Environment - West Cork People

The marvels and mysteries of migration

WCP Staff March, 2026

This month Branch Chair Jez Simms looks forward to the arrival of birds here after their long journeys from west and southern Africa. We are fast approaching the time of year when our bird population is enhanced by the arrival of our spring migrants winging their way from Africa, whilst […]

Otter presence along the Bandon River signals healthy ecosystem

WCP Staff February, 2026

This month Niamh O’Leary, a member of the Save Murragh Action Group committed to protecting the environment of the Bandon River Valley, discusses the elusive otter and the importance of protecting its presence along the Bandon River. Otters are special little characters, they are one of Ireland’s most charismatic wild […]

When is a Seagull not a Seagull?

WCP Staff February, 2026

This month, branch committee member Karl Woods provides an overview of gull species in Ireland and gives tips on how to begin gull-watching. The word ‘Seagull’ is a generally well-known and used name, but is it really a suitable term? The image that generally springs to mind would be of […]

Sea hens and parasites

Dr Jeremy A. Dorman February, 2026

Last month, I mentioned a fish called a lumpsucker; some of you might not know exactly what it is. Cyclopterus lumpus is a strange creature that lives in the cooler waters of the north Atlantic. The Latin name can be translated as ‘lumpy circular wing’; which refers to its knobbly, […]

Kickstart your West Cork retrofit this New Year

Ruairi Kay January, 2026

Drat proofing windows. As the new year dawns, many of us are setting ambitious personal and professional goals for 2026. I know personally that if I achieve even half of mine, I’ll be doing well! Having said that, it’s also a great time to extend that ambition to our homes. […]

A beach in Kenya

Dr Jeremy A. Dorman January, 2026

With the weather here so frightfully cold, let me take you once again to the tropics. Last autumn, I stayed with a friend in Kenya, in a village beside the Indian Ocean. Long ago, this village was home to powerful Arab slave traders; their descendants still own much of the […]

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