Tonight on RTÉ 2, you can see the first matches being showcased with a plethora of new rules.

Countrywide Full Episode 19/10/2024

Nothing shapes the Irish landscape more than the hedgerow. We meet two farmers in Tipperary who are invested in preserving and expanding the hedges on their farms, and hear from Teagasc adviser Catherine Keena.

Singer songwriter Padraig Jack, who grew up on Inis Mor, is touring with his new album These Shores. (For copyright reasons the full tracks performed in this interview cannot be made available in the postcast)

The largest ever sheep sale for a single breed was held recently at Maam Cross Mart in County Galway, with over 3000 entered by members of the Connemara Mayo Blackface Breeders Group.

On Thursday, seven awards were presented to organic growers and food producers at the National Organic Awards. Garryhinch Wood Exotic Mushrooms from Offaly received the 'New & Innovative Award'.

Countrywide Full Episode 12/10/2024

We look at a way to make a better fit for horses that are too slow to race or those who have ended their racing career.

The male bull calf is a bad fit for the dairy industry, that only needs heifers, and a bad fit for the beef industry where it compares poorly to their beef bred counterparts.

Joe Hyde works as a carer but discovered the joy of chainsaw carving during lockdown.

Lough Ree, the Shannon's second largest lake, has many islands which provide sanctuary for breeding waders. The unwelcome threat to these birds is the mink, which has decimated populations since it escaped from fur farms in the 1950s. Enter Lorg, a three-year old golden retriever who has been trained to sniff out mink areas.

Nine year-old Leo Early is the winner of the Feis Ceoil All Ireland Story Telling competition.

David Power, Acting Editor of the Leitrim Observer

Michelle Guckian, Captain of the Leitrim Ladies Football team.

Countrywide is live from dancer Edwina Guckian's house in Drumsna, Co Leitrim to launch the "Just Rambling Project". (for copyright reasons the full tracks performed during this programme cannot be made available in the podcast)

Brenda visited a very special farm on the shores of Lough Allen, which offers disadvantaged people the opportunity to spend time on a family farm in a healthy, supportive and inclusive environment.

One project being mentioned for the Apple tax windfall is the Shannon pipeline project to pump water from our longest river to Dublin and the eastern counties. Uisce Éireann has already spent nearly 70 million euro on preparing its planning application. However the plan has once again aroused concerns in the Tipperary and Lough Derg areas.

Nearly all babies are born in hospital today, but that wasn’t always the case. Many were delivered at home by community midwives, whose role is remembered in a new exhibition in The National Museum of Ireland and Country Life in Mayo.

Countrywide Full Episode 28/09/2024

EU officials have been hearing the arguments for retaining the derogation that allows some farmers to spread larger amounts of manure than everyone else. As water quality in many rivers, lakes and estuaries has not improved as much as we promised it would, we find out what way the Commission might be leaning and the impact if the derogation goes.

An essay by Janet Heeran on cherishing the late summer sunshine.

Joe Ribbon is a master craftsman who has spent his life preserving the tradition of the old Irish dresser.

Countrywide explores the challenge, history and music flowing through the rivers of Donegal. With music by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. (for copyright reasons, full tracks cannot be made available in the podcast)

In the noughties, farmers were prompted to grow the elephant grass miscanthus as bio-fuel. But when government plans were changed, they were left with fields full of an unwanted high energy crop. Some stuck with Miscanthus and have carved out a new and very important role for it.

Many farmers and landowners say they want to do more for nature. But how do farmers get paid for hedgerows that eat into their fields or for putting in a pond? How do they get paid for using less pesticides when doing that reduces their yields? These are some of the questions we try to answer with the help of Dr Brendan Dunford.

'Leaning on Gates' is the latest book by Seamus O'Rourke. It's a sequel to his first popular memoir 'Standing in Gaps', and covers the tender years after Seamus turned 18.

A big issue for GAA clubs is the changing demographic of this country. According to the latest CSO figures, 63% of the population now live in urban areas. For rural clubs, it means fewer players, and for urban clubs, it means not enough facilities. New demographics committees have now been set up to attempt to match facilities with population.

Countrywide Full Episode 14/09/2024

All summer long, Galway Hookers and their smaller counterparts, Gleoiteogaí, can be seen out on Galway Bay competing in the yearly regatta and sailing league.

Over time the number of people producing vegetables in Ireland has grown smaller and smaller. So it is not often you hear of a young person getting into commercial vegetable growing, like Brian McCarthy, who started with just a small roof top garden before moving to a much larger space.

Countrywide Full Episode 07/09/2024

For the last three days there has been a conference in Dublin examining zoonotic diseases, those like Avian Flu, Swine Flu, Covid-19 which can cross from animals to humans. Professor Alison Van Eenennaam speaks about the state of research which genetically alters livestock to remove or reduce their susceptibility to all manner of disease.

Producing cereals is only becoming more and more challenging thanks to climate change and a poor international price.

Countrywide visits Gill Smith's farm in Carrigaline, County Cork. She is now retired and having to make tough decisions about the future of the herd.

Countrywide Full Episode 31/08/2024

Near Clane in County Kildare, Pat Pender and his volunteers have created a garden that grows plants, flowers, vegetables, and cultivates a warm and thriving community.

It has been a tough year for farming, but how has the summer of 2024 been for small tourism businesses focused on farms in rural Ireland?

Once upon a time, Irish wool was very valuable, used for clothing and carpets. But times, tastes and breeds of sheep have changed, and wool is sometimes seen as an unwanted by-product of the sheep industry. But there are moves afoot to change this...

In years past, cousins from England, Scotland and further afield used to make the pilgrimage to the home place in the summer, just like Noel Gallagher. Does that still happen today?

With Stephen Robb, renewable editor with the Irish Farmers Journal; and Niall Sargent, current affairs correspondent with the Currency.

We discuss anaerobic digestors and their future with Irish farms. With Stephen Robb, renewable editor with the Irish Farmers Journal; and James Delahunt, Corporate Finance Partner at KPMG.

We speak to Kerrie Leonard live from Paris ahead of the 2024 Summer Paralympics. Kerrie is from county Meath and representing Ireland in archery.

Lough Neagh is the largest lake on the island of Ireland. Last year, the Copernicus satellite captured images from space of the green algae that spread across the lake, revealing the scale of the water quality problem. With new plans for the future of the lake being announced, how are stakeholders reacting?

Countrywide Full Episode 24/08/2024

Legendary rugby referee Nigel Owens will be at the Dualla show as a livestock judge.

Lorna Siggins goes to Cheekpoint Waterford to catch up with Andrew Doherty of the local Tides and Tales Project which aims to share the maritime history of coastal villages of east Waterford.

Darragh McCullough, Ear to the Ground Presenter, and Teresa Roche join Hannah in the studio to talk about how important it is to have diversification in farming. Teresa Roche is from a farm beside Kylemore Abbey near Loughrea in Galway. She came from a dairy farming background and has now started Kylemore Cheeses.

David Moore chats to Hannah about his company which creates Electric Tractors to use in Ethiopia

Treasa Bhreatnach visited the farm of John and Kate O'Sullivan. Their sheep farm has also been growing blueberries for years but recently they've started experimenting with a new type of superfood berry- The Aronia Berry.

Hannah is joined by Darragh McCullough, Ear to the Ground Presenter and Mairead Lavery, former editor of Irish Country Living, to look at some of the agricultural news in the papers.

The Horse Show is on in the RDS this week, across the country competitors are putting the final touches to their preparations. Suzanne Campbell meets a family preparing with their special rescue pony Da Vinci

The story of little Curlew Chicks released back in to the wild on Mark and Clare Craven's farm in Roscommon. Lorna Siggins went to visit the farm to see the Curlews for herself.

Escalating costs and planning delays can be a frustrating experience for many hoping to build a home on their family farm. We visit Eoin O' Brien a younger farmer building on a a site in Limerick and Darragh Molloy. Derek Whyte a planning consultant and Breandan O'Keefe join Hannah in the studio.

Aisling O'Brien, senior news journalist with Agriland and Margaret Donnelly, editor of the farming independent, join Hannah in the studio for a look at the main farming stories in the papers this week.

Ronan Kelly visits Fran and Fergal in their shop Lili Mae's ending in Daingean Ui Chuis.

We meet Keith Brennan on some of the trial and tribulations of farming a hay meadow.

Rachel Martin, farming editor with the Irish Examiner and Pat O'Toole of the Irish Farmers Journal join Hannah to discuss some of the major farming newspaper stories.

