Panel: Richard Collins & Niall Hatch

Reporter: Terry Flanagan

Special guest: Éanna Ní Lamhna

In addition to listening to us on RTÉ Radio One at 22:00 every Monday night, don't forget that you can also listen back to each of our programmes any time you like at https://rte.ie/mooney. There, you will find an extensive archive of past broadcasts, conveniently split into different topics and segments.

All of us here at the programme are very excited about the Eye on Nature wildlife photo competition, the winner of which will be announced on Nationwide on RTÉ One television at 19:00 on Friday 23rd June.

With this in mind, our suggestion from the Mooney Goes Wild archives this week is a segment about this year’s competition that was first broadcast in February. In it, acclaimed wildlife photographer Sheena Jolley, one of our three Eye on Nature judges, discusses how to go about capturing a winning image, the key equipment and techniques to use and the unenviable challenges facing the judges, tasked with choosing just one overall winner out of so many truly exceptional entries.

To listen back to this clip from the Mooney Goes Wild archives, visit

https://rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22218393/

Eye on Nature photographic competition

Eye on Nature, RTÉ’s highly popular wildlife photography competition, attracted a truly amazing batch of entries this year, both in terms of quality and quantity. The contest, now in its third year, is a partnership between RTÉ, OPW and the National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin and is run jointly by Mooney Goes Wild on RTÉ Radio One and Nationwide on RTÉ One television. The aim is to give wildlife photographers across Ireland the opportunity to showcase their immense talent and highlight Ireland’s biodiversity and the beauty of the natural world around us.

Niall Hatch is one of the members of the judging panel, also consisting of Sheena Jolley and Matthew Jebb, that was tasked with selecting the very best natural history photos that Ireland has to offer. On tonight’s programme, he and Derek talk about the judging process, exactly what sets a winning wildlife photo apart from the rest and what goes into the mammoth job of whittling down thousands of entries to just ten finalists and one overall winner.

The photos submitted by the ten finalists are currently being displayed in all their glory at the National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin, where they will be on show for the next few weeks, before beginning a tour of other OPW sites around the country. All of us at Mooney Goes Wild highly recommend going along to the gardens to take a look if you can . . . and remember, entry is free!

For more information about planning your trip to the National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin to see the top ten photos, visit

https://botanicgardens.ie/2023/06/06/eye-on-nature-exhibition-2023/

Wild Musings

On tonight’s programme we are delighted to bring you an exclusive interview with a very special guest indeed . . . none other than one of Ireland’s most popular and influential natural history broadcasters, authors and champions, Éanna Ní Lamhna! That’s right: normally Éanna asks the questions, but tonight she is on the other side of the microphone as Derek, Richard and Niall grill her about her superb new book, Wild Musings.

Wild Musings is a collection of essays reflecting on the wonder and magic of our natural world, as well as the threats posed to it by our own species. The Irish Times says of it that Éanna "is a force of nature and this book is an essential read for the times we’re living through. The world needs these wild musings."

Each of the essays of which Wild Musings is composed is a stand-alone piece, easily read in just a few minutes, allowing readers to dip in and out of the book as they wish. Indeed, Niall describes how he decided to ration himself while reading it, so that he could prolong the pleasure of Éanna’s prose for as long as possible.

As part of the discussion, Richard ponders whether books or articles are the better medium when it comes to spreading the word about the wonders of the natural world and the urgency of protecting it. Derek, of course, maintained that the best medium of all for this is, guess what, RADIO!

For more information about Wild Musings and to purchase your own copy, visit

https://veritasbooksonline.com/wild-musings-9781800970595-49484/

Introducing our ten Eye on Nature finalists

The standard of entries submitted to RTÉ’s Eye on Nature wildlife photography competition this year was nothing short of outstanding. As a result, the photographers who found their work selected for the final ten, from which the winning photograph will be announced on Nationwide on RTÉ One television at 19:00 on Friday 23rd June, should all be especially proud of themselves.

