n U Research Assistant An Foras Forbartha April, R. Goodwillie CONSERVATION AND AMENITY ADVISORY SERVICE

Transcription

1 i j i Ir-i U fc I U CONSERVATION AND AMENITY ADVISORY SERVICE A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON AREAS OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST IN COUNTY CLARE R. Goodwillie Research Assistat A Foras Forbartha April, 192. N. B. See Areas of Scietific I,:terest i Irelad, A Foras Forbartha, 1981 for pdated list of sites.

2 CONTENTS SECTION Cotets Preface 1 A Vlerability of the Varios Habitats 4 B Itrodctio to the Areas of Scietific Iterest i Co. Clare 6 C Ratigs of Areas of Scietific Importace 10 r-i D Areas of Scietific Iterest i Co. Clare 12 E Descriptio of Areas Srveyed i Sfficiet Detail Black Head 23 Ll 2. Coastlie from Lrga Poit to Spaish Poit Mllagh More Po l sa_l la gh Cliffs of Moher Cloderalaw Estary 44. Cratloe Creek 4 8. Derryvia Wood Faore Des Gleomera Wood Mtto Islad Polavalla ad The Gle of Clab River Fergs Estary Tllaher Logh & Bog 3

3 i CONTENTS 1. Abbey Hill 18. Ballyallia Logh 19. Ballycar Logh 20. Ballycllia Lake 21. Ballyvagha Saltmarsh 22. Trlogh at Ballyvagha 23. Craglea Qarry Deer Islad (see Mtto Islad) 25. Derrymore Wood 26. Dromolad Lake 2. Fi Logh 28. Gortglass Logh 29. Ichicroa Logh 30. Ichiqi Logh 31. Kockas Motai 32. Loop Head 33. Logh By 34. Logh Clegga 35. Logh Graey Wood 36. Polasherry Bay 3. Logh Ateda 38. Slieve Carra Woods 39. Aghiish Islad

4 No Protectio ecessary Geeral Plaig Cotrol Special Ameity Area Order Riskea Shore St. Sea's Logh Wood ear Eis Wood west of Tlla * cps that a maagemet agreemet might be preferable to a stattory order. "--i.llo j limited exploitatio if desired. Coservatio Order Tree Preservatio

5 CONTENTS 40. Ballyeighter Wood Ballyoga Logh 14 L 42. Caherkiallia Wood Cahiraco Wood Clooamirra Wood Derryhmma Wood 161 r1 46. Garrao Wood 163 Illaoeara (see Mtto Islad) Logh Doell Logh Mrree 10 Mattle Islad (see Mtto Islad) Rieaa Poit Riskea Shore St. Seas Logh Woods ear Eis Woods west of Tlla 185 F Umapped Sites 188 rl G Recommedatios 189

6 : PREFACE This report cocers cotry-plaig. It shold eable the coty cocil to pick ot those areas that are importat o a atioal or local level ad whose coservatio ca be based o strog scietific or edcatioal grods. The Coservatio adameityadvisoryservice is:atterriptig to:idetifya represetative rage of: atral -or'semi -atral habitats, throghot Irelad ad also to list sites of special sigificace, sally cotaiig a rare species or a rare atral pheomeo. Arod these areas, developmet ca proceed with relative impity, oce ameity ad waste-disposal problems have bee srmoted. It may be stressed that the amot of lad available is sch that developmet will very seldom mea the impoverishmet of the atioal heritage, if it is properly plaed. O the cotrary, i selected examples it will allow more people to obtai meaigfl recreatio i the cotryside. However, sceically attractive areas which appeal becase of the combiatio of hills, ad water with woodlad or rock may itrodce coflicts. They are atrally soght after by hosig or recreatio iterests bt, at the same time, they ofte cotai commities of plats ad aimals iterestig becase of their isolatio from rral or rba developmet. Usally it will be possible to compromise betwee these iterests bt occasioally developmet will have to be crtailed to preserve the scietific iterest i the area. Ths over mch of the Brre, especially away from the coast, there ca be o serios scietific objectios to developmet thogh the area as a whole is of great iterest. There are three areas however, which are of greater stats. Here lad se shold be maitaied i its preset form til research has show that a chage will ot be damagig, ad ay ew developmet, exceptig recostrctio, preveted. Coservatio of atral commities may be importat for ameity, scietific or recreatioal reasos or ay combiatio of the three. Freqetly the atral vegetatio of a area gives to it a characteristic atmosphere, a idefiable vale bt very real to those that walk or drive throgh it. Diversity is the key qality of the eviromet that attracts people to a area or that makes them fid relaxatio there : the cotrast betwee cltivatio ad wilderess, betwee water ad lad or betwee trees ad grass. Fortately diversity is also the sie qa o of rich biological commities. 1.

7 U r, Examples of all habitats mst be preserved for scietific research. Ucltivated areas are essetial as reservoirs for orgaisms that may be sefl for soil coditioig or pest cotrol i the ftre. Qite apart from their iheret iterest ad complexity they are eeded also as cotrol areas. Withot them it wold be impossible to jdge the effectiveess of, or to improve ma's attempts at lad maagemet. For example, how ca polltio be cotrolled if o pollted watercorse or lake remais i which to decipher the atral breakdow processes? Or how ca the great prodctivity of marshes ad seasoally flooded lad be haressed, other tha by rice growig, if o atral swamps are left? Fially, how ca ctover bog be best sed for tree growig if o atral self-sstaiig bog commity or o wooded peaty areas exist? These qestios are of growig importace i a competitive world that demads efficiecy ad a optimm level of food prodctio compatible with little damage to the ecosystem. I edcatio, field stdies of all sorts are of immese vale, ad biological field stdies are a stimls that may other disciplies evy. Natral commities provide some of the clearest expositios of the ecological priciples that operate throgh all growig ad harvestig methods. I additio, there is the challege of idetifyig ad gettig acqaited with meros ad very differet species. Field work attracts practicallyall childre at some stage ad eables everyoe to better appreciate beig i rral srrodigs. Already, sice the itrodctio of biology teachig, there is greater awareess of the eviromet ad iterest i wildlife. Sch costrctive recreatio shold be ecoraged by the maiteace of variety i the cotryside. It is the itetio of this srvey to ecorage the se of the cotryside by drawig attetio to scietifically iterestig places. All of those metioed ca spport mch greater mbers of people - less so i certai cases of marshes ad bogs, or at certai times of the year. Bt the carryig-capacity of each site will evetally have to be aalysed. How mch recreatioal se ca co-exist with a estig wildfowl poplatio? How may people ca walk a woodlad floor withot damagig the plat cover? Or what mber of trees ca be felled each year while preservig the attractive featres of the wood? The idea of preservig ay bt the smallest areas itact ad withot chage is realistic ad mltiple se shold be ecoraged. May of the areas wold respod to sod maagemet ad become mch more prodctive. 2.

