The Listening Project does what it says on the tin. It’s an apt name. Partly because of where the listening takes place: the Skibbereen Town Hall. “It is not a pub environment,” says one of the organisers, Robin Foley “When people are playing you can hear a pin drop so you get to fully immerse yourself.” The Hall has got quite a history behind it, having been constructed in the 1860s. Meat market on the ground floor, theatre above, and even a roller-skating rink in the early 20th century. Occupied by British soldiers during the War of Independence, it later housed the library. That old building was gutted by fire in 1955, leaving only a shell. 

The Town Hall was completely rebuilt and expanded. It was last renovated three years ago (new entrance with lots of glass, new toilets and heating system). And yet it still has a somewhat old-fashioned theatre vibe. Wooden floor, high “classic” stage with long red curtains, a balcony. An environment that is suitable for all sorts of cheerful entertainment – from line dancing to world music – albeit with a classy, cultural undertone. The effect is reinforced when The Listening Project is in town, as the seating is rearranged so it circles the artists, who play under the soft glow of house lamps with small Persian carpets underfoot.

Robin Foley (an artist and designer who also sells prints at the Skibbereen market) and co-organiser Brian Granaghan (a teacher with a background in visual art) did think long and hard before launching the concert series. Adamant that they wanted the Town Hall as a venue, they eventually succeeded. Deciding which musicians to invite is also a lengthy process. “We communicate with the artists a good bit. Depending on who we reach out to, we might be building relationships in the long term. It takes up a lot of time and energy in the background to get people to come here, organise their accommodation, their travel arrangements. All because Skibbereen is so tucked away, really far from everywhere.”

Robin and Brian met as their kids were going to the same national school. They started talking about music. Enthusiastically. Although each plays an instrument – guitar (Brian) and tenor banjo (Robin) – the conversation revolved more around listening. Genres, albums, bands, artists of their liking.

“We discovered that our tastes are very similar,” shares Robin. “In the sense that both of us are fascinated by where traditional meets experimental music. That is happening more and more across Ireland. There’s so much great stuff around.”

Their events always feature combinations of two or more different ensembles or artists. “It’s not a matter of headliners and support acts. That’s not how we run. The band before is as good as the act after, they’re on an equal footing.”

A prime example is the Listening Project concert on October 10. The first act is a collaboration of two solo artists, the multi-instrumentalists Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin (concertina, séan-nos) and Ultan O’Brien (fiddle, viola). So far, they’ve collaborated on two albums. ‘Solas an Lae – The Light of the Day’ (2020) and ‘The Deepest Breath’ (2022). Eoghan is a powerful and award-winning singer-songwriter, both in Irish and English, who hails from a musical Irish-speaking family. He is a passionate political activist and formidable poet, based in Dublin, albeit with Connemara roots. His lyrics may pack an emotional punch (‘Ringing That Bell’) or be melodic and wordless (‘Máirseáil na Sióg, The Fairies’ March’). Ultan O’Brien is not the only musician he plays with (‘The Deepest Breath’ has a cast of ten) but their “songs and strings bounce off one another … the human voice and the fiddle are often thought of as musical cousins,” as he wrote on Bandcamp. 

Ultan, based in Clare, is a composer and improviser with a background in traditional music. He released a solo album, ‘Dancing the Line’, in 2025. It contains traditional folk elements (such as a slow air) as well as drones, soundscapes, collages, voice clips, animal-ish sounds, ultra-short and longish songs. O’Brien plays with dancers and creates experimental films around music compositions that are screened in prestigious venues all over Europe. In other words, he’s a breath of fresh air, claiming his artistic freedom. The next band on October 10 is MacBóchra, from Cork, featuring Brendan Duffin, Angelique Everett, Colin Marge and Brian Leach. Bilingual, they use various disciplines to develop and realise their projects (in collaboration with Strive Theatre): dance, experimental theatre, music, poetry, medieval literature, video and are steeped in Irish mythology, history and traditions. “We take our name from the shape-shifting salmon, eagle, hawk and oldest seanchaí Fintan mac Bóchra. Our band explores tradition as a force living on and remembered in different forms … A shared journey with the audience. Our music features arrangements for two bodhráns, tin whistles, tiompán, voices, hammer dulcimer, sean nós, dance and electronics, exploring territory that is informed by Irish traditional music yet distinctive in its own right,” it says on their website. 

In February, they performed a fairy fort folk opera, Goll, at the Briery Gap in Macroom. Their follow-up project, Seachrán Sí (led astray by fairies), is announced as an exploration of stories and beliefs concerning ‘The Stray Sod – An Fóidín Meara’. It uses photography as well as information from the National Folklore Collection: “​It is said that if you walk on the graves of soldiers at night you will step on a ‘stray sod’ and you will be walking round the field all night.” MacBóchra’s music can be found on Bandcamp. Not surprisingly, it is slightly haunting, in a good way. Very rhythmical; the two bodhráns and tiompán create excitement. The jaw harp brings suspense. The vocals, harmonies, whistle, dulcimer, and guitar add sweetness while the words create visual images (often borrowed from nature) that border on magic.

The Listening Project will continue to host bi-monthly sessions in the Town Hall. On December 19 and 20, they are launching the winter homecoming series with concerts by Shimmer Boy, Muiris, Trá Pháidín, Rita Lynn, DJackulate, plus a choir. 

“The idea of homecoming is about people coming back for Christmas, having been away or abroad. It’s nice that we can use the town hall for this purpose,” says Robin.

Coincidentally, October 10 is World Mental Health Day and this specific concert is in collaboration with the West Cork Feel Good Festival, which also focuses on the Irish language and heritage, on creativity, and on lifting people’s spirits. For further updates keep an eye on the website, www.thelisteningproject.ie and social media, www.instagram.com/listening.project.skibb/  

Dr Laoise Hook explains what can be done about pigmentation and why now is a great time of year to start treatment

After a summer of sunshine, even with SPF, pigmentation tends to be at its most visible right about now. Many of the treatments that work best for pigmentation, such as IPL and peels, work by making the skin temporarily more sensitive to UV light, so they need to be paired with strict sun avoidance and daily SPF during and after treatment. That’s a tall order in June or July, but with the sunshine easing off and the days shortening, autumn and winter give your skin the best possible conditions to heal properly without the risk of further triggering pigment. It’s also simply easier to stay consistent with treatment when you’re not dodging strong sun on the school run or heading off on holidays. Starting now means you can work steadily through a course of treatment over the coming months and be in great shape well before pigmentation has a chance to build up again next summer.

