CountryWide

Countrywide Full Episode 02/08/2025.

Duration:00:49:07

Two new donkey foals born in Clifden

Donkeys are not native to Ireland, but were brought here from the Middle East and North Africa in the 17th century. A century ago there were 250,000 of them on farms across the country. Today that has dwindled to about 10,000. A few weeks ago, two foals were born on club member Donal Staunton’s farm in Clifden, Galway.

Duration:00:08:33

Trump’s Tariffs: What’s the impact on agricultural exports to the US?

Over 4.2 billion euro of goods and services cross the Atlantic every day between the EU and the US, and including Irish butter, cheese and whiskey. For more on what this means for Irish agricultural exports, we hear from Lorcan Roche Kelly of the Irish Farmers Journal.

Duration:00:05:36

Farmers step up to protect the corncrake on Inishbofin

For the corncrake today, Ireland is a hostile place. In response to the threat of their extinction here, just under €6 million in public funding was allocated a few years ago in a project aimed at helping the corncrake survive. One of the places involved was Inishbofin, off the coast of Galway.

Duration:00:14:42

On a walking trail in Mayo

Back in 2008, the Walks Scheme was set up to help open up more walking routes across the country on private land. Last weekend, about 7,000 people made the climb up Croagh Patrick. But beyond the Reek, there’s a lot more Mayo offers, including the Clogher–Newtown Forest Trail. https://www.sportireland.ie/outdoors/find-your-trails

Duration:00:10:26

Access to Irish walking trails

While there are more walking routes and trails around the country than ever before, access to the Irish countryside depends on the goodwill and cooperation of farmers, landowners and the State. Helen Lawless is Access and Environment Manager with Mountaineering Ireland.

Duration:00:08:47

Countrywide Full Programme 26/07/2025

Countrywide Full Programme 26/07/2025

Duration:00:50:01

Enjoying a long table dinner at Ballyholey Farm

John Graham is a vegetable farmer near Raphoe and over the last few years he’s run an honesty box, a farm shop and sold his vegetables in Letterkenny’s farmers market. He also hosts long-table dinners on his farm.

Duration:00:05:44

Celebrating summer rituals with Vincent Woods

Poet, playwright, and broadcaster, Vincent Woods grew up on a small farm in County Leitrim in the 1960s and caught a glimpse of the summer rituals.

Duration:00:08:37

CAP negotiations panel discussion

Denis Drennan, President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association; Karen Mannion, CEO of Forum Connemara; Ruth Hegarty, Director of Food Policy Ireland and a board member of Talamh Beo.

Duration:00:16:29

EU farm subsidies proposals

Bartosz Brzezinski, Brussels reporter with the global news organisation Politico, brings us up to date with the EU farm subsidies proposals.

Duration:00:08:56

A visit to 26-year-old Sophie Bell's farm in Cavan

Sophie Bell is 26 years old and she farms 59 acres just outside Virginia in Cavan. Having studied agriculture in Harper Adams University in the UK, she returned home and two years ago went into partnership with her father.

Duration:00:09:15

Saving Abbeyleix Bog

25 years ago, 37 locals protested to save Abbeyleix Bog, now a local centre for locals, tourists and nature.

Duration:00:18:06

Tóchar Community Voices

Tóchar Community Voices is a storytelling initiative, part of Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration Project. The three-year project is dedicated to wetland restoration, research, and community engagement across Ireland’s midlands.

Duration:00:02:49

How retrofiting houses can help end turf harvesting

Treasa Bhreathnach visits Ballycroy in Co Mayo to hear about a house retrofitting scheme to end turf harvesting on designated nature sites.

Duration:00:06:19

Poet Jane Clarke reads Barnacullian Bog

Poet Jane Clarke reads Barnacullian Bog

Duration:00:01:32

The lucrative business of illegal peat removal

Ella speaks to Tom Ryan, EPA Director of Enforcement

Duration:00:05:26

A visit to Carbery Bog

Ella McSweeney visits Carbery Bog, which the community has owned and managed for 120 years.

Duration:00:10:54

Countrywide Bog Special