A colection of articles by Ella McSweeney
The Burren is home to 27 species of moths and butterflies found nowhere else in the country, along with all of our rarest butterflies and half our rarest moths
The confirmation revives the question of whether nightjars could have a more hopeful future in Ireland than previously believed
Consecutive Irish governments have sanctioned the plundering of salmon stocks
Farming for Nature is a movement of dairy and tillage farmers towards sustainable practices that respect the land
The mushroom’s striking silhouette resembles a classic toadstool from a children’s story
We must move fast to secure clean, healthy water for the future. But to do so, we need three things: ambition, investment and action
About three million starlings breed in Ireland yearly, joined in winter by visitors from all over Europe
Far from being ‘the worst thing to happen to humanity’, this EU law is a very small step towards combating a huge problem
Ella McSweeney: London and Amsterdam offer good examples, and Bray developers could factor in new research showing the extraordinary array of species in the town
Imogen Rabone came from a farm in Herefordshire in England, and during her years in Dublin felt an urgency to find a way to help people include trees in the landscape
Ella McSweeney: Digging a pond, however small, is worth it for the cascade of positive effects it brings
Ella McSweeney: With the rat menace addressed, the question now is how to protest puffins’ nests from another threat - tourists
Ella McSweeney: The powers that be would do well to pay more attention to climate scientists
Ella McSweeney: Leaving these gaps isn’t always compatible with insulation projects, but there are alternatives that don’t cost a huge amount
Ella McSweeney: Croagh Patrick has long suffered from being one of Mayo’s most valuable natural resources
Left alone, this invasive species will form dense dark thickets and outcompete native trees such as oak and hazel
Ella McSweeney: Thanks to the efforts of locals, nature is starting to flourish again in a river that has been blighted and abused for decades
Ella McSweeney: We don’t have time to fail. The Government should use our money to fund what works, then step out of the way
A €25 million project hopes to secure a better future for breeding waders, including the curlew, which desperately need help
Ella McSweeney: Younger kids, older people, outdoor workers, the socio-economically disadvantaged, pregnant women and the chronically ill are all disproportionately vulnerable to heat stress and mortality
Noticing the richness of life around us is an active choice
Ella McSweeney: Farmer Patrick McGurk has found a way forward with a system that produces both
Within a few years by working with fishers an actively-managed marine park in Co Kerry could become one of the world’s most spectacular sites
They can recognise human faces and respond to our expressions. Having a ‘bird brain’ is no bad thing after all
Ella McSweeney: Since they’re pretty adept at hiding away in prickly places – think mounds of nettles, brambles or hawthorn – I’m hopeful elusive hedgehogs are still around.
A new book by Seán Ó Gaoithín tells the stories of 28 woods in Co Donegal that are deeply complex spaces full of life
A growing band of scientists and river advocates across Europe are removing barriers at a record rate, enabling fish to navigate waterways as before
Although bats will roost in all kinds of spaces – from rocks, scree slopes and exposed limestone to holes in old oaks – they tend to favour buildings
First session of Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss sits at Dublin Castle
Hard lessons to be learned from Dutch efforts to cut back on pollution levels
It makes good economic sense to act now, says leading scientist Prof John Sweeney
The causes of peat landslides are many but human activities can increase the danger
Patrick Freyne: Baz Ashmawy would starve to death in minutes without the people of rural Ireland
Data from swifts who fly 10,000km from Africa to these shores tells a remarkable story
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Full general election coverage including analysis and results for all 43 constituencies
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices
