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Outdoors

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>At the summit of Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest peak — that's the beauty of Wander Wild Festival: you can individually book the activities catering to your interests and tailor your day as you want. Pictures: Breda Graham</p>

outdoors

Energy, connection, and outdoor fun at Killarney's Wander Wild Festival

In today’s world, it has become increasingly difficult to make ‘real’ connections. To have like-minded people put down their devices and come together in nature proved to be a real eye-opener for Breda Graham

<p>Just because it's blustery and dark outside doesn't mean you can't 'experience' the outdoors this winter. Here are half a dozen great books relating to the natural world</p>

outdoors

Anja Murray: My favourite wildlife and environment books of 2025

<p>A buzzard is much larger than a sparrowhawk. Both sexes appear similar — with yellow legs, and a yellow base to their dark hook-tipped beak</p>

outdoors

Birds of Ireland: Buzzard

Kerry 'bat cave' is the perfect hangout thanks to extensive makeover

S outdoors

Kerry 'bat cave' is the perfect hangout thanks to extensive makeover

a willow casket - contemporary style

outdoors

Michelle McKeown: The greenest ways to go when you go

Mosquito - Culiseta annulata

outdoors

Richard Collins: Is human-induced global warming opening the door to dangerous insects?

Who are CHASE and why are they holding public meetings this month?

Who are CHASE and why are they holding public meetings this month?

Nearly 25 years ago waste management comapany Indaver applied for planning permission a hazardous and non-hazardous waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy, County Cork. This was refused permission by Cork County Council and then appealed to An Bórd Pleanála. There was considerable opposition including from environmental campaign group Chase. Oral hearings and court proceedings ensued and permission was eventually refused. This application has now been reactivated. We put some questions to CHASE...

Mon, 03 Nov, 2025

Peregrine Falcon chick born in Cork city — and another hopefully on the way

Peregrine Falcon chick born in Cork city — and another hopefully on the way

The 'proud parents' are Makeda and Solomon who live high up on St Fin Barre's Cathedral

Mon, 19 May, 2025

Plastic manufacturing technologies jeopardise food safety and the environment

Plastic manufacturing technologies jeopardise food safety and the environment

TCD researchers have found that when plastics are moulded into water pipes, bottles, and household food prep products they undergo 'frozen-in' stress which can cause microscopic blisters which shed micropollutants when they burst open

Mon, 12 May, 2025

Fake grass installation team

How can we save pollinators in Ireland before it's too late?

Protecting pollinators isn’t just about saving bees; it’s about safeguarding the systems that grow our food and give life to our landscapes

Fri, 09 May, 2025

Lithium Solid State Battery for EV Electric Vehicle, new research and development batteries with solid electrolyte energy storag

Donal Hickey: Irish research on the next generation of sustainable batteries

Four countries — Australia, China, Chile, and Argentina — account for 90% of the production of Lithium. Sodium and potassium batteries are promising alternatives, sharing similar chemistries to lithium. Currently, Canada, Russia and Belarus dominate potassium production, accounting for 66%, in 2023

Thu, 03 Apr, 2025

US-POLITICS-ENVIRONMENT-NATURE-PARKS-PROTEST

S Dire distress flag signal — will environmental publicity stunt be heeded?

Green defunding and environmental damage isn't limited to the US, we need to be alert to the dangers here too warns ecologist Pádraic Fogarty

Sun, 30 Mar, 2025

Birds of Ireland: Lapwing

Birds of Ireland: Lapwing

Did you know that the lapwing was declared Ireland's national bird back in 1990?

Sun, 16 Mar, 2025

President Higgins leads tributes after death of Matt Murphy, founder of Sherkin Island Marine Station

President Higgins leads tributes after death of Matt Murphy, founder of Sherkin Island Marine Station

Sherkin Island Marine Station was founded in 1975 by Matt Murphy and his late wife, Eileen and was run by Matt and his family until 2015

Fri, 07 Mar, 2025

Cost about CO2 reduction - concept with CO2 text against woodland and european euro banknote

The Carbon Credit Conundrum: A green solution or a licence to pollute?

On paper, the idea is simple and elegant. Polluters pay, green projects receive funding, and emissions are reduced overall...