8 i Li The majority of the sites listed are ow prodctive i the crde sese of prodcig fish, game birds or timber. All are prodctive if they ecorage people LO visit the area ad make se of services earby, ad we believe that all cotribte to the relaxatio, metal health ad happiess of the commity, especially the geeratio of towdwellers that ow form most of or atio. U 3.

9 i U SECTION A 1 Li L VULNERABILITY OF THE VARIOUS HABITATS Areas of scietific iterest ca be damaged i may ways. They ca be completely destroyed by scrb or tree clearace, by trf cttig or by arterial draiage; they may be obliterated by developmet or ca sffer isidiosly throgh polltio, fertilizatio, grazig or over _se i recreatio. Of these varios istaces, the first poses the greatest threat becase of the rapidity with which it ca occr. I the absece of a fie large eogh to be a sre deterret, co-operatio to maitai the coty's decidos woodlad at all levels of ladower, forester ad the geeral pblic mst be actively soght. It will seldom be sfficiet to pt a protectios order o a area which wold lose its vale immediately the trees are felled, thogh it is a importat first step. The voltary orgaisatios have a role to play i this, actig as observers throghot the coty. rl Draiage schemes of all sorts have serios coseqeces for the scietific iterest of aqatic sites. The rock-bod lakes, sch as Logh By, are relatively secre beig deep, bt the shallow grassy lakes are especially vlerable. May of these are trloghs ad their atral flctatios case good grass growth. I the witer this is tilised by wild swas ad dabblig dcks, i the growig seaso by cattle. It is, i fact, a fie example of mltiple sage. Draiage destroys the shootig resorce ad the more permaet grasslad so formed, reqires fertilisatio. Ths it is seldom ecoomically jstified qite apart from the complete destrctio of the scietific importace. Lakes o impervios rocks sch as those i soth-west Clare ca be lowered, doig oly the most limited damage to the scietific heritage provided extesive marshes do ot exist at their edges. This was the case with Logh OGrady, which is ot listed i this report; it is presetly the sitatio at Tllaher Logh ad St. Sea' s Logh. 4.

10 Li As is well kow, polltio of lakes or rivers chages their character to begi with, ad if it is cotied has bad effects o water qality ad fish life. For this reaso, developmet pstream of importat areas mst be careflly cotrolled ad alterative sites for domestic or agricltral istallatios, or draiage rotes from them, mst always be cosidered if sch a area is ivolved. Where a greater distace of stream bed is available, it ca be sed withi reaso to deal with larger qatities of efflet. rl Several farmig operatios are potetially destrctive i other ways. Excessive fertilisatio prodces r-off of triets, especially itrates ad these are particlarly bad for triet-poor ecosystems sch as acid lakes ad bogs. Itrodcig sch r-off ito ay atral commity will chage the species compositio. Fertilisatio at ay itesity chages the plats of grasslad ad where grasslad is scietifically importat, as o the thi soils of parts of the Brre, it shold be actively restricted. The last iflece to be metioed is that of recreatio, which has two facets: excessive se of fragile ecoystems ad the collectig of oticeable plats. Withot maagemet, sad des that have a high desity of sage dergo self-destrctio by wid erosio. Alterig access paths to the beach ad fecig off the bare sad of blowots are ofte effective ways of combatig this. The des at Faore eed sch attetio. Opeig p a area with a rare oticeable plat may damage that species bt, i geeral, eogh idividals escape so that it persists from year.-to year. The Brre has so may species of this type that it is scarcely 'opeig it p' to pt coservatio orders o idividal areas. This wold, however, provide some measre of cotrol. 5.

11 SECTION B INTRODUCTION TO THE AREAS OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST IN CO. CLARE Coty Clare is a varied ad biologically rich area probably rakig secod amog the coties of Irelad. The coty is based o oly three rock types, each occrrig over large areas. Coseqetly the basic geology is mootoos with a few exceptios ad the strctral iterest is derived from the forces that have acted o the carboiferos limestoes ad grits. These iclde glaciatio, soltio ad marie actio. The Brre is probably the best developed glacio-karstic regio of bare limestoe i Erope. All the typical featres occr ad are discssed by *Williams (pb) The srface iterest is matched by a series of dergrod caves. Thogh they are relatively recet i origi - there seem to be o edemic aimals or dry series of caves - they are evertheless well developed cotaiig may stalactites, oe of which is possibly the logest i Erope. The most well-kow part of the Brre is its flora. Plats occr here i abdace that are almost or totally kow i the rest of Irelad. Alpie species are mixed with arctic-alpies ad prely arctic types, ad amidst these grops, Mediterraea species also fid a sitable climate. The ivertebrate faa is oly jst begiig to be examied, bt the same treds have bee discered it it. It icldes several species kow i Great Britai. It is the mixtre of geographical types that makes the Brre iqe i Erope ad of the greatest iterest. The mode of migratio of these poplatios is oe of the may qestios that arise. The coastlie of the Brre has bee relatively little worked, bt also merits attetio. Lewis (1964) states that trly exceptioal coditios occr i the water temperatre ad rock type. The iterior of the coty has log bee famas botaically; its shores deserve eqal praise ad stdy". *Ph.D. Thesis. Uiversity of Cambridge. 6.

