RTÉ - CountryWide Podcast

Ornithologist, Sean Ronayne, on how important Marine Protection Areas are for Seabirds and his passion for capturing bird sounds

Marine Biologist, Ben Harris, has scientific evidence that MPAs work.

Fisherman John Lynch talks to Suzanne Campbell about his reaction to MPA introduction.

Speakers at the Fair Seas Conference 2026 on MPAs: Minna Epps - IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), Belinda Bramley - UK marine protection expert, Grace Carr - Marine policy officer at the Irish Wildlife Trust).

Della Kilroy goes beachcombing in Bray with Marine Biologist, Mona McCrae and a group of school children as part of ‘Seashore Kids', which provides marine environmental education to children.

There isn't enough land in the country to do all the things we have set targets for. 17 months ago government received a report setting out what land uses needed to be prioritised. Where is it?

With a wind farm going up in the next field Michael Miley's farm outside Monasterevin is just one of thousands that would benefit from clear direction on Land Use.

Stakeholders from farmers to renewable energy call for the publication of the Land Use Review. Pat O'Toole, Political Editor, Irish Farmers Journal. Prof Mary Bourke, Geographer, TCD. Ronan Power, CEO Solar Ireland. Oonagh Duggan, Head of Policy, Birdwatch Ireland.

Ella McSweeney talks to locals in Roscommon who feel there is better environmental and cultural value to be had on their bog than the climate benefits that would come from a proposed wind farm.

Jesmond Harding, author of the The Irish Butterfly Book, makes the case for conserving habitat for creatures like the Marsh Fritillary butterfly within a Land Use Plan.

Philip speaks with farmers Seamus Bradley in Ardclough, Co Kildare and John Keogh in Co Carlow to gauge their understanding. Later, food analyst Sinead Mowlds joined him in studio.

Lorna Siggins jumped on board this conundrum and met Sean Doran, whose family runs a fish shop and restaurant in Howth, Co Dublin and master fishmonger Stefan Griesbach in Co Galway.

Food historian, Mairtin Mac Con Iomaire discusses whether enough has changed since the Great Famine to guarantee access to food for all. Máirtín is co-editor of Irish Food History: A Companion, published by Royal Irish Academy.

There's enough hedgerow in Ireland to go around the equator 17 times and there's a Whitethorn at the heart of every hedge. So lets pause for a moment in awe of the Whitethorn, with its dazzling display across our landscape right now, with Janet Heeran from her family farm in Co Cork.

Countrywide Full Episode 16/05/2026

The prospect of cuts in the Common Agriculture Policy budget has ignited a debate about what constitutes an active farmer and whether supports should be removed or reduced from those deemed inactive. Chris Fox, a medium sized Irish dairy farmer and Daniel Buckley, a sheep farmer , and Francie Gorman, President of the IFA discuss.

As the Mayfly season gets underway.  Fisheries scientist, Ken Whelan, joined Sheila O'Callaghan along the banks of the Blackwater River near Virginia in Co Cavan, and Dr Samuel Fabian from the University of Oxford and his colleagues from Imperial College London reveals the science behind the Mayfly's dance in newly published research.

What began with two pet goats has grown into an expanding goat's milk soap business for Louise Bennett in County Westmeath.  Reporter Della Kilroy discovered how Louise has been balancing the demands of a busy kidding season with the day-to-day running of her small business, turning fresh goat's milk into handcrafted skincare products.

You know what walking on a bog should sound like but that's not what could be heard underfoot at Slieve Beagh following a wildfire last week. Ella McSweeney joined Philip Boucher Hayes to talk more.

Suzanne Campbell reports on how a farmer in the midlands with a thriving organic oats business has made a determined effort to allow space for nature on his farm which has actually added to his bottom line.

Author of The Book Of Birds, Robert McFarlane and Cork-based ornithologist and field recordist, Seán Ronayne collaborate to bring you the exquisite sounds of birds and some interesting anecdotes and insights.

Lorna Siggins reports on recent removal of a beach area in Bray Harbour in County Wicklow which has had a significant impact on local swans.

Poet Pat Boran joined Philip to recite a delightful poem dedicated to birds.

Philip meets uplands farmer Colm Gavin for a walk on his sheep farm on the banks of the Killary Fjord. They discuss what really makes a geopark special, as well as the challenges of mountainside farming, in the company of attention-seeking cuckoo.  

Musical trio The Whileaways talk to Philip about making music in the landscape of the Geopark, and their hometown of Headford. Noriana Kennedy, Nicola Joyce and Noelie McDonnell play their song ‘You'll Find Me There'.

Lorna Siggins meets local people attending the Geopark launch celebrations near the Owenriff River in Oughterard, including An Taisce Climate Ambassador Pat O'Brien, local ecologist Greg Forde and some music by harpist Nathalie Surina.  

Philip meets Susan Denny, owner of the field from the 1990 film ‘The Field', only to find that a portion of iconic landscape has been washed away, due to climate change.

Treasa Bhreathnach attends the celebrations at the launch of the newly UNESCO endorsed Geopark in Connemara, the Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark. Featuring Trish Walsh, Chair of the JCWL GeoEnterprise and Sinead Seoighe, Tourism Officer for the Geopark.  

Philip meets the Geopark's official geologist Benjamin Thébaudeau for a walk at the Pigeon Hole, the cave in Cong. They talk about the formation of the landscape and how its people are connected to it.

A book promoting the Sitka Spruce tree caused some controversy this week after it was distributed to primary schools. Philip visits St Patrick's National School Curtlestown, which is surrounded by both commercial and native woodland high up in the Wicklow Hills, to see how the book was received by teachers there.

Treasa Bhreathnach visits the farm of Gary Patterson in Granlahan in County Roscommon, where he has introduced trees into a little over half of the pasture, for animal health, soil health and farmer health.

Philip visits members of the Boyne Rivers Trust who are planting trees on their river banks to provide shade and help keep temperatures down, thus protecting the fish inside. Featuring Muireann Kerrane, Rosaleen Finnegan Gibbons and zoologist Sarah Austin.

Regan Hutchens visits a forest school Easter Camp near Donadea forest in Kildare to meet Forest School Leader Lucy Bell of Growing Wild, and an enthusiastic team of forest scholars.

Della Kilroy meets artists from a project called ‘Forest Songs' — a collection of three love songs to the Dublin forests, written in collaboration with composer Tom Lane. The project creators are Cracking Light Productions, and the singer is Maeve Stone

Philip visits a farm with contractor Irvin Rothwell, who is spreading slurry near Ferrycarrig in Co Wexford to find out what impact the government's recently announced relief package will mean for him.

Fendt Salesman Philip Mattey in Northampton gives our Philip a virtual demonstration of a Fendt battery-powered tractor, which will be in showrooms in Ireland next month.

Suzanne Campbell meets Brian Meredith and his father Keith, organic beef and tillage farmers in Co Laois, who have eliminated fossil fuel based, synthetic fertiliser from their farm.

An Feirm Ground is a farming initiative that received a national recognition for its impact on rural wellbeing. The initiative works with agriculture professionals, giving them the skills and confidence to engage with farmers who may be in distress.

Philip talks to Rob McNaughton, from Zoomlion, about hybrid and electric tractors that will be coming on the market from China.

James Nix is an expert in the economics of heavy vehicles, working with the think tank Transport and Environment in Brussels.

Last weekend, Lorna Siggins visited Carraroe Community Garden, where residents of the nearby IPAS centre joined locals, including members of the Men's Shed and the arts group Gliogar, to plant vegetables in raised beds.

Countrywide Full Episode 18/04/2026