Full Episode

Eoghan, a farmer from New Ross, delights us with some of his Banjo playing beore he heads to the fleadh

Hannah visits Johnny Gleeson and Gillian Richardson in Carlow as they attempt to renovate a grainstore from 1880's into their very first home. We get feedback from Deirdre Sword, Vacant Property Officer with Mayo County Council and Dominic Keogh StoneMason.

Full Episode

During the week, Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, told farmers they should prepare for a 7 month winter from now on - which will mean they’ll need to have more feed banked up and more slurry storage because animals will be housed for longer. Farmers are responding.

Next week curlew chicks hand-reared by scientists will be released into the wild as part of a project to save this species from extinction. With just 100 breeding pairs left, their future here isn’t looking good. But a new publicly funded €25 million project, hopes to secure a better future for curlew and other breeding waders

We have a wide range of publicly-funded schemes that have opened up walking trails across the country, and it seems there’s an insatiable appetite amongst the public for them. But how do we make sure our presence doesn’t ruin the land and nature, or the farming life in the fields?

Paused in 1963, revived in 2001, the Omey Races were again suspended again in 2020.  But this year, they are back on August 4th, thanks in no small part to the determination of the main organiser, Fechin Mulkerrin.  Connemara breeder Joe McNamara and his daughter Emer are looking forward to the races.

John Connell recounts a road trip that he and his wife Viv took recently, a journey that in one way began in Longford and ended in Dublin, but in another way began in Vietnam in the twentieth century and ended in Ireland in the twenty first

Three years ago Mayo Beef farmer, Barry O'Shea put up a barn owl box and now after waiting all this time, he has a breeding pair. We are joined by him and John Lusby, Raptor Conservation Officer.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue announced a proposal to suspend the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) for this year. The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has demanded that tillage farmers must receive a payment for baling straw this year.

There is hundreds of millions of euro of public money spent every year by the government on food for nursing homes, prisons, hospitals and educational facilities, including the new school meals scheme. Across the EU, this market is worth an estimated 82 billion. So what’s the potential for Irish farmers to get involved?

Full Episode

With their feathered antennae and shiny black armour, dung beetles move through pasture, recycling dung, building soils, cleansing parasites and providing prey for birds, bats, foxes and badgers. There are more than 40 species in Ireland. And their value as "eco systems engineers" is now being explored by farmers

We revisit Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí to answer the question that divided the nation, is it Puffling or Puffin chick?

England will play Spain on Sunday in Berlin in the Euro Finals, with millions of excited supporters set to watch the match. One family in Kerry will definitely be supporting Spain. The Twiss family have a special connection with Spain's Dani Carvajal.

Countrywide Full 13/07/2024

There has been a reduction in Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the EPA report on 2023 emissions. Farming accounts for just over one third of our emissions and there has been increasing focus on how this sector is faring. Professor Frank O'Meara, director of Teagasc, joins us in the studio to discuss the farming emissions.

Most Irish farms are family farms, with the farm often handed down from one generation to the next, traditionally to boys. We hear how that is changing and when a family should begin the conversation about succession.

With the Labour Party interested in revisiting the Phyto Sanitary Rules and veterinary rules around inspections of goods for exports, is there cause for optimism for Irish food producers?

We go on a summer walk through fields in County Laois.

Teams are travelling from all over the country to take part in the Tug of War championships. These are highly athletic teams, training at an elite level.

Countrywide Full 06/07/24

Thousands of farmers, animal lovers and families are flocking into Charleville for one of the biggest agricultural spectacles in Ireland, the 41st Charleville Agricultural Show.

Janet Heeran has written an essay in tribute to all the agricultural shows she has enjoyed over the years.

We explore how Brexit played a part in the rise of new strains of potato blight.

Countrywide visited Teagasc's Beef Open Day in Grange during the week. One topic of conversation on everyone's lips was the lack of grass growth. Members of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee are arranging next steps for monitoring this situation.

In the last few weeks, a new greenway has opened up. This latest one is a 32km route along a disused railway line between Navan in Meath and Kingscourt on the Cavan border.

Countrywide Full 29/06/24

Opportunity or burden? We look at the Nature Restoration Law and speak to some of those who may be affected.

Bankers have unique insights into how farmers are really getting on in the face of recent challenges, from Brexit to Covid to the weather. With Eoin Lowry, Head of Agri Sector, Bank of Ireland; Donal Whelton, Head of Agri, Food and Fisheries at AIB; Therese Conway, CEO of Cavan Credit Union.

Countrywide visited the plantation of organic tillage farmer John McDonald in Laois, to see what best practice around commercial forestry looks like.

Water quality has been getting attention as the EPA published its annual report on the quality of water in our rivers, lakes, and estuaries, revealing no improvement in water quality. We speak to Eddie Burgess, Agricultural Catchments Specialist with Teagasc.

Countrywide Full 15/06/24

Last week, a chemical used in the treatment of drinking water entered the Allow River, and an estimated five thousand salmon, trout and lamprey were killed. Ella McSweeney went to assess the damage done.

The park brings together various nature habitats, from limestone reefs to sand dunes, protecting them and the diverse species who live there, including birds, whales, dolphins and puffins. We explore how the park came about, what a national park is for, and the relationship it may have with local farmers and fishermen.

Declan O'Rourke chats about the 20th anniversary of his first album 'Since Kyabram'

Philip Boucher Hayes chats to gardeners at Bloom.

Philip Boucher Hayes is at Bloom speaking to food producers.

Farmers from the Rathcroghan area of County Roscommon have created a silver medal garden at Bloom, which reflects an archaeologically rich landscape near the village of Tulsk.

Countrywide Full 01/06/24

Philip Boucher Hayes walked around Bloom chatting to exhibitors, from a salvia grower to a blacksmith.

The Horse's Mouth is a mentorship programme run by Farming for Nature, where one of their farmer ambassadors will visit your farm to have a one-to-one chat about how you'd like to shape it to help improve biodiversity.

Scientists at World Weather Attribution have just completed a study into what role climate change did or didn't play in the unusually large number of storms between last autumn and this spring.

Countrywide Full 25/05/24

Lessons in how to run a National Park from the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park.

The High Seas: Ambition, Power and Greed on the Unclaimed Ocean by Dr Olive Heffernan, is published next week.

Meath farmer Helen Hughes is sadly no stranger to the potential hazards of the farmyard having lost her father fifteen years ago to a farm accident.

With Lorcan Roche Kelly

The Teagasc FBD Student of the Year awards take place next Tuesday night in the Heritage Hotel in Portlaoise, with 15 finalists.

Countrywide Full 18/05/24

Musicians Sadhbh O’Sullivan and Sharon Murphy met in 2015 when they began working together a dementia-friendly choir based in Naas, Co. Kildare. Since then they have collaborated with organisations like the Irish Hospice Foundation and the HSE. Brenda Donohue went to see them at work in Celbridge at one of their their Sip & Serenade sessions.

Countrywide Full 11/05/24

There is a trend of wealthy individuals buying agricultural land as a way of passing on their wealth to their children. With Denis Drennan, President of the ICMSA.

We speak to Dinny Galvin in West Kerry, and Dr Margaret Kelleher, Genetics Operations Manager with ICBF, the independent genetics advisory service for farmers.

With fruit and vegetable wholesale grower Barra Sweetman, and chef Eunice Power.

Philip was up half the night to catch the Northern Lights.

Sheep farmer Gerard Coyne is giving rescue dogs a second chance at life on his farm in County Galway.

Hannah Quinn Mulligan and grandmother Catherine have moved to milking on a small scale, which has brought new breeds of cows into the yard.

Donal Sheehan rents half of his farm. When that half was put on the market recently, he could not afford to buy it. Also with Michael Brady, Agricultural Consultant, MD Brady Group; Daniel Long, Tipperary farmer; Dr Brian Leonard, Sligo farmer and Assistant Professor at the School of Agriculture and Food Science, UCD.

Countrywide Full 04/05/24

The Big River Watch is a citizen science project being run this weekend all over Ireland and Britain to record and identify what kind of condition our rivers are in.

When they pull the door behind them at the close of business today, Ger and Anne Ó’Máille will mark the end of a family business that first opened in 1938.

Many Polish people chose to come to live and work in Ireland in the years since the European Union expansion. In Limerick, St Michael's Church on Denmark Street is known locally as the Polish Church.

As they went about the morning's work feeding the calves on the farm, Hannah Quinn Mulligan and her Granny discuss 'That They May Face The Rising Sun', a new film based on the novel by John McGahern.

Marina Conway is the outgoing CEO of the Western Forestry Co-op.

Countrywide Full 27/04/24

In ten days time, more than eighty young entrepreneurs from around the country will gather in Mullingar for the Student Enterprise Awards organised by the Local Enterprise Offices.

