Ecological Study of Inishfree Upper & Inishmeane - Donegal County ...

in association with Ralph Sheppard, Gaia Associates 

PILOT ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF 

TWO DONEGAL ISLANDS: 

INISHFREE UPPER AND INISHMEANE 

OCTOBER 2010 

An Action of the County Donegal Heritage Plan

DEDICATION 

We dedicate this report to the islanders of Inishfree Upper and Inishmeane 

for their kindness and hospitality

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Acknowledgments 6 

Chapter 1: Introduction 7 

Chapter 2: Background 10 

Aims of the Study 10 

Methodology 11 

Overview of Irish Islands 11 

Location 13 

Geology 14 

Settlement 16 

Agriculture and Fishing 26 

Designated Areas 28 

Island Farming and Wildlife 31 

Chapter 3: Plants and Vegetation 32 

Habitats on Inishfree Upper 32 

Stone Walls and Other Stonework (BL1) 32 

Rocky Sea Cliffs (CS1) and Shingle and Gravel Banks (CB1) 32 

Reed and Large Sedge Swamps (FS1) 34 

Scrub (WS1) 34 

Cutover Bog (PB4) 36 

Exposed Siliceous Rock (ER1) 40 

Drainage Ditches (FW4) 42 

Improved Agricultural Grassland (Improved) (GA1) 42 

Wet Grassland (GA4) 42 

Dry Siliceous Heath (HH1) 45 

Wet Heath (HH3) 47 

Dense Bracken (HD1) 48 

Machair (CD6) 49 

Marram Dunes (CD2) 55 

Dry Calcareous and Neutral Grassland (GS1) 55 

Marsh (GM1) 55 

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Lower Saltmarsh (CM1) and Upper Saltmarsh (CM2) 56 

Dry/Humid Acid Grassland (GS3) 57 

Littoral Rock (LR), and Littoral Sediment (LS) 57 

Summary of Conservation Value of Inishfree Upper 59 

Habitats on Inishmeane 61 

Rocky Sea Cliffs (CS1) and Shingle and Gravel Banks (CB1) 61 

Marram Dunes (CD2) 62 

Fixed Dunes (CD3) 63 

Reed and Large Sedge Swamps (FS1) 64 

Dry Calcareous and Neutral Grassland (GS1) 66 

Amenity Grassland (Improved) (GA2) 68 

Dry Siliceous Heath (HH1) 68 

Dense Bracken (HD1) 71 

Littoral Rock (LR), and Littoral Sediment (LS) 71 

Cutover Bog (PB4) 74 

Summary of Conservation Value of Inishmeane 76 

Chapter 4: Animal Life 77 

Mammals 77 

Fish 78 

Birds 78 

The Islands’ Special Role in Bird Conservation 78 

Moths and Butterflies 84 

Butterflies 85 

Moths 87 

Chapter 5: Recommendations 91 

Introduction 91 

Resource Management Suggestions 94 

Habitat Management 94 

Scrub/Tree Cover 94 

Blanket Bog 94 

Wet Grassland 95 

Machair 95 

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Heath 96 

Swamp 96 

Field Boundaries 96 

Sand Dunes 97 

Shingle/Rocky Shore 97 

Buildings 97 

Birds 98 

Education and Awareness 98 

Waste Management 100 

Ecotourism 101 

Further Research 101 

Policy and Legislation 102 

Appendix 1a: Figure 1 – Habitat Map of Inishfree Upper 103 

Appendix 1b: Figure 2 – Habitat Map of Inishmeane 104 

Appendix 2: Fauna Recorded on Inishfree Upper and Inishmeane 105 

Appendix 3: Flora Recorded on Inishfree Upper and Inishmeane 117 

References 126 

Useful Websites 128 

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the following during the compilation of this report: 

Joseph Gallagher (Heritage Officer, Donegal County Council), The Heritage Council, Donegal 

County Council and the County Donegal Heritage Forum for commissioning and funding the 

study, Daragh McDonough (GIS Section, Donegal County Council), Development Officer 

(Community and Enterprise, Donegal County Council, Dungloe), Liz Sheppard for logistical 

support and advice, Kevin O'Connor (Co-ordinator of Marine and Water Leisure Programme, 

Donegal County Council), Orla Woods and Helen O’Halloran (Fáilte Ireland), Maire Aine 

Gardiner (Fáilte Ireland Northwest), Linda Searraigh, Máirín Uí Fhearraigh, Andy Roohan Ltd, 

Mairéad O’Reilly (Comhar na nOileán Teo), Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann - Irish Islands 

Federation, Seamus Bonner (Comharchumann Forbartha & Fostaíochta Árainn Mhór - 

Arranmore Island Development & Employment Co-Op), Emmet Jackson , Owen Doyle, and 

