Mooney Goes Wild

RTÉ

Derek Mooney and guests explore the natural world in all its forms. Listen live every Monday at 10pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

  • 5 minutes 30 seconds
    Peregrine Falcons In Cobh
    The Peregrine Falcon, the world’s fastest animal at 389 km/h, nearly went extinct due to the pesticide DDT but has recovered strongly in Ireland and worldwide. In recent years, a pair nested in the 300-ft belfry of St. Colman's Cathedral, successfully breeding in 2024. On tonight’s programme, Jim Wilson tells us more...
    16 February 2026, 10:00 pm
  • 8 minutes 47 seconds
    The Collared Dove: An Avian Success Story
    While on holiday recently in Valencia, Spain, Derek noticed a species of bird that has become one of the staple performers in the Irish Dawn Chorus each year: the Collared Dove. First breeding in Ireland in 1959, they now consistently feature each winter in the Top 20 of BirdWatch Ireland’s Irish Garden Bird Survey...
    16 February 2026, 10:00 pm
  • 12 minutes 40 seconds
    Report - Ireland’s First "Living Seawall" In Cobh
    Ireland’s first Living Seawall at Kennedy Pier, Cobh Harbour, was developed by UCC, Research Ireland and the Port of Cork. Featuring habitat-rich panels with unique patterns of cups, ridges and depressions, it boosts marine life and water quality. Naturalist Jim Wilson speaks with marine ecologist Dr. Louise Firth from UCC BEES about the project...
    16 February 2026, 10:00 pm
  • 24 minutes 41 seconds
    Dinosaurs: What Happened To Them?
    Dr. Matthias Sinnesael, Assistant Professor in Geology at Trinity College Dublin, is one of the participants in a study trying better to understand the dinosaur extinction event and whether it was caused purely by the asteroid, or if extreme volcanic activity may also have played a role. He joins Richard, Eanna and Niall in studio to explain...
    16 February 2026, 10:00 pm
  • 9 minutes 57 seconds
    Ancient shamrock at the Trinity College Herbarium
    Dr. Peter Moonlight is the Curator of the Herbarium at Trinity College Dublin's School of Botany, which holds half a million dried plant specimens, including possibly the world’s oldest shamrock specimen! Who else would we send to chat to Peter about all of this but our resident botanist Éanna Ní Lamhna?
    9 February 2026, 10:00 pm
  • 18 minutes 51 seconds
    Biophilia at the Bots
    "Biophilia", or "love of life", is used to describe the innate tendency of humans to connect with nature. At the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, guide Eoin O’Reilly organised a tour entitled Biophilia. We sent Terry Flanagan and Richard Collins along to learn more...
    9 February 2026, 10:00 pm
  • 15 minutes 27 seconds
    Designated deer: Sika added to the list of EU invasive alien species
    The EU has added Sika deer to the list of invasive alien species of concern in Ireland. But what does this mean in practice for deer management here? Damien Hannigan of the Irish Deer Commission joins us on tonight’s programme to tell us more...
    9 February 2026, 10:00 pm
  • 5 minutes 28 seconds
    Dr. Matthew Jebb is back... it’s about lime!
    Derek, Richard, Eanna and Niall are joined by recently retired Director of the National Botanic Gardens, for a panel discussion about Lime trees: their characteristics, their ecology and their place in the Irish landscape...
    9 February 2026, 10:00 pm
  • 11 minutes 24 seconds
    The Robins Of Richie Ryan
    Jim Wilson introduces us to his neighbour, retired naval officer Richie Ryan, who has become famous on social media for his charming videos of wild Robins feeding from his hand...
    2 February 2026, 10:00 pm
  • 8 minutes 28 seconds
    What On Earth Is "Biophilia"?
    Naturalist, broadcaster, author and wildlife photographer Eric Dempsey explains in a special reflection why immersion in the natural world plays such an important role in the maintenance and improvement of both mental and physical health...
    2 February 2026, 10:00 pm
  • 15 minutes 30 seconds
    The Importance Of Biological Recording
    Terry Flanagan visits Éanna ní Lamhna in her garden in Terenure, Dublin, to chat about Éanna’s time working as a wildlife recorder in An Foras Forbatha and the importance of "citizen science" projects...
    2 February 2026, 10:00 pm
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