12 The rest of the Clare coastlie is also pctated by areas of scietific iterest. These iclde the shore soth of Spaish Poit for its marie biology. The Cliffs of Moher ad to a lesser extet of Loop Head spport large estig poplatios of seabirds, while o the soth coast several estaries, most otably the Fergs, are visited by hge mbers of wildfowl ad wadig birds. Ilad there are also wildfowl resorts, Loghs Ateda ad Clegga are good examples. These, like two of the estaries, are of great importace ad the Cocil has resposibility o a atioal scale for their srvival. May of the limestoe lakes of Clare are srroded by a iterestig flora. Two of these are i the soth, Ballycar Logh ad Dromolad Logh, ad as oe goes orth, elemets of the Brre flora appear i the commity. This is best developed by Logh By. To the east, the old red sadstoe stretches over to Logh Derg ad above the drift is mch covered by blaket bog, except where atral woodlad has persisted. There are three areas of oakwood ear Crshee which are regeeratig agai after a period of misse ad show a tedecy to spread. They form part of the oakwood series of the west of Irelad ad are therefore valable. Gleomera wood mst have resembled them before it was clear felled. It is ow at a iterestig recovery stage. Logh Derg itself has a iterestig flora, well show at the moth of the Scarriff river ad icldig some jiper scrb. Coservatio plas withi the coty mst cetre arod the maiteace of habitat diversity. The rarest elemet i this is presetly decidos woodlad ad it is sggested that several areas of it be protected by Tree Preservatio Orders. Some of these are far from roads ad ot tilised at the momet. Other woods wold be ideal for limited exploitatio. The Brre area i its etiretyis a area of scietific iterest ad there have bee freqet calls for its preservatio. It is clear, however, that lad se caot be stabilised i the whole regio ad that ftre chages may be detrimetal to the variety of the plat cover. Ths it is essetial to coserve parts of the terrai i the coditio they are i at preset. Three areas have bee chose with a good represetatio of the Brre commities as well as the majority of the rare species. These are Black Head, Ballyrya ad Mllagh More. As mch.

13 ,...r..r_.. as ay other sites i Irelad these three areas deserve to be protected by Coservatio Orders. Thogh the visitor is admoished ot to destroy plats whe eterig the Brre, some stricter protectio is eeded, especially alog the coast road. I plaig terms, the otices jst metioed mark the bodary of a area of special ameity which wold iclde three or more coservatio areas. I the absece of a atioal policy o what a atioal park shold be, serios cosideratio shold be give to amig the Brre a stattory area of special ameity, i view of its extremely high sceic vale. Agricltral practices are exempted from cotrol der this ad wold oly be affected i a coservatio area. M I ftre it is likely that draied lakes, expecially of the flctatig tr1'o1.,,h type, will become icreasigly rare. It wold be mch easier to take actio with for example, Logh Ateda,that to wait til it is oe of mch fewer draied lakes. A defiite statemet of itet is reqired with regard to this ad i fact to all areas of scietific iterest. They shold be listed as sch i the Developmet Pla: areas withi which the first priority is to maitai or improve the vales. May of the disagreemets that have arised i the past sterred basically from a lack of kowledge. The developer did ot kow that his chose site had ay scietific iterest ad his imagiatio ad self-assrace did ot allow ay gracefl retreat from his stad. This cold be largely avoided if the areas of scietific iterest were widely pblicised. Sch firm actio by the Cocil wold elicit a respose from the pblic i greater awareess of the eviromet. A developer wold be iclied to work more closely with the plaig athorities; rather tha agaist them. Where permissio has to be refsed for a certai developmet, it shold be qalified by sggestio of a alterative corse of actio. As a first step the ladowers shold, i almost all istaces, be told of the importace of their lad. They shold be advised that their preset form of lad se is that most sited to the maiteace of sch iterest if this is so; if ot,.recommedatios of slightly varyig stockig desities etc,shold be passed o. 8. C.-`""" '..p-r-.+r... i. t. -, +-...,,e.:y

14 I geeral, the Cocil shold be alert to threats to ay of the areas listed. These have bee otlied i the previos sectio. Where developmet has to be crtailed, the possibilities of a co-operative scheme o a differet piece of lad shold be flly examied. I the istace of recreatioal bildig clstered developmet separated by atral areas shold be favored. As developmets occr ad as scietific kowledge icreases, the importace ad priority of varios areas will chage. Cotial reassessmet is reqired to moitor sch chages. If a particlar site loses its vale throgh polltio or physical distrbace, the others of its type will immediately become more importat i the regioal cotext. Likewise, if a ew ad particlarly iterestig orgaism is fod i a listed site, oe of the existig oes may be deleted after compariso. Priority for a site's protectio may also vary as developmets i its viciity are proposed or beg. The descriptio of "o plaig cotrol" i Sectio G mst be take as meaig oe for the preset. As the cotryside becomes more itesively sed by agricltre, hosig ad idstry ad for recreatio, actio will probably be eeded to preserve all sites i their preset coditio. 9.

15 SECTION c- RATING OF AREAS OF SCIENTIFIC IMPORTANCE This is a measre of the relative importace of areas of scietific importace. The importace of each area is idicated i terms of the followig categories: Iteratioal Izoortace 1. Oly area of its type i Erope. 2. Oe of a few sch localities i Erope. 3. Oe of a atral series i Erope. 4. Recogised iteratioal. importace. S. Specialised edcatioal importace. Natioal Importace 1. Oly area of its type i Irelad. 2. Oe of a few sch localities i Irelad. 3. Oe of a atral series i Irelad. 4.. Recogised atioal importace. 5. Geeral or specialised edcatioal importace. Regioal Importace I. l 1. Oly area of its type i provice. 2. Oe of a few localities i Irelad. 3. Oe of a atral series i regio. 4. S. Fie example of its kid. Geeral or specialised edcatioal importace. 10..

16 Local Importace 1. Oly area of its type i coty. 2. Oe of a few localities i provice. 3. Fie example of its kid. 4. Geeral edcatioal importace. PRIORITY OF AREAS OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST This is a measre of the relative rgecy ecessary for protectio of the areas of scietific importace. L Each site is give a priority ratig of A, B or C. The ratig of ay area is based o a combiatio of the followig criteria:- a) the importace of the area b) the vlerability of the area c) the atre ad immiece of ay threats to the area. i

17 I- L1 L_ L_ L_] L_I C_ L C1 L_ L_U L U L_ C j L_ L _ L_ L_ [ j SECTION D Areas of scietific iterest i Coty Clare Name of Area Grid Referece Ratig Priority Scietific Iterest Black Head M. 14, 11 Iteratioal A ZEc,,,,(T- Botaical, zoological, sedimetological. Ecompasses complete rage of rocky habitats from coastal glacially plaed limestoe pavemets to high level heaths spportig a large variety of rare ad commo plats. Coast lie from Lrga Pt.-Spaish Pt. coasts R. 00, 5 Iteratioal B Botaical, zoological. Wide variety of seaweeds which with dese mssel beds form a most lxriet ad charachteriotic commity of the west of Irelad. Mllagh More R. 31, 94 Iteratioal B Botaical, zoological, strctral, sedimetological. Exceptioally well developed Brre flora occrrig i wide rage of habitats ad plat commities. Rare beetles are preset. Some of the oly foldig of carboiferos limestoe i the Brre. Polsallagh M. 08, 02 Iteratioal A Botaical, zoological, geomorphological. Characteristic Brre commities, locally modified by maritime coditios. A variety of iterestig ad commo ivertebrates occr here. Limestoe scarps ad blocky drift hillocks. Cliffs of Moher R. 03, 91 Natioal C Botaical, orithological. Oe of the largest seabird coloies i the.cotry with some plat commities of iterest at the smmit.,natioally importat for razorbills, gillemets ad pffis. Other estig species iclde kittiwakes, flmars, herrig glls, great black-headed glls, shags, raves, choghs, rock doves ad wheatears. Claderalaw Estary R. 12, 53 Natioal A Orithological. Witerig grod for wildfowl, especially wigeo ad waders. Cratloe Creek R. 50, 58 Natioal C Botaical. Tidal river with a variety of plat commities ad the rare triaglar clbrsh, a plat restricted to the pper Shao estary i Irelad. L_2