Grainne O’Brian (all Bord Iascaigh Mhara), Cormac Goulding and Peter Kelly (North Western 

Regional Fisheries Board), Sandy Alcorn and Anita Donaghy (Corncrake Project Workers, 

BirdWatch Ireland), Gareth Bareham (RSPB Northern Ireland), Paul McGonigle, Shirley 

Gallagher (SysPro Ltd., Cork), Will Woodrow (Woodrow Sustainable Solutions), Neil 

Gallagher, Cathal MacSuibhne (Údarás na Gaeltachta), Michael O'Brien, Louise Collins (Bord 

Iascaigh Mhara, Killybegs Office), Stephen McCormack, Richard Timony, John Rafferty, Mark 

Wright (Northern Ireland Environment Agency), David Mitchell (exegesis), Pat Boyle, Séamus 

Boyle, Neil Gallagher, Bob Aldwell, Richard Timony, Una Fitzpatrick and Eugenie Regan 

(National Biodiversity Data Centre, Waterford), Jimmy Sweeney, Charles Sweeney, Gerard 

Skehan (Traditional Buildings Officer for the Islands, Central Planning Unit, Donegal County 

Council), Wes Forsythe (University of Ulster), and Annesley Malley. We also appreciate help 

from the following National Parks & Wildlife Service staff in obtaining existing data for the 

islands: Neil Lockhart, Rebecca Jeffrey and Naomi Kingston. We are very grateful for help from 

the following in identifying particular species: Ian Killeen and Evelyn Moorkens (terrestrial 

molluscs), Graham Day (terrestrial flora), Julia Nunn (marine flora and fauna), and Roy 

Anderson (terrestrial insects). We also wish to especially thank all those people, past and 

present, who have links with the islands for their hospitality and imparting useful historical 

information on the way of life on the islands in times past; notably Barry Edgar Pilcher, Hans 

and Catherine Schleweck, Donal Gallagher, Noreen Gallagher, Mary T. Gallagher, Helena 

Gallagher, Cáit Curran, Annette Gallagher, Eric Lehmann, Oscar Duffy, Liam Miller, Danny 

O’Donnell, Charlie O’Donnell, Phil Currid, Phil O’Donnell, Maureen O’Sullivan, and Margaret 

Duffy. 

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 

The inhabited islands off the County Donegal coast support a population of at least 775 people. 

These islands possess a rich natural, historical and archaeological heritage. Much of the research 

focus has been on the built or cultural heritage of these islands. For example: Comharchumann 

Forbartha agus Fostaíochta have begun a project to map all of the drinking water wells of 

Aranmore while Forsythe (2006) has examined some of the archaeology sites of the west 

Donegal islands. Although the natural heritage and biodiversity on inhabited islands is 

acknowledged through the designation of protected sites under the EU Habitats Directive 

(92/43/EEC) and EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) as Candidate Special Areas of Conservation 

(cSACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for Birds respectively (the so-called Natura 2000 

designations), there is a lack of baseline information on the rich biological diversity of flora, 

fauna and wildlife habitats that exists on islands inside (or outside) these designated areas. 

While census figures for County Donegal’s off-shore islands exhibit only slight increases in 

permanent populations, it belies a greater increase in seasonal residents. As a result of this 

population change, the biodiversity of off-shore islands is changing and important aspects of 

flora, fauna and wildlife habitats are disappearing. In order to guide sustainable economic 

development of these islands, more detailed information is therefore required on the biodiversity 

of these islands. 

Donegal County Development Plan (CDP) 2006-2012 (Chapter 8) seeks to protect the natural 

heritage of the County: 

‘to protect, and where possible enhance, plant and animal species and their habitat, which have 

been identified under the EU Habitats Directive, EU Birds Directive, the Wildlife Act and the 

Flora Protection Order’. 

Section 8.2 of the CDP deals directly with Natural Heritage. Policy BNH1 seeks: 

‘(a) to maintain, and where possible enhance, the conservation value of all pNHAs, cSACs, and 

SPAs, as identified by the minister for the DoEHLG, as well as many other sites that may be 

proposed for designation during the lifetime of this Plan and (b) ensure development proposals 

do not destroy or damage any sites of international or national importance, designated for their 

wildlife/habitat significance, including pNHAs, cSACs and SPAs.’ 

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Under Policy TC3(2)(4) of the Donegal CDP (2006-2012), it is the policy of Donegal County 

Council to “prepare an Island Strategy setting out in detail specific policies and programmes for 

the development of the islands”. Furthermore, one of the main product development areas 

identified in the County Development Plan is “Island Development” (Section 9.3., Donegal 

County Development Plan). 

