River Skane’s Biodiversity Under the Lens in Dalgan

May 22, 2026

Group of people in bright rain jackets and backpacks standing along a grassy riverbank, watching a man in a life vest standing in the shallow stream.

This year’s ‘Take Me to the River’ project saw Dalgan host a mix of indoor and outdoor presentations focused on the biodiversity of the River Skane where it flows through the Columbans’ land.

The theme of the event was ‘River Systems Magnify – Dalgan Park and the Skane River’. It was part of Biodiversity Week and the Solstice’s, ‘Take me to the River Project 20206’.

Solstice is a Cultural & Arts Centre supported by Meath County Council. Located in Navan, it promotes, visual arts, culture, heritage and ecology, environment and biodiversity projects.

In Dalgan, Maureen Byrne and Robert Bergin of Inland Fisheries Ireland provided expert insights onsite to participants in the ‘Take me to the River Project 20206’, as well as Meath County Council’s Biodiversity Officer, Ben Malone.

Artist Anna Marie Savage provided an afternoon of creative activity through experimental ink and collage inspired by the microscopic river findings from the Skane.

‘Take Me to the River’ is a collaborative, visual, and sensory response to the waterways and landscapes that shape County Meath.

It invites communities to explore their relationship with place; it acts as a catalyst for environmental awareness and meaningful public engagement through the arts.

Group of hikers in rain jackets standing along a grassy meadow outdoors, facing the camera.

Columban Missionary Fr John Brannigan and participants on the ‘Take Me to the River’ project at the banks of the River Skane where it flows through Dalgan. Photo: ColumbanMissionImages.

The event was supported and promoted by the Columbans in the Irish Region as part of our commitment to the Society’s priorities. At the worldwide meeting of the Missionary Society of St Columban in 2024, the General Assembly chose Biodiversity Protection and Restoration as a priority for the Society.

Some 35 people participated in the event, including eight Columbans. Among them was Fr John Leydon, who set up the ‘Ecozoic Centre for Living and Learning’ in the Philippines and is now back Ireland. Fr John found the day “inspirational and life-giving”. He said he felt renewed and energised by it. “This is mission,” he highlighted.

Other feedback included the following comments:

Fantastic base (Dalgan) – everyone was so welcoming.
It’s a fantastic, comfortable setting (Dalgan). Very visually inspiring.
Educational, inspiring and more connections & networking achieved.
Maureen was great at making the knowledge accessible and direct on what we can start with to help.
Very informative. This needs to spread to all living on the river(s).
This was incredibly fun and engaging (art making). It helped consolidate what we had looked at during the day.
A wonderful start to Biodiversity Week and our ‘Take Me to the River 2026’ engagements.

Audience of adults seated in a conference room wearing jackets, facing toward the front; projector visible on the left side.

Columbans Fr Seán McDonagh and Fr John McEvoy at the talk on biodiversity. Photo: ColumbanMissionImages

In the Irish Region, the Columbans have always taken our stewardship of the nature and the land seriously and have over many years developed and changed the environment especially in Dalgan. Here are some of the wonderful things we have been doing in Dalgan.

Woodlands
We have planted many thousands of trees in Dalgan and seek to restore the natural deficits that have occurred.

Ash Die Back. Many of the younger ash trees that were planted in the last 30 years have Ash die back. A disease that has no cure. We have lodged a planning application to cut back those trees. It has been a very slow process and mainly in the hands of the Government Department. We will seek to develop links with third level institutes to aid learning and get best practice in this area.
Our woodlands are being overcome with laurel type plant that seems to block the sunshine from trees and natural under growth. We seek to correctly identify the tree/plant and seek an appropriate way of restoring the natural habitat. We will seek to develop third level links in this regard and get best practice in the area. The Cherry Laurel is designated as a High-Risk Invasive Species. https://maps.biodiversityireland.ie/Species/28940
We have developed an arboretum of trees that have come from all over the world. We will seek to nurture those and continue to set this area aside.
The storms of the last number of years have taken down a number of older long-standing trees. We will seek to leave those trees where they fall, so long as it does not interfere with safety and farming, and allow natural decay to increase biodiversification.

Group of people standing on a wooden bridge in a park, many holding umbrellas in the rain with green trees in the background.

‘Take Me to the River’ participants look over the River Skane from a bridge on Dalgan land. Photo: ColumbanMissionImages.

Rivers
We are blessed to have three rivers going through our land. The Skane, the Boyne and the Gabhra. Along with Meath County Council and Inland Fisheries Ireland we will seek to:

Take action to repopulate the salmon nesting areas in the Skane. Many tons of sand have been placed in the river and over 50 trees have been planted and there seems to be a lot more salmon appearing.
Seek to expand and bring back in a flood plane for the river between the swimming pool bridge and the metal bridge.
Seek to continue being a place of interest in biodiversity week.

Man wearing a dark zip-up jacket speaks while holding a booklet titled 'Meath Biodiversity Action Plan 2025–2030'.

Meath County Council Biodiversity Officer Ben Malone giving a talk in St Columban’s, Dalgan. Photo: ColumbanMissionImages.

Farming
The farm has been a source of livelihood and nutritious food since the beginning of Dalgan in the hands of the Columbans. It supports our retirement med community by way of income. The farm, while leased out, will commit to the Government standards of ACRES and seek to develop links in suitable working.

Walks
Dalgan has been open to walkers for many years. While holding on to our rights of way by closing every year, we will continue to do so. We continue to be a place to encounter nature and be a place of God’s creation. With this in mind:

We don’t allow groups to come and run fitness classes nor cycle around the grounds.
We encourage all to remember this is a working farm be aware of the need of the land.
We take safety very seriously and will close the grounds after storms etc.
We are encouraging groups, once they registered their presence, to walk around the grounds.
Where possible we will seek to rewild non-grazing grassland to assist bees.

Researchers kneeling in tall grass, scooping muddy water into a tray with small sample cups nearby amid outdoor fieldwork.

Inspecting specimens from River Skane, which showed a vast improvement in water quality since the intervention by Inland Fisheries Ireland. Photo: ColumbanMissionImages.

Bees
Dalgan has had bees for many years. Initially down near the Boyne in an area that is not very accessible. Recently that has extended to the garden area near the orchard.

As long as can we continue to develop the bee population.
We will keep a high level of alert for Asian Hornet.

Wildlife
For many years we have sought to eradicate the grey squirrel. That would seem to have been successful.

We will seek to repopulate with red squirrel.
Protect the bird population from predators like cats.

Two elderly men in jackets stand on a wooden railing outdoors, with lush green trees behind them.

Columban Missionaries Frs John Brannigan and John Leydon, who took part in the ‘Take Me to the River’ project. Photo: ColumbanMissionImages.