First swallows arrive in Ireland

ONE SWALLOW may not make a summer – but what about two?

ONE SWALLOW may not make a summer – but what about two?

A couple of our summer visitors have already made it to Ireland after the coldest winter on record.

The first sighting was made on March 12th at Knockadoon Head, in Co Cork, eight days earlier than the first sighting last year in Co Clare on March 20th.

The second official sighting of a swallow was made yesterday morning in Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, according to Declan Murphy of BirdWatch Ireland.

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“St Patrick’s Day has been the traditional time for the arrival of the first swallows from Africa, and we have been expecting them.”

BirdWatch Ireland is monitoring the arrival of migratory birds and is involved in the Spring Alive international event for children.

Children from all over Europe are asked to look or listen for the first swallows, swifts and cuckoos each spring and report them to BirdWatch Ireland.