Free talks to focus on research

Recent studies into wildlife in Ireland have thrown up some interesting findings, with more people now taking note of what is emerging from universities and research institutes.

Our national parks are obvious focal points and the annual autumn/winter series of free talks, under the auspices of Killarney National Park, and invariably has an interesting line-up of experts with much to say about their chosen subjects.

The recovery of the little-known pine marten and the corresponding decline in the grey squirrel, which is regarded as an invasive species, is one of the more encouraging wildlife stories.

Among the seven speakers this year will be Emma Sheehy, a mammal ecologist who has lately completed a PhD investigating the role of the pine marten in the Irish squirrel population scene.

A rare and elusive creature threatened with extinction, many people will never have seen a pine marten. The adult is about the size of a cat and has a brown, fur coat, for which it was once hunted.

Ms Sheehy’s study took place in the midlands and east between 2009 and 2013. She is currently working in NUI Galway. In October 2009, the university’s mammal ecology group launched a research project investigating the relationships between three woodland mammal species in Ireland — the native red squirrel, the pine marten and the introduced grey squirrel.

In the past 100 years, the grey squirrel has spread throughout the eastern half of the country and has had a negative impact on the native red squirrel, which has been seen to disappear from many areas colonised by the grey.

However, the most recent distribution survey carried out on the two species, in midland counties, showed the grey squirrels had not replaced the red in the same manner as in other areas, and even that the red squirrel had extended its range.

This coincided with a resurgence of the pine marten in such areas, amid reports that the pine marten is preying on grey squirrels, all of which will feature in Ms Sheehy’s talk on Oct 24.

All the talks will be in the Killarney Plaza Hotel and they get under way on Oct 10, with Fiona Brennan speaking on drama in Kerry. On Oct 17, Michael Gibbons will talk on prehistoric mountain pilgrimages.

The series will conclude, on Nov 21, with an exhibition by Kenmare-based photographer Norman McCloskey of Park Light Images from Killarney National Park.