Philips speaks to the outgoing Tirlán chief executive about the co-op's response to the possible loss of the derogation under the EU Nitrates Directive.

Returning to the issue of Ireland's pursuit of a derogation from the EU Nitrates Directive, we hear from Alan Matthews, Professor Emeritus of European Agricultural Policy in the Department of Economics, School of Social Sciences and Philosophy at Trinity College.

Recently, Alanagh Ní Chongaile Ní Ghríofa has been spending a lot of time drinking tea and recording conversations with two ninety-something gentlemen in East Galway. Lorna Siggins took a lift with Alanagh to Sean O'Murchada's home, where she met the man himself, his daughter Breeda, and his dog Tess.

Tirlán, the largest Dairy Co-Op in the country, has been working on its response to the possible loss of a derogation from the EU Nitrates Directive. Countrywide speaks to Alan and Cheryl Poole, dairy farmers with a very light footprint.

There has been record hospitality growth in The Netherlands, and there's a new vegan cafe, run by an Irishwoman, enjoying the boom. Colette Kinsella visited Kitty's Kitchen in The Hague.

Nathan Carter gives us his take on Beyoncé's new album Cowboy Carter.

Down in Vicarstown in County Laois, the Scully family are busy on Merry Mill Farm where they grow and mill their own certified, gluten-free organic oats.

Countrywide Full 06/04/24

West Wicklow farmers Mervyn and Dorothy Fairbrother built up a herd of dairy cows over the past thirty years. But the past few years have been so challenging, that they have decided to see the house, farm and beloved herd.

Five years ago, the EU asked member states to each establish an office to ensure fair practices in food supply chains and transparency in how they operate. Four month since the creation of that body, we speak to the first Irish Agri-Food regulator Niamh Lenehan.

In the not too distant past, eggs were stored through Lent for an egg feast on Easter Sunday morning. Down on their 100 acre organic farm in Tipperary, Ollie and Esther O'Brien produce and sell their own eggs directly into shops.

Countrywide Full 30/03/24

Philip was joined in studio by Waseem Saeed of the award-winning Daata restaurants, who continues to be inspired by his late grandmother's cooking and how she might prepare lamb for Eid.

Smokey and Sally are two adorable dogs, one a little black terrier, the other a wheaten terrier mix. In the past week, they have put their owner through the wringer when they went missing.

As the combination of climate change and El Nino is making farming more and more difficult, we go to Kilkenny Mart to speak to farmers. Also joining us is Mike Magan, chairperson of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee, who met yesterday as a response to the pressures that the weather is placing on farmers.

As the demand for lamb rises, partly fueled by the end of Ramadan falling so close to Easter Sunday, sheep farmers have been enjoying a price spike.

Some weather stations have measured the rainfall since last August as the wettest eight months since Irish meteorological records began. The water table is right below, and in many cases above the surface, which has been disruptive to farming.

The Hare's Corner is an old farming expression for an awkward corner of a field or an area of rough ground that was hard to farm, and so left to nature. Participants in the Burrenbeo Trust's Hare's Corner project have dug ponds, planted native trees or traditional orchards, or taken advice on how to manage their land for nature.

We speak to farmers who are trying to get better prices for their products by selling directly to the public through their own farm shops.

Countrywide Full 23/03/24

In county Limerick, the Bank Holiday Kilmallock Mart was buzzing this week. As well as the buying and selling in the mart ring, there is a market outside and plenty of people out to meet and greet each other at the end of winter.

The European Commission has proposed making farms across Europe smaller than ten hectares exempt from CAP inspections and payment penalties. This could impact up to 28,000 mostly beef and sheep farmers in the west of the country.

The Countrywide team takes us on a riverside journey along the Boyne, navigating its catchment from river head to coast.

Countrywide Full 16/03/24

The Cheltenham Racing Festival starts on Tuesday with horses travelling from Ireland as hopefuls. Some, like Istabraq in 2000, will come home as legends. But what happens when a legend's last race is run? We speak to Lara Hegarty, who works at JP McManus' Martinstown Stud, where Istabraq lives.

The snow has melted, Spring has taken hold, and John's young son Ted has just turned one.

We speak to Professor of Veterinary Immunology at UCD, Eamonn Gormley about TB vaccines.

Countrywide Full 09/03/24

In many farms, administrative or form filling tasks end up falling to women. In Cooraclevin Co Offaly, we speak to a husband and wife farming partnership, Joe and Karen Smyth, and Karen shows us the paperwork that dominates her life.

Carmel McKenna has made it her mission to ensure that céilí dancing is for everybody. She has adapted some of the most popular céilí dances, so that people using wheelchairs or with limited mobility can join in.

Hannah Quinn Mulligan loves the Irish words that describe life on the farm, and the way some of those words have become woven into everyday life beyond the farm gate.

Next Wednesday night, Kilronan Castle in County Roscommon will host a Night with the Miners to raise funds for the local North West Stop Mental Health Charity.

TB is at a ten year high, with a nearly 25% jump in the number of animals testing positive between 2022 and 2023. New research identified four sources of the spread of TB, and how much of a contribution each of them makes.

Countrywide Full 02/03/24

We hear from a vegetable farmer in Kerry whose vegetables are being fed to cattle because of cheaper imports from Spain.

We pay a visit to north Cork to look at the Duhallow Farming For Blue Dot Catchments Project. We are also joined in studio by Eddie Burgess, River Catchment specialist in Teagasc.

On the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine, we visit a refugee couple in the thick of calving outside Trim.

Countrywide Full 24/02/24

The RNLI marks 200 years of the lifeboat service shortly, and Lorna Siggins visits one of the oldest west coast stations on the Aran islands all-weather lifeboat.

We are joined by former international rugby referee Nigel Owens, nowadays a Hereford farmer, to tell us what is at the heart of the issue impacting Welsh farmers. And of course, we ask him what his predictions are for the game in Lansdowne Road later...

Countrywide Full 17/02/24

We speak to two farmers who are busy with calving.

This spring, Hannah and grandmother Catherine are expecting dairy calves for the first time.

With less than 100 breeding pairs left, extinction may be just 25 years away.

Countrywide went to Katherine O'Leary's family farm near Blarney.

In Turlough Park, the National Museum of Country Life outside Castlebar in County Mayo, there is a new exhibition called The Murmur of Bees which opened to the public this week. Meanwhile down i mBaile Bhuirne i gContae Corcaigh, they are celebrating St Gobnait, patron saint of beekeepers with a festival.

The Joyce Country and Western Lake Geopark, with its many walking trails, is an applicant for UNESCO recognition. Countrywide joined the first ever Geopark trail hike.

With Patrick Hegarty, a farmer near Limoges in central France and President of his local farmers' organisation, who was arrested during the protests and spent a night in jail in Paris.

Countrywide Full 10/02/24

The Organic Growers of Ireland are currently offering a work placement programme, which is one of the ways to become an organic grower, as Countrywide discovered when we visited Liam Ryan's farm in county Kildare.

Down in County Limerick, the Granagh Players have been entertaining the crowds with a play called The Hucklebuck.

A poem by John Davenport from County Wicklow.

A call went out to the residents of Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County, to bring in their personal and historic records and share the stories behind them. We went along to hear some of the stories behind the items.

Lighthouse tourism attracted over six hundred thousand people last year, according to figures by the Great Lighthouses of Ireland partnership. The partnership involves leasing out properties at automated lighthouses, where former keepers' dwellings have been restored by the Irish Landmark Trust.

Countrywide Full 03/02/24

Yesterday was International Wetlands Day and volunteers joined members of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council on Lodge Bog in Lullymore, co Kildare for a morning of work cutting back the trees and shrubs invading the raised bog.

With Aline Braunsteffer from the French farmers organisation 'Coordination Rurale', and Thomas Duffy, former Macra Na Feirme President.

Schools and workplaces are encouraged to wear their wellies next Wednesday January 31st to support Irish farm families who have suffered injury or loss. Brenda Donohue reports.

During the week, the Government launched the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan to help arrest our losses in semi-natural grasslands, river quality, plant species and much more. We hear from Geraldine O'Sullivan of the IFA; Oonagh Duggan of Birdwatch Ireland; Dr. James Moran of the ATU and Beara Peninsula farmer Eoghan Daltun.

2024 marks the second year of St. Brigid's Day. Regular contributor Janet Heeran has this reflection on the celebration featuring music from Sive O'Sullivan, Clara Rose and Sharon Murphy.

Whether it was down to the weather, political controversy or environmental concerns, farming spent a lot of time in the headlines last year. Will 2024 be a quieter year? Philip speaks to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.

