The Shaking Bog presents Leaf Notes, a two-day programme to celebrate the culmination of the Riverscapes project that has been unfolding across across the seasons - exploring the place, heritage and nature of the Dargle and Glencree rivers. Over these months events and activities have included conversations, walks, talks, gatherings, workshops and more. It has been a time of reconnection, reflection and sharing. Now, as Riverscapes draws to a close, The Shaking Bog invites everyone to joins us for a weekend of celebration. With the generous support of our funders, we have teamed up with Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray and other locations across the Glencree Valley to present our signature blend of arts and nature events, curated to deepen our connection to the natural world.
Location: Enniskerry Library
Time: 11-12noon
Free entry
The Shaking Bog is proud to support the launch of Enniskerry resident Kevin Warner’s book, Walks Around Enniskerry and the Glencree Valley, which describes 18 walks and will provide a valuable resource for anyone with an interest in exploring this area of outstanding beauty. Come along and celebrate with us – refreshments provided. All proceeds in aid of the Old Coach Road Funding Appeal.
Mermaid Arts Centre
Leaf Notes events in Bray's centre for the arts
The Shaking Bog presents the screening of a new film - Riverine - by acclaimed filmmaker and resident of the Glencree Valley, Alan Gilsenan. This film is core to the Riverscapes project as it celebrates and connects the diverse communities of both people and nature that populate the Dargle River Basin. It is a visual poem that includes snippets taken from audio recordings of conversations and meetings with residents of all ages from the mountains of Glencree to the sea front in Bray. The making of Riverine has been as much about the process as the outcome. It has offered people an opportunity to meet, share memories and reflect on their sense of place.
Riverine also includes a specially commissioned written meditation on rivers by the acclaimed writer and friend of The Shaking Bog, Kerri ní Dochartaigh.
Find out about Alan Gilsenan →
Find out about Kerri ní Dochartaigh →
Pause (30 mins) – Refreshments provided
Location: Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray
Time: 5pm
Finding hope through community action and awakening
Following the screening of Riverine, we hope that everyone will stay to contribute to an open and inclusive conversation about how the biodiversity crisis is being positively impacted by the collective efforts of communities in Wicklow and further afield. Guest speakers will include artists, naturalists and activists who are working with and for nature, to effect positive change. Moderated by Deirdre Duffy, CEO of Friends of the Earth with speakers including, Danny Alvey – Founding Member of Rewild Wicklow, Liz McMahon – Artist and Forest Schools Leader, Denise Cahill – Chairperson, Fassaroe Estate Forum & Ricky Whelan – Biodiversity Officer, Offaly County Council .
Glencree Valley
We return to the heart of the Glencree Valley for a joyous celebration of art and nature with the final events of Riverscapes 2025.
Location: Meeting at Knockree Hostel
Time: 10am
Booking required
An informative and inspirational walk along the banks of the Glencree River in the gorgeous nature reserve of Lackendarragh with ecologist and writer Richard Nairn, author of Wild Waters – The Magic of Ireland’s Rivers and Lakes.
Easy to moderate trail with some uneven ground. Sturdy footwear essential. Dress for all weathers. No dogs (except guide dogs) are permitted. Leave no trace. Please check Plan Your Visit for further site information.
Location: Knockree Hostel
Time: 12pm
Following the walk, everyone is invited to stay for refreshments and an informal conversation with Richard Nairn at Knockree Hostel. His recently published book, Future Wild, raises questions on the challenges facing nature restoration. This and other topics raised by attendees will be discussed.
Location: Curtlestown National School
Time: 2-6pm
The I Wonder project with children from Curtlestown School has been at the very heart of the Riverscapes project. Over 10 sessions, spanning from Spring to Autumn, the children have spent time immersed in the local woodlands under the guidance of artist and forest schools leader, Liz McMahon. This project culminates with a wonderful exhibition of books created by the children, using inks from berries and eco printing with leaves. Artist and printmaker Caroline Byrne joined Liz in assisting the children through this process of creation. The books will be on display for the day in Curtlestown School and then brought down to Enniskerry Library where they will be exhibited for a further two weeks.
Curtlestown Church
A stellar programme of artists coming to the intimate setting of Curtlestown Church.
A very rare and special treat to welcome multi award-winning author Claire Keegan (Foster, Small Things Like These, So Late in the Day) to the Glencree Valley. In this wide-ranging discussion, Keegan will consider her illustrious career and her meticulous approach to writing. She will also share reflections on growing up on a farm in County Wicklow and her ongoing engagement with the natural world.
Claire Keegan will be in conversation with renowned filmmaker and writer Alan Gilsenan.
‘Keegan has gained a towering reputation as one of Ireland’s canonical writers.’
