Mooney Goes Wild

Saving Africa’s Penguins: SANCCOB

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Thom Breathnach tells us about SANCCOB in Cape Town, and their efforts to save the Critically Endangered African Penguin.

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Tiger Cubs In Fota Wildlife Park, Cork

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Rory Cobbe meets Róisín FitzGerald, John Leahy & Aileen Tennant at Fota to learn more about their new Sumatran Tiger cubs.

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Nairobi Flyways & World’s Birds

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Niall Hatch reports on BirdLife’s State of the World’s Birds and the Nairobi Flyways Declaration.

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Stars In Their Eyes At Dunsink

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Terry Flanagan learns night photography from Anthony Lynch at Dunsink Observatory.

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Wildlife On Rising Time: Robins & Insects

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Niall Hatch answers listeners’ questions about elusive summer Robins and why insects survive crashing into windows.

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2026: A Good Year For Irish Butterflies

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:19:19 +0000

Terry Flanagan visits Declan Murphy in Newcastle, Co Wicklow, to discover why 2026 has been a good year for Irish butterflies.

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Do Farmed Salmon Affect Wild Fish?

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:19:19 +0000

Prof Philip McGinnity discusses the impact of farmed Atlantic Salmon interbreeding with wild Irish salmon.

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Fishy Behaviour In Arctic Norway

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Ken Whelan explores Arctic Char, Grayling, invasive Pink Salmon and King Crab in northern Norway and Finland.

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Mooney Goes Wild - Monday September 7th 2026

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 22:19:27 +0000

Derek Mooney and guests explore the natural world in all its forms.

For three decades, Mooney Goes Wild reporter Terry Flanagan has been roaming the highways and byways of Ireland in search of answers to your wildlife queries. He's been up every tree, down every ditch and through every hedge in pursuit of a good story - if there's a mystery in the natural world, Terry is usually the man to solve it... he is, after all, the Sherlock Holmes of RTÉ wildlife reporting!

Over the years he has investigated countless countryside curiosities that have left listeners scratching their heads! Tonight we're dipping into the archives to revisit some classic Terry reports - including the mystery of communal rook roosting in Portlaoise, meeting the Swans of Lough Ennell and pausing to savour the orchids of Mount Merrion...

For more information, visit https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/mooney/2026/0905/1590440-mgw-special-terrys-reports-monday-07-09-26/.

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The Ghost Of The Mountains: Unraveling The Secrets Of The Snow Leopard

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:18:55 +0000

The secretive, almost supernatural, reputation of the Snow Leopard, which lives high in the mountain ranges of Central and Southern Asia, has led to the species being dubbed The Ghost of the Mountains - which just so happens to be the title of a new book about these remarkable big cats by Dr. Kulbhushansingh (Kullu) Suryawanshi. He joins us on the line to tell us more about these mysterious animals and the harsh, hostile environments they are perfectly adapted to.

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Mooney Goes Wild - Monday August 31st 2026

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:18:51 +0000

Derek Mooney and guests explore the natural world in all its forms.

On tonight's show:

🪶Why Woodpigeons are still nest‑building in late August

🐦A listener’s mystery pigeon with extravagant feathered feet

❄️We learn about Snow Leopards with Dr Kullu Suryawanshi — author of The Ghost of the Mountains

For more information on tonight's show, visit https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/mooney/2026/0830/1589743-mooney-goes-wild-monday-august-31st-2026/

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Wild Ireland

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Next week’s programme, which will be broadcast on Monday September 7th, will be a special compilation of some of the very best reports by our intrepid roving reporter, Terry Flanagan.

To whet your appetite, we close tonight’s programme with one of Terry’s reports, first broadcast in 2019, from the Wild Ireland nature sanctuary in Co. Donegal, home to a wide array of creatures which once roamed wild in Ireland but which, sadly, have been lost to us, including Wolves, Brown Bears, Lynx and Wild Boars.

There, Terry spoke with the park’s founder, Killian McLaughlin, about the inspiration behind this very ambitious project, his aims as a conservationist and the history of the Wolf in Ireland.

For more information about Wild Ireland, visit https://wildireland.org/.

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Pigeons Galore!

