Uisce Álainn
Embracing the Healing Power of Water
Celebrating life, well-being and our environment
About the Event
Medb’s Dragon Warriors, with the support of Power to Change, will host Uisce Álainn on the Garavogue River and Lough Gill on Saturday, 3rd May 2025.
The event will open with the Awakening the Dragon and Dotting of the Eye Ceremony followed by a commemorative Flower Ceremony.
The Awakening of the Dragon Ceremony, an ancient Chinese custom, will open the dragon’s eyes, ward off evil spirits and prepare the river for voyage. The ceremony not only blesses and cleanses the area for the event, but also the water participants and spectators.
The Flower Ceremony is a beautiful commemorative ceremony that involves both water participants and spectators in a moment of reflection for lives lost to cancer, with those lives being represented by a flower or a flower petal. Spectators will be invited to take rose petals to place in the river which gently absorbs them into its environment.
As the water participants head off on their watery voyage, spectators will be invited to The Gate Lodge for light refreshments and to view information stands and displays on the importance of our waterways.
There will be interactive stands from Clean Coasts, Sligo Rowing Club and ATU, and information stands from the Marine Institute, Water Safety Ireland, and Inland Fisheries. Workshops for children and adults will take place throughout the day.
A series of guided walks and talks on themes including birdlife, mental health, trees and water, and citizen science will also take place throughout the day.
Uisce Álainn is more than just an event; it is a movement to highlight the therapeutic benefits of water.
Explore more:
- Interactive Stands Discover valuable resources on waterway preservation and safety.
- Workshops Join our hands-on workshops to learn about the local wildlife and environmental conservation efforts.
- Walks and TalksTake part in guided walks and insightful talks about the Garavogue River's ecosystem and its importance.
- Water Event Registration with Medb's Dragon Warriors
Event Schedule
Join us in embracing the healing power of water and celebrating our waters. Below you can find the schedule for the event. Please note workshops will take place from 10.30 am – 3.00 pm.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | Awakening the Dragon Ceremony followed by the Flower Ceremony - Spectators can view the ceremonies along the banks of the river opposite The Gate Lodge. |
| 12:20 | Dragon Boats, Kayakers, and Rowers begin water journey |
| 12:30 | Information stands open to spectators at The Gate Lodge (with tea and nibbles provided) |
| 1:30 | Walks and talks along the banks of the Garavogue |
Interactive Stands
Think Before You Flush information stand with An Taisce’s Clean Coasts programme
The Think Before You Flush campaign works with local communities across Ireland to raise awareness on the issues related to flushing unsuitable items down the toilet. These includes blockages in our wastewater network and treatment plants, sewage overflows and sewage-related litter ending up on our beaches and natural environment. The campaign message is simple, only flush the 3Ps (pee, poo, and paper) down the toilet – everything else goes in the bin.
In addition, we will also be promoting the ‘Think Before You Pour’ campaign, highlighting problems caused by pouring fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) down the sink. This can result in the formation of fatbergs, which are very large masses of solid waste in a sewerage system, consisting of congealed fat and personal hygiene products that have been flushed down toilets. This causes blockages in our household plumbing and our wastewater network.
Biosecurity with Lisa Cronin and Geraldine Duignan, Sligo Rowing Club and ATU
Join Lisa and Geraldine as they raise awareness about biosecurity measures essential for protecting our water resources and our aquatic environments.
Waterbodies such as the Garavogue river and Lough Gill provide essential resources for our drinking water, recreation, and native wildlife, attracting tourists and locals alike for activities like fishing, boating, swimming, walking, and wildlife watching. Biosecurity helps to protect our water environment and keep everything healthy ensuring that these recreational opportunities remain available for future generations.
Discover brochures, posters, and infographics that explain the importance of biosecurity in water management. Learn how contaminants can affect water quality and aquatic life and discover how simple actions we can take make a big difference in protecting our water sources.
Lisa and Geraldine will answer your questions and provide insights on best practices for maintaining biosecurity in local water bodies, whether you’re a recreational boater, a fisherman, or a concerned citizen.
Stop by the Biosecurity Information Stand to learn how you can be a steward of our waters. Together, let’s make a positive impact on our environment!
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) with Luke Kenny
Join Luke to learn more about the work of LAWPRO. LAWPRO is a national shared service working on behalf of all 31 local authorities in Ireland. It believes that there is a role for everyone when it comes to improving water quality. This approach sees LAWPRO co-ordinating the response of local authorities, state agencies and public bodies to the EU Water Framework Directive, as well as empowering community groups to take action in their local area. Community groups are supported with advice, expertise, and funding along their water journey, from raising awareness to leading out on their own projects that help to safeguard local water resources for future generations.
Workshops
Register for workshops here or by emailing yvonne.lang@atu.ie by 25th April 2025.
Dragonflies and Damselflies with Geoff Hunt (10.30-3.00 pm)
Join Geoff for an introduction to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ireland. During this workshop you will explore the features used to identify Ireland’s Dragonfly and Damselfly species, how to survey for them, where to find them, and helpful suggestions on identification resources. In the afternoon you will explore the local freshwater habitats to practice our field skills and hopefully spot some of the many species to be found in this area. This workshop is suitable for beginners and those wishing to refresh their identification skills.
Dragonflies with Robin Barry (workshops at 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm)
Explore the importance of our water environments and how we can use dragonflies & damselflies to monitor the quality of our water. This workshop is suitable for children aged 8-12 years and is delivered in a fun and interactive way.
Aquatic Biodiversity with Dara Timpson (workshops at 12.45pm and 1.45pm)
Explore the abundant biodiversity that exists in local streams, rivers and lakes. Dara will give a short interactive presentation, followed by a hands-on session to explore samples of macroinvertebrates and tanks of various freshwater fish.
Walks and Talks
All walks start at the Gate Lodge. Register for walks here by 30th April 2025 or by emailing yvonne.lang@atu.ie
1.30 pm Dr Bláithín Sweeney, The Wellness Warrior
Join Bláithín for a walk and talk along the banks of the Garavogue exploring the importance of waterways and waterbodies for our mental health and well-being.
1.45 pm Michael Bell, Birdwatch Ireland Sligo Branch
Join Michael for a walk and talk along the banks of the Garavogue exploring birdlife and the ecological importance of the river.
2.00 pm Piroska Kocsis, Ecologist and ATU Researcher
Join Piroska for a walk and talk along the banks of the Garavogue exploring the important relationship between trees and waterways.
2.15 pm Dr Adam F. Smith, Ecologist
Join Adam for a walk and talk along the banks of the Garavogue exploring how anyone can become an important contributor to biodiversity conservation and knowledge as citizen scientists.
Acknowledgement
Medb’s Dragon Warriors and Power to Change wish to thank the Blue Lagoon, Rose Petals, and The Gate Lodge for their support.
We also wish to thank Damien J Kennedy who will capture this unique event in a short film.
We also wish to thank the Parks Department and the Festivals Department at Sligo County Council for their support.
This project is part of the Community Climate Action Programme Strand 2 and is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.