Celebrate what makes Ireland’s mountains special by sharing knowledge of the mountain environment through talks, discussions and exploration
Mountaineering Ireland's 2026 Mountain Environment Weekend takes place from the 5th to the 7th of June in Killarney, Co Kerry. We will be based out of the KCYS Killarney Youth Centre, which is close to the train station. Accommodation in the KCYS Centre is in four and six-bed dormitories, on a self-catering basis. A vegetarian dinner on Saturday evening is included in the weekend ticket prices. There is also a ticket option for local participants who do not require accommodation or meals.
The aim of the Mountain Environment Weekend is to share knowledge of the mountain environment, through talks, discussions, and time spent in the mountains, learning about habitats and species, and considering our role in helping to protect access and the mountain environment.
The programme for the weekend will include talks on the Friday evening (starting 7pm), a short talk on both Saturday and Sunday mornings, and two days on the mountains, with people from different disciplines such as ecology, ornithology, geology, heritage and recreation management. Our outdoor activities will be in the MacGillycuddy Reeks on the Saturday and around the Mangerton area on Sunday. We will have two groups out on both days. Routes will be decided closer to the time, both options will involve hillwalking on steep and rugged mountain terrain.
This event is intended for: Environmental Officers within Mountaineering Ireland clubs; Mountain Training Board Ireland providers; Mountain Leader trainees; hillwalking club leaders; walking guides; and other Mountaineering Ireland members with an interest in learning about the mountain environment and sharing that knowledge with others. To ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to benefit from the learning that will flow from this event it would be preferable not to have more than two people from any one club. We are encouraging participants to use public transport, if possible, and to facilitate other participants by car-pooling during the weekend.
Click here for bookings