Cartoon Saloon's interactive biodiversity exhibition launched at Mayfair in Kilkenny

The exhibition is free and is aimed at families of young children to foster a love of nature and respect for biodiversity.

Speaking about Puffin Rock Habitats, Minister Noonan said:

“This extraordinary exhibition explores habitats and wildlife on Puffin Rock through the eyes of some of the show's best loved characters. It takes an interactive, sensory approach to engage young audiences to observe, explore and most importantly have fun in nature. Children have an innate connection to the natural world and they have much to teach the adults about what’s important in life. I’d like to pay tribute to Cartoon Saloon and the Heritage Council - two Kilkenny-based organisations with far-reaching impact - for their foresight in creating something so unique and innovative.”

Commenting on Puffin Rock Habitats Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, said:

"I am delighted to welcome the opening of Cartoon Saloon’s new Puffin Rock Habitats, which will engage our young families with biodiversity issues in an engaging, accessible and positive way. This lovely interactive exhibition is a best-in-class example of how creativity can activate the changes in personal behaviour that we all need to make to mitigate against climate change and biodiversity loss. Puffin Rock Habitats is an excellent example of how the Irish cultural sector has responded with energetic and imaginative initiatives that challenge us to secure a better future for usall.

Ann Mulrooney, Project lead in Cartoon Saloon, said:

“This project was inspired by the stories and adventures of Puffin Rock, where nature and wildlife play such a central role. We are really happy to be able to develop this into a learning experience that can foster positive actions for nature in families. Cartoon Saloon celebrates its twenty fifth anniversary this year and Puffin Rock Habitats is one of the many ways in which the studio’s rich contribution to Irish culture and heritage can be experienced”.

Marine biologist Tasneem Khan devised workshops to accompany the exhibition and support the touring venues to activate the exhibition as a learning tool for their communities. These innovative hand-on workshops will now be available to primary schools across the country, through the Heritage Council’s Heritage in Schools Scheme. The exhibition and workshops are also accompanied by a beautifully illustrated workbook of nature-based activities for children written by Juanita Browne which has been distributed for free to all primary schools.

Families are also encouraged to become ‘Puffin Rock Nature Heroes’ by going on to learn more about each habitat through some of Ireland’s existing biodiversity initiatives including the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.

Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan said:

"We are currently fighting a battle to reverse the trends of biodiversity and habitat loss, but the real leaders are our young people who will go on to become the torchbearers of change.

"It's our responsibility now, to equip them with the tools they will need and to equip them in an accessible and optimistic way. The Puffin Rock Habitats exhibition will both inspire and entertain our young heroes. The Heritage Council’s work with Cartoon Saloon on this project is part of our wider plan for addressing biodiversity and habitat loss, with our partners in theNational Biodiversity Data Centre. Our biodiversity officer programme, in partnership with local authorities, will see a dedicated biodiversity officer working in every local authority in the country by the end of 2024. These officers will collect data, take on practical habitat restoration and engage with local communities including children to take action for biodiversity.”

The exhibition was one of 24 projects selected for the Creative Climate Action Spark Fund in 2023, an initiative from the Creative Ireland Programme funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, to pilot new ideas for public engagement in sustainability and climate change at a local, community level.

The exhibition runs until July 17. It will then travel to the Skibbereen Arts Festival before touring to locations around the country in 2024 and 2025.

For more information about the exhibition, workshops and free educational materials please go to

https://puffinrockhabitats.com/exhibition.