Podcasts · Science

Mooney Goes Wild

RTÉ Radio 1

100 episodes

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

Episodes page 2 of 2

  1. Mystery Monaghan Mustelid

    · 5:09

    We love receiving your wildlife photos and videos (send them to mooney@rte.ie). James Morrisroe from Co Monaghan shared footage of a mystery visitor raiding his bins at dawn. Was it a pine marten? Our panel takes a…

  2. Kew Report: State Of The World's Plants & Fungi

    · 10 min

    A new global report suggests centuries-old plant collections could help tackle today's biodiversity crisis, with UCC playing a key role. Johan Reyes Chavez, a PhD student at University College Cork and Climate &…

  3. Should We Cull Invasive Alien Grey Squirrels To Save Our Native Reds?

    · 36 min

    A feasibility study is exploring the culling of invasive Grey Squirrels in Dublin and Wicklow to help native Red Squirrels return to urban areas. Led by Dr Emma Sheehy, the proposal has prompted public consultation and…

  4. Is Washing Soda Bad For Birds?

    · 9:57

    Bernie Dennehy from Cork feared she had accidentally poisoned a Blackbird after cleaning her patio with washing soda solution and later finding a dead bird. Our panellists explain washing soda isn't toxic to birds and…

  5. Stag For Sale: Landseer's Scene In Braemar

    · 8:21

    Sir Edwin Landseer's monumental Scene in Braemar, featuring a majestic Highland stag, goes under the hammer at Sotheby's in London this week with an estimate of £3-4 million. Derek speaks to Sotheby's specialist Julian…

  6. 35 Years Of Ireland As A Whale And Dolphin Sanctuary & Rare Stranding Of Gervais’ Beaked Whale

    · 27 min

    The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group marks 35 years since Ireland became a whale and dolphin sanctuary. Ireland’s waters host over 25 cetacean species, but threats remain. Dr. Simon Berrow also discusses a rare Gervais’…

  7. Paddy The East Wall Heron

    · 12 min

    Reporter Terry Flanagan visits East Wall in Dublin to meet listener Carol Corri and her unusual garden guest, Paddy the Grey Heron. While herons typically feed on fish, frogs and other aquatic prey, Paddy has developed…

  8. Looking Back At The Longest Day Of The Year

    · 4:45

    Yesterday was the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. Midsummer is a vital time for Ireland’s wildlife, with long daylight hours helping plants and animals grow, reproduce and build energy reserves. It’s a…

  9. Basking Sharks And Humpback Whales In Donegal Bay

    · 10 min

    Donegal Bay is witnessing an exceptional gathering of Basking Sharks, with dozens of the world's second-largest fish feeding, travelling in groups and even breaching near Mullaghmore Head. Mark O’Connor of Donegal Bay…

  10. Robot Lawnmowers Impacting German Hedgehogs

    · 12 min

    Hedgehog numbers are falling across Europe, with the species now listed as Near Threatened after a 30% decline. In Germany, night-time robot lawnmowers are a major culprit. Dr Anne Berger joins us to explain the…

  11. A Birdie On The Golf Course

    · 15 min

    Terry Flanagan’s busy week continues as he heads to Blainroe Golf Club in Wicklow. Club captain Garry Kennedy brings him around the course to meet his most unusual playing partner — Jake, a remarkably tame Rook who’s…

  12. You Wait Ten Years For A Blue Tit To Turn Up, Then Seven Appear At Once

    · 14 min

    MGW listener Michael in Terenure finally has success with his garden nestbox after ten quiet years — a pair of Blue Tits moved in, built a nest and are now raising their brood on camera. Tonight, reporter Terry…

  13. A Blooming Good Time For BirdWatch Ireland

    · 2:08

    Niall Hatch is sounding very hoarse tonight — the price of talking non-stop to crowds at BirdWatch Ireland’s buzzing Bloom stand! The effort paid off, with hundreds of new members, and a huge win for Ireland’s biggest…

  14. A Banshee In Wexford?

    · 5:40

    Listener Danny in Wexford shared a recording from his new home after spotting an owl circling overhead at night. The mystery caller turned out to be a Barn Owl seeking a mate — its eerie cries the same sounds that…

  15. A Sneak Peek At A Greek Squeak

    · 3:22

    Fresh from a BirdLife meetup in Lemnos, Niall Hatch followed some mysterious nighttime squeaks outside his rural hotel — only to discover a baby Long-eared Owl loudly demanding snacks. He filmed the adorable sounds on…

  16. Barn Owl In Co. Wexford

    · 0:55

    Listener Danny Martin-Carroll sent us in this recording of a Barn Owl he heard outside his home in Co. Wexford... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  17. Cruising The Skelligs

