News
Summer Birdwatching Spots in Ireland
Check out these Summer Birdwatching Spots chosen by MKO ornithologists – from resident favourites to exciting migrants, there’s something for everyone. So grab your binoculars and get ready for an adventure!
| County | Location | This location is good for spotting… |
| Antrim | Rathlin Island | Corncrake, Puffin, Kittiwake, Gannet, Razorbill and Guillemot |
| Clare | Mounthshannon Harbour | White-Tailed Eagle (Holy Island) |
| Cork | Harpers Island Wetlands | Nesting Sand Martin Wall |
| Cork | Glengarriff and Garinish Island | White-tailed Eagle |
| Donegal | Tory Island | Corncrake, Puffin and Breeding Waders |
| Donegal | Inch Wetland Reserve | Colony of Sandwich Tern and Black-headed Gulls |
| Donegal | Blanket Nook | Swallows, House Martins, common terns and swifts, Great Spotted Woodpecker or Kingfisher, and Yellowhammer |
| Dublin | Ireland’s Eye | Cormorant, Herring Gull, Kittiwake, Gannet, Guillemot, and Razorbill |
| Dublin | Rogerstown Estuary and Turvey Nature Reserve | Various |
| Dublin | Dalkey Island | Arctic Tern, Breeding Gulls and Oystercatchers |
| Galway | Lough Derg (Portumna) | White-Tailed Eagle |
| Galway | Inisbofin | Corncrake |
| Kerry | View from Castlegregory to Maherees Islands | Common, Arctic, Little and Sandwich Terns |
| Kildare | Pollardstown Fen | Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Water Rail, Snipe, Little Grebe, Kestrel, and Buzzard |
| Louth | Lurgangreen (Dundalk Bay) | Common Sandpiper, Terns, Wheatear, Gulls, and Osprey (regularly occurring, but not breeding) |
| Mayo | Annagh Marsh, Belmullet | Red-necked Phalarope and Lapwing |
| Offaly | Lough Boora | Grey Partridge, Breeding Waders e.g. Lapwing |
| Waterford | Ardmore Cliff Walk | Kittiwake Colony, Chough, Kestrel and occasionally Peregrine |
| Wexford | Great Saltee | Gannet, Puffin and Manx Shearwater, Razorbill, Guillemot, Kittiwake, Shag, Great Black-backed Gull and Fulmar |
| Wexford | Our Lady’s Island Lake | Roseate Tern, Sandwich Tern, Arctic Tern, Common Tern and Mediterranean Gull and Black-headed Gull |
| Wicklow | Kilcoole | Little Tern Colony |
| Wicklow | Avoca | Red Kite |
| Wicklow | East Coast Nature Reserve | Roseate Tern, Sandwich Tern, Arctic Tern, Common Tern Mediterranean Gull and Black-headed Gull |
| Wicklow | Wicklow Mountains | Peregrine, Merlin, Red Grouse, Great Spotted Woodpecker |
Wind Energy Ireland annual report
Wind’s best year on record
Wind Energy Ireland confirmed that wind farms provided 35 per cent of Ireland and Northen Ireland’s electricity in 2023, totalling a record breaking 13,725 gigawatt-hours (GWh).
This figure represents the largest annual amount of wind power generated by our wind farms to date and it is equivalent to the electricity consumption of more than 3 million Irish families, surpassing the previous record of 13,699 GWh set in 2020.
It follows a particularly strong performance last month with wind energy providing exactly half the country’s electricity, making it the best month for wind power generation in 2023.
100 Million Trees Project
Recently one of our employees took part in the 100 Million Trees Project, which is a national initiative aiming to plant 100 million native Irish trees across the island of Ireland throughout the next decade. 2500 trees were planted on a 1 acre site in Kilkenny. This area will sequester 30 tonnes of carbon per annum. An average household in Ireland emits 12 tonnes of carbon per annum. This area will also provide some much needed habitat for biodiversity.
If you would like to get involved all you need to do provide a map with the area you want planted outlined and prepare the site for planting. The trees and tree planting service is free. See all details on the website https://100milliontreesproject.ie/
You will find contact info for the project team on the website. Also you can watch one of their youtube videos here
Electric Bike Winner Dec 2021
Gerard Loughnane from Co. Galway was the December winner of the Ecopower Supply quarterly E-bike customer draw.
Gerard was presented with his brand new E-Bike by Ecopower Supply director Phil Kenealy at ebikes Ireland, Kilkenny on 15 Jan 2022.
Bike Draw
The Bike Draw has carried out on Wed 22nd Dec and was verified by Poe Kiely Hogan Solicitors, Patrick Street, Kilkenny. The winner of the bike was a customer from County Galway.
Our next Bike Draw is the 31st March 2021.
