NATURE Michael Kingdon enjoys spring sights at Lough Carra, from warblers to mallards, to ants at work
Outdoor Living
A virtuoso joins the dawn chorus
NATURE Country Sights and Sounds’ true author is revealed, while a blackcap takes centre stage in the dawn chorus
The beginning
NATURE John Shelley remembers how his love for nature began and was fostered during his childhood
Whoo’s who?
NATURE John Shelley enjoys the gentle coos and spring antics of a fastidious wood pigeon selecting the perfect stick for its nest
Old Irish Goats to leave Mulranny for Howth Head
Up to 25 Old Irish Goats are leaving the hills of Mulranny to take up residence in the salubrious surrounds of Howth Head
Year-round entertainment, occasional drama
NATURE Pat Fahy on the joys of watching garden birds and taking part in the Irish Garden Bird Survey
The chattering classes
NATURE John Shelley takes a stroll to a rookery and contemplates the joys – and potential vexations – of having rooks as neighbours
Pushing past peat in the garden
NATURE With peat compost soon be a thing of the past, Pat Fahy looks at the benefits of using comfrey in the garden
Ireland’s unique relationship with the horse
CULTURE Sonia Kelly looks at the history of our grá for horses, from the Irish Hobby to the Connemara pony and Irish Draught
A thorny problem
NATURE A two-inch thorn lodges in John Shelley’s knuckle, causing swelling, pain and an attack of guilt over cutting a neighbour’s ash
Garden plans take root
GREEN LIVING The year of lockdowns has allowed McKinley and her family focus on creating the garden of their dreams