Pigmentation is caused by an excess of melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its colour. When skin cells called melanocytes produce too much melanin in a concentrated area, you get patches that are darker than the surrounding skin. It’s not one single condition. There are several different types, and knowing which one you’re dealing with matters, because the wrong treatment can sometimes make things worse rather than better.

The main types of pigmentation include sun damage, or solar lentigines, often called age spots or sun spots. These are flat brown marks caused by years of UV exposure and typically appear on the face, hands and chest. Melasma is a little trickier, tending to appear as larger, symmetrical patches across the cheeks, forehead or upper lip. It is strongly influenced by hormones, including pregnancy and contraception, as well as sun and heat exposure, and can be notoriously stubborn, sometimes flaring with the wrong treatment. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs after the skin has experienced some form of trauma, such as acne, a cut or an aggressive treatment, leaving behind a darker mark as the skin heals and produces extra pigment.

Because pigmentation has different causes, treating it isn’t a one-size-fits-all job. The first step is always a proper consultation, where we work out which type (or combination of types) we’re dealing with. This is essential, because melasma in particular needs to be handled carefully.

From there, a combination approach usually gives the best results:

Homecare is, without question, the most important part of the plan. No in-clinic treatment will hold if the skin isn’t being properly protected and supported at home. That means SPF every day, without exception, plus targeted active ingredients to control pigment production between sessions. Importantly for those with pigmentation you need to be using a mineral SPF every day. The reason for this is that pigmentation is not just caused by UV but also by any visible light including overhead lights and computer screens.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is very effective for sun damage and age spots, using light energy to break down excess pigment. Important note: IPL is not suitable for melasma, as the heat involved can actually aggravate it and make pigmentation worse.

Perfect Peel is a versatile option that can be used for either sun damage or melasma and even PIH, gently resurfacing the skin and encouraging even pigment turnover.

Obagi Nu Derm is a prescription-strength homecare system that we often recommend alongside in-clinic treatments, particularly for melasma. It works over a period of months to regulate pigment production at a cellular level.

Microneedling can help by encouraging the skin to renew itself and improve the absorption of active ingredients, making it a useful addition to a broader plan.

If there’s one thing I want you to take from this, it’s that pigmentation rarely responds to a single quick fix. The best results come from a considered combination of in-clinic treatment and consistent homecare, and homecare really is the backbone of it all. Without daily SPF and the right active ingredients, even the best in-clinic treatment will only offer a temporary improvement.

With the sun behind us for another while, now is the perfect window to get started. If you’re dealing with pigmentation and aren’t sure which type you have or what might help, it’s always worth coming in for a consultation so we can put together a plan that’s actually right for your skin.
www.thehookclinic.ie

Fatigue and reduced stamina is normal and can persist long after the initial stroke making everyday tasks more challenging. Other symptoms include paralysis (often on one side of the body), spasticity or muscle weakness that affect balance, ability to walk, stand and swallow. Sensory deficits can cause visual issues, speech and language challenges and numbness or tingling. Cognitive functions may be affected too, leading to memory loss, problems with concentration, impaired judgment, confusion, or generally slowed thinking.

Understandably survivors describe the aftermath as a profound process of grief and loss. Emotionally many struggle with depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, or a loss of motivation. Each of these impairments can deeply affect a person’s quality of life, underscoring the importance of timely intervention and comprehensive rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation should include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy psychological support and scalp acupuncture. Scalp acupuncture is a specialised form of acupuncture that involves stimulating specific areas of the scalp that correspond to different brain regions. It is used for stroke rehabilitation in Chinese hospitals, as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan and, is becoming more common in the West, as part of an integrative medical approach.

Scalp acupuncture aids stroke recovery by targeting areas that map the autonomic, motor, sensory and speech areas of the brain. For example motor area stimulation can reduce spasticity, improve limb movement, co-ordination, balance, fine motor skills of the fingers and the swallow reflex. Stimulating the autonomic areas of the brain will support the systems of the body that work without conscious control ie. the organs that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and digestion.

Speech-related areas in the scalp can improve a person’s ability to comprehend, retrieve the correct words and articulate, helping both Broca and Wernicke’s aphasia. Scalp acupuncture activates neural pathways and promotes neuroplasticity helping the brain to reorganise and form new connections after injury. It can also influence neurotransmitters that regulate emotional wellbeing and improve blood flow, which may increase cerebral blood flow to regions of the brain

that were deprived of blood supply during the stroke and help to nourish brain tissue and support the repair process.

While the journey of stroke recovery is unique, and rehabilitation should ideally start soon after the event, research is confirming that patients can still experience functional improvements and reduced neurological symptoms years after the event with scalp acupuncture.

Amanda Roe is an Acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Life and Health Coach specialising in Women’s Health. She offers a range of services including scalp acupuncture for stroke and wishes you and or your loved one strength and healing on your journey of stroke recovery. For more information or to book a consultation visit www.roehealth.ie or call/text Amanda on: 087 6331898.

Viktor Palazhchenko lives in Skibbereen with his wife, Olga, and their seven-year-old son, Lavrentii. He was born and raised in Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, and spent most of his life there. The family then lived for five years in Lviv before eventually coming to Ireland.

They left Ukraine after the beginning of the full-scale war. 

For Viktor, leaving was first and foremost a decision made as a husband and father. His wife was recovering from a serious car accident and surgery, while their son, who has a disability, needed ongoing support. Ireland offered the family access to that support, and because they already had some English, settling in an English-speaking country felt a little more manageable. This July marked three years since they arrived.

Before the war, Viktor’s professional life looked very different. He trained as a journalist and worked as a television correspondent and presenter. He worked in communications, managed social media, wrote and edited, and produced small video projects.

“Practically my entire adult life before the war was connected with words,” he says. Then life began to change very quickly. After Olga and their son were injured in a car accident, Viktor stepped away from work for several months to care for them. By the time he was able to work again, Ukraine was dealing with widespread power cuts. He remembers fellow journalists searching for cafés and other places where they could charge a laptop and find Wi-Fi.

So Viktor went to work for Nova Poshta, the Ukrainian postal and delivery company.

“It was a very conscious, strategic choice,” he says. “The postal service remained essential. Parcels still had to be delivered whatever the circumstances.”

His branch had a petrol generator, so even when the electricity disappeared, the work continued.

After moving to Ireland, he had to begin again. He worked as a waiter, then as a kitchen porter at the West Cork Hotel, and later as a night porter. Working nights also became a very practical way to improve his English.

