Biodiversity Festival Returns to Donegal’s National Park
The hugely successful Biodiversity Week Festival, ‘Le Chéile don Dúlra’ is set to return to Glenveagh National Park for a second year. The festival dates for 2026 are 17th – 24th May, during National Biodiversity Week.
The programme of events will celebrate The National Park’s unique landscape, history, people, nature and conservation work, with a special emphasis on communication via the arts. The festival will bring together professionals working for nature in the business community, farming and forestry, artists, musicians and craftspeople along with conservation project and Park staff. This year there will be a special emphasis on Native Irish Woodlands, a priority habitat occurring in Glenveagh.
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, says
“I am delighted to announce that as part of National Biodiversity Week Glenveagh National Park are once again running the hugely successful festival ‘Le Chéile don Dúlra – Together for Nature’. This festival celebrates our connections with nature and inspires creativity and learning through nature in the stunning landscape of Glenveagh National Park. I want to congratulate the NPWS team in Glenveagh for organising this festival and to thank all the collaborators and our partners Donegal County Council and Creative Ireland for supporting this magnificent event.”
Highlights include a special youth night and launch of a new children’s film which stars local Donegal schoolchildren. Staff at the National Park have collaborated with Paper Owl Films to create a fun and interactive way to tell the story of the work that is ongoing to restore the ancient woodlands that once covered much of Donegal. Narrated by local children, the film includes live action, stop motion and animation and will be premiered on Wednesday 20th May from 5-8pm in both Irish and English.
On Thursday 21st May, Natura 2000 Day will be marked with a Networking Brunch event for all those working in and for nature around Donegal. This keystone gathering is supported again this year by Donegal County Council. With inspiring talks and workshops featuring special guests and multiple stakeholders, this day makes Glenveagh National Park the key venue for collaboration and knowledge exchange regarding biodiversity in the North West.
Later on the 21st Glenveagh National Park are thrilled to host the first gathering of participants from the Leaders For Nature Network, an innovative new learning experience being piloted in Ireland. Leaders for Nature is a cross-sector, all-island leadership programme designed to support professionals across diverse sectors to respond to the ambitions of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, National Biodiversity Action Plan and the Nature Restoration Plan. 2026 Graduates are gathering at Glenveagh to share their stories, build networks and learn about woodland restoration in Ireland. This gathering is a partnership event supported by Green Foundation Ireland and The Irish Environmental Network, with partners Common Purpose, Leave No Trace Ireland and Native Events.
The festival also brings acclaimed Celtic inspired trio TRÚ together with Dark Daughter Productions and Lorcan O’Toole for a cultural evening, celebrating the deep connections to the land and Gaelic culture through language, stories and songs. Nellies Restaurant will host an Irish inspired meal using the best of local Donegal produce and showcasing local businesses and sustainability in the Park.
This year the festival is centred around a specially created woodland marquee, open all week, where visitors can meet NPWS staff, enjoy a coffee and browse the Nature Book Nook with live music every day from 1-3pm. Visitors can also meet the NCAD Art and Ecology course 2026 artist in residence Barbara Sullivan who will be sharing her work every morning in the marquee. Nadur Nature pop up shop will be open, offering a unique range of products that celebrates nature and biodiversity.
The 2026 programme has something for all ages, with nature inspired yoga, art workshops, dawn chorus walks with breakfast, guided walks with picnics, gardening for biodiversity sessions, tree planting, landscape crafts and skills demonstrations and a special partnership with the Glebe Gallery who will host a Garden Symposium.
Le Chéile don Dúlra is kindly supported by Donegal County Council and Creative Ireland in partnership with NPWS.