IFAC have published its annual Irish Farm Report for 2024 and Philip is joined by Philip O'Connor, Head of Farm Support for IFAC, Dr Mary Curtin, Beef Farmer and Assistant Professor in UL's Kemmy Business School, Jack Kennedy, Editor of The Irish Farmers Journal and Mick Magan, Dairy Farmer and former Chairman, Animal Health Ireland.

Brenda Donohue visits St Bridget's GAA Club in Roscommon ahead of the All Ireland Hurling and Football Club Finals

Hannah Quinn Mulligan joins the show to investigate revenue putting a stop to farmers claiming VAT back on calf feeders and bulk tanks.

Philip visits Bruce Thompson's farm in Laois to learn how farming for nature can be a profitable progressive business.

Showcase 2024 is Ireland’s design and craft fair. The creative expo has been running for nearly five decades, and they are introducing a new competitive element this year with Business of Craft Awards.

An event is taking place on Pat Maher's farm in Tipperary, entitled 'Why hedgerows matter?'

As of yesterday, there is a new political party in the country: the Farmers Alliance.

In Germany, farmers have been protesting against the removal of the subsidy on agricultural diesel.

Around the world, fossil fuels receive $7 trillion in subsidies every year. Governments are now committed to ending that. What impact will this have on farmers?

Lorna Siggins spent the morning with Irene O'Brien, district conservation officer for the National Parks and Wildlife Service. They visited Shane Loftus' farm on the upper Moy estuary to check on the progress of some nesting peregrine falcons.

Countrywide Full 13/01/24

Alice Doyle, Vice President elect of the IFA, Hazel Mullins, President Veterinary Ireland, Prof Yvonne Buckley, Trinity College Dublin and Caitriona Morrisey of The Farmers Journal, joins Philip to discuss all projects and concerns for the year ahead.

Brenda Donohoe goes to Midleton to meet Helena Walsh and Gillian Galvin O'Shea who are celebrating Nollaig na mBan to the beat of their own drums.

Why is it that supermarkets are able to sell Irish Christmas trees at such low prices? Countrywide wanted to find out what is involved in producing a Christmas tree, and what it should cost.

Countrywide Full 16/12/23

The extraordinary efforts made by management and staff at Wexford General Hospital in the wake of a devastating fire which ripped through the building back in March have been recognised in national awards.

This month, the IFA has elected Francie Gorman as its new president, while Denis Drennan was elected head of the dairy organisation the ICMSA.

The Deer Management Strategy Group report was launched this week, which recommends targeting a cull of the population in five counties. This new management strategy for the rapidly expanding population of sika stags and hinds, has been welcomed by the Irish Deer Commission.

Countrywide Full 09/12/23

Philip Boucher-Hayes reports from Dungarvan, co Waterford, where two scientists run a dairy farm on the side of a very steep hill.

The ACRES scheme, which pays farmers for improved environmental results, has experienced delays. Hannah Quinn Mulligan visited Michael Collins who farms on the Burren.

Folklorist Shane Lehane speaks to Countrywide about our many Christmas traditions.

Brenda Donohue travels to Shanagolden, co Limerick, where Cormac Hayes is taking Christmas lights to another level.

Six weeks or so after Storm Babet hit Middleton, we visit the town’s Farmers Market.

John Connell’s wife gave birth to their son earlier this year. As he walks the frosty fields of County Longford at morning time, John looks forward to their first Christmas with their young son.

Ann Marie Kelly visited Brendan Guinan’s Fiorbhia Farm in County Laois, focusing on the heritage turkeys he is rearing for this year’s Christmas dinner table.

Agricultural economist Tom Arnold speaks to Philip about the UN global climate summit now underway in Dubai.

Countrywide Full 02/12/23

Artist Ríonach Ní Neill has brought together a team of electricians, energy experts, and builders to create a pitch-side shelter with a built-in heater at Páirc Astroturf An Ceathrú Rua i gConemara. It is called Mo Thoin Theolai, or my warm bottom, and Lorna Siggins has been to see it.

With numerous questions over the EU's upcoming cut in the upper nitrates limit for 2,000 to 3,000 Irish farmers in January, Philip speaks to Eimear Cotter from the Environmental Protection Agency and Laurence Shalloo from Agricultural Research agency, Teagasc.

In Limerick, where she farms with her grandmother Catherine, Hannah Quinn Mulligan may be making work for herself. Their two favourite cows are in calf but are giving trouble.

Sharon Ferguson had the idea in 2019 for cafes that people can visit to support their wellbeing. They can meet for a couple of hours in a relaxed space to have a chat with others over a cup of tea or coffee in the presence of social prescribers from the HSE. Brenda Donohoe visited one in Ramelton.

Virgunujus Sinkivicius, the EU Environment Commissioner, came to Ireland on Thursday as the Taoiseach hoped to convince him to leave Ireland's nitrates derogation untouched. However, the EU are standing firm that from January 1st, Irish farmers spreading slurry will have to have fewer animals on their farm or acquire more land.

Countrywide Full 18/11/23

Minister Eamon Ryan addressed the ICMSA at its AGM yesterday, the first ever Green Party Leader to address the organisation.

An import ban on live cattle, sheep and other ruminants from Britain to the island of Ireland is in place to protect this island from a new strain of Blue Tongue Virus that has emerged in western Europe.

The catchment of the Shannon is so big that if it rains in Boyle, Ballinasloe, or Mullingar, the water eventually ends up on the Callows. Philip visited the Shannon Callows and later, he discusses what happens when land can no longer be defended from rising water with Dr Fiadh Tubridy.

As of Monday, new regulations for the use of quads come in to force to try and prevent accidents.

Countrywide Full 11/11/23

Irish farmers are currently allowed to transport calves at 14 days. If that limit became 28 days, would keeping calves on farms for the first month of their lives signal the beginning of the end of live exports of calves? We discuss with John Enright of ICMSA, Ray Doyle of ICOS, and Caroline Rowley from Ethical Farming Ireland.

At the end of ‘Beckham’ on Netflix, David and Victoria dance around each other to "Islands in the Stream." This has started a new social media trend, where couples recreate the Posh and Becks dance. Brenda Donohue went to a social dancing class in The Well in Moate to learn the steps they danced.

The Nature Restoration Law proposed by the EU has caused controversy amongst politicians, citizens and lobby groups. We hear from Oonagh Duggan of Birdwatch Ireland, and Paul O'Brien from the IDA.

Diarmuid McIntyre from Grey Heron Media went on a walk with a difference with Anita Bennis, who has been encouraging people to whistle.

Countrywide Full 04/11/23

We meet the customers and stall holders of Limerick's legendary Milk Market.

Countrywide spoke to Minister of State Pippa Hackett about the new Organics Scheme, a package of payments to encourage farmers to cut out pesticides and chemical fertilisers.

Paul McDermott, President of Veterinary Ireland, on the new on-farm regulations.

Brenda visited Eanna Canavan's farm just outside Doolin in County Clare, where he was hosting an organic farm walk to show other farmers interested in organics how his beef herd is getting on.

Jack Murmur is a professional scare actor who is currently scaring young and old in Farmaphobia in co Meath.

Della Kilroy went on a forest bathing walk in Dublin’s Phoenix Park with Sarah Hourigan, founder of Nature Therapy Ireland.

Countrywide Full 28/10/23

Janet Heeran just loves this time of year and she sent us this audio reflection on the Halloweens of her childhood.

Dr Nicholas Lampkin is an agri-economist, currently working with the Thunen Institute, an advisory body to the German government, examining organic farming policy. He discusses the new organic scheme with Brenda.

The weather has been a topic of conversation all through 2023, but especially amongst Ireland's four and a half thousand or so specialist tillage farmers.

Alannah Thornburgh is a harpist from county Mayo, and she joined Brenda Donoghue in studio to mark Harp Day.

Brenda speaks to Sandra Burns, a farmer in Killeagh in East Cork. Together with husband Joe, they have a thirty-six acre vegetable farm where they have been growing vegetables for the past eighteen years. Sandra tells Brenda about the impact of the recent weather on vegetable growers.

Hannah Quinn-Mulligan visited Dwayne Sheils' farm near Ramelton in Donegal. He is the FBD Young Farmer of the Year, and he has been trying to improve the genetic merit of his pedigree sheep.

Patrick Hanlon and Russell Alford, aka the Gastro Gays, are the authors of a cookbook, Hot Fat, restaurant critics and opinion makers on food. They are taking part in a food festival called Samhain, celebrating local Boyne Valley flavours with chefs, food writers and artisan producers.

Countrywide Full 21/10/23

Let's Match Mums is a website that matches local mums with new mums who are living in Direct Provision, and who really need clothes for their newborns. Maura McElhone is one of the mums who registered to donate some of her baby clothes.

