Ours to Protect

Ours to Protect in association with the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland

Ours To Protect is broadcast every Monday at 1.40pm on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio.

It is a unique and exciting audio project - a collaboration of local and regional broadcasters from across the country who have come together to tackle climate change, champion climate action, and inform and educate audiences all over Ireland about how they can make a difference.

Led by the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, ‘Ours to Protect’ will see 23 local and regional radio stations broadcast over 1,200 new and unique programmes over a year - all devoted to climate change and climate action. Programmes will air from the 5th of June 2023 and run until the end of May 2024.

Take The Survey

We want to get your input on our programme and the content that you’d like to hear on Ours To Protect over the next 12 months. Click here to take the survey

For more see: www.ourstoprotect.ie

Measure What You Treasure

Humans use as much ecological resources as if we lived on 1.75 Earths. The Ecological Footprint is the only metric that compares the resource demand of individuals, governments, and businesses against Earth's capacity for biological regeneration.

Calculate your Ecological Footprint and personal Overshoot Day, click below:

Ours to Protect Tech Special with Ruth Scott at 8.30pm on Thursday 8th June

A 30-minute special Hosted by Ruth Scott and presented by Head of News, Daniel Pitcher with special guests, Traic Ó Braonáin (Ours to Protect Correspondent – Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio), Pádraig Power, Senior Marketing Manager: Global Operations and Ireland for Refurbed and Leo Donovan. CEO at WEEE Ireland.

A panel discussion around the state of technology recycling in Ireland and the reluctance of many to dispose of their old laptops, computers, smartphones and tablets due to security concerns.

Plus special recorded interviews with Irish people in the community who are doing their bit to make changes in their family lives to help fight climate change.

Listen back to the show here...

Ours to Protect is funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.

This project is a partnership between Ireland's Classic Hits Radio and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland.

Check out Ours To Protect for more information.

Episode 1: The Importence Of Bio Of Bees For Bio-Diversity

This week's episode looks at the importance of Bees for Bio-Diversity.

Tune into Ireland's Classic Hits to find out about bees, their importence to the world, along with how you can do your bit to prevent the decline of the bee population.

Check out the episode here...

Find out more about bees here.

Episode 2: The Importence Of Locally Grown Flowers Vs Imported Bouquets

On this week's episode, we explore the importance of locally grown flowers versus imported bouquets.

Click on the episode below to learn about the carbon front-print of a bouquet of imported flowers, compared to locally purchased flowers.

You can also find out how you can even do your bit to cut down your own carbon frontprint when purchasing flowers.

Check out this week's episode below.

You can also find out more information here.

Episode 3: Adding Biodiversity To Your Garden

On this week's episode of Ours To Protect right here on Classic Hits, we look at how you can get so much more from an eco-friendly garden.

Find out how you can add biodiversity into your garden, make it more creature friendly, including birds, butterflies, bees and more.

You can even discover how to make habitats from dry stone walls, which can even form their own micro-habitats for nature.

Check out the episode in full below.

Find out more here.

Episode 4: The Emergence Of Refill Shops Around The Country

On today's episode of 'Ours To Protect on Ireland's Classic Hits, we spoke to Eibhlin Fitzpatrick, who speaks aboout the importence of refill shops, and why you should avail of using such shops.

Check out the episode in full below.

You can also find out more information on Refill Shops in general here.

Episode 5: How To Improve Energy Efficiency In The Home

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, we spoke to Tony Palmer on how to improve insulation in your home.

We also gained an insight into the thought process for turning a 1970s style bungalow, into an A1 rated or BER (Energy Building Rating) home, which also improves the house's value, as well as energy efficiency.

Check out this week's episode below.

Find out more information here.

Episode 6: How We Can Cut Down On Household Waste

On this week's episode of Ours To Protect', we caught up with Pádraig Ó Máirtín who spoke about how a quick change of attitude to waste, has meant that his family of six are not liable for paying for the household bin collection.

Through some very simple steps, you can manage your household waste too.

Find out more below.

Check out more useful tips here.

