The Seán Chorus
The Seán Chorus, hosted by Cork-born ornithologist and wildlife sound recordist Seán Ronayne, immerses listeners in the sounds of the natural world. Following a five-year mission to record every bird species in Ireland, Seán has amassed a vast archive of over 40,000 recordings, from seals to leafhoppers. The podcast blends unscripted field audio, studio reflections, and conversations with nature lovers, offering a calming escape from daily life. It is part of the HeadStuff Podcasts network, with bonus content available through HeadStuff+.
Episodes
The Sounds of Autumn
This episode is a celebration of autumn bird migration — the great movements of birds that arrive on Irish shores each year from Scandinavia, Siberia, and beyond.
With field recordings of yellow-browed warblers, redwings, fieldfares, ring ouzels, and mixed flocks of chaffinches, goldfinches, bramblings, redpolls and siskins visibly migrating over East Cork. Plus the nasal calls of bramblings ar
Barefoot in East Cork
Originally recorded Summer 2026
This very special episode is an immersive field audio essay, recorded live in two of Sean's favourite local spots in East Cork — a rewilding quarry he has known since childhood and the Knockadoon peninsula.
With on-site recordings of sand martins, stock doves, blackcaps, chiffchaffs and swallows, a remarkable discovery of breeding tufted ducks, the tumbling di
The Sounds of Summer
Originally recorded June 2026
This episode of The Sean Chorus podcast is an immersive celebration of the sounds of the Irish summer, from birdsong and buzzing insects to coastal wildlife.
With more recordings from Ireland and beyond, including owls, wrens, golden orioles, guillemots, a minke whale and the rare Roussel’s bush cricket, as well as the often-maligned ragwort and the wildlife it
A Tribute to Manchán Magan
This episode of The Sean Chorus podcast is Sean Ronayne's personal tribute to his friend and mentor Manchán Magan, the acclaimed Irish author and broadcaster who died last October at age 55.
Sean traveled to the Hill of Uisneach, the ancient mythological "navel of Ireland" - where Manchán's ashes were scattered. He spent a night recording birdsong and folklore-rich wildlife (blackbirds, chaffinch
The Sound of a New Home
This week on The Seán Chorus, Seán Ronayne provides a small update along with more sounds and moments that have made his new home feel familiar.From the call of the curlew echoing through the balcony door, to capturing the hum of bees and grasshoppers in a wildflower meadow, Seán reflects on more memories and his connection to the natural world. Explore the return of Mediterranean gulls to Cork Ha
An Introduction: Becoming "Nature Boy"
Welcome to the very first episode of The Seán Chorus!
This week, our host Seán Ronayne introduces himself and shares the deeply personal journey that shaped his life and career.
From childhood memories and surviving a life threatening illness to collecting over 30,000 nature recordings, Seán reflects on his lifelong bond with the natural world. The episode is packed with wild soundscapes and s
The Seán Chorus is Coming Soon!
Episode one of The Seán Chorus is out Thursday the 27th of August!
Hosted by Cork-born ornithologist and wildlife sound recordist Seán Ronayne, The Seán Chorus brings the beauty of the natural world directly to your ears.
Following a five-year journey to record all of Ireland's birds, Seán has built an extraordinary archive of over 40,000 recordings. From farting seals to vibrating leafhoppers,
