Today we’ve got something a little bit different. Instead of a guest, I have brought you a recording of a live talk by Pádraic Fogarty from Irish Wildlife Trust titled: Whittled Away, Ireland's Vanishing Nature. Pádraic is also the author of the book with the same title and I had the pleasure to chat with him last year on episode 20 of the podcast.Last Wednesday, Pádraic was invited to give the talk to the Kildare branch of BirdWatch Ireland and I thought it was a pity that they weren’t planning...
Feb 20, 2019•44 min
Some of you might remember Kuba from episode 12 of the podcast where we talked about his hand-made fishing lures. We ended that episode teasing about Kuba’s planned to cycle through the Sahara desert to reach his bucket list fishing destination. Well, Kuba is back and in this episode, we talk about that cycling and fishing adventure. It is really great to hear his stories from exotic countries. The cycle was also a fundraiser for aware.ie , a voluntary organization which aims to assist people wh...
Feb 13, 2019•1 hr 43 min
Aaron is a professional gamekeeper, farmer, veteran of the war in Afghanistan and all-around badass. I keep meeting Aaron at various outdoor events and training courses. Since our interests are definitely aligned, we finally decided to get together and record an episode of the podcast. During our conversation, we talk about general game management issues, woodcock shooting and conservation, lethal fox control, badger cull, hill farming and how to move forward with the wildlife and habitat conser...
Feb 06, 2019•1 hr 38 min
A while back I jumped into my car and took the beautiful Ring of Kerry route to meet Madeleine and Greg in their art gallery located on the coast of Iveragh peninsula. Honestly, I was stunned by the beauty of Madeleine’s work and you can get a glimpse of it by visiting her website at www.madeleinemariaweber.com. Madeleine and Greg are like our artistic eyes and ears. Madeleine preserves special moments on camera while Greg records the associated sounds. They spend countless hours outdoors, tryin...
Jan 30, 2019•1 hr 28 min
Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland is an organization dedicated to helping injured wild animals return to the wild in full health. But that’s not all. WRI’s mission is to develop a coordinated approach to wildlife rehabilitation in Ireland. They are also involved in efforts to fight wildlife crime. Since the topic of wildlife is an important part of Tommy’s Outdoors, I was eager to sit down with Aideen Magee, one of WRI’s directors, and talk with her about their work. In the podcast, you will find ...
Jan 23, 2019•1 hr 8 min
I have talked about the importance of the outdoors for mental health and well-being on many occasions. Some blog posts come to mind as well as podcast episodes 10 and 25. I am still blown away by the interest and feedback on the subject. In this episode, we return to the topic. My guest, Orla Dempsey is a Life and Career Coach. During our conversation we talk about mud runs, how to control day-to-day stress levels and the importance of unplugging every now and then. Unplugging is also known as d...
Jan 09, 2019•1 hr 3 min
There is a lot of talk recently about continuous cover forestry, timber plantations and development of native woodlands. I had an opportunity to explore the subject with my guest, the Forestry Inspector and Fire Management Officer in the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, Ciaran Nugent. In my opinion, this is one of the most educational episodes of the podcast. During our conversation, we talk about the history of Irish forestry, its current direction, wildlife conservation and the d...
Dec 27, 2018•1 hr 28 min
Episode 28: Christmas Special with Susan Baughman by Tommy Subscribe to Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science Newsletter Support the Podcast and Buy Me a Coffee . Recommended Books: tommysoutdoors.com/books Merch: tommysoutdoors.com/shop Follow Tommy's Outdoors on Bluesky , Twitter , Instagram , YouTube and Facebook...
Dec 11, 2018•1 hr 10 min
Ever since I started the podcast I wanted to talk about sailing. So I was truly honoured when my invitation was accepted by Irish national hero, Damian Foxall. Damian is a veteran of ten round-the-world races, which include four 1st place finishes. He has sailed in no less than five Volvo Ocean Race campaigns, and was also part of a team that set an around the world sailing record. In this podcast I had an opportunity to ask Damian many questions related to his sailing exploits and to hear his s...
Nov 28, 2018•1 hr 20 min
Patrick Mercie is an avid runner and ultra-runner, a businessman, a life coach and owner of The Intentional Academy. In the podcast, Patrick is sharing with us his unique approach to life which he applies to all aspects of it, including his running. While listening to this episode, you will not only hear interesting stories, tips and advice for runners, but you might also get a glimpse of Partick’s life philosophy, “Do more of what you love”. http://www.theintentionalacademy.ie Subscribe to Tomm...