Episode 7: The Green Flag For Schools Award

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect', Traic speaks to school teacher James Lowry about the Green Flag For Schools Award, and how it has been a great green success story.

Find out more below.

Episode 8: How To Cut Down On Our Use Of Plastics In The Home

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect', Traic once again spoke to Eibhlin Fitzpatrick on ways in which we can cut down on the use of plastics in our home.

Check out the chat below.

Episode 9: How To Cut Down On Use Of Harmful Pesticides & Herbicides In The Garden

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect', Traic had a chat with Ollie Greene from Betterplants.ie, to find out how to cut down on the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides in the garden.

He spoke about the benefits of using fully organic products on your garden's soil.

Find out more below.

Find out even more info here.

Episode 10: Investing In Electric Cars

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect', electric car owner Tony Palmer had a chat with Traic to discuss the idea of investing in electric cars.

Are they worth the investment? Find out below.

Find out more information here.

Episode 11: Home Composting

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to Pádraig Ó'Máirtín about all things home composting.

Find out how he started his own home composting from scratch and more below.

Find out even more information here.

Episode 12: Organic Farming

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic had a chat with Diana Pickersgill, who runs a certified organic farm in the midlands.

The term 'organic' is a term which is appearing more and more regularly in our shopping experience over the last number of years, especially in supermarkets or local farmers markets.

Traic spoke to Diana Pickersgill who runs the farm with her daughters, about what organic farming involves.

Check it out and more below.

You can check out more information here.

Episode 13: Karst Landscape Of South Roscommon

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to Liam Kildea of the Karst Farming Group, to chat about the unique karst landscape of South Roscommon.

Kildea spoke to Traic about the background of the area, along with what exactly a karst region is.

Find out more below.

Find out more on this here.

Episode 14: We Chat To The Green Kids

This week on 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic had a chat with the Green Kids Neansaí and Brian, who are taking part in the Green Flag project, promoted in schools across Ireland.

The children are part of a new generation, who are learning about the impact of climate change, and providing a healthier planet for us and for future generations.

On this episode, Traic had a chat with Neansaí and Brian on their views on pollution and preserving nature.

Check it out below.

Find out more information on the subject here.

Episode 15: The Benefits Of Using Cloth Nappies

In the first of a two part episode, on 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to Kate Doyle who is the Chair of Cloth Nappy Library Ireland, to find out about why so many parents with babies are reverting back to cloth when it comes to using nappies.

Find out more below.

You can also find out more information here.

Episode 16: The Benefits Of Using Cloth Nappies Part II

In the second part of this episode on the benefits of using cloth nappies, Traic once again chatted with Kate Doyle on the resources which are available to families who are keen to make the switch.

Find out more below.

You can also find out more information here.

Episode 17: The Benefits Of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to Thomas Flynn of Flynn's in Mullingar, to discuss the benefits of using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil as a cleaner fuel alternative.

HVO is something that is being used and sold right across the country to great effect.

Find out more below.

You can find out more information on this here.

Episode 18: Climate Anxiety

On this latest episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to Ciaran Byrne from the SEAI about his own personal experiences of climate anxiety.

There is an understandable increase in the use of this term, given the amount of changes we are witnessing to both the climate and the environment.

Check out Traic's chat with Ciaran below.

You can find out more information on Climate Anxiety here.

Episode 19: Packaging Waste

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect on Ireland's Classic Hits, we focussed on packaging waste, and how consumers can cut down on this in their weekly shop.

According to recent reports, Ireland has become the biggest producer of plastic packaging per head of population in the EU.

This week, Traic had chat with Eibhlin Fitzpatrick of the Refill Mill to discuss steps that we can take to cut down on our shopping waste.

Check out this chat below.

You can find more information on this here.

Episode 20: Halloween

On this week's edition of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, we focussed on all things Halloween, and how we can make the festival, that little bit more environmentally friendly.

This week, Traic chatted to the Green Kids about their plans for this year's celebrations.