Alexandra Alter – The New York Times
The Trinidadian/Scottish poet and writer Anthony Vahni Capildeo is a compelling and rare talent whose genre defying work has captured the attention of readers and scholars everywhere. Amongst their many awards, they most recently won the prestigious Windham Campbell Prize for Poetry. Their latest collection Polkadot Wounds (Carcanet Press) was published to great acclaim.
Selina Guinness, a long time friend of Anthony Vahni Capildeo's, will host the conversation. She is a writer, academic and sheep farmer from neighbouring Tibradden.
'Capildeo’s poetic language is its own creature, a bestiary, fierce and tender, generous and resilient… The poems demonstrate again and again how attention can be an act of radical hospitality.’
Tiffany Atkinson, Poet
Riverscapes concludes with a very special celebration as it welcomes Glen Hansard – founding member of The Frames - to the intimate and atmospheric setting of Curtlestown Church. This acoustic concert from one of Ireland’s biggest musical talents will be one to remember. Limited availability so book your tickets early.
‘There’s something deeply transformative about seeing Glen Hansard. His live shows are at once heartbreaking, bewitching and almost unsettling; it doesn’t feel human how in his hands the expansive becomes so intimate, or the close seems so abyssal.'
Bring The Noise UK
Croí Lán Sauna is beautiful new sauna, nestled into the natural woodlands of the Bog Meadow near Enniskerry Village. It is the brainchild of an inspirational neighbour of The Shaking Bog and they are kindly offering our guests a 20% discount that will be valid throughout the month of October. So if you find yourself with a gap between events over the festival weekend – or at any other time in October - why not head down to Croí Lán for a relaxing and restorative time?
For bookings go to croilan.com
20% discount code is Shakingbog. The discount is valid from 1st -31st October.
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The Shaking Bog is delighted to welcome back Wicklow-based independent booksellers Bridgestreet Books.
They will be in Curtlestown Church from 3.30pm onwards on Sunday 12th October, selling books from our visiting writers, along with a carefully selected range of nature books from past guests and other well know authors.
The Shaking Bog’s Riverscapes project presents
The Shaking Bog’s Riverscapes project for 2025 is a creative exploration of place, heritage and nature, based in Wicklow’s Dargle Basin. On 23rd August there will be a very special, immersive event in an oak forest, deep within the Glencree Valley, on the banks of the river. An opportunity to connect with nature, to participate in nature and to pay attention to nature.
Toney Garrow, Glencree, Co Wicklow A98CF74
View on Google Maps →
At In a Field by the River – Land Art Workshop, Mayumi will share her unique practice to tap into our intuition and creativity and guide us through creating land art which is harmonious to our surroundings. Her transmission is about a shift of perspective – seeing extraordinary in ordinary landscapes and materials. Through discovering geometries and rhythms in a seemingly chaotic natural world, participants are invited to explore ways to make deeper connections with nature, others and themselves.
Through the Trees With John Kavanagh
Following on from a morning of artistic expression, the afternoon’s activities will begin with an exploration of a rare and beautiful oak forest that has been lovingly tended by its owner, John Kavanagh. John will guide a walk through the trees sharing his now extensive experience restoring and enhancing the woodland.
Music by the River
John’s walkabout will be followed by refreshments and a short concert from one of Ireland’s most sought after musicians, harpist Claire O’Donnell. Claire will play against a backdrop of river sounds to create a magical interlude.
River Life with Justin Ivory
At the end of the day you can finally get your feet wet with river ecologist Justin Ivory who will lead a kick sampling demonstration. Justin will talk about how to assess the health of a river by examining the invertebrates that thrive within its waters.
In a Field by the River is generously supported by LAWPRO
Please Note:
The Shaking Bog encourages people to attend the entire day but we have split the day into 2 parts so that it is possible to come either for the morning or the afternoon. If you are coming for the day please bring a packed lunch and note The Shaking Bog’s ‘Leave no Trace’ policy. The walk will be approx. 1.5 hours. Please dress for all weathers, wear sturdy shoes and be mindful of uneven ground.
To mark the beginning of Riverscapes, The Shaking Bog presented a day-long programme of events that is deeply and consciously embedded at the very heart of the Glencree Valley. This programme sowed the seeds for the months to come by exploring the area’s natural beauty and also celebrating the knowledge and expertise that lies within the local community with many of the guests living or having being born near the banks of the river. Attendees spent the whole day with us exploring, conversing, listening and wondering together.
Time: 6-7:30am
Location: Meeting at Knockree Hostel
Booking required
The Shaking Bog is excited to present a rare opportunity to accompany renowned ornithologist, wildlife sound recordist, writer and activist Sean Ronayne for a Dawn Chorus walk in the beautiful Glencree Valley. Recently acclaimed for his book Nature Boy and film Birdsong (directed by Kathleen Harris), Sean will help to interpret the birdsong and identify the singers whilst meandering through the native woodland that straddles the banks of the river.