    · 14 min

    Cruising doesn’t have to mean the Bahamas or Antarctica — there’s magic on our own coast. This evening, ornithologist Jim Wilson joins us from the National Geographic Explorer, currently sailing around the Skelligs in…

  18. Bloom, Biodiversity & Invasive Species Bureau

    · 7:40

    Éanna Ní Lamhna previews a MGW special recorded at Bloom 2026, airing on Bank Holiday Monday, June 1st, in which she explores the festival’s strong biodiversity focus and reflects on her family’s link to the show. She…

  19. Badger-Watching In Dublin

    · 15 min

    Mooney Goes Wild reporter Terry Flanagan meets up with wildlife enthusiast Gustavo Zoladz, who recently discovered two badger setts along the River Dodder in Dublin... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…

  20. Burren Archaeology Festival

    · 7:52

    The Burren’s vast limestone, wildflowers and ancient tombs shape a landscape where people and deep history meet. Heritage Keepers Coordinator Mary Dillon of Burrenbeo joins Derek, Richard and Terry to discuss the…

  21. Do Daddy Robins Feed The Chicks?

    · 7:24

    During the week, we received a voice note from one of our listeners, Sean Murray. He had observed a family of Robins in his garden, with both Mammy Robin and Daddy Robin feeding the little chicks, and wondered - is it…

  22. Nature On One - Lapwing

    · 0:55

    Ireland’s beloved Lapwing, long rooted in folklore and farming, is now on the Red List of endangered species. In this Nature On One special airing at midday on Bank Holiday Monday, June 1st, Karla Goodman explores its…

  23. Whale Watch Ireland 2026: Saturday, May 23rd

    · 11 min

    Whale Watch Ireland 2026 takes place next Saturday, with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group running free expert-led whale- and dolphin-watching events at 18 coastal sites from 17:00–19:00. IWDG Sightings Officer Pádraig…

  24. What Are Those Starlings Up To?

    · 13 min

    Listener Nikola Brady, from Co. Kildare, e-mailed mooney@rte.ie after spotting strange Starling behaviour outside her bedroom window and recording it. Curious, reporter Terry Flanagan visited Nikola to learn more about…

  25. Back From The Brink

    · 4:42

    A new series of Derek's TV show, Back From The Brink, began last night on RTÉ One, in which he explores urban wildlife restoration across Europe. Episode two, airing next Sunday, brings us to Saint Fin Barre’s…

  26. The Conference Of Birds

    · 12 min

    Two special performances of The Conference of Birds at the Mill Theatre in Dundrum highlighted the plight of Ireland’s Red-listed birds through theatre, music and art. It was performed by The Elders and Cór na Nóg.…

  27. Did Derek Smell A Rat?

    · 4:15

    On his way to the RTÉ car park, Derek briefly recoiled after spotting what he assumed was a Brown Rat. Moments later he realised it was actually a Grey Squirrel, and his revulsion disappeared. He asks the panel why his…

  28. Going Round In Circles: What Could Bee Causing It?

    · 6:46

    Listener Henrietta Broderick filmed a Honeybee in her Galway garden pacing in tiny circles, releasing a mustard-yellow droplet before continuing. She chats about what she saw, and our panel discuss what the cause of…

  29. Remarkable Reefs

    · 18 min

    Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, support a third of visible marine life and host vast hidden biodiversity. A new Nature study reveals living reefs contain previously unknown biomolecules with…

  30. In A Walled Garden In Meath

    · 11 min

    Reporter Terry Flanagan visits a walled garden in Stamullen, Co. Meath, with Ciarán de Buitléar. Ciarán grows his food in close partnership with wildlife and nature, and has written a book, Nature's Acre, to encourage…

  31. Swallows And Wrens

    · 11 min

    Listener Madeline Carey, from Co. Clare, says a wren has taken over the swallow nest in her garage after 35 years of welcoming swallows. Worried that wrens may harm swallow eggs or chicks, she asks what she can do…

  32. April 1st No Fools Day For Salmon Of Knowledge

    · 12 min

    Marine Biologist Ken Whelan, Vice President of the Atlantic Salmon Trust, chats to the panel about how Christmas Day and April 1st (which is co-incidentally his birthday!) are so important in the life cycle of…

  33. Blue Tits, Cuckoos and Woodpeckers

    · 11 min

    We received an e-mail to mooney@rte.ie from listener Helena Golden in Leitrim, aka the Willow Woman! She joins us on the line to tell us about her passion for weaving using natural materials, her Blue Tit nest box…

  34. Mermaid's Purse Discovered By Schoolboy In Co. Kerry

    · 8:04

    Called the “Ghost of the Sea,” the rare White Skate has reappeared in Kerry after vanishing from much of its range. Sixth-class student Rocco Stallard found a huge Mermaid’s Purse on Camp Beach, evidence that White…