Later, when Olga began working with Irish National Opera, the family rearranged their lives again. Viktor moved to part-time work and took on most of the day-to-day care of their son.

He then trained as a special needs assistant and began working with children with additional educational needs.

That professional change is closely connected to his own experience as a father. “A lot of what other parents go through is familiar to me personally,” he says.

He is now beginning his second school year in this field, working as a substitute SNA in several schools around West Cork and taking part in home-support programmes for children.

For more than a year, he also volunteered at CoAction West Cork’s Possibilities Hub, working with adults with autism. This summer, CoAction recognised his volunteer work with the Body Award 2026.

And there, unexpectedly, some of his old journalistic skills became useful again.

Viktor heard one participant reading and immediately noticed his voice. He suggested trying audiobook narration. The participant read; Viktor recorded and edited. Together they produced several audiobooks.

The project gave the participant a chance to try narration and hear his own voice become part of a finished creative project.

There is another important part of Viktor’s life: the Church.

He has served as a deacon in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for seven years and continues his theological education. This year he completed his degree at Kyiv Theological Seminary and began further studies at Kyiv Theological Academy.

When our conversation turned to clothes, it became clear that Viktor had always had an interest in style.

He does not follow fashion constantly, and everyday life usually calls for practical choices. But he has always paid attention to clothes and the way people present themselves.

He likes classic menswear and strong, masculine silhouettes. Even as a teenager, he might stop while changing television channels if he came across a fashion show.

His willingness to experiment started even earlier.

He laughs as he remembers inventing outfits for his younger sister Maria as a child, cutting up his mother’s tights and turning them into improvised clothes.

At university, he enjoyed dressing in a way that was bright and noticeable.

“Perhaps somewhere inside me that 18-year-old boy is still there, even though in the mirror now I see a grown man with a completely different life experience.”

That was the Viktor I wanted to work with for this shoot: an adult man accustomed to thinking first about family, work and responsibility, but who had not lost his curiosity.

Before the photoshoot, we went to Cork together to choose clothes for several different looks.

Normally Viktor shops in a very practical way: there is a budget and there is a list. Comfortable trousers. Shoes. A few t-shirts. A white shirt for church.

This time we tried things on, compared combinations and looked at clothes he probably would not have stopped to consider on his own.

For me, styling a person is not about disguising them. 

After the shoot, I wanted to know not only whether Viktor liked the photographs, but whether the experience had changed the way he saw himself.

“I am quite a modest and self-critical person,” he says. “I know what my strengths are, but it is still important for me to have the chance to see myself through someone else’s eyes.”

Then he added: “With Galyna’s help, I felt comfortable trying something unfamiliar and looking at myself differently. Now I know that from time to time I would like to return to that kind of experience.”

Look 1: This look continues the theme of natural ease, but takes it in a more classic and refined direction. A navy blazer, light blue shirt and linen trousers create an elegant seaside combination that sits naturally against the coastal landscape.

Natural fabrics and relaxed styling keep the outfit from becoming too formal.

There is structure without stiffness here.

Stylist’s tip: Classic menswear does not have to feel strict. An unusual necklace adds an unexpected, more personal detail to the classic outfit. Mixing classic pieces with a less expected accessory can soften the whole look and make it feel much more personal.

Look 2:  This look is built around relaxed summer elegance. A pale blue linen shirt, worn open at the collar with the sleeves rolled up, is paired with lightweight trousers in a natural tone to create a silhouette that feels easy but still considered.

Suede shoes and a simple piece of jewellery add character without making the outfit feel over-styled.

The appeal comes from restraint: good fabrics, soft tones and nothing that feels overworked.

Stylist’s tip: Do not be afraid to let natural fabrics look slightly rumpled. That is part of their beauty.

Look 3: The final look is about natural elegance.

A linen shirt and lightweight trousers in natural fabrics fit well in the surroundings, while suede shoes bring warmth and softness to the overall look.

It brings us back to something Viktor said after the shoot: clothes can support the person rather than overwhelm them.

Stylist’s tip: Choose clothes that allow you to move naturally and feel comfortable. 

Stylist and photographer:
Galyna Zaitseva.

One of the things I love about working in a health food shop is that, despite all the changes in health and wellness over the past 30 years, some of the old herbal remedies remain firm favourites.

A.Vogel is a good example. We have stocked the range for as long as I can remember, and Echinaforce was actually one of the very first herbal products our father, Alan, brought into Organico when he started the shop in 1992. When we were kids we used to laugh at the tingly feeling we got on our tongues when we were dosed with Echinacea drops – and it has been one of the most reached-for products on the Organico shelves ever since. 

I’m a huge fan of herbal remedies. They are a lot gentler than pharmaceuticals, and it’s important to remember that just because they are natural that doesn’t mean they are suitable for everyone – herbal medicines can interact with medicines or be inappropriate for certain conditions, so it’s important to have a chat with a qualified Herbalist or Health Shop advisor when you’re choosing what to take. But used appropriately, they can be a very useful part of the everyday health toolkit.

Echinaforce is probably the best-known example. It is made from fresh Echinacea purpurea herb and root and is traditionally used for the symptoms of colds and flu. The Echinaforce range has grown considerably since those early days, and two of my personal favourites are the Echinaforce Hot Drink and the Echinaforce Sore Throat Spray. 

The Hot Drink is one of those things I reach for when I feel a cold coming on. There is something wonderfully comforting about making a hot drink when you’re feeling under the weather, and this combines fresh Echinacea with black elderberry. It is licensed as a traditional herbal medicine for cold and flu-like symptoms. Echinacea boosts our white blood cell production while Elderberry is effective for warding off viral infections. 

The throat spray is another of my favourites. If your colds tend to start with that familiar scratchy, uncomfortable throat, it is incredibly effective and I love the fact that it doesn’t contain any sugar. It contains fresh Echinacea and sage and is traditionally used for sore throats associated with colds and flu, and I find that the regular dose of both help my overall symptoms as well as helping to prevent the sore throat getting a hold of me. I always take it travelling and use it before, during and after a plane trip!

Another A.Vogel product I recommend a lot is Menoforce Sage. This is one of those remedies that has become a staple for women going through the menopause. Sage has a long traditional use for excessive sweating, and Menoforce is licensed specifically for menopausal hot flushes and night sweats. It is a very concentrated one-a-day tablet, which is particularly convenient when you are already juggling a whole range of symptoms.

