The celestial surrounds of Muckross Abbey, along with the 6th century monasteries of Innisfallen Island and Skellig Michael, will provide the perfect amphitheatre to this years' ‘Dawn Chorus’.

It will be presented by the Conservation Rangers of Killarney National Park, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) on Saturday May 6, with the live stream beginning at 5am on Killarney National Parks Facebook page.

The cloisters of Muckross Abbey, where it will be live-streamed, with its centre piece 500-year-old Yew tree, will come alive with bird song, just before 5am - 30 minutes either side of the sunrise in May.

The territorial call begins with a song of a robin, followed by the soft tones of the blackbird, then song thrushes, wood pigeons, wrens, warblers, sparrows, and finches. This years' Dawn Chorus is led by Regional Manager Southern Division NPWS, Eamonn Meskell, Regional Manager Killarney National Park, Danny O’Keeffe, and Conservation Rangers Mary Sheehan, Padruig (Brac) O’Sullivan, Sam Bayley, Jess Burkitt, Sean Forde and Tricia Beecher.

The live stream event will include bird expert Sam Bayley, identifying bird song of Skellig Michael - the popular puffin, kittiwakes, gannets and razorbills. Sean Forde and Jess Burkitt will identify bird song on Innisfallen Island. In addition to the bird song, live music will be performed by Derry and Rosie Healy and renowned accordion player Bryan O’Leary. INEC expert audio technicians Kieran Somers and Denis Lovett, will have installed microphones and audio equipment in various locations ready for the live stream.

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase our work as Conservation Rangers, choosing the ecclesiastical sites of Innisfallen Island, Muckross Abbey and UNESCO Heritage site of Skellig Michael to record and live stream the bird song is a privilege," Mary Sheehan, District Conservation Officer NPWS, said.

"It serves as a reminder of how the monks lived their lives in silence and in song - devoted to God and to nature. We encourage people to pop in their earphones and listen to the bird song while walking ‘Darkness Into Light’ on Saturday morning.”