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Mooney Goes Wild

RTÉ Radio 1
Ireland
Climate Change
Birdwatch Ireland
Biodiversity
Nature
Cuckoo
Dawn Chorus
Trees
Mayfly
Dublin
Biophilia
Robins
Curlew
Garden Birds
Citizen Science
Conservation
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Birdwatching
Peregrine Falcons
Fossils

Derek Mooney and guests explore the natural world in all its forms. Listen live every Monday at 10pm on RTÉ Radio 1.

PublishesDailyEpisodes116Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NatureScience

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Artwork for Mooney Goes Wild

Latest Episodes

Mooney Goes Wild reporter Terry Flanagan meets up with wildlife enthusiast Gustavo Zoladz, who recently discovered two badger setts along the River Dodder in Dublin...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Éanna Ní Lamhna previews a MGW special recorded at Bloom 2026, airing on Bank Holiday Monday, June 1st, in which she explores the festival’s strong biodiversity focus and reflects on her family’s link to the show. She also chats about travelling the ... more

Cruising doesn’t have to mean the Bahamas or Antarctica — there’s magic on our own coast. This evening, ornithologist Jim Wilson joins us from the National Geographic Explorer, currently sailing around the Skelligs in search of Puffins, Gannets and o... more

The Burren’s vast limestone, wildflowers and ancient tombs shape a landscape where people and deep history meet. Heritage Keepers Coordinator Mary Dillon of Burrenbeo joins Derek, Richard and Terry to discuss the Burren Archaeology Festival, which ta... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Gustavo Zoladz
Wildlife enthusiast and observer
Episode: Badger-Watching In Dublin
Mary Dillon
Archaeologist
Independent archaeologist featured in Burren Archaeology Festival
Episode: Burren Archaeology Festival
Karla Goodman
Presenter of Lapwing documentary
Episode: Nature On One - Lapwing
Alan McCarthy
From BirdWatch Ireland, falcon expert
BirdWatch Ireland
Episode: Back From The Brink
Sam Bayley
From National Parks and Wildlife Service, expert on peregrines
National Parks and Wildlife Service
Episode: Back From The Brink
Pádraig Whooley
Representative of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
Episode: Whale Watch Ireland 2026: Saturday, May 23rd
Terrence Flanagan
Terrence Flanagan, avian expert and regular guest on the show
Independent birdwatcher/expert
Episode: What Are Those Starlings Up To?
John MacKenna
Author, playwright and regular contributor to Sunday Miss, involved as a consultant for Conference of Birds
Birds/Our Nature project
Episode: The Conference Of Birds
Henrietta Broderick
Listener who submitted video and question from Galway City, Ireland
Episode: Going Round In Circles: What Could Bee Causing It?

Host

Derek Mooney
Host of Mooney Goes Wild, RTÉ Radio 1

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 111 ratings
  • Great series but fractured podcast

    5/5 for the program but podcast is unfortunately broken into several parts making it awkward to playback. The entire program minus the ads with time stamps added is how everyone else does it.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Fireland1974
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Battling it out

    Great podcast we constantly push each other off the number one spot in Ireland for nature. Check out the Burren Nature Sanctuary podcast ‘Nature Magic’. If you like this you are going to like Nature Magic too!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mary🌱
    Ireland5 years ago
  • Great

    I grew up listening to this and I have learned loads.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    the phoenix2011
    Ireland5 years ago
  • Downloads sporadic

    Great show but frequently the show podcast does not automatically download. Have received nothing since the 26th October 2020. Not the first time this has happened. Very frustrating!!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bonxie2
    Ireland6 years ago
  • Good stuff

    Miss the daily radio show and the live Friday MGW but listening to the pod helps as Ray Darcy is unbearable.love this show

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tom the gunner
    Ireland7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Generally praised for accessible wildlife conversations and practical insights.
Audience appreciates live event coverage and diverse guest expertise.
Some listeners note occasional playback or download issues.
A mix of praise and constructive feedback around depth vs. accessibility.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#195
United Kingdom/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#217
Canada/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#105
Italy/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#249
France/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#7
Ireland/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#26
Spain/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Burren Archaeology Festival
Q: What can visitors expect from the Burren Archaeology Festival on the weekend?
The Saturday conference features six archaeologists with talks you need a ticket for, while Sunday is open to everyone with a day of experimental archaeology and family-friendly activities from 11 to 4, plus tours and workshops that may require booking.
Back From The Brink
Q: Niall, how are peregrine falcons doing in Ireland?
They are doing quite well, having recovered from DDT in the mid-20th century; their urban nesting in church spires and tall buildings demonstrates their resilience and expanding range.
The Conference Of Birds
Q: Tell us about it from your perspective. What's it all about?
John explains that the performance is a collaborative, multimedia piece drawing on the 55 red-list birds of Ireland, told through a theatrical framework where elders portray the birds and the younger generation brings the dialogue, with a focus on conservation and giving voice to wildlife.
Going Round In Circles: What Could Bee Causing It?
Q: Now, tell us about the email and the video you sent.
The guest describes a honeybee that kept circling the area on the ground, seemed uninterested in sugar water, and produced a mustard-colored secretion; after some initial hypotheses, the panel explains that the behavior likely indicates illness, old age, or exposure to pesticides, rather than nutrition issues.
On The Trail Of Cuskinny’s Kingfishers
Q: How do kingfishers approach nesting and defend their territory when a predator is nearby?
Kingfishers excavate tunnels and multiple nesting sites, protecting the main chamber while having nearby alternative nests; if a predator gets one site, they can relocate and continue nesting elsewhere, which demonstrates their resilience and adaptive nesting strategy.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mooney Goes Wild

What is Mooney Goes Wild about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A nature-focused show with a strong emphasis on wildlife, birds, conservation, and ecological storytelling. Across episodes, hosts mix expert interviews, field reporting, and practical how-tos—covering topics from bee behavior and peregrine falcons in urban settings to coral reef microbiomes and citizen science efforts. The format blends accessible natural history with live event coverage (like dawn choruses and urban wildlife surveys), often tying local Irish ecosystems to global conservation themes. It's likely to appeal to curious listeners who enjoy hands-on wildlife observation, sustainable gardening, and science-backed explanations, with a friendly, relatable hosting style that leans into practical takeaways for backyard naturalists a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Mooney Goes Wild?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Mooney Goes Wild:

1. Sunday Miscellany
2. The Pat Kenny Show
3. Brendan O'Connor
4. The Mario Rosenstock Podcast
5. Documentary on One Podcast

How many episodes of Mooney Goes Wild are there?

Mooney Goes Wild launched 20 years ago and published 116 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Mooney Goes Wild?

Recent guests on Mooney Goes Wild include:

1. Gustavo Zoladz
2. Mary Dillon
3. Karla Goodman
4. Alan McCarthy
5. Sam Bayley
6. Pádraig Whooley
7. Terrence Flanagan
8. John MacKenna

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