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Outdoor Trails

Discover the great outdoors on Ireland's best walking trails

<p>Rescue mission for a stranded striped dolphin off the Long Strand, Ballybunion. July 2025. Pictures: Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue / Irish Whale and Dolphin Group</p>

outdoors

Increase in dolphin strandings — here's what to do if you see a live dolphin stuck on the beach

Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue Service (BSCR) and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) were involved in a rescue operation for a stranded striped dolphin at Long Strand, Ballybunion in Kerry recently.

<p>A vertebra of a polar bear excavated from the sediments at the Arne Qvamgrotta cave in Norway. Pictures: Bournemouth University</p>

outdoors

Cave discovery reveals oldest community of animals living in European Arctic

<p>Fishing activity can only be controlled by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Pictures: Pádraic Fogarty</p>

S outdoors

Ireland's first marine national park has a name... but does it have much else going for it yet?

Perseid meteor shower

outdoors

Sky Matters: It's August so it's time to look out for Perseids

Woman hands applying sunscreen, with the beach in the background

outdoors

Sun, sea and a slippery slope: What your sunscreen isn’t telling you

Clarkson's farm sales

outdoors

'We've gone down with TB' — Jeremy Clarkson confirms outbreak at farm

When close up is too close — who's the worst culprit for invading wild birds' space?

outdoors

When close up is too close — who's the worst culprit for invading wild birds' space?

First look: Endangered baby drill monkey born at Fota Wildlife Park

outdoors

First look: Endangered baby drill monkey born at Fota Wildlife Park

Long Eared Owl

outdoors

Anja Murray: The sounds of long-eared owls

Anja Murray: Don't reject the generosity of wild self-sown flowering plants

Anja Murray: Don't reject the generosity of wild self-sown flowering plants

The now widely recognised problems facing insect pollinators are closely linked to losses of such native forage plants in our landscapes over the course of the past 100 years

Wed, 30 Jul, 2025

Large trawler restrictions welcome but careful management still needed

Large trawler restrictions welcome but careful management still needed

It has been a long road to get to this point, but will it finally result in pressure being lifted on important ecosystems and in particular the small whale populations that have abandoned the south coast in recent years for want of food asks ecologist Pádraic Fogarty

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Why we have a monument to the Duke of Wellington in Tipperary

Why we have a monument to the Duke of Wellington in Tipperary

Here's how to hike to visit this unusual structure which was created in a turbulent time in Irish history

Mon, 28 Jul, 2025

ANIMALS Seagull 1

Birds of Ireland: Black-headed gull

A black-headed gull has a noisy, high-pitched call which includes a thin-sounding, drawn-out kaaww — and they also engage in softer 'chatter'

Sun, 27 Jul, 2025

Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) in a forest in England, UK

Can Ireland’s ash trees stage a comeback against deadly dieback?

Ash trees are the backbone of our ecosystems, supporting more than 40 species of insects, lichens, and fungi that keep our woodlands teeming with life. Their decline ripples through the food chain, threatening birds and other wildlife — but there might be hope of a recovery

Fri, 25 Jul, 2025

Richard Collins: A joy to learn about extinct and 'resurrected' creatures

Richard Collins: A joy to learn about extinct and 'resurrected' creatures

From Ireland's last Great Auk to a fish thought to have been extinct for 70 million years — there's so much to discover in this new zoological book

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

The Big Butterfly Count

Donal Hickey: Small white butterflies — a welcome sight

Some believe white butterflies are the spirit of a deceased loved one letting you know they're ok. And folk tradition says you should make a wish if you see two side by side

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

Anja Murray: Sturgeon sighting — the first here in decades

Anja Murray: Sturgeon sighting — the first here in decades

A 180cm sturgeon was caught and released off the coast of Kerry this summer... they are considered extinct in Irish waters so this is significant

Mon, 21 Jul, 2025

Birds of Ireland: Common gull — or mew gull

Birds of Ireland: Common gull — or mew gull

In flight the white wing tips are noticeable on adult birds

Sat, 19 Jul, 2025

Ulster bonfires

The environmental cost of Northern Ireland’s bonfires

In the face of climate change and public health challenges, questions are being raised, not just about what these bonfires stand for, but what they’re doing to the environment we all share

Fri, 18 Jul, 2025

Does your cat prefer to sleep on their left side? Scientists have investigated why...

Does your cat prefer to sleep on their left side? Scientists have investigated why...

Researchers found that 65% of cats sleep on their left side and only 35% prefer the right — this trait may have evolved as a way of responding to danger and for hunting prey more efficiently

Thu, 17 Jul, 2025

Wild Raspberry

Donal Hickey: Spotted any wild raspberries yet?