Fri, 13 Dec, 2024

Anja Murray: The return of woodpeckers is a cause for celebration

Anja Murray: The return of woodpeckers is a cause for celebration

True to their exceptional nature, woodpeckers' remarkable comeback gives us a glimpse into the potential for ecological recovery, a nudge to remind us that when woodlands return, their wild residents are often able to recover lost ground too

Mon, 09 Dec, 2024

UK's first bear brain surgery - Kent

Boki the brown bear is making progress after pioneering brain surgery

The two-year-old bear had been suffering from seizures which were believed to be caused by hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain)

Wed, 20 Nov, 2024

Gray wolf cubs

Anja Murray: We have to take on the role of the wolf in managing our woodlands

After a reign of more than 25,000 years in Ireland, the last Irish wolf was said to have been killed in 1786, on the slopes of Mount Leinster in County Carlow. The ecological ramifications of eradicating woodlands and wolves from the landscape have been enormous

Wed, 13 Nov, 2024

Islands of Ireland: Success... I managed to find the tiny church on Parsons Island

Islands of Ireland: Success... I managed to find the tiny church on Parsons Island

This island's on Galway's Lough Cutra — Loch Cútra in Irish, it's named after a Firbolg who mythically did battle with another ancient tribe, the Tuatha Dé Danann

Fri, 31 May, 2024

Richard Collins: Not meer-ly making noises — they're sharing important news

Richard Collins: Not meer-ly making noises — they're sharing important news

Scientists have learned that meerkat chit-chat exchanges are vital to security

Thu, 30 May, 2024

Protecting nesting birds from flails and fires

Protecting nesting birds from flails and fires

About two-thirds of Ireland's farmland birds nest in hedges, which act as a kind of surrogate habitat for the woodlands that have been cleared from the Irish landscape

Wed, 28 Feb, 2024

The Dreenan Figure and Lustymore Man: The enduring enigma of Boa Island’s stone figures

S The Dreenan Figure and Lustymore Man: The enduring enigma of Boa Island’s stone figures

Are they pagan idols? One, in particular, is often claimed to represent Janus, a Roman god for whom January is named

Sun, 21 Jan, 2024

Wildlife population report

Richard Collins: Scientists study orangutans' balance between curiosity and caution

The readiness to interact with and explore novel stimuli — curiosity — is the cornerstone of innovation

Thu, 31 Aug, 2023

Should we bring wolves back into Ireland?

Should we bring wolves back into Ireland?

Irish team researches the potential impact of wolves at Killarney, Glenveagh, Wicklow Mountains, and Wild Nephin National Parks

Mon, 28 Aug, 2023

How to make your tiny garden look and feel bigger

How to make your tiny garden look and feel bigger

Mirrors, zones and outdoor or bespoke furniture are all fun ways to expand our summer living space

Thu, 08 Jun, 2023

Young Girl Eating Sweetcorn At Family Barbeque

Home Q&A: How to enjoy a summer barbecue safely

To ensure everyone stays safe when you're barbecuing, first set up the cooking device correctly. Here is a safety checklist

Thu, 08 Jun, 2023

Smart human intervention can bring Europe's wildlife ‘Back from the Brink’

Smart human intervention can bring Europe's wildlife ‘Back from the Brink’

Our planet is paying the price for generations of environmental mismanagement so it's great to hear about some of the ordinary people who are doing extraordinary conservation work

Sun, 04 Jun, 2023

Garden Digest: From Bloom to rare fairs to boost rooms outside

Garden Digest: From Bloom to rare fairs to boost rooms outside

Check out all the garden events, tours, talks, campaigns and online resources

Thu, 11 May, 2023

How Howling Ridge got its name... the vertical rocks and magnificent scenery of Carrauntoohil

How Howling Ridge got its name... the vertical rocks and magnificent scenery of Carrauntoohil

One of Ireland's finest mountaineering routes, this can be exhilarating — unless you're a husky dog

Tue, 18 Apr, 2023

Plasticosis disease

New disease caused by plastic found in birds for the first time

Birds affected by plasticosis become more vulnerable to infection and parasites and struggle to properly digest food and absorb vitamins

Fri, 03 Mar, 2023

‘Common good’ must prevail over pure profit in State-owned forestry

‘Common good’ must prevail over pure profit in State-owned forestry

We are in a climate and biodiversity emergency, so there’s no room for the continued dependence on profit over all else

Wed, 25 Jan, 2023

Islands of Ireland: Avoid Roe Island in spring so you don't disturb nesting birds

Islands of Ireland: Avoid Roe Island in spring so you don't disturb nesting birds

The islands of Strangford Lough are also known as pladdies and resemble a stationary pod of whales

Fri, 20 Jan, 2023

Kerry teen who climbed Carrauntoohil 100 times has her sights set on higher peaks

Kerry teen who climbed Carrauntoohil 100 times has her sights set on higher peaks

