Fun in the Sun

There was lots of fun in the sun at the O2 today as the crowds visited the first weekend of the Point Village Market.  From home made jam and hand made jewellery to 'ghee spot' butter and massages there was just about everything available! Tune into Earth, Wind and Spire this week to hear what the stall holders and public made of it all - Friday @ 3pm.

Here are a few pictures from earlier:

Podcast of May 28's show

On the programme this week:

And on that farm there was a turbine: Lusk farmers generate their own energy.
Some bat-time: On the trail of pipestrels in Donabate.
Parking the development: Demolition works for a proposed Dun Laoghaire carpark slammed by An Bord Pleanala.
Striking out of oil: the peak oil crisis is discussed at a Dublin conference.
and
The sorry state of Mountjoy Square.

Earth, Wind and Spire, May 28

val's Podcast

As well as our weekly round-up of the latest environment news from around Dublin City and County.
Producer: Christina McSorley. Reports: Lorcan Archer, Valerie Flynn, Jack Cane, Jeannie McCann and Fergal Reid. News read by Jack Cane. Presented by Padraic Ryan.

To the batmobile!

...or, you know, your attic or whatever, for next month's national Bat Count.

Bat Conservation Ireland want anyone who knows of a bat roost to help out. Here's what they want you to do:

1. Pick a location where you won't disturb the bats exiting the roost - someplace where you can see exiting bats silhouetted against the sky makes counting easiest. Please don't shine a torch towards the roost as it will discourage bats from exiting.


2. Go to your location around sunset on an (preferably dry and not too cold) evening between June 18 and 20. Count as many bats as you can until none have exited for 10 minutes.


3. Enter the details in this form and click submit.
   

In other bat news, Bat Conservation Ireland are at Dublin Zoo today as part of the zoo's Native Species Weekend.

BioBlitz: the results are in

Well, we've had loads of stuff on the show recently in relation to the International Year of Biodiversity... including the news that most Irish people don't know what biodiversity is.

Anyway, last weekend was the first ever national 'BioBlitz', when scientists at six locations across the country took part in a race to record the most plant and animal species in 24 hours (with a frantic surge in activity reported in the last hour).

Teams of botanists, zoologists, entomologists, mycologists and other-ologists were drafted into Newbridge Demesne in North County Dublin, where a grand total of 441 different species was recorded.

• 180 plants


• 40 butterflies and moths


• 46 birds


• 20 other insects


• 7 mammals


• 148 'others' (fungi, lichens and so on. This was the highest 'others' figure in the competition.)

An impressive tally, but the Dubs were left in the ha'penny place by winners Connemara National Park, where 542 species were found, including 351 different plants. (Dublin came second last. Not that it matters, of course, since the point of the exercise is to compile useful information for the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Although, according to Earth, Wind and Spire's sources the competitive aspect of this supposedly 'fun' event was taken terribly seriously by certain elements of the scientific community.)

Black Gold

Oil is the new gold.  As a nation we consume 188,000 barrells of oil a day.  We import it all because we do not have any as a natural resource.  So what's going to happen when it runs out?

That was the topic for dicussion on Wednesday evening at the Convergence Sustainable Living Festival hosted by Cultivate.  Tune into Earth Wind and Spire tomorrow to hear Richard O'Rourke, Director of ASPO Ireland, and Davie Philips from Cultivate, discuss their views.

For more information on the Convergence Sustainable Living Festival see www.cultivate.ie

Podcast of May 21's show

On today's programme:
- All Dublin's latest environment news
- Port in a storm: controversy over plans to expand Dublin Port
- All creatures great and small: biodiversity in Dublin Zoo
- Green procurement: how green Government purchasing benefits the environment and the bottom line
and
- A growing movement: we look as allotments and the grow-your-own movement

Presenter: Padraic Ryan. Reports: Valerie Flynn, Fergal Reid, Padraic Ryan and Jack Cane. News by Lorcan Archer. Produced by Padraic Ryan.

Podcast of May 21's Show

Earth, Wind and Spire's Podcast

Today's Show!

Ears (well, no ears, but still) cocked to listen to Earth, Wind and Spire...

Earth, Wind and Spire is on today! 3pm on 103.2 Dublin City, live online at www.dublincityfm.ie, and, I have to tell you, today's programme is the cat's pyjamas.

We have:

- All Dublin's latest environment news

- The port in a storm over proposed expansion

- All creatures great and small - a look at biodversity in Dublin Zoo (and a listen to some serious Siamang Gibbon vocalising)

- Green is gold - how green procurement will aid Ireland's economic future

and

- We unearth the wonderful world of allotments and grow-your-own

Now all you have to do is find something to kill time between now and 3!