18 U L.i U C_1 U L> LA LI CI Li r LI L ci U C-1 L_1 Ci ci SECTION D Areas of scietific iterest i Coty Clare cot/2 3 C_-] -1 Name of Area Grid Referece Ratig Priority Scietific iterest Derryvia Wood R. 419,:856 Natioal B Botaical. Small oak wood with oly a few large idividals bt may yoger trees. Some oak regeeratig o blaket bog to soth amogst birch. Typical grod flora. Faore Des M. 13, 08 Natioal A Botaical, zoological. Best developed ad most valable sad de system i the coty- Varied flora, domiated by marram grass, bt icldig several rare species. Varied ad iterestig ivertabrate faa. Gleomera Wood R. 61, 6 Natioal Botaical, orighological. Sessile oakwood regeeratig atrally amogst dese holly ad birth. Sparse grod flora. Pheasats meros ad woodcock are probably also preset. Marie Islads Mtto I. & Mattle Illaoeara Deer Islad Q. 9, Q. 5, M. 28, 2 82/83, 15 Nat.-Reg. 5 C Orithological, zoological. Importat for witerig wildfowl particlarly baracle geese (500), teal (150), mallard (58), ad gadwall (20). Large poplatio of hares. Breedig seabirds. Gle of Clab & Polavalla M. 29, 02 Natioal B Botaical. Yog woodlad domiated by hazel, with rowa, birch, ash, goat willow ad hazel. Typical, fairly rich, grod flora. R. Fergs Estary R. 35, 0 Natioal B Zoological, orithological, botaical. The most importat ad valable estarie habitat i the cotry. Rich i ivertebrates which serve as food for may thosads of witerig waders ad dck. Typical salt-marsh flora with at least oe rare species. w Tllaher Logh & Bog O. 95, 61 Natioal B Botaical, zoological, orithological. Diverse acqatic ad bog flora ad faa icldig rare plat species. Used by witerig dck, geese ad sipe.

19 Name of Area Grid Referece Ratig Priority Scietific Iterest Abbey Hill M. 31, 10 Regioal B Geomorphological Major scarp featre, formig the orth-east bodary of the Brre hills. Ballyallia Logh R. 34, 81 Regioal C Orithological. Small lake o the River Fergs. Importat for witerig wildfowl, shoveler (450) ad gadwall (38) beig of atioal importace, some of which feed o the srrodig grasslad. Ballycar Logh R. 41, 68 Regioal B Botaical. Reedswamp o orth ad west side, grazig lad to soth. Norther limb overgrow by a mat of sedges. Here, bog vegetatio is ivadig the fe commity. Two plat species fairly rare i Clare. Ballycllia Logh R. 29, 85 Regioal B Botaical. Importat for a alga, Cladophora sateri, which has oly bee observed i three other Irish localities. Ballyvagha Salt. M. 21, 09 Regioal B Botaical, Orithological. Marsh Rich saltmarsh vegetatio ad locally importat for witerig waders ad wildfowl, particlarly bret geese.

20 _ LI LI L LI LI LA L L L LI L LI L> L L LI LI L2 Name of Area Grid Referece Ratig Iterest Ballyvagha trlogh M. 22, 06 B Oe of the few sites i the cotry where shrbby ciqefoil occrs, Otherwise, it has a typical trlogh flora. Craglea Qarry R. 688, 56 C Strctral. Qarry sectio showig featres of the Slieve Beragh irilier. Deer Islad Q. 28, 15 C Breedig seabirds, particlarly cormorats. Derrymore Wood R. 420, 844 A Almost pre oak - holly woodlad with some birch ad hazel ad a typical grod flora. Dromolad Lake R. 39, 0 B Spports a diverse flora ad faa, somewhat typical of the Brre, icldig a mber of commo sedges. Fi Logh R. 43, 69 C Zoological. Typical east Clare logh sed by witerig wild fowl. The oly recorded Irish statio of a beetle.

21 - 1 C_ L_] L_1 L L_I LI F I LI L_] L_] L-1 L L LI L L> LI L] L ri Name of Area Grid Referece Ratig Priority Scietific Iterest Gortglass Logh R. 22, 59 Regioal C Botaical, Zoological. Typical acid lake vegetatio. Srroded by acid grasslad ad patches of bog. Importat becase of the presece of Cole's Char, a glacial relict species of fish. Brow trot itrodced last cetry. Ichicroa Logh R. 39, 85 Regioal B Botaical. Spports iterestig lake ad fe commities. It is the most westerly statio i Irelad for commo meadow-re. Ichiqi Logh R. 26, 89 Regioal B Botaical, zoological Shorelie commities, -icldig md flora, of iterest. Woodlad o west side cotais plated sycamore ad beech ad may ative sqecies. Wildfowl se the lake i witer. Highest atral stockig of wild brow trot i the cotry. Kockas Motai M. 122, 035 Regioal C Stratigraphical, Petrological. Soft shal es/carboiferos limestoe jctios creatig strikig differeces i topography, draiage ad vegetatio. Loop Head Q. 68, 46 Regioal C Botaical, Orithological. Typical maritime plat commities ad fairly large mbers of estig seabirds. Lad above cliffs has two iterestig plat commities which are characteristic of exposed parts of the west coast.