For me, sage is particularly useful for the sweating and hot flushes, while A.Vogel Menopause Support is aimed at the wider menopause transition. It contains soya isoflavones, magnesium and hibiscus and is designed for use through all stages of menopause. Magnesium also contributes to normal psychological function and to reducing tiredness and fatigue.

This distinction is useful because menopause isn’t simply about hot flushes. The transition can involve changes in sleep, mood, energy, joints, digestion and much more, and what one woman experiences can be completely different from another. There isn’t one herbal remedy that suits everyone, which is why talking through the actual symptoms is often more useful than simply asking for “something for menopause” – again the best thing is to consult your local health shop staff, as there are a lot of different options! 

Herbs can also be useful when it comes to aches and pains. Atrosan contains Devil’s Claw and is traditionally used for the relief of minor joint pain. I particularly like it as an option for those occasions when you have sore joints or muscular discomfort and want to try a traditional herbal remedy that won’t upset your stomach. 

And then there is Bronchoforce. This is one I always use myself when a cold seems to be heading downwards. I find it particularly useful when a cold starts to move into the chest and that horrible mucus-producing cough appears. Bronchoforce contains fresh ivy and thyme alongside liquorice and is traditionally used as an expectorant to relieve a chesty cough associated with a cold.

One thing I think is important with herbal remedies is knowing what they are actually for. Bronchoforce, for example, is for a chesty, mucus-producing cough; it isn’t simply a general remedy for every type of cough. There’s another Marshmallow and Mullein Cough Spray for dry, tickly coughs. 

My father started Organico with a belief that food, herbs and natural health had a vital role in helping people look after themselves. More than 30 years later, I still find myself reaching for some of the same bottles that were on our shelves when I was growing up. Echinaforce is one of them, and I it will be there for a long time yet.

PS Marilyn Glenville is coming to Organico on October 5 to give a talk on ‘Food, Mood and Nutrition’ – it’s a must for anyone who wants to improve their sleep, energy, concentration, or focus. It’s aimed at all ages. Tickets (very limited!) available from the shop or from www.organico.ie.

We’ve eaten all the beans, most of the tomatoes and the courgettes aren’t happy with the drop in temperature so they have slowed to an almost stop. It’s that time of the year again. This is when the brassica cage becomes very attractive – we’re not terribly interested in it when the summer veg are still around.

I was poking around while we were tidying up – there’s plenty of debris with everything dying off – and I discovered some sprouting calabrese. Sprouting calabrese is like a summer broccoli. This had mostly been ignored, as we had so much else to eat but now I’m delighted it’s there.

Broccoli is one of those reliable vegetables that always seems to be available, so it never sits in the exciting department, even though there are many ways to use it.

When we had our shop we made broccoli salad that was so popular we could never make enough of it. I seldom make that salad now. Truth be told, I seldom make anything that we used to cook at the shop as a gazillion bowls of anything would put anyone off, but I do have a new broccoli salad recipe which I’m going to share.

I was checking out recipes for our up-coming trip to Greece, where I teach cooking with my Greek friend Elisa, and I discovered a broccoli salad with sun-dried tomatoes and toasted almonds. It isn’t mayonnaise-based like our shop recipe but it’s equally as delicious and simpler to make.

It’s a little different, as the broccoli isn’t one hundred percent raw. I blanch it in a big pot of boiling water but only for 30 seconds. This is important – the big pot of water and the 30 seconds. The big pot of boiling water means that when the broccoli is dropped in, the temperature doesn’t drop, and 30 seconds is enough to make the broccoli bright green and take the raw edge off, but not cook it. It’s also important to have a big bowl of cold water handy to drop the broccoli in to stop it cooking further.

I use sun-dried tomatoes that are dried rather than sitting in oil but either would be good, whatever you can lay your hands on.

And toasted almonds are easy, just lay them on a baking tray and cook for four to five minutes, until they are golden.

Broccoli, Sun-dried Tomato, Toasted
Almond Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 head broccoli
– around 500-600g

• 6-8 sundried dried tomatoes

• 1 medium/large red onion

• 50mls white wine vinegar

• 1 dsp sugar

• 50g flaked almonds

• 1-2 cloves garlic

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard

• 100mls extra virgin olive oil

• Juice of half lemon
– about 2tbs

• 1tsp honey

• Salt and black pepper

Method:

If you are using dried sun-dried tomatoes, cover them with boiling water and a splash of vinegar. Leave aside for 15-30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 180c. Spread the almond flakes onto a baking tray, then cook for four to five minutes until golden. Tip them into a small bowl and allow to cool. 

Peel and finely slice the red onion, sprinkle over a little salt, then massage the onion until the rings separate. Put the vinegar and sugar into a bowl, mix until the sugar dissolves then add the onion. Mix well then leave aside.

Fill a big saucepan with water and bring to the boil, cover it with a lid, as this will speed things up.

Discard the very end of the broccoli stalk, then thinly slice the rest until you arrive at the florets. Chop the sliced stalks into matchsticks, then divide the head into florets. By now the water should be boiling. Fill a big bowl with cold water and have it ready on the side. Add a heaped tsp salt to the boiling water, then drop the florets in, count to 30 then lift the broccoli out, or drain into a colander then tip it into the cold water. Allow the boiling water to return to temperature, then drop the chopped broccoli stems in; count to 10, then take them out and drop into the cold water. When the broccoli is cool, drain, break the florets into small pieces and put into a big bowl – all the pieces should be the right size to eat without a knife and fork.

Drain the sun-dried tomatoes and chop small. Add to the broccoli. Drain the onion and reserve the vinegar. Add the onions to the salad. Peel and finely chop the garlic. Add the garlic and Dijon mustard to the oniony vinegar, then whisk in the olive oil, honey and lemon juice. Season with salt and black pepper.

Pour the vinaigrette over the broccoli then toss together, Add the flaked almonds then toss again.

Tip into a serving bowl and it’s ready to go.

“God in his wisdom made the fly, but then forgot to tell us why.” So wrote American poet Ogden Nash, and few people, enraged by a buzzing bluebottle, would not agree. But like everything in the animal kingdom, flies have their reasons and their charms. Many flies annoy us, some spread diseases, but others are important ecologically and commercially, and a few are quite beautiful.

Many insects are called flies that aren’t, for example butterflies, mayflies and dragonflies. True flies belong to the order Diptera, which means “two wing”; this distinguishes them from most flying insects which have four wings. What were once the second pair of wings have, in true flies, become modified into minute gyroscopes called halteres. These send information to the flies’ brains about orientation, contributing to their brilliant maneuverability, and making them so difficult to catch.

There are about 150,000 species of flies. Their classification is very complicated, but basically, there are two groups. The nematocerans, such as craneflies, gnats and mosquitoes, have long, thin bodies and rather feathery, many segmented antennae; the brachycerans, including the house flies, hoverflies and fruit flies, are generally stouter and have smaller antennae with fewer segments.  

Craneflies are often called “daddy long legs”, a silly and confusing name because it is also shared by both cellar spiders and harvestmen, which are arachnids, not insects. Apart from blundering  around lights at night if they get indoors, adult craneflies don’t bother us, but their larvae, commonly called leatherjackets, are garden pests. 

Other members of the group are called gnats or midges. There are thousands of species of them, in many families; over 1,000 are found in Ireland alone. The non-biting midges, of the family Chironomidae, are all harmless, though annoying in large numbers. They are notoriously difficult to identify. One of the world’s foremost chironomid experts worked at Trinity when I was there; Dr. Paddy Ashe had a genus of midge named after him. Tragically, he died during the Covid pandemic. 

Midges in the family Chaoboridae are known as lake flies. In Malawi, the annual appearance of the lake fly, Chaoborus edulis, is one of the great natural phenomena of Africa. Their larvae spend a year deep down in the lake, far from predators. When the rains come, they pupate, rise to the surface and hatch into adults which take to the sky in unimaginable quadrillions. Gigantic swarms, vast dipteran orgies, travel down the lake in tall, smoking spires, or are transformed into what look like islands, or ships, or monsters. Once mating is completed, they fall to the water and provide a feast for the lake’s fish, and if they are blown ashore, for humans too. The women of the lakeside villages rush out with baskets and catch them. They are then squashed into burger shapes and fried. I tried them a couple of times; they were salty, slightly fishy, and gritty from all the legs and wings, but not unpleasant. 

The biting midges, Ceratopogonidae, are the infuriating little flies that bite us, but some species are the principal pollinators of cocoa trees; without them, there would be no chocolate. Unfortunately, several other species are vectors for nasty diseases such as blue tongue, which affects sheep and cattle. Related too are the black flies, of the family Simulidae, which are responsible for transmitting the nematode worm that causes African river blindness. 

Then there is the family Culicidae, the mosquitoes. The females of all species are blood suckers, and so have the potential to spread disease. Two genera of mosquitoes in particular carry dangerous pathogens. The Aedes mosquitoes, recognisable by their zebra-striped legs, can transmit Dengue fever, yellow fever and Zika virus; Anopheles carry Plasmodium, which causes malaria. Up to a million people die of malaria every year, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa. If you live for any length of time in the tropics, you will probably get malaria, or know someone who has. I got it twice. 

If untreated, the worst form of malaria, cerebral, is very often fatal; the history teacher in my old school in Zambia died of it. The usual symptoms are headaches, fevers and chills, and often diarrhoea and vomiting. Sometimes it produces hallucinations: Henry Morton Stanley saw hideous and terrible reptiles, which constantly changed shape; fellow explorer Richard Burton became so delirious he thought he could fly. All I got was Scottish dance music. 

I was staying in a mud hut in the Kakamega rain forest in western Kenya.  Head throbbing, shivering and barely conscious, I imagined I could hear music coming from the forest. I thought I must have cerebral malaria, and was afraid I’d never reach a hospital in time. But actually, the music was real: a group of Scottish school children arrived by truck that day and decided to have a ‘cèilidh’ in the middle of the forest. I eventually found a doctor, was given a course of artemisinin, and recovered after a week.    

The brachycerans are generally not so dangerous. There are nearly 2,000 species found in Ireland, including dung flies, flesh flies, cluster flies and blow flies. House flies are very bothersome, and bluebottles even more so. The Latin name of one of the common bluebottles is Calliphora vomitoria, which sounds appropriate. Bluebottle adults feed on nectar, or anything juicy in your house. But the larvae, or maggots, eat carrion, including human remains. As their life-cycles are well studied, forensic scientists can use fly maggots found in dead bodies to accurately calculate time of death. 

The closely-related greenbottles are very attractive, metallic green flies. They are especially plentiful at the moment in our garden, sipping nectar from the Sedum plant outside my door. They too are used in forensic medicine. Unfortunately, they are also responsible for blowfly strike – they often lay their eggs in the wool of sheep and when the maggots hatch out, they eat into the poor sheep’s skin. 

One of the largest and fiercest of the dipterans in this country is the horsefly. Males feed on nectar, but females, who need extra protein for making eggs, have stabbing mouthparts capable of giving mammals, like us, a painful bite. 

In Africa, two of the most notorious insects are the tumbu fly and the tsetse fly. The former  lays its eggs on the ground, or on damp clothing left on a washing line or bush. If you then put on that garment without ironing it, the eggs will hatch out, and the larvae burrow into your skin, where they grow. After a couple of weeks, they dig their way out and fall to the ground, pupate and eventually develop into adults. 

The tsetse fly is worse, because it carries Trypanosoma, the protist responsible for sleeping sickness in humans; untreated, it is nearly always fatal. The same organism causes similar diseases in domestic livestock and wild animals, from ostriches to giraffes. 

Fruit flies are both troublesome and useful. They buzz around fermenting fruit or anywhere beer or wine is left uncovered, and as they carry acetic acid bacteria, they will turn good drink into vinegar. However, one species, Drosophila melanogaster, is the most studied and important tool in the field of genetics. American biologist Thomas Hunt Morgan used this fly to prove that genes are carried on the chromosomes, which won him the 1933 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine. 

The nicest dipterans are the hoverflies, in the family Syrphidae. They mimic wasps and bees,  fooling predators into leaving them alone in case they get stung; e.g. the drone fly, Eristalis tenax, looks like a bee, while others such as Episyrphus balteatus resemble wasps. Unfortunately, because most people can’t tell a syrphid from a wasp, many get killed anyway, not by birds but by ignorant humans. This is a shame because not only are hoverflies harmless, they are important pollinators. Also, the larvae of some species eat aphids and other plant-sucking insects, so they are a gardener’s friend. 

Some flies may be maddening or even dangerous to us, but they are a major source of food for a great many other animals, from spiders to birds. Without all the thousands of small flies that buzz around our fields in the summer, birds such as swallows and martins, having flown all the way from Africa, would have little to eat, which is why spraying of pesticides, replacement of gorse and heather in favour of grazing land, and the never-ending mowing, strimming and hedge mutilation is so detrimental to wildlife. 

