During the various lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have reported that they can hear birdsong in a way that they have not been able to for some years. This is now being extended in an art installation to daily birdson on Irish Rail stations.

Every morning from 16 November until 29 November, from 8 am to 9 am there will be an hour of birdsong being played on the platforms of Irish Rail’s stations throughout Ireland. According to On Chorus‘s website,

For those essential workers hearing the sounds of birdsong on their early-morning commute, this project is intended as a gesture of thanks and solidarity.

On Chorus

The recordings of birdsong were made along the Royal Canal Way in inner-city Dublin in April 2020 during the first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown when there was unprecedented silence in the country due to people not going out as much.

For those of us who are not commuting at that time, the birdsong can be heard via On Chorus website https://on-chorus.com/.

On Chorus is supported by Iarnród Éireann, in consultation with BirdWatch Ireland. The project is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland’s Covid-19 Crisis Response Award, with additional funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.