John Feehan

John Feehan has been described by Kevin Myers as 'one of life's great communicators'. Formerly a senior lecturer in the School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine at UCD, John continues to research, write and speak on many facets of Ireland's environmental heritage and history. His work includes the authoritative 'Farming in Ireland: History, Heritage and Environment' (2003), which has been widely acclaimed, and 'The Bogs of Ireland' (1996) with Grace O'Donovan, the definitive text on Ireland's peatlands. John is well known for his television series 'Exploring the Landscape', for which he received a Jacobs Television Award. He is a recipient of the Annual Environmental Merit Award of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, and of a special award from Bord na Mona (the Irish Peat Development Council) for his work in communicating environmental values. John's work is driven by a deep commitment to the maintenance of rural biodiversity and cultural heritage, and the sustaining of rural community.

John has authored 'The Landscape of Slieve Bloom' (1979) on the environmental heritage and history of the Slieve Bloom mountains, and 'Laois: An Enviromental History' (1983). Other recent publications include 'The Wildflowers of Offaly' (2011). His environmental policy work includes the report 'Achievement and Challenge: Rio+10 and Ireland' (2002), co-edited with Professor Frank Convery, and 'The State of the Wild' (2007), a report on the biodiversity of County Offaly contributing to the county's Biodiversity Strategy.

In addition to his works on geology, agriculture and botany, John has also published on the moral and spiritual dimension of biodiversity stewardship. His 'The Singing Heart of the World: Creation, Evolution and Faith' (2010) is published in both Ireland and the United States.

The newly published 'Atlas of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-52' (2012) edited by John Crowley, William J. Smyth and Mike Murphy, includes a chapter by John ('The Potato: Root of the Famine').

Praise for 'The Wildflowers of Offaly':

'A revelation of Offaly's wildflower beauty and diversity by one of Ireland's top ecologists and communicators of nature. His up-close-and-personal portraits give each plant a vivid and distinctive presence, aided by superlative illustrations - another landmark in books about our countryside.' (Michael Viney, 2011)