Children learn about the value of our coasts

SECLUDED from the hubbub of the Other Voices music trail, young children gathered in Mara Beo aquarium on Saturday to expand their knowledge of our coastal environment and how to protect it.

Although the message was serious the approach was light and engaging at the family day, hosted by the Clean Coasts section of An Taisce in conjunction with Other Voices, Mara Beo and a list of national and local groups involved in protecting the marine environment.

The children were absorbed in arts and crafts, making Christmas lanterns from jam jars and bits of fishing net and other marine litter, there was music with a distinctly nautical flavour, games, experiments, art and even a dissection of a cuttlefish, which fascinated those who weren’t squeamish about watching it.

Photos by Declan Malone Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne Transition Year students Ava Williams, Sarah Guithín, Aimee Rose Casanove, and Leah Getkate in An Díseart where they were helping out as roadies at an Other Voices concert on Saturday. LEFT: Brendan and Nancy Falvey from Annascaul outside Benner’s Hotel after attending the Other Voices concerts in St James’s Church on Saturday night with tickets they won in a Kerryman competition. Silva Bates with a cuttlefish that was soon to be dissected at the Clean Coasts workshop held in Mara Beo while Ava Sheehy (right) was making Christmas lanterns from jam jars and marine litter