Minister Noonan launches Kilkenny Naturalist Field Club at Butler House

It was with great aplomb that Minister Malcolm Noonan warmly welcomed the arrival of the Kilkenny Naturalists’ Field Club in Butler House on Monday.

Just over 30 people braved the frozen elements to support and be a part of this new club, established to informally discover Kilkenny’s rich natural heritage. There have been many changes in the county, both in urban and rural Kilkenny, and indeed Minister Noonan has witnessed many of them in later years.

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Field clubs occur sporadically around the island of Ireland, with Belfast leading as far back as 1863, with Dublin Cork and Limerick following on. The purpose of the field club is to seek to record, through citizen science, our various fauna and flora, on outings and through presentations. Government bodies, such as NPWS, the EPA, and Coillte, cannot cover all habitats, at all times, but with a small, yet dedicated, army of enthusiasts it is hoped to add collectively to the knowledge of the state of Kilkenny’s natural environment, over time.

Attendees last night were treated to the guest speaker Mr. Seán Ronayne of Irish Wildlife Sounds. Seán has recently been a guest on the Tommy Tiernan show and we all were enthralled by Seán’s knowledge, passion, and dedication to his studies of birds. From Senegal to the high Artic, we were transported via various bird calls, with a range of fascinating facts and examples of where Irish birds hold secrets that Seán is now beginning to unlock.

With new club and members, a few excursions around the county with some key speakers, throughout the year are now planned.

Anyone seeking to find out more, or to join, membership is for anyone over 18 years of age, and it attracts a small cover charge of €10.00 to assist with cost outlays. Further information can be found on our Facebook Page: Kilkenny Naturalists’ Field Club page