SUSTAINABILITY Students invited to Kylemore renewable energy event

Students invited to Kylemore sustainability event


AS part of Engineers Week, Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Gardens are hosting an event aimed at school children between the ages of seven and 13 years-old and will focus on the theme of renewable and sustainable energy.
At Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Gardens there are some very interesting examples of historical engineering achievements. Discover how Kylemore Abbey generated (and still generates) its own green electricity from a hydro-electric generator in the 1890's. Find out how bananas, figs and grapes were grown in the walled garden from the 1870's in large glass houses using an ingenious heating system.
During the event, it will be demonstrated how to make your own mini-water turbine, which in operation will lift weights and on how to make mini-wind turbines, which the students will be able to bring home with them.  A technical tour of the grounds of Kylemore will take place to see the hydro-electric generator which harnesses energy from a small mountain stream and creates energy for the Abbey and the restored glass houses in the Victorian walled garden. There is a shuttle bus available from the Abbey to the walled garden which the students can avail of if it is raining or they can walk along the forest path to the garden. There are also plans to have guest engineers at Kylemore during the event so that the students can get the chance to meet the designers of modern technology.
The students will have the opportunity to enter a national competition to win a trip for four people to the European Space Agency in the Netherlands.
The event will run between  February 8 and 13. It will be open for school tours between  February 8 and 12 and there will be a fun Family Day Out on Saturday  February 13.  It promises to be a fun, interactive and informative event. To register your interest or to book places at the event, please contact Bríd Connell at Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Gardens on 095 41465 or email brid@kylemoretourism.ie.