'Nature Boy' Irish ornithologist Seán Ronayne set for Laois theatre

A nationwide tour by an Irish ornithologist, star of award winning television documentary Nature Boy, is coming to Laois.

Laois birdwatching fans can get to meet the inspiring Seán Ronayne and enjoy his riveting show, followed by a Q&A in the Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise this September.

The Cork man is on an extraordinary mission: to record the sound of every bird species in Ireland—nearly 200 in total, before some of them likely become extinct. His journey takes him to some of the island’s most breathtaking and remote landscapes, in search of its rarest and most elusive voices.

He will be visiting Laois this weekend too, as part of the Abbeyleix Bog 25th anniversary festival of events. 

Often accompanied by his wife, Alba, Seán has recorded in the bustling seabird colony of Skellig Michael, a pristine woodland in the Burren, the corncrake stronghold of Tory Island, and the lonely uplands of Donegal. Each destination holds a story—not just of birds, but of belonging, biodiversity, and beauty.

In this sound-rich, illustrative talk, Seán invites audiences to experience Irish birdlife in a profoundly moving and unique way. Blending field recordings with personal stories, he sheds light on his own hypersensitivity to sound—an aspect of his life that has brought both deep challenges and unexpected gifts.

Read also: Line-up of the busy final weekend of the annual Laois Walks Festival this July

At once inspiring and cautionary, Seán’s journey illustrates the fragile brilliance of Ireland’s natural soundscape, and the powerful ways in which listening can connect us to the world and to ourselves. Expect laughter, expect tears, and expect the unexpected. This is not just a talk—it’s an experience. Not to be missed.

Nature Boy with Seán Ronayne presents: A Journey of Birdsong and Belonging will feature at 7pm in the Dunamaise Arts Centre on Friday, September 5.  Tickets: €18/€16 from dunamaise.ie