Main pic: Eoin Warner on a Galway Hooker in a clip from Ireland’s Wild Islands. Image: John Murray.
RTÉ’s Ireland’s Wild Islands has won Best Series at the 2025 International Wildlife Film Festival in the USA, one of the world’s top awards in natural history filmmaking.
First broadcast in 2023, episode two featured the first-ever recording of a corncrake breeding display in Donegal.
The crew visited Malin Head and Tory Island for some breathtaking wildlife events including our most unique residents.
The series followed Corkman, Eoin Warner, as he headed west to Malin Head and Inishtrahull, meeting Basking Sharks and Dolphins en route before witnessing a remarkable breeding display of endangered Corncrakes on Tory island – filmed for the first time in Ireland.
Director John Murray said: “We’re so honoured to win this award up against the very best wildlife films from around the world and it’s especially gratifying with such a personal Irish project. Our islands are very special places and vital sanctuaries for some of our most precious and wonderful wildlife.”
Bren Whelan of Donegal Climbing said it was a pleasure to help the ‘Crossing The Line’ film company secure footage from Inishtrahull, Ireland’s most northerly landfall.
Three years in the making and shot in cinema-quality 4K, Ireland’s Wild Islands followed Eoin as he sailed a stunning 140-year-old Galway Hooker out into the Atlantic to showcase the extraordinary wild magic of Ireland’s western islands.
Ireland’s Wild Islands is available to watch on RTÉ Player.
