A bee orchid 🐝 popped up in one of my sister’s garden in June. I happened to visit at the time and took this photo. Incredible example of symbiotic relations (although the bee in question is not extant in Ireland) between species.

Lough Ennell, Co. Westmeath. This is a beautiful lake, with birdlife aplenty. However, like most of our waterbodies Lough Ennell faces human-induced pressures. The most obvious is enrichment and pollution arising from agricultural activities in the farmland surrounding it and beyond.

Inside an abandoned Bord na Móna tearoom in a Co. Roscommon bog. An empty barn swallows’ nest on the wall.

Europe is burning 🥵 Meanwhile in the Irish midlands… Turf-cutting remains largely unregulated 😕 My phone couldn’t capture the extent of this pile. Whether it’s authorised or not is anyone’s guess 🤔

Peat in situ is not homogeneous, but layered in strata based upon the types of habitat that produced it. Reed swamps, fen and raised bog all result in varying deposits, with each being used by people for different purposes (eg upper layers used as a growing medium in horticulture).

Out on Cornafulla Bog in Co. Roscommon today meeting local community activists concerned about a wind farm being constructed here. It is windy, but the bog is close to special areas of conservation and adjacent to Clonmacnoise. The peat averages 5m deep, so not an ideal site it would seem 🤔

What is the EU going to do about this? Absolutely nothing, because they care more about investments and appeasement over human rights and justice. I’ve been pro-EU all my life but their inaction here is unacceptable 😠 www.rte.ie/news/2026/07...

Netanyahu orders new West Bank settler outposts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the establishment of new settler outposts in the occupied West Bank after deadly clashes.

rte.ie

Absolutely shocking story here 👇 House martins, an amber-listed migratory species, are routinely targeted and vilified for doing what comes naturally to them - making a home to rear their young. What the estate agent done is illegal. Well done NPWS 👏 www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/crime-c...

Man and woman in court after 57 nests ‘blasted’ off Laois house

The woman who works for an estate agent directed the man to clean the house

leinsterexpress.ie

Had a lovely Americano ☕️ at Tús Maith in the wonderful Kilcormac in Co. Offaly this morning. A thriving business that’s responding to all their customers’ needs (including pupachinos for our four-legged friends). Pleasure as always to visit Kilcormac. A fantastic community 🫡

The differences between some people is stark. On the one hand you’ve those you hunt foxes with dogs for fun, and then you’ve others determined to perform very challenging rescues to save a life. I know which camp I’m in! 🦊👀 news.sky.com/story/fox-re...

Fox rescued after spending days with head trapped in bottle

Animal rescuers have since warned of the threats litter can pose to wildlife.

news.sky.com

The campus @ucc.ie is beautiful and a delight to visit today. Whoever is behind the renaturing of the green spaces is doing great work for biodiversity 🐝🐦🐛🐞 #UCC #UniversityCollegeCork #Cork

I’ve had a long-time passion (obsession?) with the ecology of Australia 🇦🇺 🐨🦎🦅🐊🦘👀 The Kimberley region (North WA) is my favourite place on the continent, despite having never visited there. Sadly, this magnificent space is under threat from fossil fuels 🤦🏻‍♂️ (and mining). youtu.be/Rh9IkUUgaww?...

Honest Government Ad | Visit the Kimberley!

YouTube video by thejuicemedia

youtu.be

My current research analyses the role of the state in managing peatlands, specifically the raised bogs in the midlands. I argue that locals need to be empowered to take action to protect these fragile habitats. The will is there in many cases, but the resources are not. www.rte.ie/news/europe/...

EU taking Ireland to court over peat cutting enforcement

The European Commission has taken Ireland to Europe's highest court over the alleged lack of enforcement of EU rules when it comes to peat cutting.

rte.ie

This will make your day👇😊 youtu.be/tZ9jS2tcij0?...

A starling - hanging by its leg

YouTube video by The Waterfowl Sanctuary

youtu.be

GET OUT YOUR ART SUPPLIES! Join the fun banner making workshop, Wed May 20th in Trinity College Dublin, Room 2041B (Uí Chadhain)  from 6:30PM - 9PM. Some materials provided but please do get creative and bring along anything you think would make for a good banner, poster or costume. #FairSeas

The Ridge of Capard, Co. Laois. The International Peatland Society will be visiting here on the 9th of June. I wonder will we see any hen harriers? 🦅 Register here: www.peatlandsgathering.com/registration

Very sad to see the narrow mindedness that is unfortunately amplified on social media these days. Wishing Dublin Rose Saud Mooge well in her quest to win the next Rose of Tralee 🌹🇮🇪 www.rte.ie/entertainmen...