  35. Dawn Chorus - RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ lyric fm | Sunday, May 3rd 2026 | 00:00 - 07:00

    · 3:47

    RTÉ marks International Dawn Chorus Day this Sunday as nature lovers join one of its most atmospheric broadcasts. From midnight to 7am, RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ lyric fm share seven hours of live birdsong, insight and…

  36. Nature On One: Talking Birds (Bank Holiday Monday, May 4th 2026 at midday)

    · 3:35

    Cobh natives Jim Wilson and Seán Ronayne return to Cuskinny Marsh, the place that sparked their love of nature. In this Nature on One special, they explore its rich habitats as Seán works to record a year of its wild…

  37. Happy Birthday, Dr. Collins

    · 1:46

    Happy Birthday to Dr Richard Collins — our brilliant fountain of knowledge, charming gentleman, and cherished friend. From Derek, the Mooney Goes Wild team, and all our listeners, we wish him many happy returns… and…

  38. Counting Rooks

    · 9:30

    Reporter Terry Flanagan meets Dr Fionn Ó Marcaigh in Kildare as he surveys local rookeries for an NPWS nationwide count. Fionn, who is author of Encounters With Corvids, highlights why monitoring rook populations…

  39. A Chorus Of French Frogs

    · 9:31

    Niall Hatch chats to Derek, Eanna, Richard and Ken Whelan about his recent visit to the Camargue region of France, and some of the wildlife that can be found there, including the fabled horses, lesser flamingos,…

  40. Wild Dublin Art Exhibition At Rathmines Library

    · 4:01

    Wild Dublin, a free week-long exhibition running at Rathmines Library until April 27th, showcases artist Fiona Phelan’s work alongside paintings by her primary school students, and celebrates the city’s diverse…

  41. Greenland Shark Washes Up On Irish Coast For First Time

    · 12 min

    A Greenland Shark stranded in Co Sligo last week - the first such recording on Ireland’s coast - made news headlines around the world. Leaving Cert students Hammad Chaudhry and James Winters O’Donnell reported it to…

  42. Farmer Moth Monitoring Scheme

    · 8:58

    Ireland’s moths boast wonderful names — from Heart & Dart to Mother Shipton — and much of what we know about the 1,500 species comes from the Farmer Moth Monitoring Scheme, a citizen-science project run by the National…

  43. The Cork Crow Conundrum

    · 5:20

    Last Tuesday, Derek and Jim Wilson appeared on the RTÉ Today show on RTÉ One, to chat about birdboxes and nesting season. Whilst in the make-up chair, Derek spoke to make-up artist Kate about a rather aggressive crow…

  44. Our Marvel-ous New Sig Tune!

    · 2:16

    RTÉ Radio 1 has unveiled new signature tunes as part of its refreshed on-air sound. In the Irish Times, Ed Power joked that the new Mooney Goes Wild theme “sounds like it was scored by the people behind the latest…

  45. Trying To Save New Zealand’s Albatrosses From Extinction

    · 33 min

    Albatrosses, the world’s largest-winged seabirds, face severe declines, with up to 100,000 killed yearly by longline fisheries. UCC researcher Dr Jamie Darby tracked endangered Antipodean Albatrosses on the remote…

  46. Pine Martens

    · 6:38

    Niall Hatch recently saw six dead Pine Martens while driving from Wicklow to Tipperary, highlighting how strongly the once-rare species has rebounded. He later spotted a live one near Loughlinstown, a rare record…

  47. Make A Date For Dawn Chorus 2026: Sunday 3rd May

    · 1:25

    The dawn chorus, nature’s great global sunrise concert, returns for International Dawn Chorus Day on 3 May. Mooney Goes Wild will broadcast live from midnight to 7am, with Derek Mooney in RTÉ and Jim Wilson and Niall…

  48. Terry Has A Tree-mendous Time At The National Botanic Gardens

    · 13 min

    The National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin are a free, year-round haven of global plant collections, including remarkable trees often explored on guided tours. For tonight’s programme, Terry Flanagan visits the Gardens…

  49. Old Irish Goat Carries 3,000 Of Irish History

    · 23 min

    New UCD–QUB research reveals the Old Irish Goat has a continuous Irish lineage dating back 3,000 years. Dr Kevin Daly joins the programme to discuss the study, the history of Ireland’s wild goats and the traits that…

  50. On The Trail Of Cuskinny’s Kingfishers

    · 14 min

    Jim Wilson, Cork-based author, broadcaster and wildlife photographer, has captured striking Kingfisher images at Cuskinny Marsh, Co. Cork. On the programme he explains how careful planning, close observation and a…

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