Next time you meet a fly, watch it rubbing its legs together, look at it with a magnifying glass and admire its massive compound eyes and the delicate beauty of its wings. Then let it out of the window; it might feed a hungry wagtail or wren. And please learn to tell a hoverfly from a wasp.

After a scorching summer, Clonakilty Film Club invites us to cosy autumn nights indoors with a carefully chosen selection from the best that world cinema offers. The club opens its autumn season on Tuesday September 22 with ‘Primavera’, an astounding feature debut by acclaimed opera director Damiano Michieletto. ‘Primavera’ is a fictionalised account of Antonio Vivaldi’s time as resident composer and violin teacher at the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice, where he composed most of his major works, told from the perspective of one of his most talented female students.

18th Century, Venice: The Ospedale della Pietà is a refuge for orphaned and abandoned children. Here, girls study music, and the most talented among them are placed in a special orchestra renowned as one of the best in the world. This orchestra performs for Venetian high society and wealthy patrons of the orphanage. While their showcases raise money for the orphanage, they also help secure marriage proposals for the women.

Among this orchestra is 20-year-old Cecilia, an extraordinary violinist betrothed to a wealthy soldier upon his return from battle abroad. Though music has opened her mind, the doors of the orphanage remain closed until she is married. Her world is disrupted when a wind of spring awakens something within her: the arrival of a new teacher, composer, and maestro di violino, Antonio Vivaldi. His mentorship forever changes her, allowing her to envision a different future and embrace her art.

Michieletto’s film is an exceptional example of centreing a woman’s story in a historically patriarchal society, modernising a tale never previously told.

All are welcome. The film starts at 8.30pm (doors open at 8.20pm). Admission €10, cash at the door.

Clonakilty Film Club will screen its second film of the season on October 6. The full Autumn line-up will appear in the October issue of West Cork People. You can also follow Clonakilty Film Club on Facebook for updates.

Bantry was at the heart of Irish coastal rowing last month, as more than 730 crews representing 35 clubs from across the country gathered for the 2026 All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships.

Across three days of racing, crews from Under-12 level through to senior, veteran, masters and traditional boat categories competed for national honours on Bantry Bay, bringing competitors, families and supporters from communities around Ireland to West Cork.

The scale of the championships was reflected in some remarkable race starts, none more so than the Under-16 Boys competition, where 17 boats lined up together, putting 85 people on the water at the same time in what was a spectacular race. It was the largest number of boats to race against one another in a single race at the All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships to date. A number of other races also saw 16 boats on the start line, resulting in exceptionally competitive racing throughout the weekend.

The huge entries, particularly among the younger crews, provided a striking indication of the strength and continued growth of coastal rowing across Ireland.

The championships got underway with an opening ceremony in Bantry attended by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who presented the medals to the winners on Friday as part of the opening events.

The ceremony brought together representatives from national, local and sporting life. Among those present were Minister for Heritage Christopher O’Sullivan, Senator Margaret Murphy O’Mahony, and Deputy Mayor of Cork County Finbarr Harrington.

Also taking a prominent role in the ceremony were Bill Deasy, President of the organisation, and Mary B. Teahan, Chairperson of the ICRF reflecting the contribution of both the current leadership of coastal rowing and those who have played an important role in the sport over many years.

The presence of the Taoiseach, together with the large gathering of public representatives, gave the opening of the championships a special significance as Bantry welcomed one of the biggest gatherings of coastal rowers in the country.

Away from the official proceedings, the town itself embraced the championships wholeheartedly.

For all three days, Bantry was buzzing as rowers, coaches, families and supporters filled the town. Local businesses got firmly behind the event, helping wherever they could and welcoming visitors who travelled from all over Ireland.

The waterfront and surrounding areas were alive with club colours and supporters, while the large number of visitors brought a distinctive championship atmosphere to Bantry throughout the weekend.

The weather added another dimension to the racing. Friday and Saturday provided beautiful conditions, with the crews able to enjoy Bantry Bay in favourable weather. By Sunday afternoon, rain and stronger winds had arrived, creating more challenging conditions on the water. The weather, however, did not stop the rowing. Crews continued to launch and race as the wind increased, producing exciting contests in rougher seas and demonstrating the determination and resilience that are such a feature of coastal rowing.

There was also plenty for the home county to celebrate, with Cork clubs enjoying an outstanding championship among the strong performances from clubs nationwide.

Rushbrooke, Whitegate and Myross each recorded seven championship victories, while Kerry club Sive claimed five titles. Kilmacsimon Quay and Kilmacabea also secured multiple wins, with Cork crews successful across a broad range of ages and boat categories.

The results were a reflection not only of the strength of Cork coastal rowing but of the national depth on display in Bantry, with clubs from all over  Ireland sharing the podium throughout the weekend. 

The championships also celebrated the heritage of the sport alongside its modern competitive side. Timber Yawls, Heritage boats and the Men’s Seine Boat championship featured in the programme, connecting today’s competitors with the traditional boats and maritime communities that have shaped Irish coastal rowing over generations.

Behind the racing was a huge volunteer effort, with a large team working across water safety, race organisation, stewarding, shore operations and club support to deliver a championship programme of such scale.

The final day brought the championships to a close in difficult conditions, but the challenging weather could not diminish the atmosphere that had built throughout the weekend.

The sight of 17 Under-16 Boys boats racing together on the water, alongside a number of 16-boat starts, provided a memorable symbol of the future of Irish Coastal Rowing.

The nights are getting shorter and slowly the world is returning to normal after the summer break.

That means school and sport, with training often taking place in the evenings or at weekends in grounds across the county.

One club that is settling into the autumn after a seismic summer is Clonakilty RFC. Helen O’Hea looks after their senior women’s team and she knows exactly what goes into running the show at Shannonvale, writes Dylan O’Connell.

Clonakilty saw a number of players represent Munster in this year’s edition of the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.

Their names are well known around West Cork; Caoimhe Murphy and Lani O’Donovan were on the first team, and the development squad featured Clodagh McCarthy, Jo McCaughey, Julie Finn, and Rachel Twomey.

Lani, Clodagh, Jo, and Julie also played on the Ireland Under-18 Six Nations team earlier this year. 

They follow in the footsteps of other Clonakilty graduates that wore the green jersey, a group that includes John Hodnett and Conor Ryan.