He also spoke to sustainability expert Eibhlin Fitzpatrick from the Refill Mill to speak about Halloween, about how we can make it a safer ritual from an environmental perspective.

Check that out below.

Check out more information here.

Episode 21: Sustainable Clothing

For this episode, Traic had a chat with Peter Timlin, co-founder of pureclothing.ie.

Timlin spoke to Traic about all things sustainable clothing, and how it can help in a world of one click purchases, short term wear and subsequent disposable landfills can have a damaging impact.

Pureclothing.ie is a website which provides stylish on trend clothing products made from eco-friendly material and sustainable clothing supply chain.

Listen to more below.

Find out more information on this here. .

Episode 22: Second Hand Clothes

This latest episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, we looked at the second hand clothing market, and the advantages of wearing quality rarely used costumes.

The textile industry has become the second largest contributor to world pollution, as it is energy demanding, and pollutant intensive.

We also found out how many people have acquired second hand clothes in the last few years,

Episode 23: Mircrogreens

This week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to Ollie Greene of Betterplants.ie about all things microgreens.

Microgreens are essentially little greens which grow from various vegetables, plants and seeds.

Greene spoke to Traic about how you can easily produce these greens on your own kitchen table, and add them to your everyday meals.

Check this out and more below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 24: Winter Gardening

This week's edition of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, saw Traic had a chat with Anna Browne of Big Sky Flowers to talk about what the idea of gardening during the Winter.

We found out what sort of gardening should be done during the Winter months, and how to prepare your soil for a better Spring and Summer.

Have a listen to this chat below.

Find out more information on this topic here.

Episode 25: Ecoshack Refill Store

This episode of 'Ours To Protect', on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic had a chat with Bláithín McCormick, owner of the Ecoshack Refill Store in Cavan Town.

Traic spoke to Bláithín about shopping for more sustainable gifts for Christmas. Bláithín who owns this shop with her sister, spoke to Traic about how this shop came about.

Check it out below.

Find out even more information here.

Episode 26: A Sustainable Christmas

This week's 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to sustainability expert Éibhlin Fitzpatrick, on ways of enjoying a more sustainable Christmas.

With the increase in commercialism which comes with this holiday, this can lead to an increase in waste which gets generated.

Find out how you can cut down generating waste, and enjoy a more sustainable Christmas below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 27: Energy Efficient Home Heating Systems

This latest episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, saw Traic speak to Ciaran Byrne of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, who offered advice to the public for those of us seeking to upgrade to a more energy efficient heating system.

Find out what recommendations Mr Byrne made below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 28: Energy Efficient Home Heating Systems (Part 2)

For the second of this two part episode on 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic once again chatted to Ciaran Byrne on the advantages of a heat pump, as well as what grants are available to the public.

Check this out for yourselves below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 29: Domestic Recycling

On this week's edition of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to sustainability expert and bestselling author Anne Griffin about the steps that we can take to improve our domestic recycling.

Check this chat out below.

You can find out more information on this topic here.

Episode 30: Household Upholstery

On this edition of 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits, we looked at the benefits of household upholstery, We looked at how you could begin to set about upskilling to upcycle your furniture.

To find out more on this, Traic spoke to Claire Delabre from the Handmade Design Studio in Mullingar, one of many workshops available around Ireland.

Check out this chat below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 31: Bubble Wrap

On this episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits, Traic spoke to Peter Gregory who is the Managing Director of Green Bubble, a company set up to help combat the annual waste which can arise from bubble wrapping paper.

While it can be useful for packaging a wide range of products, 240,000 miles of bubble wrap is produced in Ireland every year, which can create a huge annual waste.

That is where Green Bubble comes in, and their MD spoke to Traic about the company, and how it came about.

Check out that chat below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 32: Pesticides

This week's edition of 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits, We looked into how local county councillors are cutting back on their use of pesticides.

In 2023, Westmeath County Council adopted the policy of a rational use of pesticides, in order to cut back on their use of them when clearing out green areas.

Central to this was local Green Party Councillor Hazel Smyth, who spoke to Traic about the impact of this policy.

