In January 1979, when Eoin Warner was two years old, an oil tanker exploded in Bantry Bay. Among the fifty lives lost was Eoin’s father. This devastating event cast a long shadow, shaping a childhood in which grief was a quiet presence at the table and in the empty front seat of the car. During this time, Eoin discovered how the natural world reflects so much of our human story, and it became his refuge. This memoir is not a straight line through loss; it’s a series of vivid encounters with the natural world, brimming with enchantment and wonder. A seal nursing her pup on a moonlit Blasket beach, an otter gliding through a West Cork river, a fox entering Eoin’s home uninvited; each moment is layered with memory, folklore and the author’s lifelong curiosity for the wild. In this beautifully written book, Eoin explores the gifts that nature gives us when everything else falls away – patience, solace and a sense of belonging. Naturalist Eoin Warner is a wildlife documentary presenter in both the Irish and English languages and has presented some of Ireland’s foremost nature documentaries in recent years. He was awarded two national media prizes for his work on Éire Fhiáin (Wild Ireland), along with several international accolades for the three-part series Ireland’s Wild Islands. He has co-presented the English language documentary A Wild Irish Year and recently completed Wild Conamara, a documentary about the wildlife in his local area. Among Eoin’s other Irish-language works are An Cuan, which is focused on the biosphere reserve of Dublin Bay, Iontais na Bhfarraigí Ceilteacha, exploring the wonders of the Celtic Sea; and Oileán Glas, Fásach Bán, which covers his beloved Burren. Eoin is currently working on a natural history documentary on the Burren.