In this episode of Life & Depth, Ryan sits down with writer, ecologist, and indigenous-Irish thinker Lorcan to explore what our hills, rivers, and old stories remember, and what has been lost over time.

Lorcan led the reintroduction of golden eagles to Glenveagh National Park and has spent decades working across wildlife, archaeology, myth, and the Irish language.

He shares how the landscape can be understood as something alive, how older beliefs were grounded in nature and being, and how knowledge began to fade as species, language, and traditions were suppressed.

What We Talk About

• How far back human presence on the island may go
• What changes when land is viewed as something to belong to rather than something to own
• How earlier cultures understood connection between people, water, food, and other species
• The impact of losing language, manuscripts, and traditional knowledge
• The role of myth, archaeology, and ecology in understanding identity
• Perspectives on belief systems, literacy, and historical narratives

Wider Conversation

The discussion moves between history, ecology, and philosophy.

Topics include the framing of “pagan” traditions, the influence of St Patrick and literacy, the age and continuity of Gaelic languages, and how ancient memory may still exist within the landscape itself.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode offers a different way of thinking about identity, place, and connection.

It invites a shift from viewing land as something separate, to understanding it as something we are part of.

If you are interested in indigenous perspectives, ecology, or reconnecting with deeper cultural roots, this conversation provides a grounded and thought-provoking lens.