Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) (2014)

Bathing Water Profile - Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) (2014)

Bathing Water: Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) Bathing Water Code: IEWEBWC010_0000_0250 Local Authority: Galway County Council River Basin District: Western Monitoring Point: 98210E, 202750N

1. Profile Details:

Profile Id: BWPR00255 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2014 Car Parking Available: No Year Of Identification 2014 Disabled Access: No Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: Yes Sensitive Area: Yes Dogs Allowed: No Lifesaving Facilities: Yes

Figure 1: Bathing Water 2. Bathing Water Details:

Map 1: Bathing Water Location & Extent

Bathing Water location and Inis Oírr is part of the Galway Coast Water Management Unit of the Western River Basin District. It is extent: situated 17km off the Galway coast and 9km off the Clare coast. It is the smallest of the Aran Islands and has a population of about 250. The beach is on the northern coast of the island and is known as Trá Inis Oírr. Access is via the R 743 and there is no difficulty in entering onto the beach. The area of the beach is approx. 0.01km2 and the length is approx. 300m. The beach caters for up to 50 bathers during the summer season. There are a number of ways to reach the Island including by boat either directly from Galway City Dockside, Ros a Mhil (Rossaveal) in Connemara or from Doolin in County Clare. The island can also be reached by air from Connemara Airport in Indreabhan (Inverin).

This beach has Life Guards at weekends. Information on the local area is on board at beach.

Main features of the Bathing Trá Inis Oírr is a sandy shore. The beach has a north facing aspect. Water: Inis Oírr is a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The island is important for priority habitats such as limestone pavement, orchid rich calcareous grasslands (semi-natural) and lagoons. The habitats listed in Annex 1 of the Habitats Directive requiring protection are: Salt marshes, salt pastures and salt steppes

• Shingle, sea cliffs and islets • Heath, scrub, dry grassland (Phygrana), lowland hay meadows, • Inland rocks and Maquis and Garrique (nutrient poor limestones).

Traditional farm practices have helped maintain the high ecological status of the island. Tourism being the main economic activity on the island, replacing agriculture, may pose a threat to the ecological status of the SAC. Traditional agriculture, in the form of rye cultivation, provides habitat for rare and threatened arable weeds such as Lolium temulentum (Darnel) and Bromus racemosus (Smooth brome).

Other important flora comprise: Sea Kale (Crambe maritime) which occurs on coastal sands and shingle. Hairy Violet (Viola hirta) can be found among the coastal grasslands. These two species are listed in the Irish Red Data Book and Hairy Violet is legally protected under the Flora Protection Order (1999). Other notable species of fauna and flora are Conopeum seurati (Moss Animal), Sigarra concina (Flat lobster), Jaerra normanni (Crustacean).

The birdlife of Inis Oírr is of international importance due to the presence of species listed under Annex 1 of the Birds Directive. Three pairs of Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax (Choughs) breed on the island. Other birds protected on the island listed under the Council Directive 79/409/EEC are: Sterna albifrons (Little Tern), Sterna Paradisea (Artic Tern), Sterna sandvicensis (Sandwich Tern).

The cultural heritage of Inis Oírr and in particular the continuation of traditional, low-intensity farming practices is intrinsically linked with its scientific interest. TheIslandis also of high scenic and amenity value. Main features of the Bathing Water:

The Aran Islands are one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ireland with the population of Inis Oírr rising to almost 600 during peak season in the summer months. Two hundred students visit the Irish Colleges during June each year and there are in excess of 40 rented cottages occupied for 3 months of the year on the island. There is an airstrip 100m east of the beach

Activities available at the The main activity is swimming but some kayaking and windsurfing takes place also. Activities prohibited Bathing Water: are those listed in Beach Bye-Laws for the County Health District of Galway included in this profile as Appendix 1.

Contributing catchment The catchment for the bathing area has not been mapped and the status of the coastal water is details: unassigned. The entire island was assessed for the purpose of this report. The island is approximately 3.6km long by 3.3km wide. The main population settlement is centred in a group of villages at a radius of about 500m around the beach.

The island is an extension of the Karstic carboniferous region of the Burren. The upper strata of carboniferous limestone are interleaved with layers of shale and clay and this rock formation rises to a maximum height of 64m. A thin cover of rendzina occurs in pockets between blocks of bare limestone. This soil is combined with a mixture of sand and seaweed to form a unique manmade soil cover, built up over the centuries. The site includes a large area of marine waters surrounding the island.