Countrywide Full 14/10/23

Food on the Edge at Airfield Estate in Dublin is a gathering of chefs and foodies from around the world. The symposium is curated by Michelin-starred Galway chef JP MacMahon.

GAA players Ronan Kennedy and Mary Griffin reflect on what is a momentous decision in their life.

Niall Hurson, rural affairs journalist with the Irish Independent tells us what Budget 2024 will mean for farmers.

The Irish Farmers Association represents seventy thousand farmers and producers. Every four years, they elect their President, who is one of the most influential players in Irish agriculture. Brendan Donohue was at the IFA hustings in county Kilkenny.

New Ross Rugby Club is the home of the legend Tadhg Furlong, who is playing on the Irish rugby team in the Stade de France tonight.

Wild harvesting of seaweed has long been a long tradition on Ireland's coastline. Lorna Siggins went to meet Noel Lee of the Connemara Seaweed Company, who harvests wild seaweed by hand, using only a knife, as is the family tradition.

On a farm, a divorce leads to complications around the division of land between the original farm family and the person who marries in. This has led a number of farmers to consider a prenuptial agreement.

Countrywide Full 07/10/23

Irish farmers are being encouraged to include traditional Irish breeds among the livestock on their farms, including the Dexter cow.

Countrywide Full 30/09/23

Brenda Donohue visited Newtown Dunleckney in Co Carlow on a quest for Ireland’s largest hen egg.

Ella visited dairy farmer Jack Keenan on his Wicklow farm to discuss his options for reducing nitrates. She is also joined by Dr Joe Patton, Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc.

Niall O Donnchu, Director General of National Parks and Wildlife Service, talks to Ella about the purchase of Dowth Hall demesne, Co Meath and the establishment of a new National Park.

Writer, poet and actor Seamus O'Rourke on the unexpected joys of the old outside toilets.

Ella is joined by journalist Ciaran Moran , Digital Farming Editor with The Irish Independent to discuss the issue of land ownership and the growing trend of local farmers ability to afford land.

Ella is joined by Edwina Guckian and Tommy Early who are both involved in a new oral history project "Leitrim Amach" whose aim is to discover the vibrant history of Leitrim and tell the stories of the people and the land.

Della visits Niamh Hegarty's farm in East Cork to see how the farm can diversify and create new ways of sustaining itself. In Niamh's case from using the land for music gigs and crating and selling a new fermented health drink grown and sold on the farm.

Countrywide Full 23/09/23

Ella visits champion jockey Nina Carberry as she embarks on her first foray into writing books for children.

Lorna Siggins is on Lough Corrib to discover some new walking routes and the efforts locally to ensure its protection, promotion and conservation.

Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, chair of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, updates Ella McSweeney on the outcomes from the Assembly's final report.

Barry Ralph, chef and owner of House of Plates in Castlebar, co Mayo, talks to Ella McSweeney about what it is like working in a professional kitchen ahead of Open Kitchen Week.

Three women share their experiences as business owners in rural Ireland. For more information on the businesses featured on the programme: wawets.com bonchocolatiers.ie feigherysfarm.ie

Full Programme 16.09.2023

Della Kilroy reports from Mooncoin, co Kilkenny on preparations for the Ploughing Championships.

Hannah Quinn-Mulligan reports on the issue of Mica on farm buildings in Donegal.

Demand for rural hubs has increased over the last year as a growing number of people are working remotely two to three days a week. Della Kilroy visited a former school in Castlecomer in co Kilkenny, which has been repurposed into a remote working hub

Full programme 09.09.2023

Teagasc has been looking at food as part of an All-Ireland research project on what the Irish public is currently eating, compared to what is recommended for both personal and planetary health.

An important home for salmon is the River Liffey, which begins life in the Wicklow Mountains, and then flows through Kildare and Dublin before entering the Irish Sea out through the capital and into Dublin Bay. But all along the Liffey are defunct barriers and they’re stopping the salmon from being able to breed.

The Ploughing Championships start in two weeks and Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin will be there for one reason only: he wants to find out Ireland’s favourite saint.

When a publicly funded programme was set up in 2017, there were just 150 breeding pairs of curlews left. Now there are pockets of hope, and Hannah Quinn-Mulligan went to a farm in Inishowen, co Donegal where curlews are faring well.

Lorna Siggins went on board the French vessel "Tara" where a crew of scientists survey the coast of Ireland as part of their European work to take a snapshot of the health of our waters.

Countrywide Full 02/09/23

As national hegderow week gets under way Ella is in co Westmeath to meet farmer James Ham who has alternative methods to dealing with hedgerows.

Ahead of the International Sheepdog Trials in Blessington in Wicklow next weekend Mary McDonald of Grey Heron Media visits the Casey farm in Burncourt in Tipperary to learn more about the art of sheep dog training. Ella also speaks to one of next weekends competitors James McLauglin.

Countrywide's Della Kilroy visits The Boyle Family Resource Centre in Roscommon where the centre helps people out by providing food when people cannot afford it. Ella also speaks with volunteers from across the country to find out some of the big issues which are leading to food poverty.

Roscommon farmer Keith Brennan reflects on the start of September and the changes it brings to the farm.

Hannah Quinn Mulligan heads to Tipperary, to meet suckler farmer Tony Grogan’s in the Glen of Aherlow and discovers the challenges facing suckler farmers.

Countrywide Full 26/08/2023

Brian Lally heads to Cork to meet singers Jimmy Crowley and Australian-born Eve Telford to discover their love of the ballads.

Ella is joined in studio by Alice Doyle IFA vice presidential candidate, the first woman in the IFA's history to run for the office.

Della Kilroy reports on the issue of teen tractor safety and Ella is joined in studio by Health and Safety specialist with Teagasc John McNamara.

Ella is joined by Wicklow based farmer John Kelly a memeber of the Understanding Agriculture Co-op and Dr Aine Macken Walsh, a sociologist with Teagas to discuss the importance of connection between farmers and the general public.

Ella meets new Macra President Elaine Houlihan and Macra's Rural Youth Committee chair Niamh Farrell to discuss the issue of farm succession. Macra have recently announced a new pilot scheme to encourage farm succession.

Farmer and Writer Jon Connell reflects on his love of country music.

Ella is in Co Waterford for a walk around with Dairy Famrer Shane Fitzgerald who is opening his farm to the public this weekend as part of Agri Aware's open farm campaign. You can find out more about the campaign here www.agriaware.ie

Countrywide Full - 19/08/2023

Countrywide's Della Kilroy heads to Co Clare to meet sheep farmer Sandra King who relocated form North Carolina to the Banner County in recent years where she took up yarn spinning.

Ella is joined by Emma Laffey, healthcare assistant in Portiuncula Maternity Unity, and in her spare time, a volunteer with the Skehana and District Heritage Group in County Galway about a new project to remember the travelling midwife and we also hear archive footage on the work of one legendary midwife.

Della Kilroy heads to Galway to meet The Sanctuary Swimmers, a solidarity-through-sport initiative which uses sport to bring together mi-grants, refugees, asylum seekers and Irish residents.

Ella is joined by Dara Stanley from UCD’s School of Agriculture and Food Science to discuss the dangers facing our bees and Countrywide's resident bee keeper Hannah Quinn Mulligan reports from her Limerick farm where she keeps bees and we hear about the blond bombshell of the bee world.

Ella speaks with a number of Agri workers from different sectors from around the country to find out how the adverse weather is affecting them.

On this weeks Countrywide, the farming effects of bad weather, protecting our bees, sanctuary swimming and honoring the travelling midwife.

Lorna Siggins reports from n Inish Oirr where a project is on going to save the last thatch roof on the island.

Ella is in Donegal to hear from farmers at an IFA meeting McCandless dairy farm in Inishowen where Derogation was foremost on the minds of the attendees.

Ella Sits down with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue to discuss a wide rage of issues affecting the agri sector.

Ronan Kelly takes a trip underground for Countrywide and reports from Glengowla Mines in Co Galway.

Senior Reporter with The Grocer Magazine joins Ella to discuss what the effect of global warning has on our food production and prices.

This year has been the most successful breeding season for barn owls in fifteen years. We hear from a number of owl enthusiasts from around the country.

Countrywide’s Hannah Quinn Mulligan's visits the Kennedys Strawberry Farm in Pallaskenry in co Limerick to find out the secret of growing the perfect strawberry.

Ella reports from "The Farmers Futures Matter" rally held in Kilkenny last night. Ella hears from a number of farmers across a range of issues affecting farmers

Della Kilroy reports from The Solas Cancer Support Centre In Waterford where she hears how the joy of gardening has had a positive effect for many battling cancer.

