***THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED*** Win a copy of Ten Thousand Years Deep: The Story of Ireland's Peatlands!
Over 20 years ago, nature photographer Carsten Krieger packed up his job as a nurse in Germany and moved to Ireland with his wife. His new home backed onto a bog, which led to him becoming fascinated by this amazing wildlife habitat.
After extensive research and decades spending time in them and photographing them, Carsten has written a booked called Ten Thousand Years Deep: The Story of Ireland's Peatlands, published by O'Brien Press. A few weeks ago, our researcher Michele Browne met Carsten at Griston Bog in Co. Limerick to find out more.
For more information about Ten Thousand Years Deep: The Story of Ireland's Peatlands and to purchase your own copy, visit https://obrien.ie/ten-thousand-years-deep. The ISBN is 9781788494861 and the RRP is €24.99.
***COMPETITION TIME!***
As a special treat for our listeners, we have two copies of Carsten’s wonderful book to give away. To be in with a chance of snagging one, e-mail mooney@rte.ie with your name and address, and the answer to the following question:
What is the Irish name for Red Grouse?
It translates as "hen of heather" - visit https://birdwatchireland.ie/birds/red-grouse/ for a hint!)
Competition closes at 23:59 on Thursday, December 18th. Good luck!
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***THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED*** Win a copy of Animalopedia!
Did you know that Ireland's tiny pipistrelle bats can eat up to 3000 insects in one night? Or that the Irish stoat is one of our oldest native animals, having been here for over 12,000 years? Or that the oystercatcher was apparently blessed by St. Brigid as thanks for saving her? All these snippets of fact and folklore, and hundreds more, can be found in a stunning new book called Animalopedia, which was written by former Waterford schoolteacher John Burke, and illustrated by his daughter Kathi Burke.
A winner in the recent An Post Irish Book Awards (Specsavers Children's Book Of The Year - Senior), it's a huge, breathtaking hardback book full of beautiful illustrations, fascinating facts - and it's one of Mooney Goes Wild's picks of top wildlife Christmas books! And thanks to the lovely people at Gill Books, we have FIVE copies to give away! All we want you to do is to answer the following question:
How many species of bat have been confirmed resident in Ireland?
To enter, please e-mail your answer, name and address to mooney@rte.ie, with the subject line Competition - Animalopedia. Competition ends at 23:59 on Thursday, December 11th 2025, as we want to get copies out to our winners in time for Christmas!
Animalopedia, by John Burke and Kathi Burke, was published by Gill Books in October 2025. The ISBN is 9781804582466 and the RRP is €24.99. For more information, visit https://www.gillbooks.ie/childrens/childrens/animalopedia.
***THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED*** Win a copy of The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of The Irish Seashore!
Over Christmas, once you've finished with the feasting and the present-opening, you might want to get some fresh air with a stroll along your local beach. But how much do you really know about Ireland's coasts? Well from barnacles to basking sharks, the Irish seashore is full of incredible life - and a new book by marine biologist Lucy Taylor, with illustrations by Linda Fährlin, reveals the wide variety of flora and fauna that can be found there.
It's a beautiful, colourful, accessible guide to the creatures and habitats along our coastline - perfect for young explorers, students and anyone who loves discovering nature outdoors! And thanks to the very lovely people at Gill Books (who must surely be on Santa's 'nice' list this year!), we have FIVE copies to give away! All we want you to do is to answer the following question:
What is the Irish name for Gannet?
To enter, please e-mail your answer, name and address to mooney@rte.ie, with the subject line Competition - Seashore. Competition ends at 23:59 on Thursday, December 11th 2025, as we want to get copies out to our winners in time for Christmas!
The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of The Irish Seashore, by Lucy Taylor and illustrated by Linda Fährlin, was published by Gill Books in September 2025. The ISBN is 9781804583258 and the RRP is €22.99. For more information, visit https://www.gillbooks.ie/childrens/the-gills-childrens-encyclopedia-of-the-irish-seashore.
Good luck to everyone!