Sustainable Development Goals Week: What’s on in Wicklow as 48 events planned

The Wicklow events include beach clean-ups, biodiversity workshops and bike ad repair workshops.

The week work towards ambitions such as an end to poverty, access to decent work, sustainable consumption, protection of nature, better health and wellbeing, universal access to education, gender equality, climate action, and peaceful societies.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Paul O'Brien said: "Our organisation is proud to spread the goals to all members of society. Wicklow always has a special focus on children and young people through engagement with the 'Children and Young People's Assembly', 'Comhairle na nÓg', schools or our public libraries.

"Wicklow Libraries and Climate Action Team will continue to aim to promote the 17 development goals. Events have been organised for all ages, from young children to adults. The line-up includes workshops, sustainable crafts, family and community events."

Wicklow County Council Libraries and Climate Action Team have supported or planned over 48 events to highlight the goals during the week.

Sustainable sewing and life skills will take place in several libraries during the week.

A big beach clean with Clean Coasts takes place at the Murrough in Wicklow town on Friday, September 20, followed by another beach clean in Greystones.

An autumn bird migration workshop takes place at the North Beach in Brittas Bay on Saturday. September 21, and a workshop on Irish bees for beginners with Brian Murray takes place on the same day at the library in Wicklow town.

Wild Acres Nature Reserve in Scratenagh, near Arklow, will host an Autumn scything workshop on Sunday, September 22.

A reading goals ambassador programme is taking place in the Greystones Municipal District offices on Tuesday, September 24.

A bike repair workshop takes place in St Kevin's Hall, Blessington on Wednesday, September 25, while a Tidy Towns workshop will take place in Greystones.

A biodiversity workshop for children will take place in Blessington Library on Friday, September 27, where they can build a bug hotel.

Many events will be taking place on Saturday, September 28, with Arklow Library hosting a gardening course for biodiversity and climate change with Aoife Munn. A bike repair workshop takes place in Arklow Recycling Centre, while a mindfulness workshop is due to take place in Greystones Library.

A Department for Environment inaugural climate action forum for Newcastle, Kilcoole and Greystones will be taking place at the Greystones village green. A guided walking tour of the art and environment around Wicklow with Greenhouse Culture, meeting at Wicklow Library.

Chief executive of Wicklow County Council Emer O'Gorman stated: "The SDG National Implementation Plan 2022-2024 has 5 strategic objectives. One of those objectives focuses on the integration of the SDGs into local authority work to better support the localisation of the SDGs. In accordance with this objective, Wicklow County Council has aligned a range of various publications, activities and events in order to mark Irelands third annual Sustainable Development Goals Week, as Ireland work towards the 2030 deadline."

Wicklow County Council also has public consultations currently taking place which are relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals. A biodiversity paper launches on Monday, September 23, for public consultation until Monday, November 4.

The closing date for the Wicklow County Council Corporate Plan 2024 – 2029 is Friday, October 4, at 5pm.

Submissions will be accepted for the Draft Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Policy and Development Guidance up until 4.30pm on Wednesday, October 16.

The closing date for submissions for the Draft Wicklow Noise Action Plan 2024 – 2028 is Friday, October 18 at 5pm.