Nov 14, 2018•1 hr 8 min
Tommy's Outdoors - vlog #2 - Garmin Instinct comparison with Garmin fenix and Suunto outdoor watches. Full vlog: https://youtu.be/6JJpeQDA6TA Subscribe to Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science Newsletter Support the Podcast and Buy Me a Coffee . Recommended Books: tommysoutdoors.com/books Merch: tommysoutdoors.com/shop Follow Tommy's Outdoors on Bluesky , Twitter , Instagram , YouTube and Facebook...
Nov 07, 2018•13 min
Gráinne Clancy is a counsellor, psychotherapist and owner of Clancy Care Counselling. Gráinne has vast experience working with people who are going through hard times in their lives. So, I was delighted to have the opportunity to talk with her about how being in the outdoors benefits mental health. You can think of our discussion as an expansion on an article published on Tommy’s Outdoors blog titled, “Benefits of the Outdoors”. It was a very interesting conversation and I would encourage everyo...
Oct 31, 2018•1 hr 10 min
In this episode of the podcast I talk with my good buddy Paul Dowling. Paul is an avid hunter and shooter. Before recording the podcast we attended the Rut Walk in Killarney National Park organized by The Wild Deer Association of Ireland. Paul is an active member of the aforementioned organization and was one of the co-organizers of the Rut Walk. As you can imagine, we talk all things deer hunting and deer management, from proper clothing to education of hunters and non-hunters alike. We also di...
Oct 24, 2018•1 hr 20 min
A very special episode with a very special guest. Carrie Zylka is a fellow podcaster and also an avid hunter and angler. She hosts a number of podcasts but, for us, her Hunt Fish Travel podcast is especially interesting. Some of you might remember that I made an appearance on the Shark Week special of Carrie’s podcast. There are also other reasons why this podcast is special. It is the first episode of the Tommy’s Outdoors podcast recorded over the Internet and it is the first episode where my g...
Oct 17, 2018•1 hr 11 min
Tommy's Outdoors - vlog #1 - I am discussing various sea angling safety topics. Full vlog: https://youtu.be/n9fHKvtTfrw Subscribe to Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science Newsletter Support the Podcast and Buy Me a Coffee . Recommended Books: tommysoutdoors.com/books Merch: tommysoutdoors.com/shop Follow Tommy's Outdoors on Bluesky , Twitter , Instagram , YouTube and Facebook...
Oct 11, 2018•21 min
My guest today, Bryan Fennell, is the Rural Recreation Officer for County Wicklow Partnership. He loves the adventures and works to promote activities, in the wilds of Co. Wicklow. In this episode, we talk about opportunities to experience the great outdoors in County Wicklow. Of course, I had to touch on the subject of the natural environment and the need to protect it. We also talk about deer stalking in the Wicklow Mountains and, on a separate note, the sometimes difficult relationship betwee...
Oct 03, 2018•1 hr 6 min
My guest in this episode of the podcast is Paul Gleeson. I would describe Paul as a big-time adventurer. He cycled across Australia, crossed the Atlantic in a row boat and attempted to cross the infamous North West Passage in the Canadian High Arctic, on human power alone, in one season. And these are just some of Paul’s adventures. He is also a published author, TEDx speaker and performance coach who runs a business consultancy firm. This is really a good one to listen to, especially if you’re ...
Sep 19, 2018•1 hr 47 min
This is a big one. Our guest, Pádraic Fogarty is the Campaign Officer at Irish Wildlife Trust and an ex-editor of the Irish Wildlife magazine. Protection and conservation of the natural world should be of the greatest importance for all outdoorsmen. For that reason, I was really excited when Pádraic accepted an invitation to the podcast. If you care about the environment, tune in and listen. We are talking not only about key conservation issues but also how to get involved and make a difference....
Sep 05, 2018•1 hr 18 min
This episode is a deer season opener special! The 1st of September is approaching fast and it marks the beginning of deer hunting season in Ireland. My guest on the podcast is the Public Relations Officer for the Irish Deer Commission, Damien Hannigan. We discuss deer conservation in Ireland, the position of various stakeholders on deer management, wildlife crime and many other deer-related issues. It is a must-listen for all deer hunters and stalkers. Also, don’t forget to email info@irishdeerc...
Aug 29, 2018•1 hr 19 min
Once again we are pushing the boundary of what we mean by the outdoors. Without a doubt piloting drones is an outdoors activity. So in this episode, our guests are two pilots from Munster Drone Services , fully licensed providers of professional drone aerial works. While listening you can learn about various types of drones, regulations related to flying drones and the many ways that a drone can be used. Spoiler alert, it’s not only photography, as it turns out drones are quite useful tools for ...