22 : I U E ] L_. C L_ L L_. C_ C_-3 L C_ C ] L_] C_ L C-3 L] LI C- Name of Area Grid Referece Ratig Priority Scietific Iterest Logh By R. 3, 96 Regioal B Botaical, Orithological. Deep lake with aqatic vegetatio cofied to sheltered bays ad ilets. Easter shore with fe domiated by bog rsh, bt also spportig several rare orchids. Wester shore partly peat covered with more typical plat commities. Reglar hat for water birds ad witerig wildfowl ad waders. Logh Clegga R. 31, 80 Regioal B Orithological. Importat for witerig wildfowl ad o occasios, may spport the greatest desity of dck i soth Clare. Logh Graey wood R. 5, 91 Regioal B Botaical. Site of former oakwood which was clear-felled. Birch is j domiat bt oak is regeeratig ad sccessio to the former state is proceedig. Holly, hawthor, hazel, ash ad a diverse grod flora are also preset. Polasherry Bay R. 94, 5 Regioal B Orithological. Diversity of habitats makes this a importat witerig site for wildfowl. Logh Ateda R. 29, 88 Regioal A Orithological Trlogh-like lake with large witerig bird poplatios. C

23 L L CI U U C L] U L _ L U U U L _ L _-] L ] C -- L] U C_ I Name Area Grid Referece Ratig Priority Scietific Iterest Woods o Slieve Carra M. 32, 03 Regioal C Botaical. Oe of the most atral tracts of woodlad i the Brre cosistig of hazel, ash, birch, rowa, spidle ad a diverse grod flora. Aghtish Islad M. 28, 12 Local B Botaical. Characterised by a few plats species each coverig a extesive area. Heavy rabbit grazig has reslted i the iedible moss Tortla rraliformis becomig domiat. Sea radish is a commo Irish plat which occrs here. Ballyeighter Wood R. 34, '93 Local B Botaical. Usal scrb commity with regeeratig oak amogst the hazel, holly ad hawthor. Ballyoga Logh R. 3, 90 Local C Botaical. Shallow peat has developed o pre calcareos marl, givig rise to acid plat commities i a predomiately alkalie area. The peat commity is domiated by black bog rsh ad prple moor grass. Caherkiallia wood R. 12, 95 Local B Botaical. Small sessile oakwood with hazel, holly, birch ad rowa. Typical grod flora. Cahiraco Wood R. 23, 54 Local B Botaical. Narrow frige of oakwood alog the shore with several sal species growig i it.

24 =_ U L I LA LI LA L L L L LI L U L C-- j LI C--] L] U LA C-1 Name of Area Grid Referece Ratig Priority Scietific Iterest Clooamirra Wood R. 2, 8 Local B Botaical. Remats of atral oakwood are regeeratig freely ad ivadig srrodig areas icldig wet birchwood. Willow, holly ad a typical grod flora are also preset. Derryhmma Wood R. 43, 85 Local A Botaical. Remats of atral oakwood are regeeratig freely ad ivadig srrodig areas icldig wet birchwood. Willow, holly ad a typical grod flora are also preset. Garrao Wood R. 49, 60 Local A Botaical, Zoological. A almost pre stad of oak with some birch, alder ad hawthor towards the east. Typical grod flora. Six commo beetles have bee recorded here. Illaoeara Q. 83, 5 Local C Orithological. See Marie Islads Witerig area for baracle geese ad breedig seabirds. Logh Doell R. 00, 0 Local B Orithological. Lake impoded by a large storm beach, sed by witerig wildfowl ad waders. co

25 ) U L1 L_] L] F I LI LI L._] L ] L L L L- C Name of Area Grid Referece Ratig Scietific Iterest Logh Mrree M. 26, 11 B Botaical, Orithological, Zoological. Aqatic flora domiated by podweeds. Importat for witerig resort for pochard ad, occasioally other water birds. Spports a rich ivertebrate faa. Mattle Islad see Marie Islads Q. 9, P. 13 Orithological. Breedig seabirds, particlarly cormorats ad shags. RieaaPoit R. 35, 59 C Botaical, Geomorphological, Sedimetological. Creepig red fesce saltmarsh with some typical Clare plats ad a grass rare to the west coast. Flvial deposits of pre shell-baded clay deposited o a slopig limestoe platform. Riskea Shore (L. Derg) R. 8, B Botaical. Domiated by gorse ad jiper with a associated commity of commo herbaceos plats. St. Sea's Logh R. 049, 540 B Botaical. Shallow acid lake with sal floatig commity of mosses. Typical marsh flora occrs arod the lake. Woods ear Eis R. 31, 5 B Botaical, Orithological. Predomiatly ash with hawthor, hazel, sycamore, elder, birch, beech ad blackthor. Rich herb flora cotaiig most characteristic woodlad plats. Woods west of Tlla M. 34, 01 Local B Botaical. Birch wood commity which is rare o limestoe.

26 SECTION E L DESCRIPTION OF AREAS SURVEYED IN SUFFICIENT DETAIL L :U These are writte der the followig sb-headigs:- Name of Area Acreage Grid Referece Scietific Iterest Ratig Priority Descriptio of Area Evalatio Vlerability or Threats to the Area Recommedatios I the descriptios the abdace of the species may be idicated by the followig symbols:- a = abdat c = commo f = freqet o occasioal.r = rare 1 = locally (as a prefix) Botaical omeclatre follows that of 'Flora Eropaea', the stadard work of which the first two volmes have so far bee pblished. (1964 & 1968). 21

27 I M L Name of Area: I BLACK HEAD Acreage: C. 8 Km2 Grid Referece: M Scietific Iterest: Botaical, Zoological, Sedimetological. Ratig: Iteratioal Priority: A Descriptio of Area: The Black Head area cotais a greater variety of commities tha ay of the other sites listed. These r from rock crevices by the sea, throgh limestoe pavemet ad grasslad to plad heaths ad rocky smmits: from sea level i fact to over 1, 000 feet. There is a absece of srface water except for several seepage lies ad sprigs. I U rl The orther slope of these hills is a smoothed srface where the atrally stepped ladform has bee plaed by Galway ice movig soth. Erratics of Galway graite are fod i places ad it is the mai glaciated area of the Brre. Elsewhere, except locally to form cliffs or valleys, the ice seems to have deposited drift rather tha to have removed rock. The sea shore is of iterest ad a lxriat growth of the seaweed, Bifrcaria bifrcata has bee oted (See de Valera (1962) Proc.R.I.A. 62 B, ). The level rocks earby spport commities which iclde Armeria maritima (sea pik) as a costat species. It is joied i oe recogisable associatio by:- Festca rbra Platago coroops Carex distas Agrostis stoloifera Cerastim diffsm Trifolimrr eim Platago maritima Ephrasia emorosa Silee maritimm Sagia maritima creepig red fesce bckshor platai a sedge commo bet mose-ear chickweed white clover sea platai eyebright sea campio pearlwort a c c f f f 1.f. o o r 23 I

