Migrating birds and the September 11th “Tribute in Light” Memorial
In the summer of 1999 I visited the World Trade Center, going up the elevator to Windows on The World. I often wondered if the jovial elevator operator was on…
A wonderful place for a family day out – WWT Castle Espie, Co. Down
Between Comber and Newtownards in County Down lies WWT (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) reserve Castle Espie. This is a wonderful site, and I would say the most impressive family attraction…
Extinct in Ireland, September 9th, Black-necked Grebe
From Whittled Away: Bred at Lough Funshinagh, County Roscommon, until 1957. This 2015 Irish Examiner piece gives more of the story: The species once had a special relationship with Ireland; a County…
“The Blind Leading The Blind”, Sebastiaen Vrancx
The Blind Leading The Blind Sebastiaen Vrancx c. 1620, Private Collection
Extinct in Ireland, September 8th, Triple Spotted Clay Moth (Xestia ditrapezium)
The Triple-Spotted Clay moth is unknown in Ireland since 1956. From Red List 9 Macro-moths: There is a single generation of adults in late June to early August with larvae from August…
Heschyia – “where peace goes beyond peace” – from Paul Evdokimov’s The Art of the Icon
Continuing posts on heschyia (or heschuia) here is a passage from “The Art of the Icon: A Theology of Beauty” by Paul Evdokimov “It is very important to understand that…
Extinct in Ireland, September 7th, the Corn Bunting
My September blog series Extinct in Ireland continues dolefully on. And here is a bird extinct as a breeding species in Ireland very much within recent memory: the Corn Bunting.…
Did Captain Molesworth Lose His Bet? … what happened
Following on from last week: “Captain Molesworth had a bright idea – he would play another round. He did this seventh round in 104 strokes and argued that he had…
Séamus Sweeney 