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Outdoor Trails

Discover the great outdoors on Ireland's best walking trails

<p>The EPA advises people to make a list of what they throw out over a week. Logically, that should enable smarter shopping. Meals should also be planned and cupboards and fridges checked before going shopping. Picture: iStock</p>

outdoors

Donal Hickey: Let’s stop and think to avoid wasting food

The EPA says households could save upwards of €60 per month by making small changes in how they buy, store and cook food. If people are thinking about waste, they will do something to prevent it

<p>Long before water reaches the coast, it has travelled across fields, through forests and towns, along roadsides, into drains, streams and rivers. Picture: iStock</p>

outdoors

Michelle McKeown: Stronger source-to-sea approach needed to protect our oceans

<p>Saturn’s Moon Enceladus has active geysers that throw water vapour out into space from an underground ocean. Picture: iStock</p>

outdoors

Sky Matters: Active research into enduring and complex question

Bouquet of flowers in vase

outdoors

Best buds: Just how green is your wedding bouquet?

FRANCE-MOUNTAIN-SANCY-AUGUST-2025

outdoors

Groundhog day: Call for end to hunting of French marmots

SCOTLAND Hedgehogs 1

outdoors

Urban crawl: Number of hedgehogs in cities spikes

Sargassum seaweed in Mayan Riviera and Cancun beach on Caribbean,

outdoors

Too much of a good thing: Why sargassum has become such a problem

Dodo Bird

outdoors

Bird-brained: Research debunks long-held beliefs about dodos

Hikes and trails: Sit in Synge's Chair on defiantly traditional and tranquil Inishmaan

outdoors

Hikes and trails: Sit in Synge's Chair on defiantly traditional and tranquil Inishmaan

British Berry Growers Blackberry Spotlight

Donal Hickey: Blackberries ripe and 'ready for the bucket'

People of all ages, often three or more generations together, are out harvesting and moving along the ditches as brambles are well-laden with blackberries ready for picking

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Lunar eclipse to make moon glow red later this week — here's when to see it in Ireland

Lunar eclipse to make moon glow red later this week — here's when to see it in Ireland

Early risers will be rewarded as the shadow of Earth will make the moon glow red before dawn

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

Pet rat

Rat trap: Much of what we blame on rodents is our own doing

Rats are dirty. They contaminate food stores, spread disease and damage buildings. But we have only ourselves to blame for their ubiquitous presence

Sat, 22 Aug, 2026

Herd Of Holstein Friesian Cattle

Farming bailouts a barrier to climate-resilient food system

Farmers need and deserve wide public support however that support is under increasing strain and will not last while the focus of the industry is on maintaining business as usual

Sat, 22 Aug, 2026

A real buzzkill: Ecological change and the potential threat from mosquitoes

A real buzzkill: Ecological change and the potential threat from mosquitoes

Mosquito-borne disease is not a major public-health problem here. But a new Irish review suggests we should not assume that will always remain the case

Fri, 21 Aug, 2026

A Peacock butterfly sitting on Lavender flowers in the sunshine in Hampshire, UK

Donal Hickey: Plants to help our under-threat butterflies

Since 2008, when systemic monitoring of the butterfly population began, there’s been a steep decline, with habitat loss being a critical issue

Fri, 21 Aug, 2026

Dollars Yen Pounds Euros Financial Washout

Paradise lost: Tourist taxes and the price of visiting beautiful places

There is a strong argument that tourists should contribute towards maintaining the places they enjoy. Properly designed taxes can raise substantial sums for conservation, infrastructure and public services. But revenue raised is not an environmental outcome and its what happens afterwards is real the problem

Sat, 15 Aug, 2026

Woolly Rhinoceros

Wisdom teeth: Rhino remains cast light on Neanderthals' resourcefulness

‘Grizzly’ Neanderthals have been depicted as brutal and sub-human. They were deemed to have been artistically challenged. However, paintings left by them on the walls of caves suggest otherwise

Fri, 14 Aug, 2026

Buff-tip moth

Wild Matters: Farmer-led initiative helping reveal the magic of moths

The Farmer Moth Monitoring Project is opening our eyes to the world of moths, helping us to appreciate and value these secret inhabitants of our ecosystems

Fri, 14 Aug, 2026

DENIS SCANNELL

Donal Hickey: Local dismay over delays to Killarney sewage plant works

Concerns are growing as essential work to upgrade the town’s underperforming sewage treatment plant will not now take place before 2030

Thu, 13 Aug, 2026

1/8/2008 Solar Eclipses

Solar eclipse in Ireland FAQ: Weather, times, viewing events, and where to get solar glasses

A solar eclipse is a celestial event that occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, obscuring the view of the sun from a small part of Earth, totally or partially

Wed, 12 Aug, 2026

Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, male bird perching

More than half of Earth’s migratory bird species are declining — here’s how we can save them

A bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) leaves its breeding grasslands of North America for the Pampas of South America

Sun, 09 Aug, 2026

Hikes and trails: Enjoy an easy ramble back through the centuries at Portumna Forest

Hikes and trails: Enjoy an easy ramble back through the centuries at Portumna Forest

The quicksilver waters of the Shannon sparkling vividly through the trees at Bonaveen Point is undoubtedly the high point of this three-hour route around this leafy forest trail

Fri, 07 Aug, 2026

Donal Hickey: Warm Atlantic waters attract exotic creatures to our shores

Donal Hickey: Warm Atlantic waters attract exotic creatures to our shores

Our coasts, especially in the south and west, have been seeing more sharks

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

Adder, Vipera berus

Richard Collins: We have an ancestral fear of snakes — the feeling is mutual

I encountered a snake swimming in the French Basque region’s Huchet River last month. We have an ancestral fear of snakes; the fixed stare of a serpent’s cold eye spooks us

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

Festivals can make it easy to be sustainable — here's how

Festivals can make it easy to be sustainable — here's how

All Together Now felt culturally self-assured, imaginative and proudly local. A festival ambitious enough to put Irish talent at its centre should be equally ambitious about protecting the landscape hosting it

Wed, 05 Aug, 2026

'Knowledge is power': Showing off the undersea wonders of Cork Harbour

'Knowledge is power': Showing off the undersea wonders of Cork Harbour

A new marine experience has opened up on Cork's coast, spearheaded by local man Dave Quinlan, who tells MARGARET DONNELLAN how the fishing industry has helped provide many of the fascinating exhibits

Mon, 03 Aug, 2026

AI-altered images on birdwatching forums are putting research at risk

Experts warn increase in enhanced photos on birding platforms creating fake sightings, threatening credibility of tool used by scientists

Sun, 02 Aug, 2026

Car driving on winding road through lush green valley at sunset

Going electric won’t clean up our hedgerows. So what can be done?

We tend to treat hedges as attractive boundaries, but they are busy doing a lot of work. They provide food and shelter for wildlife, connect fragmented habitats, store carbon, and slow water moving across the landscape. Beside roads, their leaves and branches can also intercept airborne particles

Sat, 01 Aug, 2026

Get ready for two rare astronomical events — on the same day

Get ready for two rare astronomical events — on the same day

On August 12, we will have the opportunity, weather permitting, to view the deepest eclipse of the sun by the moon until 2090. That’s 64 years, or almost three generations

Fri, 31 Jul, 2026

Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) found in European woodlands climbing tree trunks

Richard Collins: We belong to a community of domestic and wild creatures — we are not superior

To what extent do wild animals respond to encounters with others not of their own kind? Are there relationships between them which transcend the species barrier?

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

A blue barrel for collecting rainwater. Collecting rainwater in plastic container. Collecting rainwater for watering the garden.

Donal Hickey: What is water harvesting and is it making a return?

Nowadays called water harvesting, this form of collection and storage was widely practised by our practical ancestors. Often, large concrete troughs were part of the scene in farmyards for the same purpose

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Opening of Himalayan Hills, Dublin Zoo

Lesser spotted: This elusive leopard is somewhat of a 'ghost'

The snow leopard is more closely related to the tiger than to the ‘common’ leopard. But whereas the latter is a highly adaptable species, the ‘ghost’ is a specialist, at home only on the highest mountains

Sat, 25 Jul, 2026

Fish boat vessel fishing in a rough sea

Uneasy sea-bedfellows: Oceans of conflict around fishing and conservation

A major impediment to fishermen effectively becoming guardians of the seas and leading on restoration efforts is the complex manner in which the sea is managed

Sat, 25 Jul, 2026

Roz Purcell on 'scary' Slievenamon wildfire near home: 'I hope nobody ever has to go through this'

Roz Purcell on 'scary' Slievenamon wildfire near home: 'I hope nobody ever has to go through this'

The fire, which started on the mountain earlier this week, has engulfed surrounding woodland and is making its way toward the homes of local residents

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Cracked dried earth texture background, close up. Dry, erosion, ecology problem concept.

Under pressure: Dry conditions are changing the ground beneath us

Drought does not simply make soil dry. It changes how soil is structured, how it functions and how well it recovers, and Ireland is by no means immune to its effects

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Bright metallic blue fly on straw

On the fly: Insects play key role in environmental and human life

The next time you hear someone grumbling about insects causing a nuisance ask them to think again. We rely on insects for many things that go unseen

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

Cork's Fota Wildlife Park celebrates rare birth of two Sumatran tiger cubs

Cork's Fota Wildlife Park celebrates rare birth of two Sumatran tiger cubs

Born on June 16 to mother Jambi and father Batak, the cubs’ arrival marks the first time more than one cub has been born in a single litter at the park