28 : Li M I L Li I crevices i this pavemet two fer commities occr. Closer to the sea these are domiated by Aspleim marim (sea spleewort) with A.rta mraria (wall-re), Cochlearia scotica (scrvy grass) ad occasioally Epatorim caabim _(hemp agrimoy) ad Samols valeradi (brooklime). Frther ilad Adiatm capills-veeris (maidehair fer) replaces the Aspleim, growig with Tecrim scorodoia (wood sage), Brachypodim sylvaticm_(false brome-grass), with scattered Hieracim aglica ad Hypericm adrosaemim (ttsa). The Adiatm is sometimes associated with a bad of dolomitic- rock:k. The pavemet ad grasslad commities are described elsewhere (see p. 2 4 ad oly a few differeces will be picked ot here. The mossy saxifrages, S. rosacea ad S. hypoides are extremely abdat ad grow i proximity to each other. S. rosacea is restricted to the west coast ad has its cetre soth of Black Head. *Here it grows eve to the seaward limit of vegetatio, itermigled with Armeria (sea pik) ad Parietaria diffsa (wall pellitory). The hills i this area show the fie developmet of Empetrm (crowberry) ad Arctostaphylos (bearberry) heaths. The former replaces the commity domiated by Dryas (motai aves) o exposed slopes ad merges ito it. Habitat coditios are dry ad may of the plats have a xerophytic habit. The mai elemets of the commity are as follows:- ) Dryas octoperala motai aves a Empetrm-i1.grm crowberry c Sesleria caerlea ble moorgrass a Festca ovi rat sheep's fesce c Calla vlgaris heather f Sccisa pratesis devil's bit f Thyms drcei wild thyme f Neckera crispa a moss l.c Rhacomitrim lagiosm a moss 1.c Tortella tortosa a moss 1.c Campala rotdifclia harebell 0 Carex plicaris; a sedge o Epipactis atroprprea dark-red helleborie o *Webb, D.A. (1962) Proc. R.I.A. 62 B, 11 24

29 Above this level (600 ft) Arctostaphylos va-rsi (bearberry) largely replaces Calla (heather) thogh Dryas remais commo. ipers commis (jiper) forms low-growig plats of the same height as the other shrbs. May of the smaller herbs ad mosses are exclded by this cover, bt there is a record of Arearia orvegica (sadwort)', from rocks at this height. Where a depth of peat or leached soil has developed a Calla heath is prevalet with mch Erica cierea (bell-heather), Moliia caerlea (prple moor-grass) ad Carex bieivis (a sedge). This commity occrs ofte i discreet patches sggestig that it is the remats of a former more widespread cover. Pyrola media (witer-gree) is scattered ear the smmits where Cotoeaster microphylls (cotoeaster) is also fod i oe place. Mosses have bee collected from Black Head ad iclde eight sal species. There are also a few ivertebrate records,-bt o systematic collectig has bee doe. Evalatio: This area is ecologically importat, sice it cotais the complete rage of rocky habitats from the coastal pavemets to the high-level heaths. The peat relics o the smmits are a valable sorce of evidece o the history of soil cover ad the processes operatig agaist it i the Brre. Several of the plat species occr at Black Head i their fiest developmet; Adiatm (maidehair fer) ad Saxifraga rosacea (mossy saxifrage) are examples while Arearia orvegica (sadwort) is fod owhere else i Irelad. Cochlearia groeladica. (scrvy grass) is restricted to Black Head ad Polsallagh. Black Head raks with Ballyrya ad Mllagh More as oe of the three most importat areas of the Brre. Vlerahillty:. As the area does ot seem attractive to hosig owig to the slopes, the mai threat wold be from visitors removig plats. 1 Recommedatios: A Coservatio Order is clearly eeded i this area ad is recommeded. Cars shold be restraied from stoppig by provisio of a car park soth of the area o 26'

30 the coast road. As i other areas, the fertilizatio of the rocky grasslads shold ot be cotemplated as it wold be extremely damagig. 26

31 MAP SHOWING AREA OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST Scale 1 iches to 1 mile d.1 L L T r.4fe L

32 Name of Area: Acreage: 2 COASTLINE FROM LURGA POINT TO SPANISH POINT 69 ha Grid Referece: R 00 5 Scietific Iterest: Botay, zoology. Ratig: Priority: Iteratioal B Descriptio ad Evalatio This part of the coastlie is oe of Irelad's most otstadig areas for marie biology. The carboiferos grits are bedded at a low agle ope to the Atlatic swell,. i places sbject to srf coditios. The headlads experiece some of the most severe coditios of exposre i Irelad. Becase of the North Atlatic Drift, there is a strog warm-water elemet i the flora ad faa. Red algae are particlarly well developed ad there are also iterestig brow algae. It is a "Mytils (mssel) shore par excellece" (Lewis 1964) ad this with Rhodymeia sp ad Porphyra forms the most lxriat ad characteristic commity of the west of Irelad. This area is freqetly visited by iversity ad stdet grops. Vlerability Algae are ssceptible to all types of water polltio so: Recommedatios the scietific vale of the area is compatible with scarcely ay idstrial istallatio. These shold be sited, if i Clare, o the lower part of the Shao estary, less very high stadards of water prity i the efflet ca be met. 28

33 M i A P ri U i k.` a v I.. Tit A S"' C'rC t,'ffq Er:Li i!i~i a!'. t LS YE. i Sale:.' Ich to, I a iet sr, r 1\ lti6,,vghie tr vi /;P. ' 29,

34 3 t l Name of Area MULLAGH MORE Acreage C Km2 Grid Referece R Scietific Iterest Botaical, zoological, strctral, sedimetological. Ratig Iteratioal Priority A Descriptio of Area This extesive area cotais two hills showig some of the oly foldig of the Carboiferos limestoe i the Brre, mch bare limestoe pavemet littered i places with glacial erratics, several slopes with fragmets of atral woodlad, ad may trloghs, some more permaet, e.g. Coolreash Logh, tha others. There are at least fiftee recogisable plat commities to be fod, of which seve are aqatic ad eight terrestrial. I the more permaet trloghs a water-lily commity occrs with both species i it (Nphar ltea ad Nymphaea alba), with Potamogeto atas (podweed). Stads of Phragmites astralis (reed) or Meyathes trifoliata (bogbea) border the deeper water alog with scattered Cladim mariscs (saw sedge). Where the edges are stoy, as i parts of Coolreash Logh, Littorella iflora (shoreweed). assmes domiace with sch other costat species as Baldellia racloides (lesser water platai), Galim palstre (marsh bedstraw), Tcs blboss (blbos rsh), Potamogeto gramies (podweed) ad Scorpidim scorpioides (a moss). I this commity the followig are also fod:- Samols valeradi brooklie f Carex demissa a sedge f C. s erotia f Metha aqatica water mit o Chara spp. stoewort 1. c.

