To mark Earth Day 2025, friends of the earth have stated that the Oireachtas must respond to the climate crisis with the “urgency and commitment it deserves.” It singled out TDs and Senators who will form part of the upcoming committees as key in ensuring the government takes the action required.
The death of his Holiness Pope Francis whose Encyclical Letter, Laudato Si’ forms the basis and ethos of our Kilmore Care of Creation organisation, his teaching and example on care for our common home have been a shining light and a beacon of hope on a global scale and in effect to our own Diocesan Branch of Laudato Si. We trust he is now receiving his reward for his dedication and service as leader of the catholic church and the recipient of much respect by people of other faiths and non-believers too.
Meanwhile, the world keeps turning and life goes on. April, as we know, can be “a bag” of mixed weather and this year it has certainly lived up to this reputation. The first ten days left us basking in sunshine, only to be followed by excessive rainfall which has left the countryside quite sodden and water-logged. However, the upside of all this rain is that we have abundant growth and colour all round us. Hedgerows, gardens and trees exhibit a profusion of colour and farmers should be pleased with grass and crop growth in the fields and meadows. Many forests are filled with expanses of bluebells and wild garlic which is a sight to behold at this time. Primroses, buttercups, daisies, cow parsley and a wide variety of wildflowers decorate the countryside. On recommendation by a botanist, I have purchased a copy of “Wildflowers of Ireland” (second edition) by Zoe Devlin. It is a comprehensive publication of our rich and rare flowers growing in our wild and wonderful places.
Some of our early spring flowers are now past their best but many others are now gracing our gardens and display areas. We have anemones, tulips, allium, hyacinth, sweet pea, azaleas, peonies and foxgloves to mention but a few. These are complimented by cherry blossom trees in pink and white, magnolia, dogwood, horse chestnut, apple, plum, forsythia and one of my favourites ‘flame of the forest’ which never disappoints me.
Keep an eye out for the return of our migratory birds; swallows, and martins, house martins, warblers, puffins and even our welcome cuckoo whose unique call is a joyful reminder that he has come home for summer. These birds are on our shores now for their breeding season. Of course, our native resident birds are very much alive and busy building nests for their chicks; the wren, starling, blue tit chaffinch, blackbird, song thrush, linnet, goldcrest, collared dive and many gulls are all making up the symphony of song on our own doorsteps. It won’t be long now until the annual dawn chorus will be celebrated nationwide and this encourages us to get up and out earlier these glorious mornings to enjoy the recitals.
Briefly, major environmental current issues include reports on wind energy contributions in Ireland; the ongoing battle to eradicate invasive rhododendron in Killarney, and a challenge to a proposed policy change regarding endangered animals.
Happy Summertime!
Your Earth Friend, Anne
Member of the Kilmore Care of Creation Group
