Knock Shrine praised for 'championing biodiversity'

Knock Shrine has been thanked for playing its part in helping to promote biodiversity in Mayo.

Cllr Richard Finn told members of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District at their meeting that Knock Shrine is "championing biodiversity via its collaboration with Mayo County Council’s biodiversity unit".

"I have to compliment the Catholic Church and the bishops and clergy for all their environmental work and for offering church lands and church grounds so that 30% will be returned to biodiversity by 2030. I also want to congratulate them on the pollinator-friendly zones created on the grounds of Knock Shrine where they put in bird habitats, bat boxes and also reduced mowing to allow wild flowers and grasses to flourish. 

"Knock has embraced the project that Mayo County Council is trying to fast forward in the county so well done to all the team there headed up by Fr Richard Gibbons. It’s a great step forward, and in fairness to the Government, there is €3m again laid out for next year for biodiversity projects and I would hope [this district] would try and attain some of that.”