SY3i8WAtcWC9A. Meet at the entrance to the Green Road (sign-posted) at Creevagh, at R 27242 95422. See Discovery Series 51.

Target Species: Dingy Skipper, Wood White, Brimstone, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Wall Brown, etc.

Saturday 24th May 2024

Walk on Butterfly Conservation Ireland’s Reserve, Lullybeg, County Kildare.

Meeting at 10:00 am.

Directions: The site is reached from Allenwood by taking the R414 west and crossing Shee Bridge 1km from Allenwood on the left. Continue for 4 km and the Bog of Allen Nature Centre is on the right. Turn right here and continue for 100 metres to the T-junction. Turn left here onto the rough track and continue, slowly. We will park near the first gate (N 69560 26045) and walk to the site. Bring boots. The site grid reference is N 68731 25664. See Discovery Series 49.

Target species: Dingy Skipper, Cryptic Wood White, Brimstone (eggs, caterpillars and adult butterflies), Orange-tip, Marsh Fritillary, Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth, Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly, Hairy Dragonfly, and much more!

Saturday 7th June in IPCC, Lullymore, Co. Kildare

Butterfly Monitoring Workshop
This free event runs from 9:30-16:00 and has an indoor and outdoor element. Bring a packed lunch.

Venue: Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare, R51 V293.

Date: Saturday 21st June 2025

Course leaders:
Jesmond Harding, Butterfly Conservation Ireland &
Dr Liam Lysaght, National Biodiversity Data Centre

SCHEDULE
09:30 – Arrival Tea & Coffee
10:00 – Welcome and introduction to the workshop (LL)
10:10 – Introducing Ireland’s Butterflies (JH)
Ecology
Changing fortunes
10:30 – Species Identification (JH)
11:00 – break
11:20 – Monitoring butterflies (LL)
Transect-based monitoring
15-minute count monitoring
12:15 – lunch
13:30 – Field session
16:00 – Finish

If you are going to attend, please email butterflies@biodiversityireland.ie so we can keep track of the numbers.

Saturday 21st June in Brú na Bóinne National Park, Co. Meath

Venue: Brú na Bóinne National Park, Netterville House, Dowth, Co. Meath A92 ER22

Date: Saturday 21st June 2025

Course leaders:
Jesmond Harding, Butterfly Conservation Ireland &
Dr Liam Lysaght, National Biodiversity Data Centre

If you are going to attend, please email butterflies@biodiversityireland.ie so we can keep track of the numbers.

Saturday 28th June 2025

Moth Morning at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore.

This event will be used to train aspiring moth trappers to trap, identify, record and log records of moths.

Meeting at 7:00 am.

Philip Strickland will lead this event.

Heritage Week Event

Saturday 16th August

Moth Morning on the Lady Chapel Road, Maynooth, County Kildare, at Philip Strickland’s home. Philip’s grounds contain an excellent grassland habitat and adjoining interesting woodland.

Meeting at 7:00 am.

The event will be led by Philip Strickland and Jesmond Harding.
Please note that the area where we have been allowed to hold our event is private land. Visitors are reminded to take responsibility for their safety.

Location of Event:

Cormackstown Wood, Cormickstown, Maynooth, Co. Kildare
Eircode: W23 X0K1
The property is accessed via a long driveway.

Directions from Maynooth Main Street

Head southwest (towards St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth) on Maynooth Main St/R148 toward Straffan Rd/R406. Continue straight onto Parson St/R408. Turn right onto Newtown Road/R408. After crossing the bridge crossing the canal and railway, turn right onto the R408. Continue on this road for 2.8 km. The location is on the right. The grid reference for the entrance is N 91330 35440.

Saturday 8th November 2025

Scrub clearing at Crabtree/Lullybeg Reserve, County Kildare.

Meeting at 11:00 am

Butterfly sites need management to maintain the habitats and Crabtree Reserve needs your help. Meet on-site at 11:00 am for habitat creation for the Marsh Fritillary. We will uproot saplings encroaching on the site and place cleared material in piles. Please bring work gloves, boots and loppers.
Directions: This is reached from Allenwood by taking the R414 west and crossing Shee Bridge 1km from Allenwood on the left. Continue for 4 km and the Bog of Allen Nature Centre is on the right. Turn right here and continue for 100 metres to the T-junction. Turn left here along the track and continue. Pass through three gates. After the third gate, turn sharp left along the rough forest track for 500 metres and you will see the sign for the reserve. Bring boots. The site grid reference is N687 256. See Discovery Series 49.