Fintan Kelly

The Greystones Guide | Downs Nature Reserve Returning To Ancient Oak Woodland State announce plans for new 100-acre purchase…

Its nice to see both Min Christopher OSullivan and Jennifer Whitmore recognising the important role that both national NGOs and local groups played in bring this new chapter for the Glen of the Downs to fruition #RestoreNature
www.greystonesguide.ie/downs-nature...

Red-tape cutting has become a ‘terrible political spectacle,’ EU’s Ribera says The European Commission’s No.2 official criticized a “Trumpist” approach to EU deregulation.

Red-tape cutting has become a ‘terrible political spectacle,’ EU’s Ribera says www.politico.eu/article/eu-r...

EU decision-makers are on a mission to roll back vital nature laws.

🚨 Across Europe we’re seeing fewer fish stocks, bycatch of endangered species, and declining marine habitats.

These laws need no fixing; they need enforcing. #HandsOffNature!

More 👉 wwfeu.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/eu...

An Taisce did some polling on irish attitudes to water and the Nitrates derogation- the majority of those polled are not in support of another derogation.

Anja Murray: Nitrates not giving our rivers a chance to breathe Why is it now widely considered acceptable to heap pollutants in to lakes until the ecosystems they once sustained are eliminated?

'the current heavy loading of agricultural nutrients will have to stop. Lakes and rivers need to be given the chance to breathe, to reoxygenate their habitats so that life can return.'

www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...

Always happy to recognise minority perspectives.

Delighted to be on bonnie Edinburgh today at the Peatland Restoration Conference. Its great to see the ongoing collaboration on peatland restoration between Eire - Alba.

Colombia bans all new oil and mining projects in its Amazon Colombia will no longer approve new oil or large-scale mining projects in its Amazon biome, which covers 42% of the nation’s territory, according to a Nov. 13 statement by its environment ministry. Ac...

Very proud to be Colombian right now! 🇨🇴 I hope all neighboring countries follow suit soon! news.mongabay.com/short-articl...

In Sep24 in the midst of full‑scale war, Ukraine’s parliament rejected an industry driven proposal to weaken EIA and open old‑growth, high‑conservation Carpathian forests to logging.

What excuse do the other countries have for delaying nature restoartion?

An extraordinary find in the Irish Sea left experts gobsmacked Ella McSweeney: Is a once-common species returning to the Irish Sea thanks to overspill from marine protected areas elsewhere?

The discovery of a Flapper Skate egg on Bray seafront is another reminder that all is not lost. Even the Irish Sea has the capacity to recover if given a fighting chance.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Lough Sheelin fish kill: 834 trout dead from low oxygen + high temps, NO pollution incident found.

A wake-up call: climate change amps up the impact of chronic diffuse pollution - turning 'acceptable' levels deadly. Time to reframe whats acceptable pollution
www.fisheriesireland.ie/news/media-r...

EU commission recommends an extension to Ireland's nitrates derogation | Newstalk Michael McGrath has said the European Commission has recommended to extend the nitrates derogatio...

I spoke to Pat Kenny earlier about the derogation decision

'In theory, we should only get the derogation on the condition that it not impact on water quality. We’re not holding up our end of the bargain, and we haven’t for decades '

www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...

Yes given that there are so many of our "native" plants and mammals were plausably introduced by our ancestors you would think that boar would be at the very top of the lost of desirable introductions. If Polynesian ancestors could introduce pigs to Rapa Nui then a trip to Ireland is childs play

Wildcat bones found in Co Clare dated to 5,500 years ago The first directly dated wildcat bones found in Ireland have been identified, confirming that the species inhabited the island more than 5,500 years ago.

It's possible, as legends like Diarmuid and Grainne feature wild boar, another native species known to have been extirpated.

Perhaps fittingly, bones from another cave in the Burren prove that wildcats were present in Ireland 5,500 years ago
www.rte.ie/news/munster...

I have always been intrigued by legends like Bricriu's Feast, where one of Cú Chulainn's heroic feats was taming supernatural cats that emerged from Oweynagat Cave in Co. Roscommon (the Cave of the Cats).

Could these cats be an echo of cultural memory of wildcats or lynx?

Glen of the Downs nature reserve could expand after NPWS acquires large parcel of forestry land ‘We hope to see the National Parks & Wildlife Service resourcing an ambitious native woodland restoration project,’ says Irish Wildlife Trust

I'd change this headline to - Glen of the Downs nature reserve WILL expand after NPWS acquires large parcel of forestry land #RestoreNature 🙌 share.google/c8jydbJEGGrl...

