Whittled Away by Padraic Fogarty

Whittled Away: Ireland’s Vanishing Nature by Pádraic Fogarty is a critical examination of Ireland’s environmental decline, highlighting decades of ecological mismanagement through industrial farming, overfishing, and habitat destruction. The book traces the loss of once-abundant wildlife, from herring shoals to curlew flocks, and critiques systemic failures in conservation policies. Despite this stark assessment, Fogarty outlines hopeful solutions, advocating for sustainable farming, marine restoration, and rewilding initiatives, including the reintroduction of species like wolves and cranes. Combining urgent critique with a vision for ecological renewal, it serves as both a warning and a roadmap for reconciling Ireland’s natural heritage with modern development.