Save Our Bride Otters

It's always heartening to see them in these otherwise barren places.

Usually the opposite.

Neighbours falling out over parking issues in Cork estates Concerns have been raised by North Cork councillors and those representing the Carrigaline municipal district.

In Blackpool we have car parks and roads draining surface water directly into the river. We now have a €20M+ flood scheme in the works. In Carrigaline we have a FF councillor suggesting that we turn green (water absorbent) spaces in car (non-permeable) spaces. #cork www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...

Think we can guess who that might be…

Government plans to speed up major infrastructure projects Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers will tell Cabinet ministers on Tuesday that pre-planning processes are taking as long as four years to complete

‘Simplification unit’ www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...

What about the surface water runoff? No doubt they’ll be screaming about flooding later.

I cannot see how there would be a conflict with operators at 30m and below apart from the moment of delivery which I believe takes place at around 14m. The current proposal feels like complete overkill.

Page 1 of a submission to the Irish Aviation Authority.

Page 2 of a submission to the Irish Aviation Authority.

Page 3 of a submission to the Irish Aviation Authority.

My submission to the consultation on drone operations in the city.

The new "geozone" is an arbitrary imposition on commercial and community activities, with disproportionate negative impacts.

As a regulator, the IAA needs to sit back and consider if this would even withstand a court challenge. 🧵

Great to hear Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran talk about working with nature during a Dáil Éireann debate on flooding in response to a number of TD's blaming pearl mussels etc - Thursday, 19 Feb 2026. Perhaps there is a change in the air. #cork
www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/d...

This way credit can be taken for delivering housing and later for the inevitable flood scheme that follows.

Chonky Cork City otter. This picture was taken in the South Channel of the Lee in 2021. This fine fella is still around the city but has lost two canine teeth which helps to identify him. #cork

Otter. River Lee. Cork City. It was chewing on a crab at the time. Taken in 2022. #cork

All this faff for the benefit of one private operator.

Of all otter types, the giant river otter is the scariest looking. This is not a scientific observation.

Thanks for taking this on board Oliver.

Aviation authority invited to meet councillors soon | Cork Independent The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has been invited to attend the next session of Cork City Council's Transport Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), following criticism of a proposed restricted zone for ...

Thanks to Steven Fox and the Cork Independent for reporting the downing of drone use in the city.

From today, open category (i.e. arrive and fly) operations will be banned in a part of the city — commercial, amateur and community uses — to facilitate food delivery by drone.

Are we going to have to wait three months to discover what 'the workaround' is? Any plan that involves having to give notice in advance and waiting for permission is not going to be satisfactory.

Concern over number of councillors dismissing expert advice and rezoning land in flood-risk areas Councillors have been warned they are putting homes and property in jeopardy after a spate of rezonings on lands at risk of flooding or coastal erosion.

‘In Co Cavan, flood risk advice was rejected in relation to sites in Cavan town and Belturbet and Cork City councillors acted similarly in relation to a site at Ballyvolane.’ Story from 2023. Still relevent all the same. #cork www.independent.ie/irish-news/c...

Search and rescue. Engineering surveys etc. If you are referring to nefarious drone use - it’s unlikely that regulation is going to make the slightest difference to that going on. It’s only going to impact those of us who follows the rules.

Councillors tried to zone 288 flood-prone sites for development in past six years Planning regulator intervened 93 times to stop zoning on sites in nine counties, with more interventions still under way

Telling councillors they must not try to put housing on flood plains is a "frequent theme" in communications from the planning regulator
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

The same can be said for lots of activities. At least we don’t have large scale gun ownership here in Ireland which use is also controlled by voluntary compliance. Not everyone sees their use as positive. In my opinion drones can be a (very) useful tool.

Regulation is not going to make an ounce of difference to those who don’t follow the rules.

This plan effectively hands over Cork City skies to one commercial drone operator and excludes those of us who have taken the time to register with the IAA as drone operators and who operate responsibly.

Drones can also be useful for search and rescue, geographical and engineering surveys etc. We use a drone to document changes to river, bank raising and flooding. Most of the drones used for this purpose are much smaller and far less noisy. If they are used sensibly they needn’t be a pest either.

YouTube video by Daniel O'Neill Nuisance Manna drone delivery. 26 August 2025. Dublin 15. #drone #dronedelivery #dublin15 #fromhell

Imagine this across Cork City. That’s the plan folks. Sound up so you can appreciate it. #cork

youtube.com/shorts/zGIqm...

Make a submission here - www.iaa.ie/media/2026/0...

It’s a good explainer. Mad stuff indeed.

To be fair, the government made no secret of it being intensely comfortable with economically motivated JRs from developers.

For example the likes of daa plc, cairn and Glenveagh are serial litigants but never once criticised

Hedge cutting season ends 28 February

Help protect nesting birds and other wildlife in our gardens. Complete any cutting/pruning of hedges + other vegetation before 01 March.

Find out more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFsX...

@wildlife-wri.bsky.social @hedgerowsireland.bsky.social

Disagree with outright drone ban. We use one for monitoring river works etc. Other uses include search and rescue and engineering surveys etc. Registered operators are usually sensible and safety and privacy conscious.