The County Donegal Heritage Plan (2007-2011) lists a series of 79 “Actions” which would 

achieve one or more of five main objectives: 

Objective 1: To raise awareness and promote appreciation of County Donegal’s natural, 

built and cultural heritage. 

Objective 2: To collect, publish and disseminate data and information about County 

Donegal’s heritage. 

Objective 3: To promote best practice in the management and care of our natural, built 

and cultural heritage. 

Objective 4: To develop interest and knowledge in County Donegal’s heritage through 

access, education and training. 

Objective 5: To inform public policy and advocate the strategic and integrated 

management of heritage. 

Action 2.26 states: “Pilot an ecological study of one of the small inhabited islands off the 

Donegal coast”. This has been expanded to cover two islands in this study and, while it is 

focused on our natural heritage (rather than the built or cultural) and officially comes under 

Objective 2, it is hoped that it will contribute, to some degree, to all of the five objectives 

outlined above. 

The proposed study also addresses Action 7 in the Draft County Donegal Biodiversity Action 

Plan which is to “Undertake a pilot ecological study of an inhabited island to provide strategic 

advice on sustainable human settlements and maintenance of biodiversity. Consider the need for 

a Habitat Action Plan for marine islands based on the findings”. The proposed action is an 

opportunity to raise awareness of, gather data on, and promote ‘best practice’ in relation to the 

conservation of the flora, fauna and wildlife habitats on County Donegal’s off-shore islands. The 

two very different in character Donegal islands chosen for this study were Inis Fraoigh (Inisfree 

Upper), and Inis Meáin (Inishmeane). Islanders have worked the land and inshore waters for 

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centuries and it is their traditional farming practices that have determined the extent to which 

biodiversity has been maintained on the islands and in inshore waters. However, in recent 

decades these practices have declined or been eliminated to the long-term detriment of 

biodiversity in some instances. It is the restoration of these traditional land-use practices within 

an overall framework of sustainable economic development that offer the best hope of preserving 

the unique natural heritage of these islands for future generations to come. 

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CHAPTER 2: BACKGROUND 

AIMS OF THE STUDY 

Irish islands on account of their relative isolation and sparse populations support a diverse 

complement of semi-natural habitats and rare or uncommon species. It is the diversity of 

landforms and habitats as influenced by subtle differences in climate, soil and land-use history 

that has made the west Donegal islands so special in terms of their heritage and scenic beauty. 

There has been a long tradition of studying such land areas stretching back to the beginning of 

the twentieth century. The first Clare Island Survey of 1909-1911 was the most ambitious 

natural history project ever undertaken in Ireland and the first major biological survey of a 

specific area carried out in the world. Other comprehensive island studies have included Sherkin 

Island, County Cork Rocky Shore Monitoring programme which has been running from Sherkin 

Island Marine Station since 1975, with 69 sites surveyed annually on Sherkin Island and the 

islands of Roaringwater Bay, and in Dunmanus Bay. In 1995, the programme was extended 

along the coastline from Bantry Bay to Cork Harbour, increasing the number of sites to 144. In 

addition, Akeroyd (1996) has comprehensively researched the wild plants of Sherkin, Cape Clear 

and adjacent islands of west Cork. This pilot study, although not as comprehensive as the Clare 

Island or Sherkin surveys due to limited resources, is the most comprehensive study of a Donegal 

island ever undertaken by a team of ecologists. 

The main aims of the study were to: 

Identify and list the fauna and flora on Inishfree Upper and Inishmeane; 

Describe and map the wildlife habitats present using the habitat classification system of 

Fossitt (2000) and identify historical island ecology trends; 

Consult with key stakeholders in the collection of data/information and to raise awareness 

of biodiversity; and 

Make recommendations regarding the management and conservation of flora, fauna and 

wildlife habitats on the two islands while considering human settlement requirements. 

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METHODOLOGY 

A habitat survey of Inishfree Upper (including neighbouring Inishinny) and Inishmeane was 

carried out on selected dates in November 2008 and June-September 2009. The habitats were 

classified using the habitat classification system of Fossitt (2000). The main terrestrial habitats 

of Inishmeane and Inishfree Upper were mapped, using ArcView 9.2 GIS software, onto colour 

aerial photographs of the island (see Appendices 1a-1b). Rocky Sea Cliffs (CS1) and Shingle 

and Gravel Banks (CB1) and Littoral Rock (LR), and Littoral Sediment (LS) were not mapped. 

In some parts of the islands, especially on Inishfree Upper, the habitats change over very short 

distances and therefore these areas were mapped as mosaics. 