In return for your early morning wake-up, coffee and tea will be served at the hostel after this walk.
Sean Ronayne is a Cork-born ornithologist and naturalist who has successfully sound-recorded all except three of Ireland’s bird species. (www.irishwildlifesounds.com)
Please Note:
Easy to moderate trail. Uneven ground. Sturdy footwear essential. Dress for all weathers. No dogs (except guide dogs) are permitted. Leave no trace. Please check Plan Your Visit for site information.
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Time: 8:15–9am
Location: Knockree Hostel
Free event
This staple of The Shaking Bog never ceases to enthral and inspire. Beloved local nature enthusiast and zoologist Ciarán Finch will once again - but for the very first time in Spring - create a moment of wonder as he unveils an astounding variety of moth species collected overnight in the Glencree Valley. A special event guaranteed to inspire a sense of awe and reverence for these elusive creatures as they slowly awaken to the day.
Please Note:
No dogs (except guide dogs) are permitted.
Image by Unsplash user Yuliya Grechushkina
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Time: 9:30-11:30am
Location: Meeting at Knockree Hostel
Free Event - Exclusive to Curtlestown School.
For this event only book via shakingbog@gmail.com. One parent per child in 2nd-4th class - first come first served.
The Bug Hunt is part of the I Wonder project based in Curtlestown School for 2nd-4th class pupils. It is a first invitation to the parents of these pupils to come and learn about the world that they will be exploring. The children with their natural sense of wonder will be the guides as they bring their parents to different environments that support the lives of many invertebrate species. Together they will record what they discover through writing, drawing (with ink made by the children) and land art.
I Wonder is a tailormade forest immersion project for children from 2nd-4th class at Curtlestown School, starting at the beginning of May. It is designed to connect local families with their environment. It will take place over several weeks, in the woodland near Knockree, as part of the wider Riverscapes project.
Liz Mc Mahon is a visual art facilitator and forest school leader. She is currently part of the Scalp Project to promote and support nature based learning in primary schools.
Please Note:
As places are limited, please don’t be disappointed if you don’t get a chance to come along as there will be more events and opportunities during I Wonder for families to connect with what their children will be exploring in the forest.
Uneven ground. Sturdy footwear essential. Dress for all weathers. No dogs (except guide dogs) are permitted. Leave no trace. Please check Plan Your Visit for site information. Image from Unsplash user Michael Starkie.
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Time: 11am – 1pm
Location: Meeting at the Knockree car park, 100m from Knockree Hostel
Free Event (places are limited so pre-booking is essential)
Ticket sales open Tuesday April 22
A meandering walk exploring the valley and the banks of the Glencree River for adults and children. Mountain Leader and nature enthusiast, Martha Burton, who grew up in the Glencree Valley and knows all the many secrets that it holds like nobody else, will lead the walk, sharing her expert knowledge along the way. She will encourage people to open their senses, to look, listen and explore, An engaging walk for all the family.
Martha Burton is an engineer, keen hillwalker and fiddle player from the Glencree Valley. Martha is from a farming background and has been interested in native wildlife, plants and flowers from a young age.
Please Note:
All children must be over 8yrs and accompanied by an adult. Uneven ground. Sturdy footwear essential. Dress for all weathers. No dogs (except guide dogs) are permitted. Leave no trace. Please check Plan Your Visit for site information.
Time: 2–4pm
Location: Meeting at Knockree Hostel
Free Event (pre-booking is essential)
Ticket sales open Tuesday April 22
There is no month more beautiful in the Glencree Valley than the month of May when the ground along the riverbanks is thickly carpeted with bluebells and wild garlic and buzzing with insect life. Join the internationally-acclaimed botanist Professor Jane Stout as she guides a trail through the landscape sharing her deep knowledge of pollinators and wildflowers. It will be an immense privilege to join one of Ireland’s leading botanists out in the field on this springtime walk.
Jane is Vice President for Biodiversity & Climate Action and Professor of Ecology (Botany) at Trinity College Dublin. She is an internationally renowned expert on pollinator and pollination ecology, and a prominent voice for biodiversity and its value. She is co-founder and Chair of the Irish Forum on Natural Capital and co-founder and deputy Chair of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan www.pollinators.ie
Please Note:
Easy to moderate trail. Uneven ground. Sturdy footwear essential. Dress for all weathers. No dogs (except guide dogs) are permitted. Leave no trace. Please check Plan Your Visit for site information.