Padraic Ryan and the Gibbons (Padraic isn't in the picture)

Dublin Zoo's Siamang Gibbons can cart-wheel with the best of them. But can they handle an Earth, Wind and Spire questioning? Tune in this Friday at 3pm, 103.2FM to find out.

(In truth, we didn't interview the Gibbons. They're shy about radio. But they were kicking up quite a stir while we found out about Biodiversity in the Zoo, and you can find out more about that, Friday, 3pm, 103.2 Dublin City FM, or by listening to the podcast on earthwindandspire.blogspot.com)

South Circular Road Garden

Tune into Earth Wind and Spire this week to hear Willie Brennan talk about the South Circular Garden - a green space that's being used for the benefit of the community in Dophlin Barn!  Check out their blog: http://southcirculargarden.blogspot.com/

Willie picking some herbs this evening:

Scary scuff: the scare crow in the garden:

This weekend is Biodiversity Weekend

...and there's lots of very cool stuff happening about town. And by cool I mean nerdy.

Join scientists and volunteers of all ages in a race to record the most species possible at Fingal's Newbridge Demesne, in 24 hours from Friday evening to Saturday evening. There'll also be a guided night-time bat walk on Friday, and on Saturday there'll be bird box-building, falconry displays and face-painting. Full details are here.

The Irish Environmental Network have lots of info and a list of events which includes a coastal biodiversity walk, lunchtime talks and a 'butterflies and bogs day'.

Events continue into next week and the week after, and it's all part of the International Year of Biodiversity. We'll have more info on this week's and next week's show so stay tuned.

Grow Your Own @ Bloom

Volunteers lending a hand to the 'Grow Your Own' Movement on Sunday in the Phoenix Park as the group prepares its garden for the Bloom Festival in June. 

Tune into Earth, Wind and Spire this week to hear the group's founder, Michael Kelly, talk about the benefits of growing your own and offering useful tips and advice for gardening virgins! This Friday @ 3pm on Dublin 103.2FM.

Podcast of Earth Wind and Spire for May 14th, 2010

Thanks to everyone who listened to today's show! For those who missed it, or thought it good enough to warrant another listen, the link for it is below.

Earth Wind and Spire, May 14th, 2010

Producer: Lorcan Archer. Reports: Padraic Ryan, Christina McSorley and Jack Cane. News by Fergal Reid. Presented by Padraic Ryan.

This afternoon...

At 3pm this afternoon: Nine months on, how successful has the Dublin Bikes scheme been? And, the latest invention from the people who brought you the 30k/h speed limit - Dublin City Council's plans for a 'city farm'. We'll be strolling through Georgian Dublin to hear about issues surrounding conservation. And bringing you the latest on Eyafallajokul (oh yes I did). As well as our weekly round-up of environment news from Dublin City and County.

Podcast of May 7th's show

On the programme this week:
Is Swords set in stone? Opposition grows to planned new developments.
Berkeleyan Idealism: Trinity's inspiring Berkeley Library turns 45.
The nagging problem with Smithfield's horse market: Will it stay or will it go now?
And our weekly round up of the latest environmental news from around the city.

Earth, Wind and Spire, May 7th, 2010

Earth, Wind and Spire's Podcast

Producer: Fergal Reid. Reports: Lorcan Archer, Valerie Flynn, Jack Cane. News by Christina McSorley. Presented by Padraic Ryan.

Podcast of April 23's show

On the programme this week:
Private buses: The controversy over licences in Dublin.
Do Dubs dream of electric jeeps? Our reporter takes a spin in an electric car.
Zoning out the Minister: Councillors in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown defy John Gormley with a new rezoning.
And our weekly round up of the latest environmental news from around the city.

Earth, Wind and Spire, April 23, 2010

Earth, Wind and Spire's Podcast

Producer: Valerie Flynn. Reports: Christina McSorley, Jeannie McCann and Jack Cane. News by Valerie Flynn. Presented by Padraic Ryan.

Podcast of April 16's show

On the show this week:
Icon or eyesore? A look at the controversial plans to redevelop Liberty Hall.
DART Underground: Good news for commuters, but are the proposals being railroaded despite quality of life concerns in Inchicore?
Lusk landfill: A scenic corner of North County Dublin is earmarked for Ireland's next superdump.
The kids are alright: Our reporter tags along with Eco UNESCO to the judging of the 2010 Young Environmentalist Awards.
And our weekly round up of the latest environmental news from around the city.

Earth Wind and Spire, April 16, 2010

Earth, Wind and Spire's Podcast

Producers: Christina McSorley and Jeannie McCann. Reports: Christina McSorley, Valerie Flynn, Lorcan Archer, Padraic Ryan. News by Jack Cane. Presented by Padraic Ryan.