There’s also strong representation at underage level in Munster. Finn O’Donovan, Ewan Knowles, and Cillian Sturdy are with the Under-18 boys. Elsa Quirke, Julie Cunningham, and Keelin McCarthy are with the Under-18 girls.  Padraig Coffey, Tristan O’Driscoll, Tony O’Keeffe, and Olan White represent the Under-17 boys.  The Under-17 girls have Caoimhe McCarthy, Emer O’Connor, Jenny O’Donnell, Lara Twomey, Lucy McCarthy, Matila O’Donovan, and Molly Deegan in their ranks.  Liam Ben Khaled, Michael Collins,  and Ollie Hunt complete the set with the Under-16 boys.

All of this is being placed into a wider conversation about rugby in West Cork, with many wanting to know how the region became such fertile ground for Irish internationals, both male and female. Bandon’s Jack Crowley is usually the first name mentioned, and the fly half is just the start of a very long list.

Clonakilty are one part of the conveyer belt, and all their good work goes back to what is happening on the ground on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

“The rugby season started back proper for the minis on September 6,” explains Helen O’Hea.

“They introduced Sundays for the month of September, because of the clash with GAA training on Saturdays. So for October, we switch back to Saturdays. It will be all systems go then for everyone.”

Clonakilty will go into this period as a growing club that is fast approaching their 50th anniversary.

“So we’ve got 850 members, and that is growing,” she explains.

“We have our 50th anniversary next spring, so it’ll be a big occasion in the club. Like that, it just doesn’t happen without the hours of volunteer work. It kicked off in 1977 in the Kilty Stone, it was a famous drinking/meeting establishment back in the day in Clonakilty.  Our big emphasis is that we are a community club.  We strive to work together because teamwork makes the dream work.

“What keeps the club going and growing is the tremendous work done by our various committees, managers, coaches, and referees. There’s those that keep the club grounds maintained and the shop and bar going.  Fundraising also plays a big part at the club, as you can imagine, for providing equipment, gear and facilities for all the teams.  We are very grateful to all our sponsors and Clonakilty are always looking for novel ways to get new people involved while raising their profile.

“We have a lotto that is sold on the streets every Friday – Jimmy O’Regan is at the helm there and he is super with that,” adds O’Hea.

“And then we have a new initiative called ‘Split the Bucket’, a Willie Wilcox’s initiative. So that’s up and running, and it’s a guaranteed winner every week. They sell tickets during the week, and then half goes to the club and half goes to the ticket that’s picked out. It’s great and it builds awareness. Thanks to the local pubs that are participating, it all helps.”

All of this is to support Clonakilty RFC, a community within the community that is made up of a number of teams going from the underage ranks to senior men and women.

“We have Tigers for our mixed ability teams. Cubs for the four- and five-year-olds,” she explained.

“We cater for all abilities and ages: six, eight, 10, and 12, for the minis, 14, 16, and 18 for the youths in both boys and girls. Then the adult men and the adult women.

“The adult men have two teams, and the ladies have one at the moment, but are working hard to build a foundation for a second team that will greatly benefit the different levels of players. We only started out three years ago, thanks to Mervyn Buttimer who stepped up and coached the team and Micheal O’Sullivan our S&C coach.  Since then we have consistently improved our game, grown our coaching team and we hope to do well again this season.”

It is often stated that the problem in women’s sport is keeping players invested after they turn 16. Clonakilty are working on that but in the meantime the club is happy that there is a regular stream of new recruits coming to the ground. One thing that has massively helped with this is the sheer number of Munster players around, as they show that something is working at The Vale.

“[Seeing Munster players] is encouraging, especially for ladies rugby,” explains O’Hea.

“If Mom has played it, or big sister has played it, it takes that fear factor out of it I think, because obviously we try and coach to prevent injury, but nothing is foolproof.

“We have a schools programme as well, where Finny O’Regan and Ian Rae go into local schools in September and October, (ably assisted with the TY students of Clonakilty Community College).  They coach the classes, give them taster sessions and encourage them to come out and give it a try at the club where someday they will get to wear the red and green for Clonakilty.

“It has paid off, and we are very grateful to the Committee and to the schools for encouraging this initiative.” 

The schools programme is paying off, in the form of silverware for Clonakilty at provincial level.

2026 saw Sacred Heart Clonakilty claim the Pinergy Munster Schools Girls Senior Cup for the third year in a row, while their junior team reach their final. It shows something is working when there is a steady stream of success for the schools. All of it leads back to the sport, and the simple love of playing rugby.

Some might take it up recreationally, others will join and go all the way to the top. They might wear the famous red jersey or the green one. Others will line out with their friends with the simple goal of having fun in the sport that they love.

Clonakilty offers something for everyone, boys and girls, from the cubs having fun right up to adults of all abilities.

Alongside modern approaches to SAD, traditional systems of medicine offer another way of thinking about our relationship with the seasons. Across European herbal traditions, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, changes in light, sleep, digestion, energy and emotional balance have long been considered part of the seasonal cycle. Plants, food, daily rhythms, movement, rest and connection with the natural world have all played a role in supporting wellbeing through the darker months.

The Western herbal tradition, in particular, provides a rich language for understanding and responding to what might once have been described as winter melancholy. Rather than looking for a single plant to treat a condition, it considers the individual and their particular response to the season. Rosemary, lemon balm, lavender, oat tops, rose and St John’s wort are among the plants that have traditionally been associated with different aspects of winter wellbeing, while practices such as making the most of daylight, eating nourishing food, maintaining regular sleep, exercising and staying connected with others can also form part of a seasonal approach.

The question, therefore, is not simply, “What herb treats SAD?” but rather: what is this person’s particular winter pattern, and which plants and seasonal practices may support them?

European medicine historically described melancholy in relation to temperament, the passions, digestion, sleep and the movement of the vital spirits. In European traditional medicine, looking after oneself each season involved more than a single remedy. Warm food, exercise, daylight, companionship, prayer, work and rest were all part of maintaining health.

Rosemary: Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, formerly Rosmarinus officinalis) has a long history in European household medicine. It is associated with memory, alertness, digestion and circulation, and its aromatic character may suit a person who feels mentally dull, sluggish or disengaged during the darker months. In his recent research in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the psychiatrist, Dr. Ciro de Rhode noted that rosemary was the most used herb by people for low mood.

Rosemary can be incorporated into everyday life in a number of simple ways. It can be used as a culinary herb in soups, stews and roasted vegetables, or fresh sprigs can be included in an aromatic morning routine. Traditionally associated with remembrance, continuity and household care, rosemary can also be enjoyed as a herb tea.

Lemon balm, lavender and oat tops: Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has traditionally been used when emotional tension is accompanied by digestive discomfort or poor sleep whereas Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) may be considered for relaxation and nervous restlessness.

