SHERKIN COMMENT Issue No. 49 Environmental Quarterly of Sherkin Island Marine Station 2010 Irish Lights – Two Centuries of Service Cocos (Keeling) – Paradise Found What can be learned from recent flooding 25 years of Gaisce – the President’s Awards John Gore-Grimes charts the history of Irish Pete Atkinson visits and photographs some events? John Murphy on the history of the national Lights since its formation. 7 fascinating islands in the Indian Ocean. 10 Brendan Devlin discusses flooding in Ireland. 20 challenge awards for young people. 30 Centre pages: Birds of the Irish Coastline “Gannet with nesting materialial” Photography by Richarichard Millsills 2 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHERKIN COMMENT 2010 Issue No 49 Contents Editorial EDITORIAL: Looking after the planet..............................2 Matt Murphy stresses the need to educate our young people on protecting the environment. Looking after the planet The Antarctic Peninsula............................................3 Oscar Merne’s third and final article on his trip what we have been doing. I role in the planning system and that the rise in water levels, pre- to Antarctica. By Matt Murphy believe even an extra hour a the other projects they are dicted to occur due to climate week on environmental care in organising, with schools and change, will not affect new Climate Change: What Now?..............................................4 WHY is there a belief primary and secondary schools county councils around the housing? On a more practical Alex Kirby gives his views on the climate talks. amongst many people that if the would bring about more long- country. and local level, are farmers tak- big issues are addressed the Greening the Built Environment ............................5 term change than dozens of One cannot mention plan- ing into account the highest environment will be saved? Second in a series of articles from Walter Mugdan. environmental laws introduced ning and education without past flood height on their land This is the great fallacy of the by governments, many of which remembering the massive when storing their bailed Frills & Gills ................................................................6 environmental movement in are just “paper talk”. flooding throughout the country silage? Should they construct a Declan Quigley on Hexanchiform Sharks in Irish general. Every so often we have One of the most essential last winter. Undoubtedly some raised area above the level of nations gathering to strike a and North East Atlantic Waters. educational tools missing in of the flooding could not have the recent floods so that the deal on how to “save the envi- Ireland is a strong national non- been prevented as the continu- fodder is not affected in the Irish Lights - Two Centuries of Service 1810 to 2010 ......7 ronment”. Kyoto was to be the governmental organisation, ous heavy rainfall was future? In view of the rare John Gore-Grimes charts the history of Irish Lights great step forward in tackling that deals with the environment. exceptional and such events are nature of floods such as those since its formation. climate change, yet it failed The two biggest are An Taisce rare. However, could more have that occurred recently, are farm- amid a jungle of words. Copen- Kilmacurragh Arboretum ............................................8 and Birdwatch Ireland but each been done in the past to reduce ers recording, and even hagen was then to be the have only a few thousand mem- the impact and can we do more marking, the height of the The Head Gardener, Seamus O’Brien, on how the definitive way forward - it also bers. The latter membership is in the future? I am not going to recent flood so that this infor- OPW are securing the future of this great garden. failed. Unfortunately the next, solely for people with an inter- dwell on the Cork City flood, as mation is available for future and subsequent meeting of The Role of An Taisce ............................................9 est in birds and although it is the blame game has still not generations living and farming world leaders will end in failure Catherine McMullin highlights the work of the doing magnificent work, it is ended with regard to what in the area? We must learn and because to get consensus, specialised. An Taisce should should have been released at we must not forget! organisation. agreements will be watered have a huge presence through- the Inniscarra Dam. Instead, Climate change or no climate Cocos (Keeling) - Paradise Found..........................10 down. Of course, the PR spin out every county in Ireland but looking at the Gort-Ardrahan change, is not the issue. What is will tell us progress will have Pete Atkinson visits and photographs some unfortunately it doesn’t. In fact area in Co. Galway, there were vital is that we are good house- been made, but to what extent? fascinating islands in the Indian Ocean. it has little or no presence in recommendations made in the keepers of the planet we have The only way to make real many counties. The general