Ella is joined by Hazel McVeigh, secretary of the Granard Agricultural Show and Frank Mulligan who is on the way to the show hoping to win big

Lorna Siggins chats to Head Cooper of DairNua cooperage in Foxford, Darren Leonard about cask making

Poet Jane Clarke reads her poem 'The Key' from her new collection 'A change in the Air' which thinks of all those hoping that one day they'll get the keys to their own home

Ella chats to senior architect from Mayo Council, Simon Wall about his first summer in his new 300 year old home and the housing issues in the area

Ella is joined by husband Brian Thornton of the late Frances Thornton and swimmer Fergal Madden to discuss the postponement of the Frances Thornton Memorial Swim which takes place yearly across Galway Bay.

Frank O Meara, the head of Teagasc talks to Ella about the latest figures from the EPA, the dairy calf welfare revelations and more

Ella chats with Geoff Gould, Artistic Director of The West Cork Fit Up Theatre Festival about the revival of the once loved Fit Up Theatre. Find Out more about the festival here www.fit-uptheatrefestival.com

Brian Lally visits one of Irelands most scenic recoding's studios in Clew Bay in co Mayo.

Ella is joined by Laura Burke, Director General, Environmental Protection Agency to discuss issues around water quality on the back of the agency's recent report on the issue and we hear from a range of stakeholders voices from around the country on the challenging issue of ensuring our water quality

Ella is joined by Agri journalist Niall Hurson to discuss the EPA report this week on Irelands nitrates derogation.

Ella speaks with John Spink of Teagasc about the potential move away from soya beans due to its links to deforestation and potential substitutes which can be grown locally.

Ella is joined by Suzanne Carmpton form the Connemara National Park in Co Galway who are showcasing Rare Irish Breeds as part of a celebration of the parks twinning agreement with Terra Nova National Park in Newfoundland in Co Canada.

The Inventing Famrer Reporter Ann Marie Kelly meets Offaly farmer Toney Bergin whohas well as being a fermer is alos an inventer and who has been enterng the National invention section of The Tullamore show for the past 30 years.

Ella is in Co Monaghan to see how one farmer is bringing a unique approach to crop growing.

Ella is joined by Zoe Kavanagh of the National Dairy Council to discuss their new campaign "The Grassroots Movement" which aims to increase the understanding and pride in Irish Dairy.

On a recent trip to England, Hannah Quinn Mulligan met farmers from the UK, Australia and Canada to find out how they deal with the issues of dairy bull calves.

Ella is joined by Glen Nolan of The Marine Institute to discuss the problem of increased sea surface temperatures and the effect it has the oceans eco systems

Diarmuid McIntyre reports from this years Spancil Hill Horse Fair.

Ella is in Co Roscommom to meet Keith Brennan on his family farm and finds out what inspired Keith to give up city slicking for the farming life.

Common Knowledge is a non-profit social enterprise based in The Burren in Co. Clare. Della Kilroy went to find out more about this programme.

Lorna Siggins with Paul Walker of Newport Shepards.

Joe Kelleher from Teagasc speak to Hannah Quinn Mulligan.

Under the governments Climate Action Plan, Agriculture must reduce chemical nitrogen use by 25% within next 7 years. Dr. Karl Richards, Acting Head of Climate Change in Teagasc.

Farmer Donal Sheehan in Castlelyons trying to take chemical nitrogen out of his farming methods.

Environment Correspondent with The Irish Independent Caroline O'Doherty explains the new EU Restoration Laws which have caused controversy this week.

Ella is in Co Leitrim to find out more about a new pop up museum highlighting the history of rural women in Ireland. You can find out more here: www.facebook.com/leitrimwomenthroughtime

We're back on Hannah's farm in Co Limerick where its time to bring home the silage.

Ella talks to ecologist Dr Karina Dingerkus part of the team undertaking a new national otter survey. To take part in the survey see www.biodiversityIreland.ie.

Countrywide's Della Kilroy visits Blackbird Cultur-Lab in co weford, one of the faciities taking part in thi syears Cruinniú na nÓg

Phillip meets some of the many food producers who will be exhibiting their aware at this year's Bloom

Phillip meets gardeners who specialise in urban gardening and more music from Sive.

Phillip is joined by the CEO of Bord Bia Jim O’Toole and Della Kilroy reports on one of the country's most interesting garden and garden

Phillip meets OPW Head Gardner at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Brian Quinn and finds out how perfection is the aim when it comes to maintaining the national park with music from Sive.

Phillip is in Co Offaly to see first hand how rewetting farm lands works.

Countrywide's Della Kilroy meets walkers on the new Wexford to Pembrokeshire pilgrim route. Its hoped The new route could become one of Europe's great pilgrims. for more information see : https://wexfordpembrokeshirepilgrimway.org/

Phillip is joined by teenage chicken farmer Michael Gilmore ahead of the Athenry Showcase this weekend where Michael and his chickens will be competing. Michael had a number of his chickens stolen back in December and this weekend marks a first return to competing for Michel since the theft.

Poet Jane Clarke reads her poem " Butter For The Queens" an ode to the Irish spud.

Phillip is joined by guests who have been involved in this years Biodiversity week which runs until this Sunday, 28th May. for more info see : www.biodiversityweek.ie

Hannah Quinn Mulligan is in Co Clare to find out why we are seeing less and less of native Irish Apple Tree's and what s been done to save the Irish Apple.

Ella is joined in studio by Tara McElligott, Sean Smith and Daniel Izquierd of Micron Agritech who have developed new AI software to develop a rapid test kit to enhance cattle gut medication.

Countrywide's Della Kilroy is Co Carlow to meet members of The Riding for the Disabled Association of Ireland who give free weekly lessons to over 300 people and who are looking for new volunteers to help out.

Ella is in Co Kerry to meet soon to be former vegetable farmer Aidan O'Connor to find out out why, like an increasing amount of vegetable farmers, he is leaving the industries. Ella is also joined by Paul Brophy one of the countries biggest cauliflower farmers to discuss the issue.

Ella is joined by farmers and Leitrim natives Edwina Guckian & Gerry Bohan to talk about their initiative “The Leitrim Hawthorn Project.

Philip Boucher-Hayes visits Teagasc's Moorepark facility in Fermoy and speaks to Dairy Farmer Kevin Twomey

Peter Foynes, The Butter Museum; and Michael Carey, a collector of butter wrappers,

Hannah Quinn Mulligan speaks to farmer PJ O'Malley and Kate McAney from with the Vincent Wildlife Trust about the lesser horseshoe bat

Darragh McCullough went behind the scenes to watch the animals be prepared for the show ring.

Dr. Brendan Dunford, Project Manager with Farmpeat; Ray O Foghlu, HomeTree charity; Brendan Dunford, formerly manager of the Burren Project

Darragh is joined by Dr Klara Finkele, Head of the Agricultural Meteorological Unit in the Research Division at Met Eireann to discuss the new improved blight alarm system from Met Eireann ahead of blight season.

Countrywide's Lorna Siggins visits St Brigit's Gardens in Rosscahill, Co Galway and meets its owner Jenny Beale and finds out how the cowslips there are helping with biodiversity.

Hannah Quinn Mulligan meets her neighbor and dairy farmer, Limerick based Pat McNamara to talk milk prices , Hannah also speaks with Trevor Donnellan of Teagasc to find out the issues facing pricing for dairy farms. Darragh is joined by David Kennedy, Bord Bia’s Head of Dairy to get the bigger picture in dairy.

Darragh is on the Deasy farm in Co Tipperary to meet Maurice and his father Ruairi to find out how the family farm has changed and adopted over the years. Maurice is an ambassadors for the Farming for Nature initiative

Hannah Quinn-Mulligan meets contractor Bertie Cahill in his Limerick yard to find out more about about the issues facing contractors and the challenges they face.

In a bank holiday special Philip and a team of Countrywide reporters follow the river Avonmore from where it rises in Co Wicklow to where it flows through the Garden County and discover some of the hidden gems the beautiful waterway has to offer.The perfect accompaniment if you are going for a walk.

We rejoin Phillip and the Countrywide team as they continue their river walk of the Avonmore river in Co Wicklow, one of the countries most beautiful and diverse waterways.

Countrywide's Della Kilroy meets Galway based farmer Peter Gohery who outlines his story of how an accident on the family farm changed his life forever.

Kilkenny based artist Shem Caulfied talks to Phillip about his love and interest in the evolution of the farm gate.

On Earth Day Phillip heads to Co Laois to investigate just how farm waste is effecting river pollution levels and meets the authorities charged with protecting our waterways.

