Dr Niamh Shaw, Abbeyleix Science Communicator in Residence, pictured (left) in the town’s Community Garden with Tidy Towns’ members Mary White, Fiona McGowan, Robbie Quinn and Mark Clancy at the launch of Abbeyleix Climate Action. Picture: Alf Harvey
By Carmel Hayes
ABBEYLEIX is about to have its own TV show, exploring the beauty and vital importance of climate action and biodiversity.
Abbeyleix Almanac TV will air for the first time on Facebook live tomorrow morning, Saturday 6 February, hosted by Abbeyleix Tidy Towns.
The show is part of the Abbeyleix Climate Action Project, which was launched by ecologist and broadcaster Duncan Stewart late last year. It will continue every Saturday for five weeks until 6 March inclusive, starting at 11am.
Science communicator in residence Dr Niamh Shaw will be joined weekly by resident Tidy Towns’ contributors Dr Fiona McGowan, Mark Clancy, Robbie Quinn, Mary White and Eugene O’Brien.
The online show will feature local community contributions on nature, birdwatching, gardening, sustainable energy, crafts, local heritage, climate action, citizen science, future projects and lots more.
In the first episode tomorrow, they will cover a range of interests including gardening, saving money on home energy, building nests for the Dipper bird and the recently installed sensors that monitor traffic and air purity.
People can join the conversation live and put questions to the panel on Facebook or in advance of the show. No registration is required at Facebook.com/Abbeyleix.
Niamh and the Tidy Towns team will be joined for the first episode of Abbeyleix Almanac TV by Brian Maher of Heritage Ireland, who will explore the origins of the Abbeyleix fountains.
Ricky Whelan of Birdwatch Ireland will also feature in the first episode, as he explains why starling murmurations occur and what other wildlife can be seen in the locality this month.
The Abbeyleix Climate Action Project is focused on everyday practical climate action work, driven by the community’s grassroots. The aim is to build a sustainable future, with local people at the heart of change.
