IRELAND’S EYE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2018-2022 Prepared by Natura Environmental Consultants [email protected] Ireland’s Eye Management Plan 2018-2022 Contents PART 1: DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................. 5 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1. Introduction to Ireland’s Eye .................................................................................................. 5 1.2. Purpose of the management plan .......................................................................................... 5 1.3. Vision for Ireland’s Eye ............................................................................................................ 5 1.4. Aims and objectives of the management plan ....................................................................... 5 2. Legislation and Policy ...................................................................................................................... 6 2.1. European Union Habitats and Birds Directives ....................................................................... 6 2.2. Wildlife Acts 1976-2010 .......................................................................................................... 6 2.3. Fingal County Development Plan ............................................................................................ 6 2.4. Howth Special Amenity Area Order ........................................................................................ 7 2.5. Dublin Bay Biosphere .............................................................................................................. 8 3. Description ...................................................................................................................................... 8 3.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 8 3.2. General Information ............................................................................................................... 8 3.2.1. Location and boundaries ................................................................................................. 8 3.2.2. Tenure ............................................................................................................................. 8 3.2.3. Site Infrastructure ........................................................................................................... 8 3.2.4. Map Coverage ................................................................................................................. 8 3.2.5. Photographic Coverage ................................................................................................... 8 3.2.6. Site designations ............................................................................................................. 1 3.3. Environmental Information .................................................................................................... 9 3.3.1. Climate ............................................................................................................................ 9 3.3.2. Geology and soils ............................................................................................................ 9 3.3.3. Habitats and vegetation ................................................................................................ 10 3.3.4. Mammals ...................................................................................................................... 14 3.3.5. Birds ................................................................................................................................ 1 3.3.6. Marine fauna ................................................................................................................. 20 3.4. Cultural heritage ................................................................................................................... 22 3.4.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 22 3.4.2. Archaeology .................................................................................................................. 23 3.4.3. Historic buildings and artifacts...................................................................................... 24 3.4.4. Past Land Use ................................................................................................................ 28 3.5. People and visitor use ........................................................................................................... 30 Ireland’s Eye Management Plan 2018-2022 3.5.1. Stakeholders.................................................................................................................. 30 3.5.2. Access and Visitors ........................................................................................................ 30 PART 2: PRESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................................ 37 4. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 37 4.1. General .................................................................................................................................. 37 4.2. Consultations and submissions ............................................................................................. 37 5. Evaluation of key features ............................................................................................................ 37 5.1. Natural heritage .................................................................................................................... 37 5.1.1. Geology ......................................................................................................................... 37 5.1.2. Terrestrial habitats and vegetation ............................................................................... 37 5.1.3. Marine habitats ............................................................................................................. 38 5.1.4. Marine mammals .......................................................................................................... 38 5.1.5. Seabirds ......................................................................................................................... 38 5.2. Cultural heritage ................................................................................................................... 38 5.3. Overview ............................................................................................................................... 38 6. Objectives...................................................................................................................................... 39 6.1. Overall objectives .................................................................................................................. 39 6.2. Objectives for Natura 2000 sites ........................................................................................... 40 6.3. Objectives for Howth SAAO .................................................................................................. 40 6.4. Objectives for National Monuments..................................................................................... 40 7. Management framework .............................................................................................................. 41 7.1. Ownership ............................................................................................................................. 41 7.2. Statutory protections ............................................................................................................ 41 7.3. Visitor numbers ..................................................................................................................... 41 7.4. Management and protection of the island ........................................................................... 42 8. Action plan .................................................................................................................................... 42 8.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 42 8.2. Proposed Actions .................................................................................................................. 43 8.3. Implementation strategy ...................................................................................................... 47 8.3.1. Access and visitor management ................................................................................... 47 8.3.2. Vegetation ..................................................................................................................... 49 8.3.3. Breeding birds ............................................................................................................... 50 8.3.4. Cultural heritage ........................................................................................................... 51 8.3.5. Information and interpretation .................................................................................... 51 9. Plan review ...................................................................................................................................