It's that time of year again: the Mooney Goes Wild Christmas Gift Show! And this year, we're encouraging you to give the joy of a book to your loved ones. A book at Christmas is a moment of calm, so we're encouraging you (and your small ones!) to take a break from the screens, and relax into a book all about the natural world. So we have asked our regular contributors to pick a book that they think might be of interest to you, or your nearest and dearest...
Terry Flanagan: Frog Routes, Polka-Dot Newts And Other Treasures Of Irish Nature, by Anja Murray
Terry's suggestion is Frog Routes, Polka-Dot Newts And Other Treasures Of Irish Nature, by ecologist and environmental broadcaster Anja Murray. It's published by Gill Books, who say: 'Beneath our feet, in our hedgerows, trees and under our seas lies a complex community of beings that goes unseen and unheard by us humans. Soil is the stuff of life itself, bustling with microbes, fungi, beetles and earthworms that soften seeds, nurture saplings and provide all the potential for spring's bounty. Ferns, primroses, wild violet and canopy leaves of overhead trees are the framework for the hidden power behind a butterfly wing or the singing of a wren. Here, Anja Murray fills us with wonder for the wonderful world of Ireland’s wild plants and animals through the seasons. From fungi to the origins of feral pigeons, primroses to sea turtles, each piece contains elements of science, history and folklore. Witness the extraordinary mating rituals of frogs and hares. Discover the incredible secret language of mice in their epic daily battle to survive and avoid capture with the swoop of the sparrowhawk'.
Terry recently met with author Anja Murray to find out more about the book...
Frog Routes, Polka-Dot Newts And Other Treasures Of Irish Nature, by Anja Murray, is published by Gill Books. The ISBN is 9781804584156 and the RRP is €22.99. For further information, visit https://www.gillbooks.ie/nature/nature/frog-routes-polka-dot-newts-and-signposts-for-woodmice-as-heard-on-rte-lyric-fm.
Eanna ni Lamhna: Beneath Irish Seas: The Hidden Wonders of Ireland's Amazing Marine Life by Nigel Motyer
Eanna's suggestion is Beneath Irish Seas: The Hidden Wonders of Ireland's Amazing Marine Life by underwater photographer Nigel Motyer. It's published by Merrion Press, who say: 'Beneath the crashing waves and jagged cliffs of Ireland's coastline lies a world few have ever seen, teeming with kaleidoscopic colour and untold beauty. Through the lens of internationally acclaimed underwater photographer Nigel Motyer – whose work has graced the pages of National Geographic – this stunning visual journey reveals the vibrancy of Irish waters, alive with astonishing biodiversity and compelling natural drama.'
Eanna recently spoke to Nigel about his remarkable book. Beneath Irish Seas: The Hidden Wonders of Ireland's Amazing Marine Life, by Nigel Motyer, is published by Merrion Press. The ISBN is 9781785375705 and the RRP is €27.99. For further information, visit https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/beneath-irish-seas-the-hidden-wonders-of-irelands-amazing-marine-life/.
Niall Hatch: On The Edge Of Europe: Kerry by Valerie O'Sullivan
Niall's suggestion is On The Edge Of Europe: Kerry, by photographer Valerie O'Sullivan. It's published by Currach Press, who say that the book 'explores the more quirky nature of Kerry - from the highest farm in Ireland, the highest Grotto, the farthest Island in Europe, to the ancient customs of the 'Kilbognet Biddies' and ‘Lá an Dreoilín’ - The Dingle Wren to the Goddess Anú, revered and celebrated on her own mountain ‘the Paps of Anú'.
Niall recently spoke to Valerie to learn more about the book. On The Edge Of Europe: Kerry, by Valerie O'Sullivan, is published by Currach Books. The ISBN is 9781782189381 and the RRP is €28.00. For further information, visit https://currachbooks.com/product/on-the-edge-of-europe-kerry/.
