The Waters & The Wild
​A Paddle Powered Podcast
Join me as I embark on a series of fabulous adventures exploring Ireland's waterways. Paddling my trusty canoe Minnow I'll venture out on lakes, navigate sheltered bays and follow the winding course of rivers and canals.
Our waterways are corridors of immense wildlife diversity, brimming with life above and below the surface. The low profile and silent passage of the canoe will allow for close encounters with a cast of fascinating creatures such as otter, pike and dragonflies. We'll keep a sharp eye out for egret, moorhen and grebe, and with a little bit of luck catch sight of a kingfisher darting across our bow.
The essence of slow adventure, this paddle-powered podcast will transport you to enchanted realms and watery worlds of wonder.
​Series 1 recorded and produced in 2024.

Series 1 - Episode 5

The Garden of Eden
A mid-summer journey along the Grand Canal with my canoe 'Minnow'. Musings on dragon and damselflies, horse-drawn barges, camping, tow-path flora. Along the way I make a D-tour to Lodge Bog where I explore the wonderful world of sphagnum moss and the critical role peatlands play as a natural solution to climate change.
Poetry reading: "I'm Selling My Horse" (Anonymous).

Notes: website for the Irish Peatland Conservation Council www.ipcc.ie . 
My parents had their wedding party on the last horse-drawn boat in Ireland. The party boarded the 'Emily' at Robertstown on the Grand Canal. The boat was towed by Dolly. Image circa 1970. 

Series 1 - Episode 4

The Well of Wisdom
In this episode I set out in search of wisdom, knowledge and inspiration - the mythical Connla's Well, source of the River Barrow. Leaving my canoe behind, the journey begins in Glenbarrow Wood from where I follow the headwaters of the Barrow up into the Slieve Bloom Mountains. 

The Slieve Blooms are the oldest mountain range in Europe (formed 400 million years ago). They are one of the last remaining refuges for the Hen Harrier, the beautiful sky dancing bird of prey.

Notes: Lines read from Dindsenchas (lore of place-names).

Series 1 - Episode 3

Down to the Deeps

Picture
River Slaney overlooking the Deeps Castle.
On a beautiful sunny day in early May, I climb into my canoe and journey along the River Slaney. Launching at Edermine, I paddle through a landscape with a rich agricultural heritage and explore aspects of the river's history – native cot boats, reed harvesting and the Deeps castle.
My journey concludes at the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve where the Slaney meets the Irish Sea.
The soundtrack to the podcast is contributed by curlew, sedge warblers, willow warblers, moorhen, heron and swallows.

Notes: Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. www.wexfordwildfowlreserve.ie

Series 1 - Episode 2

Stilly Greeny

Picture
Paddling along the Barrow Line Canal near Vicarstown.

​In this episode I set off on a two-day voyage  along the Barrow Line Canal. Launching Minnow at Vicarstown, I travel north, heading for Monasterevin and camp at MaCartney's Lock. The following day I set out across the Bog of Umeras and end the voyage at Rathangan. 
Weeks of heavy rain during March has resulted in flooded rivers that are too risky for canoeing, I've had to adapt my plans and explore our gently flowing canalways instead.
The Barrow Line is a beautiful stretch of man-made waterway that links the River Barrow at Athy to Lowtown on the Grand Canal. Terrific bird song keeps me company along the journey. The banks and hedgerows are just starting to spring into life - blackthorn, pussy willow, primrose and flag iris.

Poetry reading from 'Lines Written on a Seat on the Grand Canal, Dublin' by Patrick Kavanagh.
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Series 1 - Episode 1

A Living Vein

Picture
Learning to swim at Clashganny on the River Barrow. Age 4 ish.

​In this introductory episode I take a short journey up the River Barrow. Launching at Clashganny Lock in South County Carlow, I set off in my self-built wooden canoe Minnow, paddling upstream.
The River Barrow is my local river and it's also Ireland's second longest river, flowing for roughly 190km from source to sea. It courses through the South East of the country, rising in the Slieve Bloom mountains in Co. Laoise and emptying into the Irish Sea at Hook Head.
For many years it was a very busy waterway, with a steady stream of goods barges travelling up and downstream. My parents carried the last commercial cargo along the River Barrow in the early1970's onboard their traditional river barge 76M. Today, it's a very quiet waterway but a popular one for kayaks and canoes.
As I pass the mighty falls of Clashganny weir I talk about the inspiration behind this podcast, the English nature writer, the late Roger Deakin. The author of Waterlog and Wildwood recorded a journey he made in a canoe along the River Waveney in England. The recording was produced as a podcast episode some years ago (Nature Notes, BBC) and I found listening to it a transportive experience. I'm hoping to achieve something similar on Irish waterways - capture and convey some of the magic of our rivers and canals
Continuing upstream I journey along a spectacular part of the river, surrounded by ancient woodland, water meadows and a chorus of bird song.

Poetry reading extract from River Barrow by Ted Hughes.
Hughes, Ted. 'River Barrow'. River (1983) Faber & Faber.
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