Nature Boy: a journey of birdsong & 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.” 

Hilary Whyte - The Sunday Independent:“Hirsute, casually attired, and refreshingly unmannered, Ronayne strolled onto the set of The Tommy Tiernan Show back in January [2024] and everything changed….Two things made the nation sit up that night and take Ronayne to heart; his unadulterated joy for nature, and the sheer integrity of his purpose. He became a speaker in demand.” 

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.” 

The Pat Kenny Show:"Few people are as attuned to nature as ornithologist Seán Ronayne.” 

Kathleen Harris - Director of Birdsong:“I was struck by Seán’s wide-eyed enthusiasm for the natural world, his open-heartedness and unassuming, [and his’] quietly charismatic personality (…) His passion for these creatures, his way of telling their stories in a poetic but accessible way, was singular. It was clear to me that Seán was someone special.” 

Anja Murray - The Irish Examiner:“For ornithologist Seán Ronayne, the language of birds permeates his life. It is an obsession, a source of joy, and one of the prime ways in which he relates to the living world.” 

RTE Culture:“Ornithologist Seán Ronayne has become somewhat of a national treasure over the past year, via a memorable Tommy Tiernan Show interview followed by the remarkable RTÉ documentary Birdsong.” 

Niall Hatch - Birdwatch Ireland “Seán is perhaps the greatest and most eloquent champion for Irish nature I have come across.” 

Brendan O’Connor:“I met Seán Ronayne, and I really did think that this guy could move the dial. This guy could change us. (…) Because he feels it [a love for nature] so deeply himself, that he makes you feel it. He is potentially one of the great communicators of his generation (…) and he’s using it for good. He lures you in, and he lures you in, and by the end of it you think “sure this makes total sense, he’s absolutely right (…)!”. 

Ken O’ Sullivan - Documentary Filmaker & Conservationist“Seán is a man who reveals wonder from within the ordinary”

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