Seagrass sessions will explore Tramore's ecosystem
The Seagrass Sessions will focus attention on the Tramore's seagrass ecosystem
A very special aspect to the forthcoming Vitamin Sea Festival in Tramore, Co Waterford, will be the Seagrass Sessions which will focus attention on the town's seagrass ecosystem.
From the afternoon of September 18, to September 21, the Tramore Coast Guard Centre will host an exhibition dedicated to Seagrass.
The workhorse of the sea, many of people will hardly have noticed seagrass, however, lately the work it does taking up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and its importance in providing a home for young fish is causing us all to take notice.
This exhibition will show people the beauty of Seagrass through photography and tapestries.
A spokesperson for the event organisers said the Seagrass Sessions are aimed at putting the spotlight on Seagrass in Tramore.
Organised by Waterford City and Council’s Climate Team, in conjunction with the Seaschool and local artist Síle Walsh, the initiative is funded by Creative Ireland.
Participants in the sessions were able to create wonderful art while learning about this precious resource.
The first Seagrass Session was a photography event, led by Tasneem Khan of the Seaschool on August 21.
Tasneem, a noted ecologist and photographer, led the group in taking shots under the water to capture the grass and the species that live among it, across a morning.
The team got to grips with the underwater cameras and tried their best not disturb the visions below them.
Taking the photographs from the first Seagrass Session as their inspiration, a second Seagrass Session group met on August 25, in TBay Surf Club.
Led by artist Síle Walsh, the group made their own tapestries using waste materials collected off the beach by Síle.
Each unique and colourful piece captured the wonder of the Seagrass, whether it was the movement in the piece or a representation of the variety of life that lives within the Seagrass beds.
Both the photographs and the tapestries will be on display upstairs in the Tramore Coast Guard Centre along with lots of information on the importance of Seagrass beds and how we can protect them. The exhibition opens at 3.30pm on September 18 and all are welcome to attend.
