Provisional Survey of Areas of Scientific Interest in Co. Galway
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7 The National Institute CONSERVATION AND AMENITY for Physical ADVISOPY SERVICE Planning and Construction Research PROVISIONAL SURVEY OF AREAS OF SCIEI`FTIFIC INTEREST IN C.M . Quinn, Research Officer, An Foras Forhartha. Doccri?h(r, 1971. ° t`s F 2 4. .... St. Martin's House Waterloo Road Dublin 4 J J CONTENTS 7 INTRODUCTION OUTLINE OF REPORT 2. 7 HABITAT TYPES 3. 7 DESCRIPTION OF AREAS WEST GALWAY 5. 7. NORTH EAST GALWAY 18. SOUTH EAST GALWAY 24. IL ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDED PLANNING CONTROLS 28. Ii1 7 SUMMARY CHARTS 31. J J AREAS OF SCIENTIFIC I1v1PORTANCE C G u N TY GALWAY J J J INTROEEUCTION The landscape is a living entity.This fact is realised by too few people. The living landscape of County Galway is unique.Shaped by its varied geology, its boglands, woodlands, lakes, turloughs and coastline are truly alive.Its wealth of wildlife is recognised by scientists as beingof inestimable value.County Galway is set on the west coast of anisland in Western Europa.Favoured by a mild oceanic climate which lacks extremes, a wide range of plant and animal life occ.,.rs here.Plant species such as the J. American Pipewort,' the Pyrenean St. Dabecc's rleat.h, the Mediterranean Heath and the Arctic-Alpine Bearberry find suitable habitats in County Galway. The numerous bogs, lakes and tnrloughs provide niches for thousands ofnesting, breeding and wintering wildfowl from many countries. In its relatively small area, Cc my Gaiv,,ay acts asa focal point for species and communities which are widely dispersed in America, Europe, theCanary islands,T , _a,thet: Arctic,e and even-C in `'ircl:. _c_ Sou(1..LLilernJvu` Hemisphere.The occurrence :ii of all oI these species and communities closely together inapparently inhospitable conditions provides one of the scientific wonders of the world. II1 7 Visiting scientists have frequently expressed their concern for the welfareof the Areas of Scientific Importance.;Many of these Areas are of international rating, many are excellent examples of particular types of habitat.Wildlife species and habitats are merely our legacy to be heldin trust for future generations. The aim of this Report is to advise and assistGalway County Council in the conservation of these Areas of Scientific Importance.It describes and evaluates each of the selected Areas.This is followed by recommended planning- controls.It is the responsibility of Galway County Council,under the Planning 2. and Development Act, 1963, to ensurethe conservation of their wildlife J heritage.Let Galway show how it is able to cater forits treasury of wildlife by positive action and forward planning.Galway has so much to give J the world, so much of the world within itsboundary, so much to learn of its secrets and so much of its values to appreciate. J OUTLINE OF REPORT J Three main geological types form the basis of therenowned scenery of. County Galway - granite in West Galway, limestonein East Galway and Old Red Sandstone in South-East Galway.In this Report, for ease of reference, the County has been divided into throe "vice-counties" ,approximating those geological types.West Galway is that area west of Lough Ccrriband North J to Killary Harbour.North-East Galway is bordered by Lough Corrib and the River Suck, while South-East Galway is bounded bythe Shannon, Lough Derg 7 and County Clare.The boundary between North and South-East Galway is taken to be the main Ga wa, -Dubii n railwayline. Within each of these three "vice-counties" ,the wildlife habitats are treated in the following order: Woodlands, Bogs, Freshwater, Maritime,Geological and Turloughs.Each of the Areas of Scientific Importance is listed inalphabetical order under each habitat type.The scientific value of each Area is described, together with its Grid Reference, likely impacts andrecommendations. A l Summary Chart illustrates the interest, ratingand priority for each Area, followed by the recommended planning controls which are relevant. 7 WEST GAL WAY The Roundstone Region is renowned for its magnificantundisturbed expanse of blanket bog, so well seen from the summit ofErrisbeg.The complex of scientific sites in this Region stretches to includethe Ballyconneely Peninsula, well known 'for its wildfowl habitat and dune grassland.Taken in conjunction 7 with the Twelve Pins nearby, with their Arctic-Alpine flora,the whole Region should be considered as a National Park. J J ; ORTH-EAST GAI..WW'AY J Raised bogs and turloughs are the main wildlife habitats.In contrast with the J blanket 'bogs of West Galway, the raisedl=ogsoriginate from former lakes which have been colonised by vegetation over thousands of years. This habitat type is becoming increasingly rare. County Galway can claimthe unique distinction of having both types of bog.They are divided only by 7 the Corrib and by the charge in geology from thegranite of Ccnnez ara to the