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

Wild Matters: Nature restoration in action through pioneering projects

Wild Matters: Nature restoration in action through pioneering projects

Celebrating restoration initiatives nationwide that are effectively combatting the loss of nature across landscape and habitat types

Mon, 20 Jul, 2026

Georgian doors in Dublin

Michelle McKeown: In a heatwave, trees are more than just a pleasant extra

During hot weather, trees function as pieces of living infrastructure where they cool streets, shade buildings, and make towns and cities more comfortable. They are, essentially, natural air conditioners

Mon, 20 Jul, 2026

Summer weather June 1st 2025

Flower fairies: Foxglove and fuschia feature prominently in folklore

The warn sunny conditions of late have created the ideal climate for our wild plants, such as foxglove and fuchsia, which are growing in glorious profusion across the country

Thu, 16 Jul, 2026

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

St Swithin's Day: Could it stay sunny 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

Wed, 15 Jul, 2026

Moon Jellyfish stranded on a beach.

These are the jellyfish to watch out for and the ones you don't need to be afraid of

These smugairle róin (translates from Irish as 'seal snot') seem to be on the increase, although in the absence of monitoring and data about jellyfish distribution and abundance, it is hard to know for sure

Tue, 14 Jul, 2026

Hikes and trails: WB Yeats wrote about this woodland loop — and it still has the wow factor

Hikes and trails: WB Yeats wrote about this woodland loop — and it still has the wow factor

The Seven Woods Trail is an easy 4.5km loop that takes just over an hour to complete. Steeped in literary history, it links the woodland areas celebrated in the poetry of Yeats with the majestic Coole Lough

Mon, 13 Jul, 2026

Making a toast in a seaside café

9 summer walks or jogs in Cork where you can cool down with an iced coffee

To help you choose your next outdoor activity, we have scoped out some of the best trails in Cork to enjoy this weekend

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

Helicopter dumping water on a wildfire

Burning issue: What Europe’s wildfires can teach Ireland

Ireland is unlikely to experience the vast pine forest fires associated with southern Europe. But we are far from immune. Every year, fires affect upland heath, gorse, forestry and peatlands, particularly during prolonged dry spells

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

Top 20 walks to explore this weekend in Ireland — where to stop, eat and stay

Top 20 walks to explore this weekend in Ireland — where to stop, eat and stay

An expert guide to 20 of the top routes in Ireland to enjoy during the sunny spell

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

Painted Lady Butterfly

Age-old question: Could the longevity of butterflies be down to diet?

Some butterfly species there are impressively long-lived. They seem to remain young almost forever and show no obvious signs of physical decline as they get older. But how do they manage to do this?

Thu, 09 Jul, 2026

Abandoned

Donal Hickey: Expand grant schemes to beat rural decline

Even if it means doubling the vacant/derelict homes grants and offering other incentives, something needs to be done urgently to tackle ongoing decline in the west and south

Thu, 09 Jul, 2026

Total eclipse of the Sun. The moon covers the sun in a solar eclipse

Sky Matters: Get ready for the biggest celestial event of the year

Now is the time to start scouting out locations to view the biggest celestial event of 2026, the upcoming eclipse of the sun on August 12 that will see around 95-97% of the sun eclipsed by the moon

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

Newlyweds cutting wedding cake

Small wedding decisions that can cut waste, without cutting the joy

No wedding is perfectly sustainable. Weddings involve travel, food, flowers, clothes, music and celebration. And yet small, sensible choices around the day can make the celebration not only beautiful, but a little more thoughtful too

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

common swift in flight

Winging it: Swift ‘the devil bird’ that does its own thing

The European swift engages in behaviours very different from those of other, more ‘normal’ birds, and yet when it comes to nesting, there's no place like home

Fri, 03 Jul, 2026

Feeling the heat: Challenge to provide cooler spaces in urban settings

Feeling the heat: Challenge to provide cooler spaces in urban settings

Experts suggest we need nature-based solutions to mitigate against the Urban Heat Island effect in cities whereby hard surfaces such as tarred roads, footpaths and buildings trap more heat than rural areas and natural landscapes

Thu, 02 Jul, 2026

Hikes and Trails: Following in the footsteps of The Liberator

Hikes and Trails: Following in the footsteps of The Liberator

Today, the landscape Daniel O’Connell roamed is preserved as the Derrynane National Historic Park, where visitors experience the same tranquil woodlands, bays and beaches that captivated him

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

Resourceful raptors: Sky dancing hen harriers are fierce survivors

Resourceful raptors: Sky dancing hen harriers are fierce survivors

The fortunes of Irish hen harriers have fluctuated wildly in the past but now, against all odds, there may be reason for optimism for the survival prospects of this endangered species

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

House Wooden Frame

Wood from the trees: Timber a route to low-carbon construction

Timber, as a low-carbon construction material, presents a compelling opportunity to rapidly increase housing supply while at the same time taking action on climate change targets

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

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