OYSTERCATCHER - HAEMATOPUS OSTRALEGUS

The OYSTERCATCHER. Its name in the Irish Language is ‘Roilleach’.  The Latin name is ‘HAEMATOPUS OSTRALEGUS’. Although one would consider this bird to be very popular to hear and see along the coastline, it is in fact a RED LISTED bird in Ireland and is a near threatened bird GLOBALLY! Legend has the bird associated with St. Brigid. While fleeing from her persecutors St.Brigid collapsed on the seashore. Seeing her in distress, oystercatchers covered her and kept her hidden from view. In thanks, she blessed them and gave them the sign of the cross. She is often depicted with an Oystercatcher in her hand. Listen to more info, anecdotes and meanderings from Garrett while he imagines looking at this lovely bird from THE HIDE SCULPTURE.

HIDE FM is a Per Cent for Art commission by Fingal County Council.

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What is HIDE FM?

HIDE FM - Podcast is a work of art by artist Garrett Phelan. It takes the form of 28 imagined and performed monologues on 28 birds that are visitors to the Rogerstown Estuary, Lusk, North County Dublin, Ireland. They were performed by Garrett from October 2023 - January 2024 in Millbrook Studios, Rathfarnham, Dublin. They were originally transmitted via an independent radio station HIDE FM during Spring 2025. The podcast is a sensitive exploration of the Fragility of our ecosystem. Garrett explores the status, sound, diet, breeding patterns, movement and folklore of each bird type, with ‘sonic interruptions’ interspersed into the podcasts. They were performed and created to depict viewing birds during the seasons of Autumn/Winter/Early Spring at the location of THE HIDE SCULPTURE, Lusk, Co.Dublin. 12 of the 28 birds he features are on the endangered RED list. 10 of the birds are on the endangered AMBER list and 6 are on the GREEN LIST. The HIDE FM - Podcast IS NOT REAL. It is an ‘IMAGINED, PERFECT’ landscape. Each week we will release a podcast that will focus on one particular bird from the area.

For more information on what we do follow us @thehideproject on Instagram or go to www.thehideproject.com

HIDE FM is a Per Cent for Art Commission by Fingal County Council.

Send all of your questions to [e-mail]