Biodiversity & Art at UCC. Join us this Heritage Week for a guided walk along UCC’s Biodiversity Trail.

National Heritage Week 2026 - Heritage at Risk

Creative Wanderings: Biodiversity and Art at UCC

12:30pm, Wednesday 19 August

Join us this Heritage Week for a guided walk along UCC’s Biodiversity Trail.

The University College Cork campus is rich in biodiversity, and participants will learn about some of the 451 species of flora and fauna that make this urban oasis their home. The Biodiversity Trail provides an accessible space for those who are new to wildlife watching, while also being enjoyable for seasoned naturalists.

Led by Dr Maria Kirrane (Head of the Sustainability & Climate Action Office, UCC) and artist Sarah O’Brien, the walk will focus on the efforts the university is making to protect wildlife and habitats, while also acknowledging some of the wider research on biodiversity loss. It will highlight how artists interpret and represent biodiversity.

Participants will be introduced to simple creative approaches and provided with materials to help them respond to the University Arboretum, wildflower meadow and River Lee.

All materials will be provided. No previous drawing experience is required.

Dr Maria Kirrane holds a BSc. in Environmental Science from UCC and a PhD in Ecology, undertaken between UCC and the United States Department of Agriculture in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As the Head of Sustainability and Climate Action for UCC, Maria is tasked with delivering the University's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (2023-28) which seeks to embed the SDGs across all functions of the University. She led the University in becoming the first in the world to be awarded a Green Flag from the Foundation for Environmental Education, and the first outside of North America to be awarded a STARS Gold rating from the Foundation for Environmental Education. Maria established and manages UCC's Green Campus Living Laboratory Programme which supports staff and students to develop and deliver their own sustainability projects. Research interests are principally around environmental education and innovative approaches to improving environmental performance, circular economy and biodiversity conservation.

Sarah O’Brien holds MFA (Painting) from National College of Art and Design, (Dublin) and a PgDip in Teaching and Learning Technology, (Dublin Institute of Technology). She is passionate about Irish landscape and architecture and taking people for sketching/painting walks makes lots of sense to her! Sarah has worked in different educational contexts facilitating workshops for young school children, adults and all kinds of learners. She has worked on the education team at Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane, West Cork Arts Centre, Lewis Glucksman Gallery, UCC and contributed to Fine Art Degree courses in Dublin and Cork. Since 2006 Sarah has delivered a drawing module to students of Landscape Architecture at University College Dublin; this work contributed and inspired the genesis of DRAWING WALKS//. Sarah exhibits regularly and has been recipient of awards from The Arts Council of Ireland, Cork County Council, Dublin City Council and The Royal Hibernian Academy.

Description supplied by the event organiser.