Send message to Authors

Paper short abstract

We explore the curlew’s place in Irish folklore and biodiversity decline, linking cultural knowledge, language and ecological loss through the BioCultúr framework.Using co-created graphic literature, we show how oral traditions foster relational, ethical engagement within animal-human relations.

Paper long abstract

This paper examines the intersection of animal-human relations, folklore, and biodiversity loss through the lens of the curlew, a bird species native to Ireland. Drawing on Douglas Hyde’s (Ireland’s first President) philosophy and diaries, alongside the oral verse ‘Paidrín Cumhra’ collected from Biddy Crummy, we adopt an ethnobiological approach that foregrounds cultural expressions of ecological knowledge. Hyde’s work, foundational to Irish folklore studies, illuminates the deep interconnections between language, culture, and the natural world, providing a rich framework for understanding how human and non-human lives are entwined. Guided by a relational pedagogy of love, our approach emphasises empathy, connection, and ethical responsibility in learning, reflecting an emotional as well as intellectual engagement with biodiversity and within animal-human relations. Central to this paper is the co-creation of graphic literature in the form of a comic titled ‘Answering the Curlew’s Call’ which narratively and visually connects the curlew with Irish folklore, making the links between ecological decline and cultural loss tangible and accessible. This work situates biodiversity, language, heritage and animal-human relations within our BioCultúr framework, highlighting how restoring cultural knowledge and ecological awareness are mutually reinforcing. By integrating storytelling, art, and scholarship, we illuminate new pathways for fostering ethical, culturally grounded environmental engagement using folklore and animal-human relations at the core.