Iveragh Ambassador Programme
THE LIVE Project, now in its final year, is hosting a series of events as part of their Ambassador Programme, to shape and share the resources and outputs we are creating on outdoor experiences for the off-season visitor.
Following in the footsteps of the highly successful 'Cynefin a Chymuned' progamme run on the Llŷn Peninsula in Wales, we’d like to invite south Kerry stakeholders to join us to fine tune the digital resources and itineraries that LIVE has developed for the Iveragh peninsula - learn how they can be of use to you to market your business and your region, discuss how to promote the Iveragh peninsula outside of peak tourism seasons, develop visitor experience packages.
Whatever your experience, whether you have a personal interest, or would like to use some aspects of this in your business, even format a new business idea, there will be something for everyone to learn, share and engage with.
What’s Involved?
We aim to meet twice a month for indoor and outdoor sessions on a particular theme or topic. We would love you to attend all of the sessions, but you can dip in and out as your time allows. These events will be designed to complement and enhance your own existing local knowledge about Iveragh’s natural heritage, its landscapes, seascapes, mountains, walks and trails, and all of the biodiversity that lives within it.
The indoor session will focus on themes such as sustainable tourism, collaborative marketing, and effective use of digital resources to promote your area.
The outdoor session will be based around a walk-and-talk. We will focus on sharing knowledge about the natural and cultural heritage of Iveragh and getting to know different locations, heritage sites, and walking trails. We will discuss the theme from the indoor session, the practical application of turning digital resources into outdoor experiences
At both sessions there will be lots of opportunities for people to share knowledge, ask questions, offer stories and memories relating to heritage and place, to deepen your own knowledge but also to share with visitors such as students, tourists, customers and more.
This programme will contribute to the development of a bank of digital resources that can grow and adapt to the needs of the community over time.
Where and when?
The initial programme will run from autumn 2022 to spring 2023. Most events will take place mid-week but times can be altered to accommodate the majority of attendees. Events will take place across Iveragh with the aim of making them accessible to a wide range of attendees.
If you have a special interest in any of these events and would like to collaborate and/or co-host please get in touch, email Orla at live@ucc.ie
2023 Upcoming Events
26th April 2023
Experiences for the Off-Season Visitor: Spring in Iveragh
Wednesday 26th March
Ballinskelligs
10am - 1.30pm
With wildflowers adding colour to the hedgerows, bees and butterflies coming out of hibernation, the dawn chorus rising and nesting birds returning from winter journeys, spring is a wonderful time to experience Iveragh.
Join us for a talk and walk to explore these seasonal wonders and discuss ways to promote the natural heritage of Iveragh for off-season visitors.
Talk in Ballinskelligs Community Centre, V23 DT28
The talk on Spring in Iveragh will take place in Ballinskelligs Community Centre, from 10am – 11.30pm. Join LIVE Project Knowledge Gatherers for an enlightening talk about the wonders of springtime in Iveragh:
Calum Sweeney: A plant focused ‘picture journey’ of why to visit Iveragh in springtime.
Linda Lyne- A look into the lives of Iveragh’s animal wildlife during springtime. (eg – who's waking from hibernation; mating or nesting; winter birds leaving as spring birds arrive).
Fiach Byrne – Iveragh’s insect-life in spring. What species can we expect to encounter and what habitats along the Skelligs Monks’ Trail do they rely on?
Walk along the Skellig Monk Trail
Following the talk, we will ramble along the Skellig Monk Trail, looking for signs of spring along the way. This easy walk is weather dependent and good footwear is essential. The walk will take approximately 2 hours.
Previous Events
22nd February 2023
Experiences for the Stargazer:
The Kerry Dark Sky Reserve and Skellig
Coast Dark Sky Festival
Wednesday 22nd February 2023
11.30am - 1pm
Skellig CRI, Cahersiveen Library
Join us for a discussion about the Kerry Dark Sky Reserve, its importance and value to the Iveragh peninsula for tourism and biodiversity.
We’ll hear from special guests who organize stargazing events and activities and discuss the upcoming Skellig Cost Dark Sky Festival and how you can get involved and promote this fantastic weekend.
SPEAKERS:
Steve Lynott, Kerry Dark Sky Tourism
Vincent Hyland, Wild Derrynane
Muiris O'Donoghue, Geokaun
Vincent Kidd, Royal Valentia Hotel
Aoibheann Lambe, Community Tourism Officer and Coordinator of the Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival
3rd and 4th March 2022
Discover Iveragh's Geology
Friday 3rd March 2023 - 7pm - 9pm, Waterville
Saturday 4th March 2023 - 10am - 1pm, Valentia
To learn about the fascinating origins of Iveragh, its geological history and the processes that continue to mould and shape its landscapes, join us for a weekend talk & field trip with geologist Dr Pat Meere.
This March session will comprise of a 2 hour in-person evening talk on Friday 3rd March, in Tech Amergin, Waterville, followed by a fieldtrip on Saturday 4th of March on Valentia Island.