Time: 5:30-6:45pm
Location: St Patrick’s Church, Curtlestown
Booking required
Ticket sales open Tuesday April 22
Mark Cocker is a widely acclaimed, award-winning author of creative non-fiction, a naturalist, columnist and broadcaster. His latest book One Midsummer’s Day: Swifts and the Story of Life on Earth celebrates the interconnectedness of all of life and has been shortlisted for the prestigious Richard Jefferies Prize for nature writing. Mark will present a talk entitled ‘What is Wild?’ followed by a public conversation hosted by renowned journalist and broadcaster Ella McSweeney.
Mark Cocker is an author and naturalist who writes and broadcasts on wildlife in a variety of British media including The Guardian and The Guardian Weekly. He has written 13 critically acclaimed books, covering works of biography, history, literary criticism and memoir. (www.markcocker.com)
Ella McSweeney is a well known journalist and broadcaster who regularly contributes to The Irish Times, writing about the climate crisis and the environment. She has worked for RTÉ - perhaps best known for presenting Ear to the Ground - the BBC and the Guardian newspaper.
‘A beautiful, brilliant mind-stretching and soul-flying book. Genius.’ - Horatio Clare (praise for One Midsummer’s Day)
Time: 7:30-9:30pm
Location: St Patrick’s Church, Curtlestown
Booking required
Ticket sales open Tuesday April 22
The day-long programme of events will draw to a close with a memorable performance in two parts. The first will be a poetry reading from the wonderful nature/eco poet Jane Robinson who will read from her poetry collections Island and Atoll - described as ‘ not simply a book; it’s a forcefield of imagination’ (Annemarie Ní Churreáin) - and Journey to the Sleeping Whale.
Jane Robinson’s many award-winning poems address the urgent issue of environmental loss. Her first collection, Journey to the Sleeping Whale (2018) was begun when she lived just two and a half Irish miles from Enniskerry.
The second part of the evening will mark the first ‘home’ performance by acclaimed soloist and concert violinist Lynda O’Connor, who grew up just minutes away from Curtlestown Church.
Lynda will be joined by international concert cellist and composer Ailbhe McDonagh and together they will perform McDonagh’s The Irish Four Seasons which premiered late last year.
Lynda O’Connor is regarded as one of the finest Irish violinists of her generation. She regularly performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. In 2024 she released her debut solo album “The Irish Seasons”. (www.lyndaoconnorviolin.com)
Irish cellist Ailbhe McDonagh is an international soloist, chamber musician and recording artist. As a composer she has a large collection of chamber, orchestral and pedagogical works to her name. Her much anticipated violin concerto ‘The Irish Four Seasons’ was released in 2024. (www.ailbhemcdonagh.com)
“McDonagh’s The Irish Four Seasons is an idiomatic and compelling synthesis of traditional Irish music, blending captivating melodies with classical form.” BBC Music Magazine
For six months in 2025, Riverscapes will provide opportunities for dialogue, exchange, story collecting and skill sharing with people from the many diverse communities who reside along the length of the rivers that run through the Dargle valley from above the Reconciliation Centre in Glencree to the mouth of the river in Bray. In a series of public and private events, large and small, we will meet and engage with the diverse world around us. We will share, remember and enlighten each other as well as, along the way, record and document aspects of this process.
Our aim is to let this project unfold organically. We want it to be a project that evolves from the inside out. This means that for any events that happen throughout the months of creative engagement, we will be following the lead of the local communities and drawing on outside expertise when relevant and appropriate.
As the project evolves, we will be working in partnership with other projects and organisations. Some of these already include: Little Bray Family Resource Centre, National Parks Wildlife Services, the Arts, Heritage and Biodiversity Departments at Wicklow County Council, the Knocksink Education Centre, An Óige at Knockree Hostel and we will be partnering with artists Anne Cleary & Dennis Connolly - School of Looking, who will be running a project up at the Liffey Head Bog over the months to come as part of their own Catchments Project.
The Riverscapes project will culminate with a new film by acclaimed local film-maker Alan Gilsenan - a film that not only draws on the landscape and voices of a richly diverse community but that also belongs to that community. It is a film that will hopefully reflect life at its most local whilst also mirroring the universal.
NOTE: Please keep an eye on the website and social media for updates on other events and activities that will become available for booking as the Riverscapes project evolves.
Through this new and ever-evolving model The Shaking Bog hopes to reach more people from across diverse communities and contribute, through creative engagement, to a just and fair transition for all towards a greener and more sustainable future.
Furthermore, The Shaking Bog aims to offer hope through the intertwining of nature and art in these turbulent times that are making many of us reach for a new way forwards. We believe that we can help to find this ‘third way’ by gathering and not dividing, by inspiring and connecting, by sharing and including and by the alchemy that happens when art and nature meet.
To quote the wonderful poet, Mary Oliver:
“Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –over and over announcing your place in the family of things.”
Mary Oliver – Wild Geese
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