Fintan Kelly
@fintankelly.bsky.social
A voice for nature 🌍 working on IE/EU Environmental Policy/Advocacy. All opinions my own. Roscommon 🐏 Connacht 🦅 Ireland ☘️
I am deeply saddened to hear of Paul Connolly's passing. He was an extraordinary individual whose immense contributions to Ireland's marine environment and coastal communities across Ireland and NW Europe left an indelible legacy. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends & all who knew him.
January 8, 2026 at 9:51 AM
I am deeply saddened to hear of Paul Connolly's passing. He was an extraordinary individual whose immense contributions to Ireland's marine environment and coastal communities across Ireland and NW Europe left an indelible legacy. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends & all who knew him.
Buzzards wheel like shadow puppets against an emblazoned winter dawn.
January 7, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Buzzards wheel like shadow puppets against an emblazoned winter dawn.
I decided to kick off the new year in style by taking part in this mornings Countrywide. A good discussion was had on farm succession, CAP reform and the Nitrates Derogation.
January 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
I decided to kick off the new year in style by taking part in this mornings Countrywide. A good discussion was had on farm succession, CAP reform and the Nitrates Derogation.
Six hundred years before the Great Pyramids of Giza were built, our ancestors hauled 200,000 tonnes of boulders into place to precisely mark the rising sun on the winter solstice – all so they could say, "There’s a grand stretch in the evenings." Incredible when you think about it.
December 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Six hundred years before the Great Pyramids of Giza were built, our ancestors hauled 200,000 tonnes of boulders into place to precisely mark the rising sun on the winter solstice – all so they could say, "There’s a grand stretch in the evenings." Incredible when you think about it.
Violent, antisocial farmers’ protests have delivered concession after concession from the European Commission. Why would they stop?
December 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Violent, antisocial farmers’ protests have delivered concession after concession from the European Commission. Why would they stop?
EU decision-makers are on a mission to roll back vital nature laws
Our response to that? #HandsOffNature
Environmental laws need to be enforced not weakened @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @jessikaroswall.ec.europa.eu
Read more here 👉 wwfeu.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/eu...
Our response to that? #HandsOffNature
Environmental laws need to be enforced not weakened @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @jessikaroswall.ec.europa.eu
Read more here 👉 wwfeu.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/eu...
December 8, 2025 at 10:13 AM
EU decision-makers are on a mission to roll back vital nature laws
Our response to that? #HandsOffNature
Environmental laws need to be enforced not weakened @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @jessikaroswall.ec.europa.eu
Read more here 👉 wwfeu.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/eu...
Our response to that? #HandsOffNature
Environmental laws need to be enforced not weakened @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @jessikaroswall.ec.europa.eu
Read more here 👉 wwfeu.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/eu...
Delighted to be on bonnie Edinburgh today at the Peatland Restoration Conference. Its great to see the ongoing collaboration on peatland restoration between Eire - Alba.
December 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Delighted to be on bonnie Edinburgh today at the Peatland Restoration Conference. Its great to see the ongoing collaboration on peatland restoration between Eire - Alba.
I have always been intrigued by legends like Bricriu's Feast, where one of Cú Chulainn's heroic feats was taming supernatural cats that emerged from Oweynagat Cave in Co. Roscommon (the Cave of the Cats).
Could these cats be an echo of cultural memory of wildcats or lynx?
Could these cats be an echo of cultural memory of wildcats or lynx?
November 28, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I have always been intrigued by legends like Bricriu's Feast, where one of Cú Chulainn's heroic feats was taming supernatural cats that emerged from Oweynagat Cave in Co. Roscommon (the Cave of the Cats).
Could these cats be an echo of cultural memory of wildcats or lynx?
Could these cats be an echo of cultural memory of wildcats or lynx?
Coillte & Bord Na Móna can deliver Nature Restoartion at scale if they are mandated & empowered to do so
Coillte have delivered habitat restoration at Aghrane Bog SAC. Tree removal & drain blocking under an EU LIFE project has increased the area of active bog by 20% #PublicLand #NatureRestoration
Coillte have delivered habitat restoration at Aghrane Bog SAC. Tree removal & drain blocking under an EU LIFE project has increased the area of active bog by 20% #PublicLand #NatureRestoration
November 18, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Coillte & Bord Na Móna can deliver Nature Restoartion at scale if they are mandated & empowered to do so
Coillte have delivered habitat restoration at Aghrane Bog SAC. Tree removal & drain blocking under an EU LIFE project has increased the area of active bog by 20% #PublicLand #NatureRestoration
Coillte have delivered habitat restoration at Aghrane Bog SAC. Tree removal & drain blocking under an EU LIFE project has increased the area of active bog by 20% #PublicLand #NatureRestoration
I get way too much satisfaction out of watching my Monstera produce new leaves.
November 16, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I get way too much satisfaction out of watching my Monstera produce new leaves.
The EU MERCOSUR Trade Deal is being railroaded through — with promises of traceability safeguards the latest Trojan Horse.
But how credible are these assurances? And why should Ireland stand behind a deal that risks harming the Amazon and its Indigenous communities?
#MERCOSUR #COP30
But how credible are these assurances? And why should Ireland stand behind a deal that risks harming the Amazon and its Indigenous communities?
