Birthplace of St Columba, Gartan, Donegal
Traditionally, St Columba’s birthplace was near Lough Gartan, Church Hill, Co Donegal. Church Hill is a village near Glenveagh National Park, and is on the fringes of the Derryveagh…
Author: Séamus Sweeney
The Granddaughter Paradox published in Sci Phi Journal
My story The Granddaughter Paradox has been published in Sci Phi Journal, an online journal of science fiction with a philosophical twist (or philosophical fiction with a science fiction twist?) Reading the full…
A fossilised flower in amber – with its pollinator!
Originally posted on Prof. Jeff Ollerton – ecological scientist and author:
There have been only a handful of occasions in my professional life when I’ve been sent a manuscript to…
Gola: The Life and Last Days of an Island Community
Recently I read this book, published in 1969 by Radio Telifis Eireann, on Gola Island. Gola is a mile from Magheragallon Strand in Gweedore, three miles from Bunbeg harbour. When…
Bird Feeding Notes, mid April
A month on from the imaginatively titled “Bird feeding in Mid March” here are some random thoughts and observations on bird feeding in Mid April. The mix of birds is roughly…
From “The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries From a Hidden World”, Peter Wohlieben
Scent as a means of communication? The concept is not totally unfamiliar to us. Why else would we use deodorants and perfumes? And even when we’re not using these products,…
Statuary from Chartres Cathedral
A few years old as photos, but nothing like as old as the works themselves. Chartres was a revelation and well worth the trip (even though the labyrinth was covered…
The Labyrinth of Mr Price
The prospect of having a labyrinth in ones garden seems alluring, albeit, done properly, highly expensive. I have found an appropriately cheap and easy way of labyrinth building – using…
Séamus Sweeney 