As today marks the 52 Earth Day Phillip meets Marry Donnelly chair of The Climate Advisory Council to discuss the reality of the environmental issues facing us.

Della is in Fermoy in Co Cork to meet members of the towns International Choir who boats members form across the globe.

Della Kilroy visits Co Kilkenny and Co Meath to find out about the growing of Wasabi , a kind of horseradish that is a popular flavor in Japanese and the move from Dairy to horticultor for those involved

Phillip meets Wicklow sheep farmer Catherine Murphy and finds out first hand just how dedicated sheep farmers have to be during lambing season particularly during stormy weather.

Countrywide's unofficial poet in residence Seamus O'Rourke highlights the importance of the drawer to the farmhouse.

Virginia Teehan, CEO of the Heritage Council. Joins Phillip to talk about a new initiative from The heritage council and The Department of Agriculture aimed at preserving old farmyard buildings. You can out more about the d=scheme here : https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/projects/traditional-farm-buildings-grant-scheme

Phillip speaks with John Carey from The Corncrake Life Project about alerting farmers in the West particularly in counties Mayo, Donegal and Sligo to keep an ear out for the Corncrake to try and protect it.

Ahead of the All Ireland Amateur Dramatics finals in Athlone later this month Brenda is joined by a number of cast and crew of various productions who will be taking part in the finals.

Countrywide's Della Kilroy meets members of Traveler Community based in and around St Margaret’s in Fingal, county Dublin who have been collated stories of superstitions and customs for a showcased later this month in Ballymun’s Axis Centre.

Regular Countrywide contributor Janet Heeran brings us her postcard from her Cork family dairy farm as Calving season comes to an end.

Brenda is at the yard of trainer Dermot McLoughlin in County Meath ahead of the Irish Grand National on Easter Monday as the excitement is building.

Dr Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhan, Chair of the Citizen’s Assembly joins Brenda to discuss the findings of the assembly's report which was published this week.

Phillip is in Wicklow to meet Seamus Scallon of the Wicklow Calf company to see first hand how live exports work in the week where there issues raised about the treatment of cattle being exported.

On Wednesday, the 12th of April, some of the authentic Irish farmhouse furniture that was used in the staging of The Banshee's Of Inisherin is up for sale as part of a Vernacular Irish sale at Adam’s Auctioneers. Stuart Cole from Adams Auctioneers joins Phillip ahead of the auction.

Lorna Siggins joins tour guide Cormac McGinley in Co Clare to find some hidden gems form the banner county.

Phillip speaks with Sean Kelly M.E.P and former President of the GAA about a new bio diversity initiative by the GAA that he is sponsoring at European level.

Phillip is joined in studio by Joe Burke, Senior Manager for Beef and Livestock at Bord Bia to discuss the issue of what to do with male calves on dairy farms and hears from one farmer who is using sexed semen to help address the issue.

The Dutch farmer movement BBB has come from nowhere to secure a major upset in its country's politics. Philip speaks to the party's leader, Caroline van der Plas, who is the daughter of Irishwoman Nuala Fitzpatrick. Then, we wonder if the same thing could happen here with Pat O'Toole of the Farmer's Journal and dairy farmer Thomas Duffy.

The iconic Dun Mhuire Theatre, or parish hall, was once the hive of community activity in Wexford town, hosting showbands, pantos and drama festivals. It's set to be demolished so Della Kilroy got the thoughts of those who cherish its memory.

Comedian Colm O'Regan is Countrywide's go-to everyman - he grew up on a farm and lives in a town. Author of 'The Climate Worrier - A Hypocrite's Guide to Saving the Planet', how has he coped with this week?

Wealthy nations need to achieve Net Zero by 2040, but what would this look like on an Irish farm? Sean Condon asked Cian and Alejandro from farm sustainability company Carbon Harvesters to audit his farm. Hannah Quinn Mulligan reports and then we hear from Professor Gerry Boyle, formerly head of Teagasc and now a board member at Arrabawn.

Seán O'Brien on mixing Belgian Blues and Scottish Blues

Hannah Quinn Mulligan meets Elaine Houlihan, from Athlacca in Co Limerick, who is the new president of Macra na Feirme

Della Kilroy reports

John Connell, farmer, writer and now a father on keeping newborn baby Ted is warm is a labour of love

Harold Kingston, dairy farmer from Cork, on getting out of dairy farming

Micheline Sheehy Skeffington

Seamus O'Rourke is a regular contributor to the show and this week has a love letter to home with musical accompaniment from his good friend, John Devine.

Della Kilroy meets Ashleigh to learn about her farming life and see how the calving season is going.

Philip is joined by Dr. Fiona Cawkwell of UCC, who has researched the impact of wildfires; Dr. Klara Finkele of Met Eireann; and Ciaran Nugent, regional forestry inspector at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

A produce we have long taken for granted, the shortage of tomatoes over the past 10 days has highlighted the fragility of food supply chains. Spanish farmer Emilio Castello; Irish tomato grower Martin Flynn; and Úna Ní Bhroinn of Beechlawn Organics tell Philip what's happening.

You would not think it, but sheep and solar panels may just be made for each other. Philip visits a sheep farm in Wicklow that recently became the first Irish solar farm to connect to the grid.

Phillip is in Co Mayo to find out more about a new scheme in the North West involving some 800 sheep farmers to help create additional sources of income for farmers as well as protecting and promoting bio diversity at a time when the sheep market is in flux.

Countryside's Ella McSwenney reports on a proposed plan by Dawn Meats that would see 400,000 liters of treated wastewater being discharged into the river Boyne every day, just south of Slane village as part of an upgrade plan by the companies Beauparc abattoir to reduce emissions.

Phillip is joined in studio by Dr Jack Kennedy who has just been appointed the new editor of The Irish Farmers Journal.

We’re back on the Mulligan farm where Catherine and Hannah are welcoming new life onto the family farm. Following the loss of a number of ducks to an animal attack recently, Hannah reports on some good news from her and Catherine’s Limerick farm.

Phillip is off to meet the stars, not the red carpet variety but in the skies above. Phillip travels to the Nephin Mountain Range in Co Mayo home to one of the three dark sky parks in Ireland to find out more about the importance and beauty of our celestial ceilings.

Philip spoke with Edouard Hermann, who maintains his farm in Ukraine through the Russian invasion.

If has been suggested that if Ireland quadruples afforestation, there simply wont be enough land for all those trees. The Irish Agro-Forestry Forum disagrees and Philip went to Deerpark Farm in Armagh to learn more.

There has been furious debate over the EPA's report on future land use in Ireland. John Keane, President of Macra na Feirme, and Oisín Coughlan of Friends of the Earth Ireland join Philip to discuss.

In a workshop in the west of Ireland, Tom Cussen and his son, Finton, make banjos for players all over the world. Della Kilroy went to see Clareen Banjos in Galway.

Some 2.5 million calves will be born this year, most of them in February and March. For dairy calves, the majority are taken away from their dams at birth and bottle-fed. In this edition of her farm diary, Hannah Quinn-Mulligan explores whether things could be done differently.

Joanna Byrne , Chairperson of Drogheda Utd FC tells Phillip about the historical ties between Drogheda and Turkey and how the towns football club is coming together to help provide aid for those effected by this weeks devastating earthquake in Turkey.

Phillip marks St Gobnaits day and meets a number of Gobnaits to find out more about this very interesting Irish Saint and some of the traditions associated with St Gobnait.

Phillip is joined by Martin Cormican, Professor of Bacteriology at the University of Galway to discuss the issue of Avian Flu and the danger it posses to animals and humans.

Countrywide's Della Killroy visits the Galway City Museum where the oldest known Claddagh Ring in the world has just gone on display and finds out how many still wear this most celebrated piece of jewelry.

The burning of hedge cutting's is to cease this year under new regulations but will the new laws aimed at improving air quality bring other problems. Phillip goes hedge cutting in Counties Wicklow and Offaly to find out.

Reporter Mary McDonnell of Grey Heron Media dons the helmet and torch and heads for some underground exploring with the Cork Speleological Group at the Old Desmond Cave in Co. Tipperary.

Calving season is one of the busiest times of the year for farmers and safety is a priority. Phillip talks to Pat Griffin, a senior inspector with the Health and Safety Authority and Colin Donnery CEO of Farm Relief Services on the safety aspects around calving season.

Phillip meets some farmers from across Europe at the CEJA conference to find out more about the climate challenges facing farmers across the continent. CEJA is The European wide parent organisation to Macra Na Feirme who held their sustainability workshop in Ireland this week.