35 11 Tecrim scordim water germader Apim idatm floatig marshwort o o Li The tre trloghs have a characteristic flora arod their sikholes. This icldes Potetilla aseria (silverweed), Rorippa 'sylvestris' (yellow cress), Polygom persicaria (amphibios persicaria), ad sometimes P. mis (lesser persicaria), Galim palstre (marsh bedstraw) ad Metha arvesis (cor mit). I places, there are stads of Potetilla frticosa (shrbby ciqefoil) o the periphery of this, with Agrostis stoloifera (bet grass), Prella vlgaris (heart's ease), Leotodo atmalis, (hawkweed), Galim boreale (orther bedstraw), Viola caia (dog's violet) ad Fragla als (alder bckthor). Elsewhere, there are extesive sheets of three species of Drepaoclads (a moss), or Salix repes, (creepig willow) ad Viola stagia (fe violet) also occrs. Li r, Fe commities are widespread at the lake edges, the wetter oes with Carex hostiaa, C. paicea (sedges) ad Cirsim dissectm (meadow thistle) as the commoest plats, the slightly drier domiated by Schoes igricas (black bog-rsh). Moliia caerlea (prple moor grass) is commo here with Sccisa pratesis (devil's bit) while Ephrasia scotica (eyebright) ad Campylim stellatm (a moss) are characteristic. Atearia dioica, (cdweed), ad Platago maritima (sea platai) occr i additio to the more freqet fe plats. L O the drier limestoe there are grasslad areas with all the Brre species preset, icldig:- Sesleria caerlea ble sesleria a Koeleria cristata crested hair grass c Pilosella officiarm Atearia dioica Geraim sagiem Galim pmilm Asperla cyachica mose-ear hawkweed cdweed bloody craesbill sleder bedstraw sqiacy wort c f f f I.C. 31

36 UI I L_1 L] L_ Dryas octopetala Heliathemm cam Getiaa vera Gymadeia coopsea Epipactis atrorbes Ephrasia salisbrgesis Getiaella campestris Neotiea itacta motai aves hoary rock rose sprig getia fragrat orchid red helleborie eyebright field getia mediterraea orchid o o o f o f r r The fly orchid (Ophrys isectifera) occrs i mch drier srrodigs tha it is sally associated with. O. apifera (bee orchid) also is fod. r1 i l ri i U As oe asceds the hills a heathy commity domiated by Calla vlgaris (heather) or locally Dryas octopetala (motai aves) takes over. It cotais may of the above species bt also sch calcifges as Lathyrs motas (heath pea) ad Siegligia decmbes (heath grass). I the more acidic places, Carex biervis (a sedge), Erica cierea (bell heather) ad Agrostis caia (velvet bet) are freqet. The patches of woodlad metioed above are small ad split p by otcrops of rocky grasslad. It is a Fraxis excelsior (ash) - Coryls avellaa (hazel) wood cotaiig i additio to Crataegs moogya (hawthor) ad Sorbs acparia (rowa), both Ulms glabra (wych elm) ad Popls tremla (aspe). The grod flora is ot very rich bt icldes Solidago virgarea (golde rod) Aemoe emorosa (wood aemoe), Epipactis helleborie (broad-leaved helleborie) Rbs saxatilis (stoe bramble) ad Vibrm opls (gelder rose). Weevils have bee collected from this area ad mber twety species. This is the largest total collected by *Morris (196) at ay of the sites he visited. I view of the geeral scarcity of large trees i this, or ay, part of the Brre, the wooded areas are likely to be of cosiderable vale to the bird poplatio. * Proc. R.I.A. 65 B No

37 Evalatio The Brre flora is exceptioally well developed i the Mllagh More area rivallig oly the sites o the west coast, bt clearly sbject to differet evirometal coditios. It has elemets from the west, e.g. Heliathemm cam (hoary rock rose), species maily restricted to the easter part of the Brre, e.g. Potetilla frticosa (shrbby ciqefoil), ad is a otlier also of the Shao flora with Tecrim scordim (water germader). Of special iterest is the remat of atral woodlad o some of the terraces of the motais ad lower dow. This icldes Ulms glabra (elm) i its tree species ad is the oly place i Clare where this appears thoroghly ative. It was a very widespread tree i prehistoric times. rl The beetle faa is of iterest cotaiig oe species recorded i the rest of Irelad ad two others fod owhere else i Clare. It is most likely that this is matched i may of the ivertebrate grops. Alto getlrer.the_areapreset s a diversity of habitats all with iterestig scietific problems i eed of stdy. It is of extreme importace rakig first or secod i the coty ad eve i the whole of Irelad. Vlerability The timber preset is ot of great vale ad is far from the road bt some of the most iterestig herb commities are of easy access. They cold be damaged by visitors. Li The plat cover wold be drastically altered by fertilizatio. Recommedatios Thogh the area is slightly off the most freqeted rotes it is still vlerable to plat removal. It is certaily worthy of a Coservatio Order. 33

38 The spreadig of fertilizers may icrease so as to iclde sheep as well as cattle pastres. If so, they shold be baed from this area. Existig patters of lad se are i eqilibrim with the flora ad shold be retaied. Li LI 34

39 I t-- 11

40 L L L L L L L / / 1 - -if

41 4 Name of Area POULSALLAGH Acreage c. 2 Km2 - Grid Referece M Scietific Iterest Botaical, zoological, geomorphological. Pati Iteratioal Priority A Descriptio of Area rl 1 Ballyrya is the most extesive low-lyig area o the west coast of the Brre ad is largely composed of limestoe grasslad. The rock freqetly appears throgh this soil; behid the grasslad it rises i steps like the glaciated Black Head area, to give low plateax,while o the seaward side, pavemet is excelletly developed goig right dow ito the sea. The soil is of blocky drift, sometimes molded ito hillocks. May of the most characteristic commities of the Brre are fod here ad the ecological iterest is frther ehaced by the admixtre of maritime plats ito the arctic ad alpie grops that are also fod elsewhere. Ths, close to the sea coastal vegetatio occrs o the flat sheets of limestoe, ad the Brre flora i the grikes. The former grop of plats icldes:- Crithmm maritimm Sperglaria rpicola Silee maritima Cochlearia daica Carex distas Armeria maritima Platago coroops P. maritima Pcciellia sp Cerastim diffsm Ephrasia emerosa * Limoim traswalliam * Cochlearia scotica Trichostomm brachydotim samphire rock sprry sea campio scrvy grass a sedge sea pik bckshor platai sea platai salt marsh grass sea mose-ear chickweed eyebright sea laveder scottish scrvy grass a moss 1.f. f f f 0 f f f f f 0 0 o f 36

