Series 33
Programme 5 – 7:00pm Thursday 4th December, 2025
RTÉ One – 1:10pm Repeated Sunday 7th December 2025
Mink
The Mink is one of Ireland’s most destructive invasive species, posing a huge threat to native ground-nesting birds. An ambitious new project has been launched across 2,500 square acres around Lough Ree in Westmeath, to try and eradicate the American Mink from Ireland.
This three and a half year project is being overseen by nature specialist Owen Murphy with a lot of help from local volunteers, gunclubs, sensored traps and the latest tracking and mapping technology. But at the centre of it all is Owen’s constant companion Lorg, who also happens to be Ireland’s first Mink detection dog. Ella Mc Sweeny spends the day with Owen and Lorg, to see how the project works on the ground.
Alpacas
It’s not every day that you see two Alpacas walking into a lift. But for Paddy and Oscar, it’s just another work day as they visit the residents of Kilcoole Nursing Home in Co. Wicklow. And for their owner Joe Phelan, these animals make up part of the large herd which he keeps on his farm near Newtown Mount Kennedy.
In 2019 Joe sold his house, retired from his job, bought a small farm and decided to stock it with over 70 Alpacas. But this is not a hobby for Joe and despite setbacks with Covid and TB in the herd, he’s determined to make his farm profitable.
Darragh Mc Cullough visited Joe to see if he’s making his dream work.
Hobson’s Barley Harvest
On the hottest day of July Stephen Robb joined the Hobson family as David, Rob and Dad John brought in the first of their season’s crops – their Winter Barley.
The Hobson’s farm is nearly 2,000 acres of wheat, barley, oats, oil seed rape and beans in the heart of County Meath. They also run their own grain drying and storage business, meaning that they control every aspect of the crops they grow, which in a time of fluctuating grain prices helps them stay viable.
This is a day-in-the-life of the harvest on the Hobson farm.
Ear to the Ground is produced by indiepics for RTÉ.