Oat tops (Avena sativa) also belong to the Western tradition of support for nervous exhaustion and convalescence. It is a useful herb when winter brings a sense of ‘running on empty’ rather than agitation. The best way to take oats is as porridge.

St John’s wort: St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) has a particularly evocative place in Western herbal culture. St John’s Eve falls on June 23, followed by the Feast of St John the Baptist on 24 June. These dates are close to midsummer, when the days are longest, and the plant commonly comes into flower.

Its bright yellow flowers seem to embody the sun at its height. The seasonal symbolism becomes even more striking in the Christian calendar: John the Baptist is the precursor of Christ, preparing the way for the light, while Christmas – the celebration of Christ’s birth – falls near the winter solstice, when darkness is greatest.

St John’s wort therefore flowers at the height of summer but can be gathered and preserved for the darker season. It becomes an image of carrying light into winter: a midsummer plant that anticipates darkness and offers, symbolically and medicinally, lightness within it. European traditions also associated it with protection, vitality and relief from melancholy.

However, St John’s wort is not a simple ‘natural antidepressant’ and can interact with many medications including hormonal contraceptives, warfarin, transplant medicines, anticonvulsants, some cancer and HIV medicines, and many other drugs. For this reason, it is not suitable for home use and needs to be prescribed by a herbalist. What can be used is Hypericum red oil. A few drops of this oil can be massaged into the soles of one’s feet after a shower and can be very relaxing.

Rose (Rosa damascena) is another beneficial herb from our tradition and  rose tea, rose water and culinary rose preparations can provide sensory pleasure, emotional comfort and a means of slowing down during a busy day.

A thoughtful approach to low mood in winter requires planning now. This might combine the use of herbs such as, rosemary, lemon balm, oat tops, and rose, into nourishing food and tea rituals. As the summer recedes and winter routines take its place it is vital to have regular sleep, movement exercises such as yoga, tai chi and qi gong, regular meetings with friends and a carefully planned run up to Christmas.

Talking therapy, light therapy and, where necessary, prescribed medicines may also be appropriate. The most important factor is to recognise the effect the onset of winter has on you and take appropriate steps now. 

John Horton, warden of the Cape Clear Bird Observatory, describes how he spent much of the winter months of 2025/26 volunteering his expertise in the Karoo region of South Africa.

The culmination of two years’ work, in 2018, I successfully led an ambitious project to establish the first newly-accredited bird observatory for Britain and Ireland in decades on Alderney. This application is now used by the Bird Observatories Council (BOC) as the template for any other location aspiring to become one of these centres of ornithological excellence. Not a complete surprise then that I was tracked down by the owner of an extensive lodge and nature reserve in Africa with one question, “could you do it for us?”.

So, into the unknown, with an awful lot of boxes to tick, not least the marrying up of South African bird recording systems, getting all relevant authorities and organisations on board, and the promise of a fair bit of red tape in terms of permissions and permits ahead. I understandably did not overplay the chances of ending ten weeks in South Africa with a completed comprehensive framework document launching a Karoo Bird Observatory, but with no little effort and a ‘can-do’ attitude, alongside some fairly unorthodox bumps in the road, that is exactly what happened. 

However, there were one or two considerations that you won’t encounter at an Irish bird observatory, definitely more Puff Adders and Cape Cobras and, when out completing survey work monitoring bird migration, be aware of hippos and African Buffalos, which all made for a rather more comprehensive health and safety assessment.

Setbacks were sometimes challenging, for example, whilst FEDEX appears to be the only freight operator in South Africa, they clearly face serious issues. A shipment of bird ringing equipment worth over €2,000, travelling to the Karoo from Poland, made it as far as Northern Cape (known for being South Africa’s safest province), at which point I received an email from FEDEX stating “We are very sorry to tell you that there will be a delay in the delivery of your package, our delivery van has been hijacked”. Whilst some of us might find such news shocking or even alarming, the local attitude was rather more relaxed and inclined to some shoulder shrugging about it.

It transpired that the New Holme Nature Lodge and reserve is one of the most important stopover locations for over-wintering sub-Saharan migrant birds in Southern Africa. Fast declining species familiar to our Irish gardens and nature reserves including Barn Swallows, Willow Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers, and Common Swifts overwinter in numbers at this birding hotspot of several thousand acres. 

Moreover, my input exposed that an extraordinary 75 per cent of all Western Palearctic inter-continental migrant bird species ever recorded in South Africa have been spotted at this one site, strongly justifying the location as ideal for establishing a bird observatory. Add that it also has an excellent range of accommodation for guests and a dedicated research centre building. 

Keen interest and support from stakeholders Birdlife South Africa, the African bird ringing scheme SAFRING, and donations from WorthWild Africa also greatly assisted with progress. The recording systems were incorporated into the dedicated national database SABMAP, daily bird census routes were identified and mapped out, lodge staff tasked with various activities and, slowly, but surely, the impossible looked like it could actually happen. 

Whilst in situ, I also implemented moth trapping surveys, an area that has received very little effort in the Karoo. Attention was given to habitat management, minimising disturbance to birds in key areas and generally recording everything that runs, crawls, jumps, flies, swims, or slithers. Beyond this location being a spectacular oasis for almost 300 bird species, it is one of if not the best, location in South Africa to see rare mammal species such as the Black-footed cat, Aardvark, and Elephant Shrew. Reserve owner PC Ferriera is to be commended for his ongoing efforts in turning over thousands of acres of his family’s traditional farmland to wildlife, whilst beyond his property borders there is little consideration for the natural world or environment.

Whilst representing BirdWatch Ireland at the Global Bird Fair this summer, I announced during a presentation that in support of this concerted effort in Africa to help protect and research birdlife, BirdWatch Ireland have agreed to work towards ‘twinning’ Cape Clear Bird observatory with The Khoisan Karoo Bird Observatory, continuing to offer advice and support where possible. 

In conclusion, the Karoo Bird Observatory is up and running, and it is exciting that other important locations for bird migration in South Africa have touched base with this project, keen to understand how they might begin working towards setting up the same. This could lead to a much-needed network of African observatories interacting and producing front-line data that may help us to understand, and even stem, the decline of so many of our long haul migratory species.

BirdWatch Ireland
West Cork Branch News

Our next events are:

September 20:
Cape Clear (Members only.)

October 11:
Migrants at Mizen Head.

Visit our website www.birdwatchirelandwestcork.ie for more information about these events. To receive news and reminders about our events join our mailing list by sending an email to mailinglist@birdwatchirelandwestcork.ie.

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