Rewilding for nature recovery It's easy to see the benefits of letting natural processes take the reins

Rewilding can breathe new life into tired landscapes, reshaping the mundane into the miraculous. A future where nature lies in ruin isn't one where the human spirit can be free.
share.google/RgumpDH6cvrE...

Possible Glen of the Downs expansion as State buys lands The State has purchased private lands that were for sale adjacent to the Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow which could lead to the expansion of the nature reserve.

RTE confirm the NPWS have acquired lands adjacent to the Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve.
To quote the A Team "I love it when a plan comes together".
www.rte.ie/news/regiona...

A special thanks to the local community, An Taisce, the Irish Wildlife Trust, the Native Woodland Trust, and ReWild Wicklow for pushing for this. Special thanks to Jennifer Whitmore who never gave up and Min Noonan and O Sullivan for listening & securing the site for the Irish people.

The Greystones Guide | This Bellevue Land Is Finally Our Land National Parks & Wildlife Service snap up 100 acres…

The confirmation that 100ac of forestry adjacent to the Glen of the Downs has been bought by the NPWS is great news for Nature Restoration.

The opportunity to double the size of Irelands oldest nature reserve is a once in a limetime opportunity.
www.greystonesguide.ie/100-acres-of...

Climate Changemakers: ‘It’s unfair how much of the quota is given to a tiny number of larger fishing vessels’ Over the years, Ireland’s environmental and economic interests have been pitched at odds with one another. But this need not be the case, and championing small-scale fisheries is one way positive chan...

"We don’t want all of that traditional knowledge to be lost"

Delighted to see my former @irishwildlifetrust.bsky.social colleague Grace Carr featured in this series where she talks about the need for Marine Protected Areas 🐬

www.independent.ie/life/climate...

A must-listen piece that does an excellent job of teasing out the psychology, science, and politics of the Nitrates Derogation.

As Dr. Elaine McGoff says, “We have a phosphorus solution to a nitrates problem.” Maybe it’s time we started working on the nitrates solution? @jessikaroswall.ec.europa.eu

Nitrates derogation Back in the early nineties all across the EU a rule was introduced to protect rivers and streams from agricultural run off. At the last count 7,000 out of 137,000 farms in Ireland had received a derog...

Over the 19 years Ireland has had a derogation from the nitrates directive we have backed ourselves in to a corner. Which now leaves us having productive and economically viable farms or cleaner rivers and lakes, but not both.

Listen: 👉 www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

[Forensic debunking by @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social of recent "abundance" nonsense from thw Collison Bros and their #junktank "Progess Ireland" (shamefully platformed and indulged by @irishtimes.com).]

On Environmental Democracy and the Collisons’ “Abundance-Verse” Andrew Jackson 21 November 2025 I. Introduction A clamour of praise greeted John Collison’s “how to get Ireland moving” Op-Ed following its publication in the Irish Times on 25th October: the Irish…

I’ve written something on John Collison’s Op-Ed and environmental democracy

Next time you’re out in Dublin, check if you’re being “socially de-risked” by a friendly face from his think-tank

elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...

On Environmental Democracy and the Collisons’ “Abundance-Verse” Andrew Jackson 21 November 2025 I. Introduction A clamour of praise greeted John Collison’s “how to get Ireland moving” Op-Ed following its publication in the Irish Times on 25th October: the Irish…

Andrew Jackson really cooked Collison here.
Hilarious that Collisons think tank Progress Ireland are asking “How will you avoid getting pigeonholed as right-wing tech bros?” - a question you should never ask publicly if you dont want to be labelled a right-wing tech bro
elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...

Ireland once again in the dock, for issues that @antaisce.bsky.social & SWAN have long highlighted as being legally problematic.

Amongst other serious issues, this judgement highlights that the arterial drainage act is not compliant with the WFD.

Time to give that archaic legislation the boot!

We are still paying for the 2008 financial crisis in Ireland which was caused in part by reckless regulatory oversight of bankers & developers.

Fast forward & Bertie Ahern nearly ran in the presidential election & we are being told we need to deregulate & cut taxes for developers. Dangerous times.

Senior official says public given too many opportunities to object to infrastructure plans

“Eoin Dorgan, asst sec at Dept of Public Expenditure Dorgan said Ireland needs to apply Tony Blair’s motto “tough on crime, tough on causes of crime” to the ongoing issue around legal objections”

..citizens ensuring that decisions are lawful are not criminals
www.businesspost.ie/politics/sen...