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THE LYRIC FEATURE

Sara Baume by Jay Armstrong Image Name: Sara Baume by Jay Armstrong Description: Sara Baume by Jay Armstrong

The Vagrant Birds of Cape Clear

An October trip to Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork allows the writer and artist Sara Baume and the radio producer Regan Hutchins the chance to talk about choosing our paths and sticking to them. Sara and Regan have come in hope of seeing some vagrant birds which always land on the island at this time of year. These are migratory birds blown far off their paths and many have never been recorded in Ireland before. Birdwatchers also flock to the island from all over the world to catch sight of them. 

This time, however, there are no vagrant birds on Cape and only one birdwatcher. 

This radio feature asks why we feel the urge to do the seemingly useless things we always end up doing, whether that’s flying around the world, making abstract art, staring at the empty sky or recording it all on tape. 

No vagrant birds were harmed in the making of The Vagrant Birds of Cape Clear.

Presented and produced by Regan Hutchins.

Producer for RTÉ lyric fm: Eoin O Kelly

RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 25th October, 6pm-7pm