Loughrea Biodiversity Festival and Bioblitz 2026

To celebrate National Biodiversity Week 2026, Galway County Council and local schools are teaming up with MKO, The Galway Bay South East Catchment Community Forum and numerous other volunteers and groups including GRD to undertake a Bioblitz and Biodiversity festival in Loughrea. The event will be centred around Loughrea Lake and its shores and will involve counting as many species as possible within a 24 hour period from 19:30 on the 21st May until 19:30 on the 22nd May. Teams of ecologists will be active in the area counting species during this period and aiming to record as many as they can.

A list of the various activities is provided HERE. All activities are free and most are centred on the lakeshore and around the town. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

What is a BioBlitz? It’s a race against the clock to find and identify as many species as possible within 24 hours. It’s a fun and educational way to learn about the amazing biodiversity right in our own backyard.

Contact Emily, SICAP Climate Action Officer at 087 4131248

National Biodiversity Week Ireland takes place 15th – 24th May 2026.