Five streams of water custodianship
Our work is guided by five interconnected streams of practice. Together these five streams form an integrated approach to water custodianship that is ecological, social, cultural and spiritual.
-
Encouraging hands-on stewardship through citizen science, restoration projects, local monitoring, conservation initiatives and everyday acts of care.
-
Creating opportunities for shared learning through outdoor classrooms, community research, intergenerational knowledge exchange and partnerships across disciplines.
-
Exploring innovative governance models, including Rights of Nature approaches, that recognise rivers as living entities deserving of protection and representation.
-
Supporting artists, storytellers and creative practitioners to deepen public connection with the river through cultural expression, heritage and imagination.
-
Item description
Our Process
-
We begin by listening and connecting.
Across the Shannon catchment we will connect with individuals, community groups, environmental organisations, local authorities, landowners, farmers, fishers, researchers and cultural practitioners already caring for the river.
Through collaborative mapping and relationship-building, we seek to reveal the existing constellation of people and initiatives that together form the living guardianship of the Shannon.
This evolving map will become a shared resource, helping people discover one another, collaborate across regions and strengthen collective action.
-
During Heritage Week in August 2026, we will host a series of participatory gatherings across the Shannon catchment, bringing together stakeholders to share knowledge, build relationships, and imagine new possibilities for the river.
Full details will be shared soon.
-
In 2027, we aim to support and amplify locally led initiatives across the catchment, including:
Creative projects that celebrate people's relationship with the river through art, music, storytelling and cultural practice
Outdoor classrooms connecting citizen science, ecological restoration and local knowledge
Public conversations exploring the Rights of the River Shannon and new models of governance and stewardship
Citizen assemblies bringing together residents, farmers, fishers, scientists, policy-makers, water agencies and local authorities
Participatory ceremonies rooted in Ireland's ancient traditions while welcoming diverse contemporary and cross-cultural practices of respect and care for water.
-
Our dream is to undertake a source-to-sea pilgrimage along the River Shannon in 2028 - a journey that invites transformation not only within ourselves but across the landscapes it touches. Walking with the river, we seek to strengthen relationships between communities, celebrating the living heritage of the Shannon and plant the seeds for long-term ecological renewal throughout the catchment.
Who We Are