#MERCOSUR #COP30
November 12, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Joined colleagues and stakeholders today to exchange views with Commissioner Roswall. I urged stronger EU commitment to Nature Restoration — we need dedicated funding, not further erosion of standards.
The State must shift its focus from defending derogations to delivering solutions on the ground.
The State must shift its focus from defending derogations to delivering solutions on the ground.
November 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Joined colleagues and stakeholders today to exchange views with Commissioner Roswall. I urged stronger EU commitment to Nature Restoration — we need dedicated funding, not further erosion of standards.
The State must shift its focus from defending derogations to delivering solutions on the ground.
The State must shift its focus from defending derogations to delivering solutions on the ground.
Infamous, ambitious, influential — Oostvaardersplassen shows that large-scale nature restoration is possible, even in NW Europe. If the Netherlands, with its high population density can restore nature at scale, there’s no reason other EU Member States can’t do the same.
November 6, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Infamous, ambitious, influential — Oostvaardersplassen shows that large-scale nature restoration is possible, even in NW Europe. If the Netherlands, with its high population density can restore nature at scale, there’s no reason other EU Member States can’t do the same.
Old traditions in a modern multicultural society. How nice is that?
October 31, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Old traditions in a modern multicultural society. How nice is that?
Lots of thought provoking contributions, this one from the @bfcdublin.bsky.social especially. How do we address the consequences of the 'Cheap Food Model' during a 'Cost of Living Crisis' - rebuilding community wealth with co-ops as the vehicle.
October 30, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Lots of thought provoking contributions, this one from the @bfcdublin.bsky.social especially. How do we address the consequences of the 'Cheap Food Model' during a 'Cost of Living Crisis' - rebuilding community wealth with co-ops as the vehicle.
A great day of inspirational speakers and community building at the Feeding Ourselves Local Food Symposium
#FoodJustice
#FoodJustice
October 30, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A great day of inspirational speakers and community building at the Feeding Ourselves Local Food Symposium
#FoodJustice
#FoodJustice
A packed house in Trinity College for the Local Food Symposium. Led at the outset by farmers from all around the country.
October 30, 2025 at 2:27 PM
A packed house in Trinity College for the Local Food Symposium. Led at the outset by farmers from all around the country.
It was great to participate in tonight’s Community Conversation on Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan in Newtown Mount Kennedy.
Wicklow has great potential for nature restoration and communities that want to make it happen #RestoreNature
www.restorenature.ie/get-involved
Wicklow has great potential for nature restoration and communities that want to make it happen #RestoreNature
www.restorenature.ie/get-involved
October 28, 2025 at 9:35 PM
It was great to participate in tonight’s Community Conversation on Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan in Newtown Mount Kennedy.
Wicklow has great potential for nature restoration and communities that want to make it happen #RestoreNature
www.restorenature.ie/get-involved
Wicklow has great potential for nature restoration and communities that want to make it happen #RestoreNature
www.restorenature.ie/get-involved
Congratulations to @catherinegalway.bsky.social! I know that she will represent Ireland with compassion and integrity. A special thanks to Michael D. Higgins for his inspirational leadership, he represents the very best of Ireland ☘️
October 25, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Congratulations to @catherinegalway.bsky.social! I know that she will represent Ireland with compassion and integrity. A special thanks to Michael D. Higgins for his inspirational leadership, he represents the very best of Ireland ☘️
Very interesting to see. They are one of the more famous Lusitanian species in Ireland. I came across a lot of them recently in the Oak forests of Gêres in Northern Portugal.
October 25, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Very interesting to see. They are one of the more famous Lusitanian species in Ireland. I came across a lot of them recently in the Oak forests of Gêres in Northern Portugal.
I'm seeing Arbutus / Strawberry Tree being used much more in landscaping. When we have native plants like this why opt for non-natives.
October 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM
I'm seeing Arbutus / Strawberry Tree being used much more in landscaping. When we have native plants like this why opt for non-natives.
"It isn't the wolf that makes people stop (farming), but the wolf is so emotional. People don't blame the EU or the war. They blame the wolf." Lone Wolf (2025).
October 21, 2025 at 9:03 PM
"It isn't the wolf that makes people stop (farming), but the wolf is so emotional. People don't blame the EU or the war. They blame the wolf." Lone Wolf (2025).
Strong consensus today amoung stakeholders: the elevation limit blocking native woodland restoration in our uplands has to go.
Commercial forestry criteria should never hold back nature restoration. Time to fix this legacy issue in the forestry programme mid-term review #RestoreNature
Commercial forestry criteria should never hold back nature restoration. Time to fix this legacy issue in the forestry programme mid-term review #RestoreNature
October 16, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Strong consensus today amoung stakeholders: the elevation limit blocking native woodland restoration in our uplands has to go.
Commercial forestry criteria should never hold back nature restoration. Time to fix this legacy issue in the forestry programme mid-term review #RestoreNature
Commercial forestry criteria should never hold back nature restoration. Time to fix this legacy issue in the forestry programme mid-term review #RestoreNature
The Commission can't standover what they are doing to environmental protection under the trojan horse of simplification. Decades of progress is being undone.
October 2, 2025 at 5:41 PM
The Commission can't standover what they are doing to environmental protection under the trojan horse of simplification. Decades of progress is being undone.