Courses
Projects
Swifts
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Mayo Save Our Swifts Project is our longest running Green Campus project at ATU Mayo. The Swift is a red-listed bird of conservation concern because of a dramatic decline in their numbers, mainly due to the loss of breeding sites. Swifts mostly nest in nooks and crannies in old stone buildings in urban areas and when these buildings or houses are renovated or demolished, this destroys the nest sites. In recognition of the challenges faced by breeding swifts, ATU Mayo Green Campus began a long-term swift conservation project on campus, beginning with the introduction of nest boxes with 12 compartments in 2012.
In 2019, this project was expanded to provide a total of 18 nesting compartments and in 2022, 12 of these nesting compartments had breeding pairs of swifts. Each nesting compartment contains a camera so that breeding activity can be streamed and recorded. The installation of nesting compartments and the livestream activity is complemented by an ongoing awareness-raising programme including annual information sessions and events encouraging other stakeholders to get involved. The recordings from several breeding seasons were analysed by ATU Mayo student, Jaroslaw Majkusiak, for his Masters by Research “The Breeding Biology of the Common Swift in Ireland”. In 2024 the ATU Mayo project had 15 breeding pairs which is an increase of 3 breeding pairs since 2022.
In 2025 Students from Ballinrobe Community School, Luke Mulloy, Emma Sweeney and Emily Butler, won the Met Éireann Award (Biological and Ecological) in the BTYSTS 2025 for their innovative project entitled ‘The observation of the feeding habits of fledgling Common Swifts (Apus apus) correlating to weather conditions’. They were also awarded 1st Senior Group in the category awards. Their project analysed videos from the ATU Mayo Swift Projects under the guidance of Jarek Majkusiak (ATU Mayo Masters by Research) and Lynda Huxley (founder of the project on Mayo Campus).
Biodiversity
No Mow Area
In 2022 ATU Mayo Green Campus sought the development of a natural regeneration of meadows through different mowing regimes with Buildings Offices for the Mayo campus. Two areas were selected – one (approx. 100m2) to be cut once a year and in September and cuttings removed and one area (approx. 80m2) to be cut every 6 weeks to a minimum height of 5cm and cuttings removed. Both areas are on the terraces at back of college. Recording of flora in the pilot no mow area was carried out on 26th May 2023. Records were submitted to National Biodiversity Data Centre.
It was agreed to extend the no mow area in September 2023 to include both initial areas and also two terraced areas on lower-level amounting to a combined area of 1,356 m2. Two new biodiversity signs were also placed on the new areas.
Recording of flora in the no mow areas was carried out again on 12th June 2024 and records were again submitted to the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Tall weeds were also removed in line with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.
The creation of long flowering meadows on campus will significantly contribute to biodiversity, contribute to carbon storage, provide a living environment for education while also providing a connection to wildlife for all students and staff.
College Pond
The construction of a pond on campus was funded by the NTUTORR project in the academic year 2023-2024 by students on the Environmental Management and Sustainability module. The pond has the potential to provide a habitat for a huge variety of species.
The erection of a greenhouse on campus was also funded by the NTUTORR project and while linked to the module in Therapeutic Horticulture which is part of the new degree in Outdoor Education with Therapeutic Applications, it is also a facility to provide learning for all students.
St Mary’s Courtyard Garden
In the ATU Mayo Campus, a once grey gravel courtyard which was an under-utilised space in the college was developed into a sensory garden. This was achieved through the participation of students and staff, in the design, installation and upkeep of the garden. Now known as the St. Mary’s Courtyard Garden, students, staff and external groups use the space on a regular basis for different purposes. Once the garden was established it facilitated various green-environment related projects, such as a student of the BA Contemporary Art Practice established a sapling bed to enable art students to draw and track the changes in the saplings and Student Services planting Memorial Trees for example.
Poetry Pillar
The very successful Poetry Pillar competition was run again in 2024 with a record number of entries from secondary schools in the region. The winners were awarded their prizes at an event on campus on Thursday 25th April 2024. Guest speaker for the event was Geraldine Mitchell, a local poet who recited one of her poems.
All prize winners were invited to recite their poems in advance of the announcement of the winners.
