Poet Seán Lysaght explores the Wild Nephin area of north Mayo.

First broadcast: 22 May 2022, RTÉ lyric fm; re-broadcast 7 Jan 2023, RTÉ lyric fm.

Listen back here or download as a Lyric Feature podcast.

Re-broadcast (shortened version): Sunday 4th August 2024, RTÉ Radio 1, 7 pm

Limerick-born poet Seán Lysaght has lived for many years in Mayo. In this programme, he explores the landscape, nature and history of north Mayo in poetry and in conversation with friends and colleagues who all have a deep relationship with this remote and beautiful part of Ireland.

He visits the Marine Institute to hear from zoologist Elvira de Eyto about the Institute’s research into fish migration, meets up with friend and fellow fisherman Chris Huxley, hears stories of the past from Michael Chambers, Head guide at Wild Nephin National Park, who has made a remarkable discovery linked to some of the earliest inhabitants of Mayo, and Georgia MacMillan, Mayo Dark Sky Park Development Officer, shares her fascination with the night sky.

Throughout the programme, Seán reads poems inspired by Mayo which he has written over the years. His most recent poetry collection, New Leaf, was published in May 2021 by The Gallery Press, and his prose book Wild Nephin was in 2020 by Stonechat Editions.

The producer is Claire Cunningham, and Wild Nephin is a Rockfinch production for RTÉ lyric fm. Sound supervision was by Tinpot Productions.

The programme was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from the Television Licence Fee and the producer for RTÉ lyric fm was Eoin O’Kelly.