Orlaith Kelly, 14, first climbed Carrauntoohil when she was only 9 years of age

Wed, 18 Jan, 2023

Altruism towards other species may have helped humans thrive, study finds

Altruism towards other species may have helped humans thrive, study finds

How toddlers interact with dogs helps explain how humans came to domesticate animals, scientists say

Tue, 17 Jan, 2023

Without action, curlew will become virtually extinct as a native Irish breeding bird after 2025

Without action, curlew will become virtually extinct as a native Irish breeding bird after 2025

Many of today’s curlew territories have been discovered thanks to the help of local people with an intimate knowledge of their areas. Again in 2022, local people, especially farmers and landowners, were a key part of the conservation programme

Thu, 12 Jan, 2023

Islands of Ireland: You can get to this Galway island by foot if you check the route and the tides

Islands of Ireland: You can get to this Galway island by foot if you check the route and the tides

Boolard Island gets its name from An Bhuaile Ard which refers to ‘the high sheep pen’ — even though its highest point is only 23 metres

Fri, 18 Nov, 2022

Bumble bees research

Richards Collins: Busy bees still make time for play

Young bees rolled balls more frequently than did older ones, just as children and pups play more enthusiastically than adult humans and dogs

Thu, 10 Nov, 2022

Islands of Ireland: Only sheep or local boatmen have easy access to Kerry's Two-Headed Island

Islands of Ireland: Only sheep or local boatmen have easy access to Kerry's Two-Headed Island

It's named for its shape rather than any two-headed sea monsters

Fri, 21 Oct, 2022

First ever baby Indian rhino born in Ireland — at Fota Wildlife Park

First ever baby Indian rhino born in Ireland — at Fota Wildlife Park

Congratulations to Maya and Jamil on their beautiful bouncing baby boy who's already running around and playing. And you could be the one to name him...

Thu, 13 Oct, 2022

Donal Hickey: Keep your distance from strong stags as the annual rut gets underway

Donal Hickey: Keep your distance from strong stags as the annual rut gets underway

We don’t exactly know how many deer are in the country because a national count has not been carried out. But the national deer population is increasing and deer are now seen in unusual places, including front gardens

Thu, 06 Oct, 2022

Eight places to go pumpkin picking with the family before Halloween

Eight places to go pumpkin picking with the family before Halloween

Get your cosy jumper and wellies ready and you'll be all set to pick your own pumpkins

Mon, 03 Oct, 2022

Spider in the Bath

Autumn brings some unwanted house guests — spiders are fully loaded and looking for love

At this time of year, it can seem like spiders and crane flies are invading your home...

Tue, 27 Sep, 2022

5 pollution-busting trees to plant

5 pollution-busting trees to plant

'The point about hedges is that they are at the same height as the pollution so if you think about cars on a main road, if you have a really tall tree it's not going to absorb the same level of pollution as a hedge. Because of its density the pollution is caught more on the leaves'

Fri, 09 Sep, 2022

Large parts of Amazon may never recover, major study says

Large parts of Amazon may never recover, major study says

Swathes of rainforest have reached tipping point, research by scientists and Indigenous organisations concludes

Wed, 07 Sep, 2022

Extreme heat uncovers lost villages, ancient ruins and shipwrecks

Extreme heat uncovers lost villages, ancient ruins and shipwrecks

In an eerie twist, volatile weather and heat-induced drought are unearthing glimpses of lost archaeological treasures and forgotten history

Mon, 22 Aug, 2022

Mums urged to go wild: 'We learn so much about ourselves by taking risks'

Mums urged to go wild: 'We learn so much about ourselves by taking risks'

Poet and mountaineer Helen Mort says motherhood should not prevent women from getting in touch with their wild side or having adventures in the great outdoors

Thu, 21 Apr, 2022

10 outdoor activities for family fun in Munster

10 outdoor activities for family fun in Munster

The best family-friendly walks, cycles and outdoor adventures from coastal routes to forest walks across the province

Wed, 06 Apr, 2022

Five scenic Munster walks to escape the crowds over the sunny St Patrick's weekend

Five scenic Munster walks to escape the crowds over the sunny St Patrick's weekend

This year there's a double bank holiday and a hint of sunshine in the weather forecast - the perfect walking combo

Wed, 16 Mar, 2022

Cork City urged to take the plunge with a new city lido

Cork City urged to take the plunge with a new city lido

Having once enjoyed an outdoor pool at the Lee Baths, momentum is building in Cork City to develop a modern lido

Thu, 13 Jan, 2022

Fashion and function: What to wear on a winter getaway in the great outdoors

Fashion and function: What to wear on a winter getaway in the great outdoors

11 ideas for your next excursion that will keep you cosy, no matter the weather

Wed, 12 Jan, 2022