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0000

From Dastardly & Muttley's "Stop The Pigeon" to "Pigeon Street", there's one bird that's the focus of our first item on tonight's show! Derek recently spotted a Woodpigeon carrying a stick in its beak, something that is a common sight in the spring when nest-building is in full swing... but why in August? And we learn why some fancy pigeons have frilly, feathered legs!

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An Irish Atlantic Rainforest

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:17:47 +0000

Did you know that rainforests are not confined to the tropical regions of the world and can even be found in Ireland? To find out more, you will definitely want to tune into the forthcoming RTÉ television programme An Irish Atlantic Rainforest. This two-part series tells the story of how Eoghan Daltun, a sculptor and leading climate activist, resurrected his very own rainforest on the Beara Peninsula.

In 2009, Eoghan purchased a small cottage close to the village of Eyeries in Co. Cork. It came with a plot of tree-covered land, untouched for roughly a century, which he recognised as being genuine rainforest, i.e., a woodland filled with an abundance of plants – such as mosses and epiphytes – which obtain their moisture from the water carried naturally in the air.

Having come to this realisation, Eoghan did two simple things: he erected a fence to exclude grazing animals, then he removed the invasive non-native flora – particularly Rhododendron – which had begun to dominate the woodland. The rest he left to nature, without any planting or further active management. Within a short time, a rainforest teeming with life had been restored, bringing back the Ireland of many centuries ago.

From his inner-city Dublin upbringing to his life as a stone conservationist, Eoghan is a striking and inspirational figure who now finds himself custodian of one of the finest examples of temperate rainforest in Ireland. He joins us on tonight’s programme to tell us more about his efforts to bring back an Irish rainforest, the importance of this habitat for our native wildlife and what to expect from the forthcoming RTÉ television programme.

An Irish Atlantic Rainforest airs on RTÉ One television at 18:30 on Sunday 23rd August and Sunday 30th August.

For more information about Eoghan Daltun and his efforts to restore a natural Irish rainforest, visit https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2022/0917/1323409-rainforest-restore-cork/.

Eoghan's book An Irish Atlantic Rainforest was published by Hachette UK in 2024. The ISBN is 9781399705295 and the RRP is £12.99 (approx. €15). For more information, visit https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/eoghan-daltun/an-irish-atlantic-rainforest/9781399705295/.

To follow Eoghan on Instagram, visit https://www.instagram.com/irishrainforest/.

https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/mooney/2026/0816/1588136-mooney-goes-wild-monday-august-17th-2026/

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Roger Casement: An Exploration Of His Deep Love Of Nature

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Roger Casement (1864–1916) is best remembered as one of Ireland's most significant historical figures, but before his execution for his role in the 1916 Easter Rising, he earned an international reputation as a humanitarian and diplomat. Serving as a British consul in Africa and South America, Casement exposed the brutal exploitation and abuse of indigenous peoples in the Congo Free State and the Peruvian Amazon. His reports helped bring global attention to these atrocities and established him as one of the leading human rights campaigners of his time.

What is less well-known to the general public is that Casement also had a lifelong fascination with the natural world. During his extensive travels, he took every opportunity to observe and collect plants and animals, carefully documenting the wildlife he encountered in some of the world's most remote regions.

In celebration of this aspect of Roger Casement’s life, and to commemorate the 110th anniversary of his execution, on Bank Holiday Monday 3rd August, as part of our Nature on One series, we broadcast a special documentary, presented by Eric Dempsey, about Casement’s life as a naturalist. In case you missed it, we will be repeating this programme next Monday, August 24th , in our regular Mooney Goes Wild slot at 22:00 on RTÉ Radio One.

For further information about Eric Dempsey’s Nature on One documentary on Roger Casement, visit https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/mooney/2026/0724/1584965-nature-on-one-casement-03-08-26/.

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Caterpillars Attacking Horse Chestnut Trees

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Regular Mooney Goes Wild listener Nikola Brady got in touch with us with a query. She regularly walks her dog along a country route close to her house in Kilcock, Co. Kildare and recently noticed a problem with the Horse Chestnut trees lining those back roads. The leaves of many of the trees that they pass seem to have shrivelled up, and Nikola was concerned that they might be dying. She sent in some photos and asked whether we could identify the problem and suggest what might be done to help the trees.