Southern Water Global (1998) inherited. We cannot continue to Timber ..............................................................12 progress and protect the envi- public does not seem to under- and Daly (1992) reports on the destroy so much of what is irre- Daphne Pochin Mould discovers historical records ronment for future generations stand its function in the flooding in the area in 1990, placeable. If we continue to go of timber imports to Cork City. is through educating the masses planning system. They believe 1991 and 1995 and yet new on the way we are, future gener- to become its guardians. Before it objects to some developments housing estates, such as the one ations will have a planet devoid Floods and Fishes......................................................13 the end of this century, without because an individual may have in Ballinasloe, were located in of so much. As the world popu- Dr. Martin O’Grady explains how floods affect input from everyone, the world a NIMBY gripe. An Taisce's areas prone to flooding. Why lation continues to increase, we our freshwater fish. will have decimated much of its activities with schools in recent do we so often ignore recom- will face vast starvation and natural resources, including Focus on Environmental Enforcements in Ireland ..14 years, including the Green and mendations such as these? Why wars between nations over groundwater, oil, iron ore and the Blue Flag schemes, have done does our innate ‘common water rights. Education is the Cormac MacGearailt outlines the findings of the rainforest – to name but a few. much to raise the organisation’s sense’ not apply in these cir- only way forward. Of course, it 2006-2008 report. The real way to change peo- profile in a positive way. How- cumstances – perhaps once will be a near-impossible moun- Birds of the Irish Coastline ........................15/16/17 ple’s attitude to the environment ever much more needs to be again it is because our knowl- tain to climb but we must begin. can best be achieved by educat- Richard Mills and Jo Kerrigan highlight the rich done for people to regard it as a edge and awareness of planning Today’s young must be given ing the young, as it is they who positive, national organisation - and environmental issues have the ability to lead the way but and diverse birdlife around our coast. will introduce their parents to for people to see that it has not been developed by our edu- first they must be guided The New EPA Code of Practice for On-Site conservation. Even more impor- everyone’s interest at heart. In cational system. After the through education. Wastewater Treatment & Disposal Systems ..........18 tantly, when they reach this issue of Sherkin Comment recent flooding throughout the adulthood, they will bring san- Margaret Keegan outlines new codes of practice. I have asked Ms. Catherine country, will local authorities ity to governments, as their Matt Murphy, Sherkin Island McMullin the dedicated volun- ensure that houses are only Marine Station, Sherkin Revealing Cork’s Rich Heritage of Wild Flowers......19 priority will be the protection of tary member from the Kerry located at levels sufficiently John Akeroyd reviews Tony O’Mahony’s new book. the environment. Many will say branch to outline An Taisce’s high above the recent floods so Island, Co. Cork. I am naive to think such aware- What can be learned from recent flooding events? ..20 ness is achievable. One must Brendan Devlin discusses flooding in Ireland. remember what has already Birdlife on the Scottish Solway Coast....................22 been achieved in Ireland to date, SUBSCRIPTION FORM where each child is provided Anthony Toole on the richness of birdlife along with a primary and secondary SHERKIN COMMENT is a quarterly publication of Sherkin Island Marine Station parts of the Scottish coastline. education. Thankfully in recent aiming to promote the awareness of our natural resources, their use and protection. Recycling of Waste Fishing Nets ............................23 years more emphasis has been SUBSCRIPTION: to receive a year’s subscription to “Sherkin Comment”, please Highlighting an important initiative from BIM. placed on educating children send a cheque or money order for €7.00 for Ireland and £6.50stg for the U.K. about the environment, and it (sterling cheques accepted from UK); send €11.00 for Europe and the rest of the Publications of Interest..........................................24 has now been integrated into the Irish Seaweed Kitchen............................................25 curriculum. However, I feel that world (surface postage) – payable to Sherkin Comment, Sherkin Island Marine Prannie Rhatigan introduces us to the culinary even more emphasis needs to be Station, Sherkin Island, Co. Cork. Ireland. Tel: 028–20187 uses of seaweed. put on the environment in Fax: 028–20407 Email: [email protected] schools and that education on Captain Cockle ......................................................26 the environment should nearly Please send a 1 year subscription – beginning with Issue No.