Dublin Rose says racism is from people on 'hate train'

Dublin Rose Suad Mooge has said she is "shocked but not surprised" at comments on social media by people saying she "is not Irish".

rte.ie

An incredible organisation. If you can spare a few quid, please consider sending it their way. www.rte.ie/news/2026/05...

Kildare wildlife rescue calls for nationwide service

A wildlife rescue centre in Kildare is calling for the creation of a nationwide service, with multi-annual funding to enhance the country's biodiversity.

rte.ie

Of course I agree with everything said in this article, which focuses on the low-hanging fruit, but unfortunately it completely ignores the cruelty inherent in meat production, thus missing an important opportunity to raise awareness. jrnl.ie/7032335

Cruelty to animals in Ireland: It's still happening all the time and our laws need to catch up

From dog breeding to greyhound racing, Pat Watt of the NSPCA outlines the reforms needed to match public concern with real protections for animals in law.

jrnl.ie

“Meanwhile, the Greenland Ice Sheet lost 139 billion tonnes of ice, equivalent to one and a half times all the ice contained in the glaciers of the European Alps.” Shocking 🤯 Europe warming at 1 degree Celsius every 20 years is some wake-up call for policymakers 😐 www.rte.ie/news/environ...

Europe is fastest-warming continent, report finds

Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, the European State of the Climate Report for 2025 has found.

rte.ie

Kildare Wildlife Rescue has a Patreon. Monthly memberships range from €5-50. 🐰🦊🦆🦉🐦‍⬛🦇🦌🦡🦔🦦 They are flat out at the moment rescuing all kinds of animals, so if you have a few bob to spare please consider signing up or giving them a one-off donation. Amazing organisation 👌🏻 www.patreon.com/KWR

Get more from Kildare Wildlife Rescue on Patreon

creating support for Wildlife Rescue

patreon.com

“Israeli soldiers jailed over smashing of Jesus statue” Any chance they might start jailing guys for killing, you know, actual people? news.sky.com/video/share-...

Two Israeli soldiers jailed over smashing of Jesus statue in Lebanon

The Israeli military sentenced the soldiers after a picture emerged of an IDF soldier smashing the religious icon with a sledgehammer in a Christian village in southern Lebanon, prompting internationa...

news.sky.com

“The @irishwildlifetrust.bsky.social is calling for greater safeguards to ensure that commercially aligned messaging is not presented to children as environmental education.” I found this👇surprising when I read it this morning. Surely messaging to children is regulated? iwt.ie/sitka_spruce/

Press Release: Irish Wildlife Trust calls for urgent action over misleading Sitka spruce forestry materials in schools - Irish Wildlife Trust

Irish Wildlife Trust calls for urgent action over misleading Sitka spruce forestry materials in schools IWT Press Release 21 April 2026    The Irish Wildlife Trust is calling for immediate action from...

iwt.ie

The framing of this is wild 🤯 Lebanon is literally doing nothing, while Israel is the aggressor (and the actions of Hezbollah are no excuse for the illegal bombings and ground incursions of the latter), yet it is depicted here as some kind of war of equals. Bananas 🙄 www.rte.ie/news/2026/04...

Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree 10-day ceasefire

US President Donald Trump has said that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire.

rte.ie

The International Peatland Conference is coming to Tullamore this June (8th-10th). There is still time to submit a poster about your research or community project. Just follow the link in the below post. To register for the conference click here: www.peatlandsgathering.com/registration

Irish Peatland Society@irish-peatland-soc.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Interested in submitting a poster for the International Peatland Society Conference 2026 June at Tullamore, Co. Offaly? Deadline is in two days! Details and submission guidelines below: www.peatlandsgathering.com/posterregist... NOTE: Poster session is on the evening of the 9th of June.

Permanent European Conference for the Study of the Rural Landscapes RECONCILING CHALLENGES IN LANDSCAPES 7-13 September 2026, Ghent & Spa, Belgium Deadline for abstract submissions extended to April 22nd. Further details below 👇 www.geografie.ugent.be/pecsrl2026#c...

One of the most moving articles I’ve ever read, probably because I’ve been theough this so many times myself 🥺 Being able to euthanise a companion animal when the time comes is a huge relief as it stops their continual suffering. www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlig...

The hardest part of your dog dying isn't just losing them. It's that you decide when they go

Alison O'Reilly opens up about her personal experience of pet loss, the burden of euthanasia, and why grief after losing a dog matters

irishexaminer.com

Well I never… 🙄

Welcome shift in tone here in this @news.rte.ie article👇 Israel is running an apartheid regime and colonised Palestinians have no human rights. www.rte.ie/news/middle-...

Israel a step closer to controversial death penalty bill

Israel's Knesset National Security Committee has approved a proposed death penalty bill against Palestinian detainees. It will now advance to a final vote expected next week.

rte.ie