Suitably intrigued, we dispatched our roving reporter Terry Flanagan to Co. Kildare to meet up with Nikola and to have a look at the trees. As he tells us in his report for tonight’s programme, the culprits are the caterpillars of a moth called the Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner – just the size of a grain of rice and only discovered to science as recently as 1984 – which burrow into the leaves and eat them from within, causing the damage.

This arboreal affliction first reared its head in Ireland in 2013 and appears to be spreading across the country. Happily, although the damage caused by the caterpillar looks severe, it does not result in the deaths of the infected trees, generally coming too late in the growing season to prove fatal.

For more information about the Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner moth, visit https://www.mothsireland.com/horse-chestnut-leaf-miner-cameraria-ohridella-present-in-ireland/.

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Headstarting Chicks Helps Ireland's Curlew Numbers

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Ireland's curlew population has plummeted, but an ambitious conservation project is offering new hope. Twenty 'headstarted' chicks, hatched from eggs flown in from Yorkshire, were reared at Dublin Zoo before being released at Lough Corrib. Owen Murphy explains how the project is helping save this iconic bird...

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The Sounds Of Clara Bog

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

This week's curlew-themed programme continues at Clara Bog, Co. Offaly, where visitors can now enjoy a new audio soundwalk. Created by Music Generation Offaly, composer Fiona Linnane and local TY students, it blends wildlife sounds, poetry and music. Terry Flanagan explores the bog with Ger Ralph from Music Generation Offaly...

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Nature On One: Casement

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Next Bank Holiday Monday (3 Aug) at midday, Eric Dempsey presents Nature On One: Casement, exploring Roger Casement's often overlooked passion for the natural world. The programme visits the National Museum of Ireland's natural history collections, including his remarkable west African rhinoceros viper...

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Chasing The Curlew's Call

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

The Curlew is the star of a new bilingual graphic novel helping young people understand climate change and biodiversity loss. Chasing The Curlew's Call, created by UCC and Met Éireann, uses storytelling to inspire children to connect with nature. Writer Dr Rosa Rogers joins us to discuss the project...

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Bill Oddie, RIP

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Tonight, we remember Bill Oddie by ending with The Funky Gibbon. From The Goodies to Springwatch, he inspired generations with his humour, love of birds and passion for conservation. Fittingly, the song was later re-released to support gibbon conservation - a perfect tribute to a remarkable broadcaster and naturalist.

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Adult Woodpecker Feeding Young

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Mooney Goes Wild listener George captured remarkable footage of an adult great spotted woodpecker feeding its youngster in his Monaghan garden. The species has spread rapidly across Ireland in recent years. George joins Derek, Richard and Terry to discuss his fascinating wildlife encounter...

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Wildlife & The Wallace Line

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

The Wallace Line is an invisible boundary in Indonesia marking a remarkable divide in wildlife. West of it, animals are typically Asian; east, they’re Australasian. Richard and Terry explore its story with Derek, while BirdWatch Ireland's Niall Hatch joins from Indonesia to share his encounters with the region’s unique wildlife...

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Elvis The European Robin

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

MGW listener Sean Geraty joins the programme with questions about "Elvis", the bald robin that's been visiting his garden. Why has Elvis lost his head feathers, and why did a parent bird single out one juvenile for aggression? Derek, Richard and Terry investigate the fascinating behaviour of this robin family...

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Nursing Homes Week - Connected With Nature

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Terry Flanagan visits Craddock House Nursing Home in Naas ahead of Nursing Homes Week 2026 (17–23 August). With this year's theme, "Connected With Nature", he meets residents and staff preparing a range of nature-inspired activities, and hears how nursing homes across Ireland can get involved...

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Invasive Species Week

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Invasive Species Week highlighted the growing threat non-native plants pose to Ireland's biodiversity. Garden favourites like Cherry Laurel, Rhododendron and Spanish Bluebells can spread into the wild, displacing native species. Oisín O'Néill of the Irish Wildlife Trust explains why we should "be plant-wise, let nature lead and choose native"...

