Belmullet exhibition focuses on rare local wildlife

CREATING A BUZZ The exhibition aims to raise awareness about local flora and fauna, including the Great Yellow Bumblebee, Ireland’s rarest bee, which resides in Belmullet. Pic: Nick Owens

Baile Slachtmhar Bhéal an Mhuirthead (Belmullet Tidy Towns) is launching its first photographic exhibition, ‘It’s All About the Bees and the Seas’, in Áras Inis Gluaire on Friday, July 12.
The exhibition will feature beautiful photographs of rare species, flora and fauna to be found in the Belmullet area, taken by members of the Baile Slachtmhar Bhéal an Mhuirthead team. The exhibition is an important part of the group’s work in relation to its biodiversity campaign, which has been recognised on a national platform. The group was awarded first place in the Together for Biodiversity Awards at the National Biodiversity Conference, in Dublin Castle in February.
‘It’s All About the Bees and the Seas’ project endeavours to create awareness of the wealth of birdlife and marine life that is to be found in the area of Béal an Mhuirthead. The Mullet Peninsula is home to Ireland’s rarest bee, the Great Yellow Bumblebee, and in efforts to avoid its extinction and the extinction of the Belted Beauty Moth, the Tidy Towns group is taking some specific measures to create awareness among the wider community and to help with preserving and improving the amazing habitats which sustain these important species. 
Committee member Margaret Tallott explains: “We are delighted that our biodiversity work has been acknowledged and recognised, and we are excited to be able to show people – in pictures – exactly what it is that we are working so hard to protect.
“It is very clear that people are enthusiastic about protecting our environment, and we hope that this exhibition will encourage even more people to find out how we can all look after the wealth of biodiversity in our area, and so create a more sustainable future for both residents and wildlife in Belmullet and on the Mullet Peninsula.”
Residents, community groups and business owners from Belmullet, and beyond, are invited to the ‘The Bees and the Seas’ exhibition launch in Áras Inis Gluaire at 7pm this Friday.