Winter News

This has been a year full of activity at Cabragh Wetlands.
Thanks to the assistance and support of Tipperary Enterprise we spent some
time during the year evaluating the role of Cabragh Wetlands and charting the course
ahead. We were ably assisted in the task by Environmental Consultant Mieke
Muyllaert and this led to our producing a business plan prepared by Lorraine Grainger.


During the year we initiated articles in The Tipperary Star, which if the feedback is
anything to go by, are appreciated by many people. Thanks sincerely to the editor Michael Dundon for his generous support.

Our Web site is up and running and well worth a regular visit. People visiting the site are from as far a field as China and the USA! Our web address is www.cabraghwetlands.ie


During the year we also produced a short DVD on the flora and fauna of the wetland, copies of which are available here at the Wetland at €10. It makes a lovely gift – recording as it does a local voluntary initiative in preserving a valuable resource. We thank all concerned for their support in bringing this fine snapshot of the wetlands to fruition. Ollie Delaney's editing is only topped by the amazing flight of the starlings captured by Seán Maher on video. We also have greeting cards on sale at the centre with photos of the flora and fauna of the wetlands.


Our school programme continues and we had a big number of Primary School visits during the year. We believe that what we have to offer here makes a valuable contribution to environmental education particularly in the field of habitat studies. The Summer Camp, popular as always, was well attended and the feedback from children and parents is very positive.


Together with Ceoltas we hosted regular evenings of Music and Song. We even managed to dance on the carpet and we look forward to having a timber floor in the future!


Our Open Day in July was well attended. Again we had Eanna Ní Leamhna who is always popular and never disappoints. Despite it being a very wet day it was enjoyable and informative. Thanks to all our loyal supporters for making this day such a success.


We were selected by the Co Council to represent Tipperary in the Pride of Place Competition. We had work to do to prepare for the event as they send out judges to view the place. We did well and received a Certificate. The profile which such competitions offer is valuable.


Bird Watch continue to use the Wetland as a bird ringing site, and they are putting together valuable information on the population and movement of birds. Rarities like the skua which Seán Maher found continue to surprise.


We also organized events in working with clay and stone during the year. Artists who conducted the workshops were Mary Scott and Philip Quinn. This was promoted by the Arts Officer of North Tipperary Co. Co. Thanks to all involved for a successful and fruitful event.


A huge loss to the centre is Marlene Harney who has returned to South Africa with her family. Marlene brought great energy and expertise to her work in promoting the wetlands. We were privileged to host a presentation to her of a beautiful painting of Cabragh Wetlands by Joe Gaynor on the 13th September. We wish Marlene, Durk and the boys success and happiness in their new home.


At this time our series of Winter talks have resumed. We hosted a selection of interesting topics all related to the environment. We believe that Cabragh Wetlands offers a valuable focus for environmental issues. Your involvement with us and your support is much appreciated.


We want to streamline our membership and we request all membership fees to be renewed at
this time. So may we give you a gentle reminder that your membership is due about now!


Many thanks for your support and Happy Christmas,
From all at Cabragh Wetlands

The Wren and Its Folklore

For almost 1000yrs before St Patrick started his mission in Ireland the Celts and their druids worshiped many gods of nature. They placed great miportance on the belief that birds were messagners of the gods. As the christian religion spread many birds were seen as being good or bad ormens. The robin, pictured so often on Christmas cards, was respected because it was supposed to have received its red breast because it kept the fire in the stable at Bethlahem alight while Mary and Joseph slept.


The wren on the other hand was sacred to the Druids of pre- christian Ireland . The Irish noun for the wren 'Dreoilín' is probably derived from 'drui-éan' or druid bird. It was regarded by the ancient Celts as a messenger of the gods and the godess Clíona (the godess of love and beauty) took the form of a wren. The soul of the Oak King who was sacrificed to the sungod Bel at the summer solstice was embodied in the wren.


Probably because it has such strong connections with the pagan religion christians discredited the wren with stories of betrayal and treachery. The wren was supposed to have made Christ's whereabouts known to the Roman soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was also blamed for betraying St Stephen to his killers. In our own history when one Irish army was preparing to attack Cromwell's forces their presence was given away by a wren tapping an Irish drum. The Irish were all killed. While the robin stood for summer the wren stood for winter.


The wren was hunted on St. Stephen's Day - Lá an Dreolín. The dead wrens were tied to a holly branch and carried from door to door and the wren boys chanted verses like:

'The wren, the wren the king of all birds

St. Stephen's Day he was caught in the furze

Up with the kettle down with the pan

Give us a penny to bury the wren.'

If the good landlady of the house didn't give them a treat the wren was buried on the doorstep which disgraced that household.