Richard Collins: The Living and the Dead: Tales of Loss and Rebirth from Irish Nature by Conor W. O'Brien
Richard's suggestion is The Living and the Dead: Tales of Loss and Rebirth from Irish Nature by Conor W. O'Brien. It's published by Merrion Press, who say 'Ireland is a land replete with natural wonders, but we live in an age when our native wildlife is under threat like never before. Centuries of hunting and habitat loss have already wiped out some of our most iconic species, from the once-feared grey wolf to the flightless great auk – Ireland's very own 'penguin'. In The Living and the Dead, acclaimed writer Conor W. O’Brien travels the country to tell the stories of our amazing lost wildlife, from the mighty sturgeon to the minuscule mountain ringlet butterfly. He reveals the tragedies behind their demise and the lessons they impart for today’s conservationists. For across the country, passionate people are fighting to protect endangered species and reintroduce those once lost. The return of creatures long gone, like the common crane and great spotted woodpecker, are celebrated in these pages. Such comebacks offer a vision of a return to a wilder Ireland, one in which humans and nature thrive in a land where eagles fly again'.
Richard recently spoke to the book's author, Conor W. O'Brien. The Living and the Dead: Tales of Loss and Rebirth from Irish Nature is published by Merrion Press. The ISBN is 9781785375675 and the RRP is €18.99. For more information, visit https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/the-living-and-the-dead/, and to read an article by Conor about his book, visit https://www.rte.ie/culture/2025/0916/1533588-wild-things-tales-of-loss-and-rebirth-from-irish-nature/.
Michele Browne: Dinnseanchas: Visions from Ireland's Uplands, edited by edited by Grace Wells, Lucy Taylor and Ray Ó Foghlú.
Michele's suggestion is Dinnseanchas: Visions from Ireland's Uplands, edited by edited by Grace Wells, Lucy Taylor and Ray Ó Foghlú. It's published by Hometree, who say 'in modern Irish, dinnseanchas means "topography"; the arrangement of features in a landscape. However, the word has an older meaning that describes the lore of a place. It is associated with accounts of the place names, traditions, events and characters of particular areas. Dinnseanchas - Visions of Ireland's Uplands explores the layers, tapestries and complexities entangled in Ireland’s precious hills and mountains through explorations, reflections, research, conversations and art. Viewing the uplands through lenses of social geography, archaeology, anthropology, ecology, lived experience and creative curiosity, this collection weaves together diverse voices and viewpoints to guide you through some of the most complex and exciting questions of our time. How do we balance the needs of people and nature? Can we manage the land in a way that benefits the entire community of life? What can we learn from the past?'
Dinnseanchas – Visions of Ireland's Uplands is a collection of 20 essays edited by Grace Wells, Lucy Taylor and Ray Ó Foghlú. It is the second in a series of Hometree publications. The RRP is €15.00, and further information can be found by visiting https://www.hometree.ie/support/hometree-publication-dinnseanchas.
Sinéad Renshaw: Animalopedia by Kathi & John Burke
Did you know that Ireland's smallest 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 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. Mooney Goes Wild Broadcast Co-Ordinator Sinéad Renshaw tells us all about it...
Animalopedia is published by Gill Books, who say 'this breathtaking book explores Ireland's animals by habitat, the myths and legends associated with them, favourite folklore superstitions and famous real-life Irish dogs, horses and dolphins, among others! There’s so much to delve into, and readers will be totally absorbed by Kathi Burke’s detailed illustrations and her father John’s fabulous facts. From selkies and merrows to swans and salmon, from wolfhounds and elks to racehorses and greyhounds – there’s so much to learn in this Animalopedia of all things Irish!'. The ISBN is 9781804582466 and the RRP is €24.99. For further information, visit https://www.gillbooks.ie/childrens/childrens/animalopedia.
***COMPETITION TIME: Animalopedia***
A winner in the recent An Post Irish Book Awards (Specsavers Children's Book Of The Year - Senior), Animalopedia is 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 23:29 on Thursday, December 11th 2025, as we want to get copies out to our winners in time for Christmas!
***COMPETITION TIME: 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 23:29 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!