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Blooming Orchids

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Did you know Ireland is home to 30 species of wild orchids? Terry Flanagan visited St. Theresa's in Mount Merrion, where Larry Gordon and Kate McLoughlin have spent 25 years caring for a meadow now blooming with four different native orchid species.

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Nature Activities In July

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Derek, Terry and Eanna chat about nature and wildlife activities that can be enjoyed around Ireland in this lovely sunny weather, including visiting Ireland's Eye, and observing the gannet population there...

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Scene In Braemar

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Last week we featured Sir Edwin Landseer's Scene in Braemar ahead of its Sotheby's auction. The dramatic Highland stag painting has now set a new auction record for the artist, selling for £5.9 million – well above its estimate and around five times the previous record for a Landseer work...

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Mystery Monaghan Mustelid

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

We love receiving your wildlife photos and videos (send them to mooney@rte.ie). James Morrisroe from Co Monaghan shared footage of a mystery visitor raiding his bins at dawn. Was it a pine marten? Our panel takes a closer look at the video and discusses the likely identity of this clever early-morning scavenger...

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Kew Report: State Of The World's Plants & Fungi

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

A new global report suggests centuries-old plant collections could help tackle today's biodiversity crisis, with UCC playing a key role. Johan Reyes Chavez, a PhD student at University College Cork and Climate & Innovation Officer with Fundación Ayuda en Acción in Honduras, discusses the report with Derek, Éanna and Terry...

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Should We Cull Invasive Alien Grey Squirrels To Save Our Native Reds?

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

A feasibility study is exploring the culling of invasive Grey Squirrels in Dublin and Wicklow to help native Red Squirrels return to urban areas. Led by Dr Emma Sheehy, the proposal has prompted public consultation and debate over balancing conservation goals with animal welfare concerns. She joins Derek and panel to tell us more about the study...

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Is Washing Soda Bad For Birds?

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Bernie Dennehy from Cork feared she had accidentally poisoned a Blackbird after cleaning her patio with washing soda solution and later finding a dead bird. Our panellists explain washing soda isn't toxic to birds and exposure was minimal. A far more likely cause was a fatal collision with a window...

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Stag For Sale: Landseer's Scene In Braemar

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Sir Edwin Landseer's monumental Scene in Braemar, featuring a majestic Highland stag, goes under the hammer at Sotheby's in London this week with an estimate of £3-4 million. Derek speaks to Sotheby's specialist Julian Gascoigne about the dramatic Highland masterpiece and its significance...

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35 Years Of Ireland As A Whale And Dolphin Sanctuary & Rare Stranding Of Gervais’ Beaked Whale

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group marks 35 years since Ireland became a whale and dolphin sanctuary. Ireland’s waters host over 25 cetacean species, but threats remain. Dr. Simon Berrow also discusses a rare Gervais’ Beaked Whale stranding in Clare, offering scientists valuable insights into one of the world's least-understood whale species...

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Paddy The East Wall Heron

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Reporter Terry Flanagan visits East Wall in Dublin to meet listener Carol Corri and her unusual garden guest, Paddy the Grey Heron. While herons typically feed on fish, frogs and other aquatic prey, Paddy has developed a taste for chicken legs and rashers, making him a regular and much-loved visitor to Carol’s garden...

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Looking Back At The Longest Day Of The Year

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Yesterday was the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. Midsummer is a vital time for Ireland’s wildlife, with long daylight hours helping plants and animals grow, reproduce and build energy reserves. It’s a season of abundance worth celebrating – though from now on, the days gradually begin to shorten again...

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Basking Sharks And Humpback Whales In Donegal Bay

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Donegal Bay is witnessing an exceptional gathering of Basking Sharks, with dozens of the world's second-largest fish feeding, travelling in groups and even breaching near Mullaghmore Head. Mark O’Connor of Donegal Bay Conservation Trust also discusses a visiting Humpback Whale, known as "Humpback 102", now delighting observers in the bay...

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Robot Lawnmowers Impacting German Hedgehogs

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Hedgehog numbers are falling across Europe, with the species now listed as Near Threatened after a 30% decline. In Germany, night-time robot lawnmowers are a major culprit. Dr Anne Berger joins us to explain the injuries they cause, the public backlash, and why banning after-dark mowing could help...