Aug 22, 2018•1 hr 7 min
This episode is for all of you who love the sea and especially the coast. My guest, Eleanor Turner works at Sea Synergy Marine Awareness Centre in Waterville, whose mission is: “To create meaningful experiences in nature for individuals or groups tailored to their needs that enable them to discover the rich diversity of Ireland’s environment and Wild Atlantic Way in a fun and memorable way.” Sounds like the outdoors to me! In this episode, we talk about various species of fish, sharks, rays and ...
Aug 08, 2018•1 hr 10 min
This week, instead of the usual blog post I would like to share with all my listeners and subscribers an interview I gave two months ago. I was interviewed by Ben Kelly from the Wicklow Hour tweetchat for GCR Digital Radio. During our chat, I had an opportunity to talk about Tommy’s Outdoors podcast. I answered several questions ranging from how it all got started to who can be my guest. We also briefly touched on some topics that were discussed in previous episodes of the podcast. Subscribe to ...
Aug 01, 2018•17 min
Experience of the outdoors quite often involves adventure. My guest today is taking adventure to the next level. Tomás Mac an t-Saoir is a young man in his twenties who cycled 3000 miles across North America solo and unsupported. This year he is planning to one-up his achievement by embarking on a 12,000 km self-supported cycling trip down the length of Africa. The journey will start in Cairo, Egypt and end in Cape Town, South Africa. Tomás is cycling in aid of the Donal Walsh Live Life Foundati...
Jul 25, 2018•1 hr 8 min
For many of us horseback riding is one of the best ways to experience the outdoors. In this episode, I talk with Rachel Daly from Tralee Equestrian Centre. You will learn how to get started if you are new to this activity. Rachel will walk you through various disciplines of equestrian sport. You will also hear about a number of horse breeds as well as some interesting facts about horse life. Finally, you will find out about the services Tralee Equestrian Centre offers. They range from one-day tr...
Jul 11, 2018•1 hr 8 min
In this episode, my guest is Caroline Birch, CEO of the Wild Adventure Way. Caroline is an energetic, positive and open-minded person. We cover a whole host of topics. We discuss what adventure is and why we need it. We cover in detail various types of surfing. We also talk about hunting and connection to the land. I hope that you will have as great a time listening to this episode as we had recording it. Subscribe to Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science Newsletter Support the Podcast and ...
Jun 27, 2018•1 hr 27 min
This time my guest is David Elton who covers more roads in Kerry on a bicycle than most others. David is a hard-core cyclist, cycling blogger and co-author of the Cycling Kerry guidebook which he wrote with Donnacha Clifford who was our guest on episode 4 of the podcast. In this episode David and I discuss many cycling-related topics. We talk about cycling culture in Holland, cycling across Scandinavia, David’s recent trip to Mallorca and a local cycling club The Chain Gang. Subscribe to Tommy's...
Jun 13, 2018•1 hr 34 min
In this episode of the podcast, my guest is a true legend of the local angling community, Kuba Standera. He is an angler, fishing guide, co-founder and former editor of a leading Polish fly fishing magazine and, recently, founder of Pirate Lures, handmade soft-plastics. He will share with us his vast experience and opinions on a wide variety of angling-related topics. We are talking about pike fishing and sea bass fishing with both lures and a fly. We also discuss various conservation-related is...
May 30, 2018•1 hr 19 min
In this episode, my guests are three friends bound by their passion for running: Mike Kissane, who was my guest on episode 3 and his two friends Vinny and Fozzy. We discuss which of the three is the fastest runner, setting running goals, marathon pacing, and their new big challenge.Mike, Vinny and Fozzy After 24 Hour https://youtu.be/7rEz4yJtz0I Vinnie Never Again https://youtu.be/aTTR2xrk4-U Subscribe to Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science Newsletter Support the Podcast and Buy Me a Coff...
May 16, 2018•1 hr 18 min
In this episode, I visited sunny Waterford to meet Bernadette Phillips, sociologist, motivational speaker, radio broadcaster and the founder of New Insights For Change, to talk about Waterford Greenway. As it turned out, the greenway was only a background to a great conversation about the profound importance of the outdoors and connecting with nature. http://bernadettephillips.com Subscribe to Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science Newsletter Support the Podcast and Buy Me a Coffee . Recomme...
May 02, 2018•1 hr 20 min
This episode of the podcast was recorded during the Swarovski Open Day that took place on the 14th of April 2018 in the Kingdom "An Riocht" Rifle & Pistol Club. My guests are Paul Innes from Swarovski Optik and Mike Duggan from Mike Duggan Firearms. During the event we had an opportunity to try out a wide variety of Swarovski optics: binoculars, spotting scopes, rifle scopes and even objective lenses for photo cameras. Subscribe to Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science Newsletter Suppor...
Apr 18, 2018•26 min
