Mooney Goes Wild

In her new book The Genius of Trees, British tree science consultant Harriet Rix informs readers about the many things we owe to these remarkable plants that most of us never think about. Éanna Ní Lamhna spoke to Harriet about how trees have literally transformed our planet and their enormous influence on the ongoing evolution of life on Earth...

The beauty of autumn leaves changing colour has been captured by An Post, thanks to its new seasonal stamp issue. Changing Leaves features three native species: Silver Birch, Rowan and Hawthorn. Terry Flanagan met with botanical artist Yanny Petters, who created the leaf images, and An Post's Anna McHugh, to find out more...

Recently opened, Domain Of The Dinosaurs is the biggest fossil exhibition ever held in Ireland, and the first to feature Irish dinosaurs. Housed at the Glucksman at UCC, it features over 5 tonnes of material, including nine huge skeletal casts and over 250 real fossils of dinosaurs and other long-extinct creatures...

Jim Wilson reports from Cork Harbour on the unexpected appearance of a new species of wire-like seaweed on the local mudflats; he talks to renowned Cork-based biologist Pat Smiddy, about this invasive alien species – the catchily named Agarophyton vermiculophyllum...

Derek is joined in studio by Eanna, Niall and Richard, who start the show with a fascinating discussion about how plants and other organisms influence evolution and the very course of life on our planet, including whether trees are responsible for the fingerprints of humans, chimps and koalas!

Classified as Red listed and a bird of high conservation value, The Ring Ouzel is thought to be down to a handful of breeding pairs in Ireland. Ornithologist Eric Dempsey reveals the story of this elusive species and the efforts being made to protect its fragile habitat.

Tonight, Terry Flanagan takes listeners beneath the surface of the International Basking Shark Conference, held at the Atlantic Technological University in Galway. The August event brought together scientists, conservationists, and ocean advocates from five continents.

Our good friend Collie Ennis, Biodiversity Officer with Trinity College Dublin, was in touch recently to inform us of something unusual...a walnut struck him on the head! Rather than fall from a tree, the walnut had apparently been dropped by a Hooded Crow. Terry Flanagan went to investigate.

Proud Corkonian Jim Wilson is a man who feels very much at home on the open waves. Back in July, Jim travelled to Castlehaven Harbour to go night kayaking with Naoise and Jim Kennedy from Atlantic Sea Kayaking. He recorded a truly captivating report for tonight’s programme.

Of all of the ornithological surveys carried out by conservation charity BirdWatch Ireland, its annual Irish Garden Bird Survey is far and away the most popular. This winter’s survey season – its 37th – will kick off on Monday 1st December and will run until the end of February 2026.

Earlier today, a very special documentary was broadcast on RTÉ Radio One as part of our Nature on One series. Presented by Eric Dempsey, its subject was one of Ireland’s most critically endangered breeding bird species: the Ring Ouzel, a close relative of the much more familiar Blackbird.

Michele Browne went to Mizen Head to meet Mary McCarthy (and her father Paddy) to talk about how fishermen of old would look to nature for signs of the weather. Mary reads these signs so well now, that people contact her for short term forecasts. You can hear a longer version of Michele's report on the website.

BirdWatch Ireland's Cuskinny Marsh Nature Reserve in Cork has just added dedicated roosting islands for the wetland birds to sleep and shelter. Ornithologist Jim Wilson joins the programme to explain the additions.

2025 marks the 5th anniversary of The Hare’s Corner, a Burrenbeo Trust initative that helps landowners create space for nature through new habitats. Terry Flanagan went to Staffordstown in Meath to meet farmers Michael and Penelope Monaghan, Hare’s Corner advisor Donna Mullen, and Michael’s mum Walburga, who tunes in to us weekly at the age of 107!

Listener Robert Brown sent us a photo of a robin with a crooked beak and we finally get through to Elizabeth Carney, who has questions about groups of crows on a beach and sandhoppers.

Very sadly, a migratory species of wading bird called the Slender-billed Curlew has formally been declared globally extinct by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and BirdLife International. Eric Dempsey talks about the lost bird and previews his upcoming documentary on The Ring Ouzel.

Tonight’s programme opens with Derek rifling through the entire back catalogue of Swedish pop sensation ABBA for one of their earliest songs - Ring Ring. They make a surprise call to listener Elizabeth Carney in Sligo but only get her answering machine!

Michele Browne went to Mizen Head to meet Mary McCarthy (and her father Paddy) to talk about how fishermen of old would look to nature for signs of the weather. Mary reads these signs so well now, that people contact her for short term forecasts. To meet the demand, she has set up Mary's Mizen Weather on Facebook.

Listener Martin Murray from Waterford sent us in some lovely photos of a Glossy Ibis feeding. Ornithologist Eric Dempsey explains this interesting bird.

Éanna is taken with a new Irish version of 'Where the Tree Dogs Fly', an illustrated picturebook by Aileen Crossley. The author talks to Éanna about the new edition, An Áit a nÉitlíonn na Madaí Crainn, which is a 'love letter from mother nature to a troubled child'.