Most of the island is grazed by cattle and sheep, and agriculture is extensive. The abandonment of farming, in favour of tourism and related enterprises, has resulted in the increase in scrub and particularly Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) thickets. This is at the expense of species-rich grasslands. Maintenance of traditional farming practices, which include winter grazing, absence of fertilisers and the cultivation of rye for thatching, is vital to preserve the species richness and high diversity of the Island flora. Development plans for tourism and amenity require close monitoring to safeguard the wildlife and scientific value of this unique environment.

Limestone pavement and its associated plant communities dominate the Island. The limestone pavement includes smooth-blocky and shattered types. The bare pavement is interspersed with fine examples of species-rich, dry calcareous grasslands. Dry heath, alpine heath and lowland hay meadows are additional habitats which occur on Inis Oírr. The species-rich, dry calcareous grasslands include species such as Blue Moor-grass (Sesleria albicans), Eyebright (Euphrasia spp.), Wood Sage (Teucrium scorodonia), Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris) and Burnet Rose (Rosa pimpinellifolia), along with Knapweeds (Centaurea nigra and C. scabiosa), Orchids (Orchidaceae), Bloody Cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) and Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna).

Dry limestone heath has developed in places, with Ling Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea), Purple Moor-grass and Black Bog Rush (Schoenus nigricans) recorded from this habitat. Hoary Rockrose (Helianthemum canum), a species listed in the Irish Red Data Book, occurs regularly throughout the dry heath and heath habitats on the Island.

Traditional farming practices, in the form of rye cultivation for thatching, has maintained suitable habitat for a number of rare and threatened arable weeds including Darnel (Lolium temulentum) and Smooth Brome (Bromus racemosus). These species are listed in The Irish Red Data Book and, prior to their discovery on the Aran Islands, some of these species were thought to have been extinct in Ireland.

The land use consists of pastures in the centre, east and south east areas of the island, sparse vegetation on the limestone pavements on the western and southern coastlines and a complex cultivation pattern in the more populated northern part of the island.

The annual average rainfall is 1,110mm. The status of the groundwater is good and requires protection under the Western RBMP. The bedrock is poorly productive and there are no surface water streams or rivers. A small surface water lake is located 1km to the east of the bathing water.

Monitoring point details: The monitoring point is located centrally in the bathing area at E098274 N202752.

Reason for selection of the It is considered to be a suitable location for determining the quality of the water within the bathing area. monitoring point: This monitoring point has been used historically. It is not considered that the water quality varies significantly throughout the identified bathing area. Water quality assessment: The bathing area is monitored on a monthly basis during the bathing season. Water quality was assessed on the basis of the bathing water results for the bathing seasons (June-August) 2008 – 2012 and the bathing water was excellent. Trá Inis Oírr has been awarded Green Coast Status for several years. 3. Identified Pressures:

Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment

3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk:

Description: There are no section 4 licences on the island Source: Section 4 Licences Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: No

Description: This pressure does not pose a risk Source: Agriculture Type: Run off from agricultural land Short Term Pressure: No 3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk:

Description: On-site wastewater treatment plants.

Source: On Site Waste Water Treatment Plants Type: Waste Water Treatment plant Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Low Risk Frequency: not frequent Duration: < 24 hours Risk Assessment The majority on-site wastewater treatment systems are within 500m of this bathing area. The Methodology: nearest are within 60m of the beach. A survey of the on-site wastewater treatment systems in the area would be required to determine the risk associated with each plant. Risk Assessment Water quality results indicate that the likelihood and magnitude of the risk is low. Legislation has Results: been enacted. Due to the low risk it is not proposed to carry out any septic tank inspections at present. The assessment of plants will be carried out on a priority basis.

Details: As above Management As above: Legislation has been enacted. Due to the low risk it is not proposed to carry out any Measures: septic tank inspections at present.

3.3 Other Risks:

Assessment of the potential for proliferation Not applicable in coastal waters. of cyanobacteria:

Proposed management measures for N/A cyanobacteria:

Assessment of the potential for proliferation Monitoring of this beach indicates that there is no significant potential for an accumulation of of macroalgae: macroalgae in quantities likely to pose a danger to human health

Proposed management measures for N/A macroalgae: Assessment of the potential for proliferation Monitoring of this beach indicates that there is no significant potential for an accumulation of marine phytoplankton: of Marine Phytoplankton in quantities likely to pose a danger to human health.

Proposed management measures for marine N/A phytoplankton:

Additional Information: None

4 Bathing Water Status From Previous Sampling Years:

2011 2012 2013 2014 Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) No Data No Data No Data New (Classification not possible)

5 Contact Details:

Contact: Galway County Council Email: [email protected] Address: Environment Section, Prospect Hill, Galway Phone: 091 509510