Nature Boy: A Journey of Birdsong and Belonging with Seán Ronayne

How do we protect something we do not love or understand?

Ornithologist Seán Ronayne from Cobh, Co. Cork is on a mission to record the sound of every bird species in Ireland – that’s nearly 200 birds. Often joined by his partner Alba, he travels to some of the country’s most beautiful and remote locations to capture its most elusive species and soundscapes: the busy seabird colony of Skellig Michael; a native woodland free from road noise in the Burren; the corncrake stronghold of Tory Island; a solitary nest in the Donegal uplands. 

In this sound-packed, illustrative talk, Seán will bring you on a beautiful journey through Irish birds, sharing their sounds, stories and struggles. Along the way we get to know Seán, whose hypersensitivity to sound has proven both a struggle and a strength. At once inspiring and cautionary, Seán’s journey illustrates the beauty and importance of sound, and what listening can tell us about the state of our natural world, and how it can also heal and nourish the soul.

Expect laughter, expect tears, and expect the unexpected. Not to be missed – you will never look at the world around you in the same way again.

Una Mullally – The Irish Times: “It’s difficult to think of anyone in recent memory who has done more to impress upon the public the importance of birdlife in Ireland, and the significance of our biodiversity loss. Ronayne’s approach is also an inspiring one, using the wonder of nature to activate a love for what we have and what we are losing. His public talks often leave audiences moved to tears.”

Sean O’Hagan–The Guardian: “Seán Ronayne’s all-consuming quest has made him an unlikely celebrity, and his passion for nature is raising awareness about the seriousness of Ireland’s ecological crisis.”