Tasty — and popular in herbal medicine — wild raspberries could well be plentiful this year due to recent sunshine

Thu, 17 Jul, 2025

Free guide featuring scenic walks and attractions in Cork encourages people to explore local

Free guide featuring scenic walks and attractions in Cork encourages people to explore local

Created by SECAD, the guide is available at Cork tourist offices, libraries, and online

Wed, 16 Jul, 2025

St Swithin's Day: Could it rain for the next 40 days? Here's what we know

St Swithin's Day: Could it rain for the next 40 days? Here's what we know

July 15 is St Swithin's day and according to an old legend, it could determine the weather for the rest of the summer

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Anniversary of climber famed for his adrenaline and glamour but whose remains were never found

Anniversary of climber famed for his adrenaline and glamour but whose remains were never found

This July marks 18 years since Michael Reardon went missing at Valentia, County Kerry

Mon, 14 Jul, 2025

Pádraic Fogarty: There are signs of positive change at Wild Nephin

S Pádraic Fogarty: There are signs of positive change at Wild Nephin

Far from being ‘unspoiled’, the landscape has been seriously degraded over many decades by a combination of sheep grazing, turf-cutting and plantation forestry — but now there are encouraging signs of renewal notes ecologist Pádraic Fogarty

Sun, 13 Jul, 2025

Michelle McKeown: Crawford Lake and the marking of human impact on nature

Michelle McKeown: Crawford Lake and the marking of human impact on nature

"Its deep, undisturbed waters have acted like a natural time capsule, trapping layers of sediment year after year, each recording a snapshot of the environment at the time of deposition."

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025

Cuckoo Bird Perched On Lichen Covered Branch

Richard Collins: Cuckoos and their extraordinary feats

The cuckoo's song is one of the most recognisable in nature — but few of us know what the bird looks like

Thu, 10 Jul, 2025

Josh van der Flier, Alex Mitchell and Joe McCarthy say hello to some kangaroos 26/6/2025

Donal Hickey: We should observe our wildlife without disturbing them

In days long ago, a farming grandmother would urge us to ‘never trust an animal’: I’ve witnessed the wisdom and veracity of her advice many times.

Thu, 10 Jul, 2025

Anja Murray: Sprat overfishing threatening seabird populations

Anja Murray: Sprat overfishing threatening seabird populations

Even some of the largest creatures in the ocean, humpback whales, rely on sprat as they travel through Irish waters each year.

Wed, 09 Jul, 2025

Insect Portraits: Using macro photography and storytelling to showcase the grandeur of insects

Insect Portraits: Using macro photography and storytelling to showcase the grandeur of insects

If you're not already a fan of insects you will be after reading Lisa Clancy's captivating collection of portrait-style photographs and accounts that reveal the remarkable 'personalities' of (mostly) Irish insects

Sun, 06 Jul, 2025

Sun, moon, earth and starfield

Sky Matters: Shortest day of the year happens this month — or maybe August

Since 2020, the Earth has been spinning faster – hence the uncertainty in the exact date of the shortest day in 2025.

Sat, 05 Jul, 2025

Spain Heat Wave Weather

Burning point: Climate change and escalating heatwaves

Europe is the fastest-warming continent on the planet

Fri, 04 Jul, 2025

Family of donkeys outdoors in spring. Couple of donkeys on the meadow

Demand for ejiao has soared — which is bad news for donkeys

The world's first donkey changed the course of civilisation

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025

Homeward-bound goats, 'white horses' and adventurous gulls — all weather forecasters if you know how to understand them

Homeward-bound goats, 'white horses' and adventurous gulls — all weather forecasters if you know how to understand them

Some unofficial meteorologists say animals are amazing with an apparent ability to sense changes in the atmosphere and impending weather

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025

Closeup of silver birch tree trunk on a blue sky background with clouds. Betula pendula

Why we need more trees in urban areas — and 10 native species to plant

Here is a list of native tree species well suited to urban planting

Wed, 02 Jul, 2025

The birds of County Donegal — some doing well and others almost gone... with climate change likely to see them out

The birds of County Donegal — some doing well and others almost gone... with climate change likely to see them out

Ralph Sheppard is an ecologist living in Donegal, where he has been monitoring the birds since the 1950s. This is an extract from his book The Birds of County Donegal

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Birds of Ireland: Great Black-backed Gull

Birds of Ireland: Great Black-backed Gull

This is the largest Irish gull and has a wing span of up to 160 centimetres

Sun, 29 Jun, 2025

Bioluminescent Shore

Michelle McKeown: Shedding light on the wild world of bioluminescence

The glow in Lough Hyne comes courtesy of dinoflagellates (tiny, single-celled plankton) floating near the surface of the water. When disturbed, they emit a flash of light, usually bluish green, in a rapid chemical reaction involving the molecules luciferin and luciferase

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

Richard Collins: Baboons walk in line to be close to their friends

Richard Collins: Baboons walk in line to be close to their friends

Researchers investigated whether baboon progressions form to avoid predators or whether it's a leadership bid — but now scientists say it's due to 'patterns of social affiliation' or friendships

Thu, 26 Jun, 2025

Donal Hickey: Plant passport check — don't bring plants and seeds home from abroad

Donal Hickey: Plant passport check — don't bring plants and seeds home from abroad

Gardeners are asked not to bring plants, flowers, seeds, fruits, or vegetables in from outside the EU as they may harbour plant pests or diseases detrimental to native flora

Thu, 26 Jun, 2025

Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), at its favorite spot near bodies of water.