limestone of East Galway. SOUTH-EAST GALV'UY J The turloughs, with their fluctuating water level, are a uniquefeature from the J geological and botanical viewpoints.They provide very rich feeding, breeding and overwintering wildfowl areas.Raha sane Turlough is internationally recognised and is one of the most important wildfowl areasin Ireland.The Lough Derg shore has an assemblage of rare plants, someshared with the Tipperary shore.Joint co-operation would be invaluable here in the conservation of such rare species and a unique habitat. J, HABITAT TYPE'S Woodlands An outstanding example of Oak woodland is that at Derryclare,now a .National Forest Reserve.The luxuriance of its lichen flora indicates the climatic conditions which suit species whose distribution ranges from the Canaryislands to the north of Scotland.Other woodlands are of importance for their occurrence in limestone as distinct from granite.The limestone woodlands are principally Ash/-Hazel, with a diverse flora. Bogs Bogland stretching to the horizon - a common sight inCounty Galway. J theless, a unique experience, as such expanses are fast dwindling.The blanket bogs north of Errisbeg, southwest of Nlaam Cross and inthe valley of the Ca villa River have been selected as being excellent examples of theAtlantic bog formation - to be found nowhere else.The raised bogs, with their different species composition are alsc becoming increasingly rare.Ahascragh Bog is J 4. J is now administered as a Nature Reserve by An Taisce.Other excellent examples are to be found in the Suck Valley, and evennear the shores of Lough Derg. J Freshwater These sites are of interest for their fish and microscopiclife, which indicate J the health of a water system.The Lough Kip, River and Baliycuirke Lough are important as demonstrating the change from acid upland heath tolowland limestone J grassland and its outlet to Lough Ccrrib.Fishery Statutes cover most of the lakes selected in this category. J Maritime J Along its varied coastline County Galway has a great diversityof habitat types. J From the purely marine point of view, the shore cfL\I-,veenJsh island, so intensively studied by staff and students of University College Galway, isof recognised international importance.The dune grassland of the Ballyconreely Peninsula also merits international rating, as does the R.ou,idstone complex ofsites.Another interesting complex of sites is that formed by Gentain Hill,Silver Strand and Lough Ruisin.This is of importance not only because of the diversityof habitats - Burren grassland, saltmarsh, ,nudflat and woodland - but also becauseof the 7 educational value and use of the area.The fact that Lough Ruisin is already a J Bird Sanctuary should give an impetus toprotection for the other adjacent sites. Geological What other country can boast of both black and greenmarble - occurring within J a few miles of each other?The now unworked quarries - at Merlin Park and Anglih n for the Black Marble and in the i?allynahincharea for the Green "Ccnnemarz 1 Marble - are being used as dumping grounds and byavid souvenir collectors. The little that remains of this non-renewable resource should beprotected. Unlike plants or animals, geological sites cannot "re-generate",and once gone, are gone forever.Other geological sites are of interest for fossils and rock 1 J exposures. ., J Turloughs Disappearing and re-appearing rivers and lakes - this is frequentin the water- studded limestone region of Mast Galway.Outstanding examples are P..ahasane, in the Dunkellin River Valley, and Caherg.assaun Lough, described byPraeger in hi classical description of The Flora of Turloughhs" (1934). J 5. DESCRIPTION OF AREAS WEST GAL`. Y 1 WOODLANDS J 1. BALLYNAHINCIi L 760 480 Owned by the Forestry Division of the Department of Lands,this extensive area of forest/woodland is of general ecological interest and importance due to the diversity of environmental conditions.The deciduous woodland area is an outli.or of the Blechno-Querceturn type described forKillarney by Braun-Blanquet and Tu;;en and which is confined to Ireland. The Type J. Locality for Sorbus E.F. Warburg is here in the Ballynahinch Area. 7 J THREATS: Large scale felling RECOiy!'NIrND Tree Preservation order for selected areas and Special Amenity Area Order. 2. DERNASLIGGAUN J- L820 620 7 Situated in the valley between Lough Fee and Killary Harbour,this is an Oak J woodland, divided by the Bunowen River.The western section is owned by locals, the eastern by Mr. Thompson, Dublin.Part of the former is used for grazing cattle and there is no evidence of seedling regeneration.The eastern section showed e-1ir3ence of deer.There is a rich bryophyte (moss) and lichen J flora.Two interesting species, indicative of high atmospheric humidity, occur here - H menosnyilurn tunbrigense (Filmy Fern) and Saxifrage spat . J The owners of the western section did not intend interferingwith the woodland. 7 Mr. Thompson's section includes the Lodge, which looks down onthe valley.