Check that out below.

Find out more information on this topic here.

Episode 33: Solar Panels

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, we looked at solar panels and the advantage of installing them in your home, where Traic spoke to Tony Palmer about what he feels about them as an investment.

Palmer rebuilt his own home, to make it an efficient A1 BER rate house.

Check out that chat below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 34: Conscious Consumerism

On this episode of Ours To Protect here on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, Traic spoke to Lorna Anne Tierney of The Earthy Marketplace, to discuss all things conscious consumerism, and what is involved in it.

Check out this chat below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 35: Grow Your Own In 24!

On this week's edition of 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, we will be looking at growing your own vegetables.

This week saw Traic speak to Ollie Greene from Betterplants.ie on the best ways of growing vegetables in your own garden, and what is the best way to get started for beginners.

Check out this chat below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 36: Electric Cars

This latest episode of 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, our very own reporter Eoin Glackin met up with Patrick Comerford of Windsor Motors in Raheny, Co Dublin to find out about electric cars, and the experience of driving one.

Check out this chat below.

Find out more information about electric cars here.

Episode 37: Grow Your Own In 24! (Part II)

In the second of our three part feature on Grown Your Own In 24! on 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, we focussed on planning for the space available in your garden to be able to get the most out of it.

To do this, Traic once again spoke to Ollie Greene of Betterplants.ie, to explore the options available to a back garden of a semi-detached house.

Check out this chat below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 38: Community Wetlands

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, we focused on the Community Wetlands Forum.

This society was set up in order to support the protection, management and wise use of Ireland's wetland for sustainable communities.

To find out more about them, Traic spoke to Micheál Callaghan, the development officer.

Check out that chat below

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 39: Grow Your Own In 24! (Part III)

On this latest episode of 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, we have the third instalment of our three part feature of 'Grow Your Own In 24!'.

Previously, we looked at the best way for beginners can make a start in growing their own vegetable, and how to make the most out of your garden space.

Once again, Traic chatted to Ollie Greene from Betterplants.ie to discuss what options are available to a vegetable growing enthusiast.

Check out this chat below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 40: Rediscover Cycling

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect', on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, Traic spoke to Mark Dunne the Programme Manager of the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun, co Dublin.

This centre takes bicycles which have been donated to recycle centres for reuse, before rebuilding them back to road worthy status, selling them at a reduced price.

The parts of those bikes that cannot be repaired, are used to repair other bicycles, as art pieces, or musical instruments.

Find out more about this centre in this chat below.

Check out more information on this here.

Episode 41: Eco Cleaning

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, we looked at eco-cleaning, and buying cleaning products which help the environment, people and the natural world.

On this week's edition, Traic spoke to sustainability expert Eibhlin Fitzpatrick of the Refill Mill, on how we can clean using more environmentally friendly products.

Check out this chat below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 42: Peatlands

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, we looked at environmental photography, as Traic spoke to photographer Tina Claffey on how she became involved in taking photos of peatlands, looking at peatlands from a completely different perspective.

Check out this chat below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 43: Environmental Workshops

On this week's episode of 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, we focused on Ballymun's Rediscovery Centre in Dublin and the workshops that are offered for schools and youth groups.

To do this, Traic spoke to Claire Downey, the centre's policy and research director to find out more.

Check out this chat below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 44: Pre Loved Clothing

On this edition of 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, Traic spoke to Jennifer Thornton from Offset Fashion about how they provide clothing options which reduce waste, exceed the life span of garments as well as making sustainable fashion much more accessible to everyone.

We also find out how AI can make fitting more accurate.

Check out this chat below.

Find out more information on this here.

Episode 45: Planet v Plastics

On this latest episode of 'Ours To Protect' here on Ireland's Classic Hits Radio, we marked World Earth Day with the theme 'Planet v Plastics'.

We looked at our relationship with plastics and the damage that they can do to our planet. To do this, Traic spoke to Rossa Cassidy from the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun, Dublin to find out more.

Check out this chat below.

Find out more information on this here.