The Killarney National Park Education Centre has announced the return of the ‘Step into Spring’ – Céim Isteach san Earrach festival for 2026. Running from Friday, April 10, to Sunday, April 12, the programme features a series of free events designed to celebrate the season of growth and rejuvenation within the park grounds.

The weekend begins on Friday evening with an illustrated talk on the woodlands of Killarney National Park by Chris Barron, followed by a nocturnal nature ramble led by the education team. Saturday’s highlights include the annual Dawn Chorus guided walk and bird ringing demonstration starting at 5:45 am in Knockreer Demesne, led by Ed Carty, Dr Killian Kelly of MTU, and the SWI bird ringers.

Historical and botanical walks are also scheduled throughout the weekend. Dr Tracy Collins, OPW Archaeologist, will lead guided tours of Muckross Abbey on Saturday and Innisfallen Island on Sunday. Other expert-led sessions include a look at the spring flowers of Muckross Peninsula with Dr Therese Higgins, a tour of the Muckross Arboretum with former Park Superintendent Cormac Foley, and a talk on Ireland’s National Seed Bank by Dr Darren Reidy.

The festival concludes on Sunday with a boat trip to Innisfallen Island and a “Reading the Landscape” walk through Knockreer Demesne with Horacio Presto of the NPWS. While all events are free of charge, organizers have noted that pre-booking is essential due to limited capacity.

Step into Spring Schedule 2026

DateTimeEventFriday 10th7:30 pmWoodlands of Killarney Talk (Chris Barron)
8:45 pmNocturnal Nature Ramble (KNP Team)
Saturday 11th5:45 amDawn Chorus & Bird Ringing (Knockreer)
11:00 amHistory of Muckross Abbey (Dr Tracy Collins)
11:30 amSpring Flowers of Muckross (Dr Therese Higgins)
2:30 pmMuckross Arboretum Walk (Cormac Foley)
7:30 pmIreland’s National Seed Bank Talk (Dr Darren Reidy)
Sunday 12th10:00 amHistory of Innisfallen Talk (Dr Tracy Collins)
1:30 pmInnisfallen Boat Trip & Guided Walk
2:00 pmReading the Landscape (Horacio Presto)

An Coiste Gaeilge represented the St Brigid’s school at national level twice this week in Dublin. On March 13, students attended a workshop in TikTok HQ (The Sorting Office) for Lá na Teicneolaíochta, where they met Irish language influencers Laura Pakenham, Shaun with a fada and Ciara Nic É. The panel discussed how Irish is being promoted on social media and the growth of Irish-language content online.

Students also attended FÍS 2026, the first ever Irish language convention for young people, held in the Convention Centre Dublin. Panel guests included DJ Próvaí from Kneecap, Éadaoin Fitzmaurice, Róisín Seoighe and Catríona Kenny, who spoke about the future of the language and encouraged students to use Irish in their daily lives, reminding them that it is our language and our responsibility to use and protect it.

The Irish language is beo agus bríomhar in St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School, Killarney. Seachtain na Gaeilge runs annually from March 1 to 17, promoting the Irish language through a wide range of events. Students enjoyed a variety of language and cultural activities throughout the week including bingo, scavenger hunts, Irish film screenings, quizzes, a céilí and a poc fada competition, ensuring there was something for everyone.