42 Festca rbra (creepig red fesce)ad Trifolim repes (white clover) are the grasslad plats that desced lowest towards the sea. Lots coricfats- (bird's foot trefoil) ad Lim catharticm (prgig flax) soo appear alog with sch Brre species as:- Miartia vera sprig sadwort c Campala rotdifolia Sesleria caerlea harebell ble moor grass f c Thyms drcei Atearia dioica wild thyme cdweed c f Asperla cyachica sqiacy wort f *Ajga pyramidalis pyramidal bgle r Adiatm capillis-veeris maidehair fer o Asplei marim sea spleewort f Thalictrm mis meadow re o With a slight icrease i height the fll developmet of the flora brigs i sch species as:- Dryas octopetala motai aves Geraim sagiea bloody craesbill L Rbia peregrie *Heliathemm cam Arabis hirsta Cerastim arvese madder hoary rock-rose hoary rock cress field stitchwort c c Athyllis vleraria kidey vetch c L Rbes: saxatilis Poterim sagisorba stoe bramble salad bret f f L Cors sa:g- Getiaa vera dogwood sprig getia o f Galim pmilm sleder bedstraw f Limosella aqatica mdwort r Ephra s is salisbrgesis eyebright c Orobache alba Coeloglossm viride red broomrape frog orchid o o 3

43 I the terms of *!Ivimey-Cook ad Proctor (1966), a trasect from the sea to the margi of the idicated area wold have te recogisable plat associatios o it; each havig developed der differet evirometal factors. Isopodsshave- b'eer.collectedcattpblsallaghiad. six-, species recogised. icldig Metopoorths cigeds, a Lsitaim member of the faa. This matches a Lsitaiam beetle, Apio detirostre take there with thirtee other species of weevil. A at species is also of some iterest. The lepidoptera faa is rich, icldig the typical Brre species, abset or rare i the rest of Irelad. The marie ecosystem is iterestig becase of the exposre ad rock type. It icldes Paracetrots, a brrowig sea rchi, ad a good flora of red algae. Evalatio This is a valable area of the same or greater stadig as Black Head. species marked by asterisk above are developed here better tha aywhere else or are restricted to Polsallagla.. The Li It is oe of the most accessible parts of the Brre ad is freqetly visited by school ad iversity grops to stdy habitat coditios of the flat limestoe ad grikes, the compositio of the flora or the marie flora ad faa. Vlerability The combiatio of easy access ad scietific iterest makes this area particlarly vlerable to plat collectors thogh this threat is sometimes overrated. Bildig developmet wold obliterate parts of the area as well as itrdig ito a atral ladscape. The provisio of a car park wold attract additioal visitors to a site that they cold damage sigificatly. * Ivimey-Cook, R.B. & Proctor, M.C.F. (1966) Proc. R.I.A. 643,

44 Recommedatios.l L The Ballyrya area is most attractive especially whe come po by a visitor from the Lisdoovara road. It is the first view of the typical Brre sceery, ad at the right time of year, very colorfl with flowerig plats. Coseqetly the visitor is tempted to leave his car. However the area is of exceptioal scietific iterest ad ay tedecy to dig p the plats mst be preveted. Oe partial soltio to this wold be to maitai the road relatively arrow ad hard to park o ad make provisio for a car park orth of the area. This wold be sigposted i advace. From here people cold spread ot over the rock pavemet. It wold be a sitable place for a atre trail or display. It is desirable to protect the flora by a stattory ba o removal ad for this a Coservatio Order, der Sectio 54, Local Govermet (Plaig ad Developme Act 1963, is ideal. The blldozig of blocks ot of the drift mst especially be preveted, as this removes the plat cover as well as chagig the habitat. v 39

45 MAP SHOWING AREA OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST Scale 5 irk to 1 mile T L l M L L v i. \\,., r--,.. U 0 40

46 5 U Name of Area CLIFFS OF MOHER Acreage 1. 5 Km2 Grid Referece R. 03, 91 Scietific Iterest Orithological, botaical Ratig Natioal Priority C r_1 r1 U U Descriptio of Area The Cliffs of Moher are formed of horizotal beds of coal measre sadstoes ad shales. Cleavage i the rock is so good that the term flagstoe has bee applied, ad the Liscaor flags is the rock type, best exposed i a qarry ear Hag's Head. The lie of cliffs shows faltig ad slmpig to good effect bt they are difficlt to observe. I fact, a diagoal falt occrs dereath the preset-observatio--poit ad car park. The flora icldes characteristic maritime plats sch as:- Li Armeria maritima Cochlearia officialis Sperglaria rpicola Crithmm maritimm Silee maritimm Sagia maritima Platago coroops sea pik scrvy grass rock sprrey samphire sea campio pearlwort bckshor platai f 0 f f f f f r-i L Rhodiola rosem (roseroot) is a iterestig member of the cliff flora. It is qite widespread. Alog the top of the cliffs i a grazed trf of Agrostis teis (bet grass) ad Festca rbra (red fesce), Viola ltea (motai pasy) occrs. freqetly ad where rocks are exposed Sagia sblata (heath pearlwort). *Several sal liches have bee collected from the cliffs. These iclde a rare Lecidea. *Kowles, M. C. (1929) Proc. R.I.A. 38 B,

47 The mai importace of the area is of corse the estig bird poplatio which is large. It icldes all the ak species estig i Irelad: the pffi occrs i large mbers o particlar areas. It was oe of the first areas of Clare coloized by the flmar which has a large poplatio at preset. Rather few glls est, with the exceptio of the kittiwake, de to the steepess of the cliffs. Max shearwaters probably est i the grod overlyig sectios of cliff. Rock doves ad chogh est i additio to the seabirds ad peregries have doe so. Evalatio This area is by far the most importat for breedig seabirds i Coty Clare ad is importat atioally for the razorbill, gillemot ad pffi. Vlerability Distrbace is the oly possible threat to the bird poplatios. That of helicopters wold be the most serios, cliff top walkers beig geerally too far away.to do mch damage to the seabirds. These wold, however, affect the chogh ad peregrie. r1 Recommedatios The fields closest to the cliff edge have bee iclded i the area to emphasize the bad effects of icreasig distrbace. New access poits to the cliffs shold ot be itrodced withot adeqate advice as to sitig. r 42.i.