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A Birdie On The Golf Course

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Terry Flanagan’s busy week continues as he heads to Blainroe Golf Club in Wicklow. Club captain Garry Kennedy brings him around the course to meet his most unusual playing partner — Jake, a remarkably tame Rook who’s made himself part of the golfing routine...

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You Wait Ten Years For A Blue Tit To Turn Up, Then Seven Appear At Once

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

MGW listener Michael in Terenure finally has success with his garden nestbox after ten quiet years — a pair of Blue Tits moved in, built a nest and are now raising their brood on camera. Tonight, reporter Terry Flanagan visits to see the live feed and meet the newest stars of Michael’s garden...

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A Blooming Good Time For BirdWatch Ireland

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Niall Hatch is sounding very hoarse tonight — the price of talking non-stop to crowds at BirdWatch Ireland’s buzzing Bloom stand! The effort paid off, with hundreds of new members, and a huge win for Ireland’s biggest conservation charity...

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A Banshee In Wexford?

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Listener Danny in Wexford shared a recording from his new home after spotting an owl circling overhead at night. The mystery caller turned out to be a Barn Owl seeking a mate — its eerie cries the same sounds that helped inspire Ireland’s famous banshee legend...

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A Sneak Peek At A Greek Squeak

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Fresh from a BirdLife meetup in Lemnos, Niall Hatch followed some mysterious nighttime squeaks outside his rural hotel — only to discover a baby Long-eared Owl loudly demanding snacks. He filmed the adorable sounds on his phone, and tells us about this exciting encounter...

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Barn Owl In Co. Wexford

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Listener Danny Martin-Carroll sent us in this recording of a Barn Owl he heard outside his home in Co. Wexford...

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Cruising The Skelligs

Mon, 25 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Cruising doesn’t have to mean the Bahamas or Antarctica — there’s magic on our own coast. This evening, ornithologist Jim Wilson joins us from the National Geographic Explorer, currently sailing around the Skelligs in search of Puffins, Gannets and other spectacular seabirds...

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Bloom, Biodiversity & Invasive Species Bureau

Mon, 25 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Éanna Ní Lamhna previews a MGW special recorded at Bloom 2026, airing on Bank Holiday Monday, June 1st, in which she explores the festival’s strong biodiversity focus and reflects on her family’s link to the show. She also chats about travelling the country for National Biodiversity Week, and the launch of the new Invasive Species Bureau...

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Badger-Watching In Dublin

Mon, 25 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Mooney Goes Wild reporter Terry Flanagan meets up with wildlife enthusiast Gustavo Zoladz, who recently discovered two badger setts along the River Dodder in Dublin...

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Burren Archaeology Festival

Mon, 25 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

The Burren’s vast limestone, wildflowers and ancient tombs shape a landscape where people and deep history meet. Heritage Keepers Coordinator Mary Dillon of Burrenbeo joins Derek, Richard and Terry to discuss the Burren Archaeology Festival, which takes place from June 20th–21st...

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Do Daddy Robins Feed The Chicks?

Mon, 25 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

During the week, we received a voice note from one of our listeners, Sean Murray. He had observed a family of Robins in his garden, with both Mammy Robin and Daddy Robin feeding the little chicks, and wondered - is it usual for Daddy Robins to feed the young? Dr. Richard Collins and Terry Flanagan give their thoughts on Sean's query...

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Nature On One - Lapwing

Mon, 25 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Ireland’s beloved Lapwing, long rooted in folklore and farming, is now on the Red List of endangered species. In this Nature On One special airing at midday on Bank Holiday Monday, June 1st, Karla Goodman explores its cultural role, the threats it faces, and the conservation work that could secure its future...

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Whale Watch Ireland 2026: Saturday, May 23rd

Mon, 18 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Whale Watch Ireland 2026 takes place next Saturday, with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group running free expert-led whale- and dolphin-watching events at 18 coastal sites from 17:00–19:00. IWDG Sightings Officer Pádraig Whooley outlines the event’s aims, the importance of sightings data and how listeners can get involved...

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What Are Those Starlings Up To?