Friday 3rd of March 2023, 7pm - 9pm, Waterville:
Tech Amergin, Waterville - 2 hour in-person evening talk, a beginners guide to the geology of the Iveragh peninsula.
Saturday 4th March 2023, 10am - 1pm, Valentia Island:
Outdoor field trip looking at the geology of Valentia Island. Meeting point is at Knightstown Town Clock.
1st February 2023
Micro-experience in action: a mini pilgrimage to St Crohan’s Hermitage
Wednesday 1st February 2023
10am - 1pm
Meeting Point: New graveyard, Coad
Join us for a mini pilgrimage weaving religion, folklore, heritage and nature into an outdoor learning experience for a diverse audience.
We will celebrate St Brigid’s association with fire and water by visiting a copper mine and a holy well and exploring the plants, animals and landscapes we encounter along the way.
26th January 2023
Thursday 26th November 2023
11.30am - 1pm
Skellig CRI, Cahersiveen Library
The curious visitor wants to engage with the culture, heritage, and nature of their destinations through outdoor adventures or learning experiences. Experiential tourism can satisfy their curiosity and provide a deeper connection to place while supporting slower tourism.
Join us to discuss the potential for experiential tourism on Iveragh. We will hear success stories as well as discussing how best to collaboratively promote these experiences.
SPEAKERS:
Orla Breslin and Linda Lyne, LIVE Project
John Fitzgerald, Atlantic Irish Seaweed
Dani Hiro, The ReWild | Skellig Sauna
Lucian Horvat, Valentia Island Development Company
Vincent Kidd, Royal Valentia Hotel
16th November 2022
Wednesday 16th November,
11.30am - 1pm
Skellig CRI, Cahersiveen Library
In the first in our series of workshops we will discuss how to tempt visitors to the Iveragh peninsula outside of peak tourism seasons by promoting coastal wildlife experiences such as dolphin and bird watching.
Wednesday 30th November,
10.30am - 1pm
Get to know - Reenroe
In a follow-up session, we will explore the Reenroe Cliff Path as a winter birdwatching site. This event is outdoors and weather dependent.
8th December 2022
Thursday 8th December,
11.30am - 1pm - Skellig CRI,
Cahersiveen Library
Storytelling in marketing is vital because of the connection-building power it contains, bringing stories directly from you to the culturally curious. Come along to this talk about Iveragh’s historical figures, pioneers and places, learn their stories, and how to use them as marketing tools to promote Iveragh to off season visitors.
SPEAKERS:
Victoria McCarthy (Architectural Conservation, Kerry County Council): Clay to Stone: using architecture to build a kingdom. Explore how using clay and stone has been used to deepen connection, awareness and cultural creativity through Architecture Kerry.
Jane Sheehan (Marine Biologist, LIVE Project) – The life and work of pioneer marine biologist Maude Delap - an inspirational story that combines community, heritage and science. An introduction to the story of Maude Delap, her personal life, academic studies and achievements, and how it has the potential to entice both the culturally curious and niche audiences to Iveragh. In this talk, Jane will look to the success of the innovative Ellen Hutchins Festival, as to how a story of a pioneering scientist can be used for tourism, heritage, promotion of women in science and of course, continued inspiration to us all.
Aoibheann Lambe (Archaeologist, LIVE Project) - Lady Albinia Brodrick - Gobnait Ní Bhruadair. This talk highlights how Kerry is teeming with the stories of people whose lives were extraordinary. Lady Albinia Brodrick - Gobnait Ní Bhruadair tells the story of a British Aristocrat turned Irish Republican who gave up a life of privilege in England to build a hospital for the poor in Kerry. The ruins of Lady Brodrick’s are a landmark along the Ring of Kerry between Caherdaniel and Coad.
Is it for me?
Probably. If you are a resident of Iveragh with an interest in nature, heritage, sustainability, tourism, the environment, developing new ways of working, collaborating, learning from others, and working towards a mode of tourism on Iveragh that sustains the community and the environment we live in, then it’s for you. You could be a business owner, a retiree, a landowner or farmer, a subject expert, dreaming of setting up a business, hoping to meet more people locally, enthusiastic to get outside and explore, new to the area, or born and bred in south Kerry.
Is it accredited?
No. There’s no certificate at the end because we hope that there will be no end. The overarching aim is to foster a network that could continue to meet and share knowledge into the future, growing and adapting digital resources to suit the needs of your business and your community.
By spring 2023, we hope that you will have expanded your knowledge, met new people, and developed new ideas, visitor experience packages and/or connections.
If I have a question or suggestion, who can I contact?
Contact the LIVE team at live@ucc.ie. Our team are located across the peninsula, so we can easily follow up an email with a chat to tell you more about our Ambassador Programme. We’ll be looking for speakers as well as participants, so if you have something to share, please let us know!