Marine Christmas Tree To Stay Up For Several More Weeks in South Connemara

6th January 2026

Afloat.ie Team

A recycled ‘marine’ Christmas tree made from aquaculture and fishing materials lights up Cill Chiaráin, Co Galway, with walkways and decorations created from recovered rope and shells

A “marine” Christmas tree made entirely from recovered materials will stay up for several more weeks in Cill Chiaráin, Co Galway.

The tree was made entirely from aquaculture materials, with fishing and the shells painted by school pupils, according to Máire Ní Éinniú.

It was lit last month by Údarás na Gaeltachta chief executive officer Tomás Ó Síochán and attended by hundreds of members of the local community in south Connemara.

The walk ways are made from aquaculture materials also, according to Ní Éinniú.

The “Nollaig Shona” greeting has been made from rope that the fish farms can’t use anymore - an example of "the circular economy in action" in a coastal area.

It is expected that the tree will stay up until later this month, and a cheque will be presented to the local community hall, based on donations from businesses for the tree.

Published in Connemara

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