Walking through Ballyannan Woods recently, I was stopped in my tracks by a sound that felt oddly out of place. A Sounds Ireland Forgot, or Perhaps Never KnewAsk whether woodpeckers are native to Ireland and you’ll often get a confident answer, no. Unlike the UK and continental Europe, where multiple woodpecker species have long been part of everyday woodland life, Ireland lacked them within living memory. They don’t tell us how widespread woodpeckers were, or how long they persisted. Why Woodpeckers MatterWhether woodpeckers were once widespread in Ireland or only marginally present, their current role is clear.

Source: Irish Examiner February 27, 2026 06:04 UTC