Influenza A viruses (IAV) infect diverse avian and mammalian hosts, and several wildlife species have been implicated internationally as potential reservoirs or spillover hosts. This study investigated whether evidence of IAV infection or prior exposure could be detected in comparable at-risk wildlife populations in Ireland and evaluated Nobuto filter paper (NFP) as an alternative matrix for serological surveillance. Between 2020 and 2026, 1,805 animals representing 17 species categories were sampled. Serological screening was performed on 771 animals using an IAV nucleoprotein-blocking ELISA, with H5-specific confirmatory testing. Molecular screening comprised 3,313 samples from 1,174 animals tested by matrix-gene RT-qPCR. IAV antibodies were detected in eight red foxes (8/48; 16.7%) and one Eurasian badger (1/387; 0.26%). Six foxes and the badger had H5-specific antibodies, while two foxes were untyped. All seropositive animals with detailed location data were coastal. Four seropositive foxes sampled in January and February 2025 formed a spatial cluster, with three located within 1.54 ha and a fourth 1.33 km away across a waterway, indicating localised exposure across two consecutive months. No samples were RT-qPCR-positive. Among 108 paired serum and NFP samples, agreement for ELISA classification was 98.7% (κ=0.847). These findings demonstrate prior IAV exposure in Irish wildlife despite the absence of detectable active infection. National surveillance should include at-risk species, particularly foxes, and incorporate serology alongside molecular screening. These results will inform further targeted surveillance and ecological risk analysis in Ireland.