Bean Feasa, meaning wise woman, celebrates women helping to restore, protect and reimagine nature across Ireland. 

Thursday, 24 September 2026, Ireland: Meath volunteer Brigitte Krenn is among the stories of thirteen women being featured in Bean Feasa, a national portrait series co-created by award-winning photographer Evanna Devine, Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration and Photo Museum Ireland. Her selection recognises more than a decade of work focused on improving the health of the River Nanny and building longer-term river restoration efforts.  

Working with volunteers and with support from Sonairte, the National Ecology Centre based along the river nanny, Brigitte has helped to tackle the invasive plant, Spartina Anglica, along the tidal estuary.  An invasive species putting pressure on the natural habitat of wading birds along the estuary. She has coordinated the project across several years, bringing volunteers together to dig out roots, trial different eradication methods and measure their effectiveness over time. 

The work has involved a wide range of stakeholders, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Meath County Council Biodiversity Office, the River Basin Management Service, consultants and local volunteers. Brigitte has played a central role in commissioning reports, coordinating people on the ground and keeping momentum behind a complex, long-term restoration effort. 

Speaking about her nomination, Brigitte said: 

“I am delighted to be part of an ecosystem of women working in their various ways in nature- I hope the project will through the visual pathway bring a wider awareness to a newer and wider public” 

More recently, Brigitte joined the Nanny Delvin Rivers Trust, a dedicated Rivers Trust covering the River Nanny and nearby River Delvin catchments. Established in 2025, the Trust aims to better understand the factors affecting the health of both rivers and to develop projects that improve water quality from source to sea. 

Her selection recognises more than five years of sustained voluntary commitment to the River Nanny, from practical action on invasive species to building the structures needed for longer-term river restoration. Her work highlights the important role that passionate, motivated volunteers can play in restoring Ireland’s natural environment for future generations. 

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, said: 
 
“Bean Feasa is a powerful celebration of the women who are helping to restore, protect and reimagine nature in communities across Ireland. Each of the women featured in this series shows the vital role that local leadership, creativity and community action play in tackling biodiversity loss and building a deeper connection with the natural world. 
 
“Through the partnership between Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration, Photo Museum Ireland and photographer Evanna Devine, this project will bring these important stories to a wider audience and shine a light on the people whose work is helping shape Ireland’s environmental future. I warmly congratulate all thirteen women selected for this inspiring national portrait series.” 

Commenting on the announcement, Shirley Clerkin, Project Manager with Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration, said: 

“Brigitte’s work shows the power of long-term local commitment. Through years of practical action, coordination and persistence, she has helped protect the River Nanny and build new momentum for river restoration in Meath. Her contribution is a strong example of how volunteers can drive meaningful environmental change within their own communities.” 

Trish Lambe, CEO of Photo Museum Ireland, added: 

“Bean Feasa recognises women whose work is shaping Ireland’s environmental future, while supporting a leading Irish photographic artist to create an important photographic record of that work. Evanna’s compelling portraits will connect these individual stories with the landscapes and communities around them, bringing this important work to wider audiences through this exhibition.” 

Evanna Devine was awarded the €15,000 Bean Feasa Photography Commission following an international open call. As the national centre for contemporary photography, Photo Museum Ireland is supporting the development, production and curation of the work, including access to its specialist image-processing facilities. The completed series will be presented, along with a bespoke publication, at Photo Museum Ireland later this year before touring nationally. 

The Bean Feasa exhibition forms part of the wider work of Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration, one of Ireland’s largest nature restoration initiatives. The project reflects Tóchar’s commitment to ensuring that nature restoration is recognised not only as an environmental challenge but also, as a social movement driven by people working within their communities. 

Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration is one of the largest restoration projects currently underway. It is a three-year, €12 million wetlands restoration project co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme. The project is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. To find out more visit: https://www.tocharwetlands.ie/.  

The commissioned portraits will form part of a public exhibition and publication launching in November 2026 before touring nationally.