Landscape and Landscape Character Assessment for Galway Galway County Council 1. North East Galway (Ballinasloe to Ballymoe) – Landscape Value Rating - Low Cultural Values (Overall Low) Socio economic Values (Overall Low) Environmental (Overall Low) Landscape Aesthetics / Sense of place Value to local economy Water Quality Historical Features Sense of community Soil Type Protected / Designated Landscapes Education Air Quality Public Recreation Biodiversity Flat to undulating pasture with field boundaries High sense of community in this area due to the Shiven, Suck, Sinking and Bunowen Rivers. The defined by ditches and hedgerows. dispersal of several small urban settlements. Those overall water quality of these rivers is unpolluted to living adjacent to small villages would have strong slightly polluted. In the past these rivers have A small number of bogs in this area. connections with the area. suffered from agricultural pollution. Agriculture is possibly one of the main forms of Occasional clumps of coniferous commercial employment in this area. Flat to undulating lowland with small areas of forestry to be found. There is a large amount of ribbon development in Blanket Peat but mainly consisting of dry mineral the area. The scattered urban settlements serve soils. Loughs are significant landscape element but are these dwellings. only visible at short range. Two loughs adjacent to Glenamaddy could be used Main towns in this area are Glennamaddy, for water-sports, depending on water quality. Ballymoe and Mountbellow Bridge. Views of Slievedart mountain for up to 10 There are a large number of site monuments kilometres. located in the vicinity of the R364 between Traffic is heavy on N63. Glenamaddy and Ballymoe. 1 National monument to be found in this area. There are a large number of small loughs located to Air quality in towns and large residential areas may the west of Williamstown. Both the R360 and be of poorer quality during winter due to Designated landscapes as follows; R327 run adjacent to these loughs. combustion of fossil fuel (Peat) which produces Various third class roads in the vicinity of the high levels of Methane and Carbon dioxide. The River Suck - SPA, NHA location of a large number of designated NHA's in Bogs (approx 22sq km) – NHA this area. A good road network could promote this Prevailing winds form Atlantic Ocean refresh and Bogs (approx 30 sq km) – SAC, NHA area as a scenic location. cleanse the air. Turloughs (approx 2 sq km) – SAC, NHA Biodiversity in this area is high as the River Suck, turloughs and bogs within this area have natural habitats, fauna and flora which are of European importance. Word97\1926\Landscape Values20/12/01.doc Landscape and Landscape Character Assessment for Galway Galway County Council 2. Shannon and Suck River Valley (between Portumna and Ballinasloe) – Landscape Value Rating - Medium Cultural Values (Overall Medium) Socio economic Values (Overall Medium - High) Environmental (Overall Medium) Landscape Aesthetics / Sense of place Value to local economy Water Quality Historical Features Sense of community Soil Type Protected / Designated Landscapes Education Air Quality Public Recreation Biodiversity Flat grassland with river as main landscape There is a lot of public recreation in this area due to Watercourses in the area consist of Shannon River, element. the River Shannon – angling, river cruises, and Suck River, Shannon Harbour and Grand Canal. water sports. The overall water quality of these rivers are Some vegetation, including mature trees along the Value to the local economy is high due to the unpolluted to slightly polluted. In the past these river edge environment. tourist interest in the area – nationally and rivers have suffered from agricultural pollution. internationally. There has been an overall improvement in the Distant views can be gained of the Slieve Aughty Sense of community is high due to small local water quality within the River Shannon system. Mountains. businesses depending on the River Shannon and There has however been an increase in the length the tourist industry. of channel affected by serious pollution from 0.8% Scenic quality is higher in this area than that found Educational interest is high – River Shannon to 1.1.1 in the flat pastoral areas of the county (areas 1, 3 longest river in Ireland. Settlements in the area include Banagher and and 5). This is due to the unique features such as Portumna. the rivers Shannon and Suck and the views of the Heavy traffic on N65 which crosses Shannon near Slieve Aughty Mountains. Portumna. Air quality in towns and large residential areas may No National monuments to be found in this area. be of poorer quality during winter due to combustion of fossil fuel (Peat) which produces Designated