Latest news with #SeánRonayne
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Ireland's oldest literary festival adds another memorable chapter to its illustrious story
Listowel town was buzzing with the energy and excitement of another hugely successful festival as people from near and far enjoyed what is a unique celebration. This year's programme proved so popular that several events reached capacity well in advance – two of which had to be moved to larger venues due to unprecedented demand. These included the Frank Hayes Memorial Event, proudly sponsored by Kerry Group, and a powerful event called Memory and Forgetting with Fergal Keane and guests. Another standout moment came from nature writer Seán Ronayne, whose event Nature Boy captivated a full house, underscoring the appetite for stories rooted in our natural world. St John's Theatre also confirmed full houses for Sharon's Grave, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, and events featuring Jimmy Murphy and Eoghan Harris. A number of events had to be moved to larger venues due to soaring ticket demand. "Listowel was absolutely alive over the weekend. You could feel the sense of pride from the community as visitors filled the town for events, conversations, and connections,' said said Chairman Ned O'Sullivan. 'The support from Minister Patrick O'Donovan was a huge boost to the festival, and we're incredibly grateful for his recognition of the value Listowel Writers' Week brings, not just to Listowel but to the national cultural calendar. I would like to thank Kerry Writers' Museum and St John's Theatre for their collaboration for the Listowel Literary Festival this year,' Ned added. Listowel Writers' Week is nothing without the brilliant volunteers involved. Together, they imbue the energy, commitment, and generosity that makes the festival a success year after year. Festival Curator Márie Logue reflected on the remarkable public response saying she was 'absolutely thrilled' with the audiences this year. 'So many of our events were completely booked out, including the Frank Hayes Memorial Event, Brendan Begley's launch, and the Library's double launch on Friday which drew over 800 people,' she said, 'The crowd spilled out onto the street; library staff said they had never seen anything like it in their lives. Other sell-out events included Paul Durcan, Andy Irvine, and Francesca Simon,' Márie added.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The man pursuing the sound of every bird in Ireland
With more than half of Ireland's birds at risk of extinction, an Irish ornithologist is utilising recordings he has made to advocate for their preservation. Originally from Cobh in County Cork, Seán Ronayne has approximately 12,000 recordings of Irish birds and other wildlife in his possession. A documentary team have followed his mission as he attempts to capture recordings of every species of bird in Ireland. However, Seán believes "it's not just birds that are at risk of extinction, these are a symptom of something much greater". Having been immersed in nature from a young age, Seán Ronayne's project didn't begin until he moved to Spain in 2018. While living in Barcelona, Seán said he started record birds "because there were so many new species there". "I bought a sound recorder to give myself a chance to figure out what I was listening to and then realised that there was value in sharing the sounds with people," he told BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme. "People reacted to it and I realised that I enjoyed telling their stories." Seán then returned to Ireland and decided to record "every bird sound". With almost 200 native birds already recorded, he has three species left on his list - the grey partridge, great skua and the red-breasted merganser. All three are increasingly difficult to locate, he explained. Seán said the great skua will even attack humans. "A tough bird, they're seabirds, they wait for other birds to catch food, they chase them down, they attack them and then steal the food from them." Even if the bird has swallowed the food, Seán explained, "they'll attack them until they regurgitate it". "They'll even attack you too, if you go near their nesting area." The grey partridge, Seán continued, is "a species that's almost extinct in Ireland". "[It's] a ground-nesting species that suffered very much at the hands of the mechanisation of our agricultural practices, remaining in one site in the midlands, in County Offaly. "Even at that, they're a species that had to be reintroduced, supplemented by birds from Scandinavia." When pursuing this amass of birds to add to the portfolio, Seán said in Ireland's landscape he has seen "destruction and greed". The region is "ecologically devastated", he said. However, "it's not too late", he added. "There are fragments of beauty and hope out there, that we can build out from. "When you go to places outside of Ireland, it really hits home." Speaking to BBC News NI from Seattle, Seán said in parts of the US "it's illegal to cut down a tree". "You need to have permission, and when you do cut it down you have to replace it with a mature tree," he said. Irish people "should be taking example from places like this", he said. "63% of Irish birds are at risk of extinction, and that's the canary in the mine. "It's not just birds that are at risk of extinction, these are a symptom of something much greater." Migratory birds 'in freefall' over climate change Swift action essential to save 'fascinating flyer' The football club giving house martins a home
BBC News
13-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Seán Ronayne: Cork ornithologist advocates for bird preservation
With more than half of Ireland's birds at risk of extinction, an Irish ornithologist is utilising recordings he has made to advocate for their from Cobh in County Cork, Seán Ronayne has approximately 12,000 recordings of Irish birds and other wildlife in his possession.A documentary team have followed his mission as he attempts to capture recordings of every species of bird in Seán believes "it's not just birds that are at risk of extinction, these are a symptom of something much greater". Having been immersed in nature from a young age, Seán Ronayne's project didn't begin until he moved to Spain in living in Barcelona, Seán said he started record birds "because there were so many new species there"."I bought a sound recorder to give myself a chance to figure out what I was listening to and then realised that there was value in sharing the sounds with people," he told BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme."People reacted to it and I realised that I enjoyed telling their stories."Seán then returned to Ireland and decided to record "every bird sound". With almost 200 native birds already recorded, he has three species left on his list - the grey partridge, great skua and the red-breasted three are increasingly difficult to locate, he said the great skua will even attack humans. "A tough bird, they're seabirds, they wait for other birds to catch food, they chase them down, they attack them and then steal the food from them."Even if the bird has swallowed the food, Seán explained, "they'll attack them until they regurgitate it"."They'll even attack you too, if you go near their nesting area." The grey partridge, Seán continued, is "a species that's almost extinct in Ireland"."[It's] a ground-nesting species that suffered very much at the hands of the mechanisation of our agricultural practices, remaining in one site in the midlands, in County Offaly."Even at that, they're a species that had to be reintroduced, supplemented by birds from Scandinavia." 'Destruction and greed' When pursuing this amass of birds to add to the portfolio, Seán said in Ireland's landscape he has seen "destruction and greed".The region is "ecologically devastated", he "it's not too late", he added."There are fragments of beauty and hope out there, that we can build out from."When you go to places outside of Ireland, it really hits home." Speaking to BBC News NI from Seattle, Seán said in parts of the US "it's illegal to cut down a tree"."You need to have permission, and when you do cut it down you have to replace it with a mature tree," he people "should be taking example from places like this", he said."63% of Irish birds are at risk of extinction, and that's the canary in the mine."It's not just birds that are at risk of extinction, these are a symptom of something much greater."