Countrywides Della Kilroy meets some vacant property up stylers as part of The Irish Architectural Foundation’s “Hard Hat” tours developed to help inspire renovators to re develop vacant properties

Phillip speaks with academic researcher Dr Sinead Mellett and Dr Gordon Bromley, lecturer in Physical Geography at the University of Galway to hear about climate challenges facing farmers on the ground and their day to day concerns and the real challenges facing farmers amidst the climate crisis.

Phillip heads to The Robinson farm in Callan in Co Kilkenny as the busy Calving season gets underway.

Countrywides Della Kilroy is in Wexford to find out more about the social prescribing initiative. Social prescribing is a means of enabling GPs, nurses and other health care professionals to refer people to a range of community, local, non-clinical programme's and services to help people reconnect.

Phillip is on the move on farms across the South East to see firsthand how busy lambing season is for the scanning of Ewes which can involve scanning over 1000 lambs a day.

Ahead of the first, National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture which is taking place in Port Laoise, County Laois on February 1st , Phillip talks to Agricultural solicitor Aisling Meehan one of the speakers at the upcoming event.

Poet Jane Clarke reads her poem "The Yellow Jumper", a reflection on gift giving.

Phillip is at the Veterinary Association – CAVI's - Sustainable Livestock Production Meeting in Tullamore to meet well known academic Prof Frank Mitloehner who has courted controversy over his views on climate change , Phillip finds out what Prof Mitloehner’s actual views are on the climate challenges facing us.

Lorna Siggins takes a trip to Inis Mór where Avril Ní Shearcaigh, the energy co-op manager for The Aran Islands outlines just how successful the co op has been in helping to power the Islands including a century old house which has been converted to geothermal energy.

Professor Thia Hennessy speaks to Phillip about her reaction to the news this week announced by the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue that there would not be a compensated cull scheme in order to meet our binding climate action targets despite Thia’s work in the area.

Phillip is joined by Joe O’Carroll, Forestry Investment Director with Gresham House in Ireland who have purchased land from Coillte to discuss purchasing of forestry land by investment companies.

We’re back on the Quinn Mulligan farming Co Limerick where Hannah and Granny Catherine are dealing with an unwelcome visitor to the Duck House.

Phiilip is in Nurney in Kildare to find out more about the role of Anaerobic Digestion Plants following controversy over plans to develop a facility in Gort in Co Galway .Phillip is also joined in studio Dr Ciara Beausang, and by Barry Caslin, Energy and Rural Development specialist with Teagasc to debate the issue.

In this year's BT Young Scientist Exhibition, there is a group project by students of Loreto Secondary School in Kilkenny which is looking at using wetland vegetation for anaerobic digestion. One of those students is Millie Gilsenan spoke to Phillip about their exhibition.

Countrywide reporter Mary McDonald is on the river Lee to meet the Naomhoga Corcai club in Cork as they take their fleet of traditional currachs for their weekly trip up the river .

Countrywide's unofficial resident poet Seamus O' Rourke remembers a story of siblings from his Leitrim youth.

Phillip is joined live in studio by Thomas Duffy is a former head of the Macra , Pat O’Toole tillage farmer in Wexford and Irish Farmer’s Journal journalist and Dr Cara Augustenborg, assistant professor of environmental policy in UCD and a member of the government’s Climate Advisory Council.

Della Gilroy is in Ennis in Co Clae to mee the womens shed group in the town to find out more about how the group support projects in the the and indeed themselves.

People, events and happenings around the country, presented by Philip Boucher-Hayes.

Della Kilroy meets Robert and Caitriona Cullen of Cullen Nurseries in Carlow

Philip meets farmer Tom Morrissey in Lingaun Valley, Knockroe, Co. Kilkenny. Find out more at https://lingaunvalley.ie/

Eimer McMorrow Moriarty, and Holly Fegen tell Philip about volunteering for the RNLI

Philip travels to a pig farm and a dairy farm. Dr Kevin Hanrahan, Chief Economist for Teagasc gives his reaction.

Philip visits a farm in Shercock, Co. Cavan.

Hannah Quinn-Mulligan meets Ben Tyrrell, a well known Jesery breeder

Della Kilroy travelled to Ballina in County Mayo where District Cathaoirleach Mark Duffy guided her through the streets of his native town. Orla Murphy, Architect and Co-Director of the UCD Centre for Irish Towns, gives her analysis.

Philip speaks to Professor Jane Stout, Ecologist in Trinity College Dublin

In her latest report from the family farm Hannagh Quinne Mulligan and her Granny reports on her plans to go into a dairying partnership with another farmer.

Prof Thia Hennessy Chair of the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group on the Food Vision high level implementation committee speaks to Phillip about the obstacles and challenges in implementing the recommendations from the Food Vision 2030 strategy.

Phillip is on the Roe farm in Tipperary to find out how one of the country's leading suckler farms are implementing changes under the 2030 food vison plan to reduce carbon emissions and the practical challenges that face farmers trying to achieve them.

Countrywide's Dellla Gilroy visits a repair shop in Mullingar in Co Westmeath aimed at helping farmers repair machinery to help save money and get broken machinery back in action.

Phillip speaks with Mayo based Falconer Daniel Gibbons who is treating the recently found and rescued rare Peregrine falcon Fia at Mount Falcon Hotel based between Foxford and Ballina in North Mayo.

As the assembly meets for the final time ahead of making recommendations to the government Phillip is joined by Assembly chair Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin.

Della Killroy visits a community garden in Cork and Phillip is joined by Donal McCormack, Chairperson Community Gardens Ireland and Caroline Stanley of Merlin Wood Community Garden project in Co Galway .

Lorna Siggins visits the Department of Zoology at University of Galway to find out how certain venoms from spiders here in Ireland could have major health benefits

Phillip visits the Joyce farm in Co Galway and meets Pat who is a member of the Citizens assembly to find out more about biodiversity farming form the farmer’s point of view.

To the great outdoors and a group of women who preferred not to hike alone. ‘Galz Gone Wild,’ set up by Melissa McDermott, reconnects women with nature and the outdoors through group adventures all across Ireland.

Dr David Wilson is an ecologist and one of the leading experts in the country on bogs and gives us some insight on the Rewetting plans.

Junior Minister in the Department of Agriculture with responsibility for Biodiversity Pippa Hackett responds to criticism of the ACRES scheme

Farmers and environmentalists in Co Clare are united in their concern about the government’s new environmental payment scheme – ACRES. This week the two leading figures behind that scheme – Dr. Brendan Dunford and Dr. Sharon Parr resigned in protest at what they felt was the hollowing out of the scheme by the department of agriculture.

The climate action agenda means that tens of thousands of acres of bog that was turned in to farmland will have to be rewet to stop it emitting greenhouse gasses. For a bit of an insight into the kind of anxiety that talk of rewetting promotes during the week we visited the farm of Joe Gaffey on the edge of Clara bog in Offaly.

Brian Lally meets with Edward Maguire to discuss avian flu and more specifically - exclusion zones. A bio security curtain has descended over poultry farms near Clones.

Students from St Louis High School.

Ray Ó Foghlú

Ned O'Brien Marina Conway Clive Bright Eoghan Daltun

Sean McGloin

A clip from one of Damiens' favorites reports for Countrywide , his fire-side chat with farming bachelor's The Staunton brothers, an interview that garnered huge reaction when it initially aired.

As Damien presents his final Countrywide he takes a look back at one the first stories he reported on for RTE Radio at the height of the foot and mouth crisis.

As Ireland approaches its 50th year as part of the EU, Damien is joined by EU Commissioner Mairead McGuiness and former head of Concern Worldwide Tom Arnold to reflect on Ireland's history in the EU. Both Tom and Mairead have been regular guests during Damien's tenure as countrywide host.

Suzanne Campbell reports on a new agro-forestry and syntropic agriculture plot in Wicklow. Syntropic Farming grows high quality crops in any climate, in a way that increases soil carbon, increases habitat, increases water holding capacity of the land attempting to mimic nature.

Damien signs off his last show as host of Countrywide with some poetry and music on the themes of saying goodbye.

Poet Jane Clarke reads her poem “Laying The Hedge”, Jane is performing as part of this year’s festival.

Music from Doolin native Kathy Daly, Journalist Michele Browne reflects on her love of nature and Damien is joined by a panel of Burren locals to find out more about the importance of The Winterage Festival. Additional bird sound recordings by Irish Wildlife Sounds and Paul Kelly”

Damien is live from the Burren Winterage Festival celebrating the Burren’s farming tradition of Winterage. Local Reporter Fiona McGarry of the Clare Champion joins Damien to get the latest new from The Banner County.

People, events and happenings around the country, presented by Damien O'Reilly.

Gabe Brown tells Damien about soil health

Della Kilroy visits the Irish Community Air Ambulance base in Cork