On tonight’s programme, Derek speaks to all ten of our finalists about their photo techniques, the subjects of their entries and the inspirations they get from the natural world. Here, in no particular order, they are:

Finalists

1. Petrica Bratila – 'Mute Swan' - Dublin (Cygnus olor)

Petrica is an amateur photographer from Romania, living in Dublin. He moved to Ireland in 2017 and has been taking wildlife photos for about three years. His favourite places to photograph wildlife are on the river Dodder and in Bushy Park, where this picture was captured. He feels so lucky to have both areas nearby. He entered the competition last year and was beyond thrilled to be a finalist in this year's competition.

2. Edward W. Delaney – 'Common Frog' - Wexford (Loscán, Rana Temporaria)

Edward is an amateur photographer, taking photos for over 60 years. An Irish natural history photographer, based in New Ross, Co. Wexford, he always had a love for wildlife photography and his daughter Siobhan said when she was growing up, she could find him anywhere, most likely up a tree taking photos. He has given many talks at local schools in New Ross about wildlife to encourage young people to take up wildlife photography.

3. Andrew Malcolm – 'Sabre Wasp' - Waterford (Rhyssa persuasoria)

Andrew is an amateur photographer and works as a Forager who finds and eats healthy, local ingredients that grow in the wild. He comes from Lismore, Co Waterford. He lost several trees in his garden to a big storm in 2021. In August 2022 he found an incredible looking insect - called a Sabre wasp (rhyssa persuasoria). Andrew loves taking photos of Waterford wildlife of all sizes from insects to whales and everything in between.

4. Tristan Bane- ‘Red Fox’ - Antrim (Sionnach, Vulpes vulpes)

Tristan is a passionate amateur photographer who works in IT. He has been photographing a family of foxes that live behind his house for several years. He has watched the fox featured in his shortlisted photograph since he was a cub in 2020.

5. Karl Graef- 'Badger' Co Clare (Broc, Meles meles)

Karl is an amateur photographer for over 20 years with a special interest in wildlife and feels privileged to have beautiful wildlife and scenery on his doorstep in Meelick, Co Clare. He works as a machine operator; but loves the time he spends pursuing photography.

6. Paul Campbell- ‘Coot’ - Dublin (Fulica atra)

Paul is an amateur photographer and has been taking wildlife pictures for the last 5 years. Paul is over the moon to be a finalist in this year's competition.

7. Thomas McDonnell – ‘Hare’ - Antrim (Lepus timidus)

Thomas has been taking photographs for on and off for about 35 years. He works as a maintenance man on his local ferry, and he is surrounded by beauty and nature all day long. Thomas has always had a huge passion for photography. He was shocked and delighted when he found out he was a finalist in this year's competition. His favourite place to take photographs is in and around the beautiful Rathlin Island.

8. Philip Greaves – ‘Red Mason Bee’ – Clonmel, Tipperary (Osmia bicornis)

Philip has been taking wildlife pictures for over 45 years. He is originally from the UK and served in the Royal Air Force.His interest in photographing Solitary Bees came about during lockdown, he said he was in his garden one day and something small flew past him and he became fascinated which led him to macro photography and setting up bee hotels, which he now has several bee hotels around his garden.

9. Daniel Meehan – 'Rabbit', Co Limerick (Coínín Oryotolagus cuniculus)

Daniel is an amateur photographer with a passion for wildlife and where he lives in Limerick means he has beautiful countryside on his doorstep. He works as a Medical Device Engineer and loves the fact that his job and photography are both creative in diverse ways and he enjoys all aspects of them.

10. Ashling Byrne – ‘Fox’, Rathfarnham, Dublin (Sionnach, Vulpes vulpes)

Ashling is an extremely passionate wildlife amateur photographer who works for An Post. She loves pursuing her passion for wildlife photography. She likes to join the foxes in the early hours of sunrise to enjoy their company. Her photo happened by chance, as she waited to take the picture a jogger went past, and this is why the vixen has her ears pricked and is in her stance. Ashling was completely shocked when he learned she was a finalist and that this was a dream come true for her.

Our Roving Reporter Terry Flanagan also speaks to the other two members of our judging panel, award-winning natural history photographer Sheena Jolley and Dr Matthew Jebb, Director of the National Botanic Gardens, about each of the final ten images. Terry also chats with Nationwide co-presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh.

Remember, be sure to tune in to Nationwide on RTÉ One television at 19:00 on Friday 23rd June to see an outstanding showcase of the very best wildlife photography that Ireland has to offer.