Even 'pretty' invasives are not welcome for very good reasons

Ecological and economic damage can reverberate through ecosystems when invasive species become established — and some such as oak processionary moth caterpillars can cause physical harm to humans and pets

Wed, 25 Jun, 2025

Make the Kerry Way your office for a day... or three

S Make the Kerry Way your office for a day... or three

Childhood holiday memories, climbing stiles and hitching lifts — all part of a glorious three-day hike on the Kerry way for radio journalist, Simon Tierney

Mon, 23 Jun, 2025

DENIS SCANNELL

Birds of Ireland: Moorhen

Moorhens are rarely seen in flight — when frightened or in danger, they run along water surface with neck outstretched and wings flapping furiously

Sun, 22 Jun, 2025

Michelle McKeown: Can we feed the world and save it too?

Michelle McKeown: Can we feed the world and save it too?

Rather than choosing organic everywhere or intensification somewhere, many scientists now advocate for a sustainable intensification approach: combining ecological practices with modern science and technology

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Image showing hirudotherapy procedure

Richard Collins: Leeches suck — which can be handy at times

Napoleon suffered from haemorrhoids and was prescribed 25 leeches to be applied to the 'swelling' on the day before the battle of Waterloo

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

Older Couple Enjoys A Relaxing Day On A Sandy Beach, Sitting In Beach Chairs With Tropical Drinks In Hand

Donal Hickey: Links between climate change, rising temperatures and health in Ireland

Climate change could lead to 1,400 additional deaths annually in Ireland by the end of the 21st century

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

Anja Murray: Now is your chance to visit great grassland sites across the island of Ireland

Anja Murray: Now is your chance to visit great grassland sites across the island of Ireland

Sensitive approaches, such as light grazing or a late harvest of hay, means that these wildflowers and their dependant creatures have space and time to complete their life-cycle, whether flowering and setting seed or nesting, egg laying and fledging young

Wed, 18 Jun, 2025

Hidden in plain sight: join the search for Ireland’s fossils

Hidden in plain sight: join the search for Ireland’s fossils

Looking for something to do during the long summer days? The Great Irish Fossil Hunt challenges you to find and record the fossils that are literally under our feet

Sun, 15 Jun, 2025

Birds of Ireland: Water Rail

Birds of Ireland: Water Rail

A water rail's voice is the easiest way to identify this secretive bird — it's a loud grunting/squealing pig-like call from a reed bed or other waterside vegetation, mainly at dawn/dusk and at night

Sun, 15 Jun, 2025

Michelle McKeown: Why are Ireland’s clouds so thick? And did they influence our skin?

Michelle McKeown: Why are Ireland’s clouds so thick? And did they influence our skin?

This isn’t just idle weather chat. There’s serious science behind Ireland’s famously gloomy skies, and compelling evidence that they’ve shaped not just our landscape, but our biology...

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

Garden Allotment with Glass House

Donal Hickey: More allotments wanted — there's a 2-3 year waiting list in Cork

Community Gardens Ireland has written to Minister James Browne to call for a new survey of local authorities to be issued following a lack of engagement from local authorities

Thu, 12 Jun, 2025

Richard Collins: Capybara are in the 'rodents we love' category

Richard Collins: Capybara are in the 'rodents we love' category

Guinea pigs and gerbils make loveable pets; we find squirrels endearing but rats inspire loathing everywhere

Thu, 12 Jun, 2025

Anja Murray: Radical changes required to let the oceans recover

Anja Murray: Radical changes required to let the oceans recover

We don’t tend to consider just how much we impact the health of ocean ecosystems with our activities. For most of history, humans have rightly considered the oceans as being far too large for us to ever inflict much of an influence upon

Wed, 11 Jun, 2025

Sky Matters: What is a 'strawberry moon' and when can we see it?

Sky Matters: What is a 'strawberry moon' and when can we see it?

June is a curious month for the casual sky observer.

Wed, 11 Jun, 2025

Seven days of unforgettable hiking in the Donegal highlands

Seven days of unforgettable hiking in the Donegal highlands

The Donegal Camino will take hundreds of walkers from Inishowen to Sliabh Liag later this summer — here's how you can take part

Sun, 08 Jun, 2025

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Music, film art, culture, books and more from Munster and beyond.......curated weekly by the Irish Examiner Arts Editor.