landscapes as follows; high levels of Methane and Carbon dioxide. Flat to undulating lowland. Grey Brown Podzolics The Rivers Shannon and Suck - SPA, NHA surrounding River Shannon. Biodiversity within Shannon and Suck River is high as natural habitats, fauna and flora are protected under European law. 1 DoE - Environmental Bulletin Developments in the area of Environmental Protection – issue 51 – November 2001. Word97\1926\Landscape Values20/12/01.doc Landscape and Landscape Character Assessment for Galway Galway County Council Word97\1926\Landscape Values20/12/01.doc Landscape and Landscape Character Assessment for Galway Galway County Council 3. East Central Galway (Athenry, Ballinasloe to Portuma) – Landscape Value Rating - Low Cultural Values (Overall Low) Socio economic Values (Overall Low) Environmental (Overall Low) Landscape Aesthetics / Sense of place Value to local economy Water Quality Historical Features Sense of community Soil Type Protected / Designated Landscapes Education Air Quality Public Recreation Biodiversity Flat pastoral landscape of fields bounded by stone Development potential is high in this area due to Rivers include Abbert, Raford, Ahascragh and walls. the nature of the landscape, mostly flat pastureland Kilcrow. and interspersed patches of bogland. A large Most rivers within this area are unpolluted with the Scattered patches of bogland containing scrub and amount of scattered residential development exception of a few which are slightly polluted from scattered mature trees. already exists in this area. agricultural pollutants. The area is well served with national and third class Settlements in the area include Athenry, Portumna, Generally this area is not noteworthy in terms of roads. Ballinasloe and Loughrea. All these roads pass scenic value. Ballinasloe is the principle urban settlement in this through Lough Rea. area. Employment opportunities exist primarily in Traffic on N65, N6 and N63 is heavy. In 1998 Views of Kilconnell Abbey for up to 1km Ballinasloe, Portumna and Athenry. there was an increase of 25.67% in the number of Agricultural and peat production are the main Vehicles registered in Galway. Views of St Cuan’s Church at Ahascragh for up to forms of rural enterprise. Air quality in towns and large residential areas may 0.5 km. Social identity and property ownership is high due be of poorer quality during winter due to to the large number of detached residential combustion of fossil fuel (Peat) which produces Scenic route – R359 between Castleblakeney and dwelling located throughout this area. Those living high levels of Methane and Carbon dioxide. Killaan cross. adjacent to small urban settlements would have Flat to undulating lowland. Degraded Grey Brown strong links with those areas. Social identity would Podzolics. Shallow Brown Earth’s and Rendzinas Minor route between Mountbellewbridge and also therefore be high. Probably a lot of in- Biodiversity is medium in certain areas for example Ballyforan is scenic. migration due to employment prospects and 8sq km are of European importance. available sites for development 15 National monuments are located in this area. Lots of open views from Castleblakeney to Many of these cannot be viewed from a distance Menlough. and therefore contribute little in terms of wider There are a number of national monuments located scenic value. They are of interest at a very local between Ballinasloe and Kilconnell – possible level historically. scenic route of scientific interest. Portumna is also a tourist attraction due to its Designated landscapes as follows; location on the shores of Lough Mask. Word97\1926\Landscape Values20/12/01.doc Landscape and Landscape Character Assessment for Galway Galway County Council Bogs (approx 30sq km) – NHA Bogs (approx 8 sq km) – SAC, NHA Turloughs (approx 1 sq km) – NHA Woodland area (approx 2 sq km) - NR Word97\1926\Landscape Values20/12/01.doc Landscape and Landscape Character Assessment for Galway Galway County Council 4. Southeast Galway (Clarinbridge to Gort) – Landscape Value Rating - Medium Cultural Values (Overall Medium) Socio economic Values (Overall Medium) Environmental (Overall Medium) Landscape Aesthetics / Sense of place Value to local economy Water Quality Historical Features Sense of community Soil Type Protected / Designated Landscapes Education Air Quality Public Recreation Biodiversity Flat to undulating landscape with scrub and Development potential is high in the hinterlands Water quality of Lough Coole is unpolluted grassland . surrounding Gort due to the nature of the landscape – flat to undulating landscape. This area is also Towns include Gort and Kinvara Field boundaries bounded by hedgerows without good for agricultural development especially in the mature trees. vicinity