Mon, 18 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Listener Nikola Brady, from Co. Kildare, e-mailed mooney@rte.ie after spotting strange Starling behaviour outside her bedroom window and recording it. Curious, reporter Terry Flanagan visited Nikola to learn more about these scuffling Starlings...

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Back From The Brink

Mon, 18 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

A new series of Derek's TV show, Back From The Brink, began last night on RTÉ One, in which he explores urban wildlife restoration across Europe. Episode two, airing next Sunday, brings us to Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork, where Peregrines Macheda and Solomon thrive thanks to conservation work by Sam Bayley and Alan McCarthy...

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The Conference Of Birds

Mon, 18 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Two special performances of The Conference of Birds at the Mill Theatre in Dundrum highlighted the plight of Ireland’s Red-listed birds through theatre, music and art. It was performed by The Elders and Cór na Nóg. Derek, Niall and John MacKenna reflect on the moving show and its BirdWatch Ireland links...

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Did Derek Smell A Rat?

Mon, 18 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

On his way to the RTÉ car park, Derek briefly recoiled after spotting what he assumed was a Brown Rat. Moments later he realised it was actually a Grey Squirrel, and his revulsion disappeared. He asks the panel why his instinctive response to each rodent was so different...

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Going Round In Circles: What Could Bee Causing It?

Mon, 18 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Listener Henrietta Broderick filmed a Honeybee in her Galway garden pacing in tiny circles, releasing a mustard-yellow droplet before continuing. She chats about what she saw, and our panel discuss what the cause of this odd behaviour might be...

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Remarkable Reefs

Mon, 04 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, support a third of visible marine life and host vast hidden biodiversity. A new Nature study reveals living reefs contain previously unknown biomolecules with potential for medicine and biotechnology. Professor Olivier Thomas of University of Galway explains the findings...

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In A Walled Garden In Meath

Mon, 04 May 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Reporter Terry Flanagan visits a walled garden in Stamullen, Co. Meath, with Ciarán de Buitléar. Ciarán grows his food in close partnership with wildlife and nature, and has written a book, Nature's Acre, to encourage others to do the same...

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Swallows And Wrens

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Listener Madeline Carey, from Co. Clare, says a wren has taken over the swallow nest in her garage after 35 years of welcoming swallows. Worried that wrens may harm swallow eggs or chicks, she asks what she can do before the swallows return. Our panel share their advice on the bold intruder...

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April 1st No Fools Day For Salmon Of Knowledge

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Marine Biologist Ken Whelan, Vice President of the Atlantic Salmon Trust, chats to the panel about how Christmas Day and April 1st (which is co-incidentally his birthday!) are so important in the life cycle of Salmon...

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Blue Tits, Cuckoos and Woodpeckers

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0000

We received an e-mail to mooney@rte.ie from listener Helena Golden in Leitrim, aka the Willow Woman! She joins us on the line to tell us about her passion for weaving using natural materials, her Blue Tit nest box camera, and the cuckoo and woodpecker she has heard recently...

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Mermaid's Purse Discovered By Schoolboy In Co. Kerry

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Called the “Ghost of the Sea,” the rare White Skate has reappeared in Kerry after vanishing from much of its range. Sixth-class student Rocco Stallard found a huge Mermaid’s Purse on Camp Beach, evidence that White Skates may be using local bays as a nursery ground, as Ken Whelan and our panel explain its importance...

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Dawn Chorus - RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ lyric fm | Sunday, May 3rd 2026 | 00:00 - 07:00

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0000

RTÉ marks International Dawn Chorus Day this Sunday as nature lovers join one of its most atmospheric broadcasts. From midnight to 7am, RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ lyric fm share seven hours of live birdsong, insight and music, capturing the moment Ireland wakes and daylight slowly takes hold...

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Nature On One: Talking Birds (Bank Holiday Monday, May 4th 2026 at midday)

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Cobh natives Jim Wilson and Seán Ronayne return to Cuskinny Marsh, the place that sparked their love of nature. In this Nature on One special, they explore its rich habitats as Seán works to record a year of its wild sounds, reflecting on why this Cork Harbour sanctuary still matters so deeply.

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Happy Birthday, Dr. Collins