Big day

First Iveragh Woodlands EIP operational group meeting.

Farmer- hunter - forester - ecologist dream team!!

Imagine saying "the economy grew 11% this year" to someone under 35, with a straight face....

Thanks @rayofoghlu.bsky.social for the write up
It was great to see everyone and discuss restoration of forested peatlands in Ireland.

@colinguilfoyle.bsky.social

www.farmersjournal.ie/more/climate... Wild Nephin: restoration, research and rewilding - Free

A great nature restoration story not really being told.

Rewetting of raised bogs in the midlands is probably the largest scale nature restoration effort happening in Ireland today.

Another perspective on the same issue from @rayofoghlu.bsky.social but we agree that more nuance is needed in the debate over new forests on peatland

www.farmersjournal.ie/amp/more/cli...

In the uplands, some protected areas, even on certain peat soils, there is an argument for woodland creation.

It's definitely nuanced. There is a fine line to be walked here, and plenty who would try to exploit it, but I don't think it should be ignored.
www.farmersjournal.ie/more/climate...

Scenes to horrify foresters...

Growing trees and growing food have been endlessly siloed in Ireland - from the parcel of ground that's used, to its legal status, to education, advisory, & indeed culture.

Addressing this will be key to unlocking woodland creation opportunities.

Turning food into (contaminated) soil.

A great study would be to estimate the value of unpaid work farmers do for people in the country who get themselves in bother.

Biggest hit at today's horsehair...

Watch: O'Leary on how Green policy has driven up beef price Ryanair CEO and owner of the Gigginstown Angus Herd Michael O'Leary has said he believes current beef prices are sustainable and that...

Make this make sense

"Idiotic green decisions" have given farmers the best beef price ever.

Also, in relation to his farm "we're going circular - not buying in fertiliser, and growing our own meal".

Maybe the billionaires don't have our backs?

www.agriland.ie/farming-news...

White House inadvertently texted top-secret Yemen war plans to journalist In extraordinary blunder top Trump cabinet members added Atlantic editor to chat discussing strikes on Houthis

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

"Commercial forestry" shouldn't be a dirty word.

I think ProSilva are one of the best organisations we have.

Their conference is on this Friday.

It's on...

"Take a picture with the cow, dad"

Mining bee habitat creator

Tenders sought to develop masters programme in agroforestry National Organic Training Skillnet (NOTS) is seeking tenders for the development of a masters programme in agroforestry.

www.agriland.ie/farming-news...

A good development. Who will teach on it?

100% will be there

Join us for a one-day symposium on the 12th June at the Marine Institute, Furnace, Co. Mayo where we will present new research focused on the biodiversity within @WildNephin & discuss the possibilities for the Nephin Forest + ecological restoration potential in the wider landscape 🌲

Usnea articulata lichen near Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare

Colm MCarthy can always be relied upon to provide a contrarion & fatalistic view on progressive policy.

A few years back he said wind would be a stranded asset.

Sheep in Waterford

2014 - 140,000

2023 - 63,000

It’s not the prettiest section of the River Bride but it’s a focal point for Blackpool Village. It’s also surprising busy in terms of nature with dipper, mallard, grey wagtail, sand martins the occasional otter and even small fish (yes, we’ve seen them here). Oh, and this heron too of course.

Love a pint, but in the context of a ban on alcohol advertising in sport, being able to splash Guiness/Heineken logos across a pitch, because there's a "0.0" after them is a complete joke.

"If you shoot a raven, it's mate will have a new partner by teatime".

Great talk on crows by @rickywhelan.bsky.social

What a joke!

Ireland's energy regulator has abdicated all responsibility for setting policy in line with the climate law.

If the CRU doesn't take responsibility, then what public body will?

2017-2025

There's a spot around the back of an offshore Island in Doolin, County Clare. From time to time, groups of local men (and the occasional woman) meet up around the back of it. They go dressed from head to toe in black rubber suits. Together they play with their polyurethane sticks for hours upon end.