It was decided to focus on recording well-known relatively easily identifiable plant and animal 

groups that would best indicate the quality of the habitats on the islands. The groups chosen 

were flowering plants, moths and birds. In addition, marine biologist Julia Nunn aided by 

botanist Graham Day provided additional data on marine intertidal species. Casual observations 

of bryophytes (mosses and liverworts), terrestrial insects and terrestrial and freshwater molluscs 

were also recorded in the field or collected for identification at a later date. Collected specimens 

were submitted to various experts for identification. The experts were: Ian Killeen and Evelyn 

Moorkens (terrestrial and freshwater molluscs), and Roy Anderson (terrestrial insects). Five 

hundred and forty-three species were recorded on or around Inishfree Upper. In contrast, 346 

species were recorded on or around Inishmeane at least partly reflecting the higher habitat 

diversity on the former island. 

OVERVIEW OF IRISH ISLANDS 

By the mid-nineteenth century, about two hundred Irish islands were inhabited permanently. 

Nowadays, the number has dropped to some fifteen. The Famine, but mainly migration to the 

richer farms of east Donegal, or further afield to pick potatoes (‘tattie hoking’) in Scotland, led to 

the abandoning of the west Donegal islands. The population of Inishfree Upper in 1911 was 206 

after which there was a steady decline (Central Statistics Office, Dublin). Inishfree Upper was 

largely abandoned in 1975 and Inishmeane in the mid-1960s. Currently, Inishfree hosts only one 

permanent dweller. Both islands are mainly occupied seasonally for holiday purposes. Some 

holiday cottages are owned by the original islanders or their descendents while others have been 

sold to newcomers. Help for island communities from the government was limited or absent 

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until the 1980s. Prior to this, decisions were made by government to evacuate some islands. 

However, things began to be turned around when island co-ops were started. Comharchumann 

Oilean Árainn Mhór Teo (Arranmore Island Co-operative Limited) was registered in 1978. This 

cooperative focused its human and financial investments for the development of the island and 

the welfare of the community in conjunction with the public authorities. However, despite the 

setting up of these co-ops, a common feeling among the islanders was that a common voice was 

needed to lobby the national authorities. Therefore, in 1984, Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann 

(Irish Islands Federation) was created. Initially, the Irish Islands Federation’s main goal was to 

raise issues of concern to the islanders to the relevant public authorities. This lobbying 

eventually paid off in that the public authorities acknowledged that the islands deserved special 

actions to preserve and enhance a unique cultural and linguistic heritage (Loncle, 2006). 

The main objectives of Comhdháil are: 

Social, economic and cultural development aimed at fostering the full development of the 

individual in the island community; 

Representation for member island communities at local, national and European levels; & 

Providing a forum for island representatives. 

At the beginning, the Federation also presented a more specific objective: ‘Our ultimate demand 

is that the Government establish one Authority with total responsibility for islands and recognise 

Comhdháil na nOileáin as a consultative body to that Authority’ (Royle, 1986). 

Eventually the lobbying of the Federation finally led to success. In 1987, a governmental 

committee was created to deal with the islands. Following that, the islands were integrated 

within the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. Since 2002, a special 

division within the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, has looked after the 

affairs of the islands. The uniqueness of islands was officially recognised in a governmental 

report (Government of Ireland, 1996) that established a strategy for their development: 

‘To support island communities in their economic, social and cultural development, to preserve 

and enhance their unique cultural and linguistic heritage and to enable the islanders to secure 

access to adequate levels of public service so as to facilitate full and active participation in the 

overall economic and social life of the nation’. 

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LOCATION 

Inishfree Upper (Inis Fraoigh translated as Heather Island) is situated five kilometres west of 

Dungloe in the Parish of Templecrone. This island is sandwiched between Rutland Island to the 

north and Termon to the south. Its maximum altitude is c.14 metres (45 feet). The land area of 

the island surveyed during this study covered c.140 hectares. A pilot, small islands ferry service 

to the island from Burtonport commenced in the summer of 2009. The island forms part of 

Rutland Island and Sound candidate Special Area of Conservation (002283) (cSAC) under the 

EU Habitats Directive, as far as the Mean High Water Mark (MHWM) only. This cSAC has 

been designated to protect several habitats of European Conservation Importance notably fixed 

dunes, lagoons, marram dunes, embryonic shifting dunes, dune slacks, drift lines, reefs and large 

shallow inlets and bays. Species protected under Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive 79/409/EEC 

notably the Corncrake Crex crex and Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax has also been reported 

from the island but, in the case of the former species, not in recent years. 

The low-lying island of Inishmeane is situated one kilometre off the west Donegal coast within 

Gweedore Bay, in the Parish of Tullaghobegley. This island is sandwiched between Inishsirrer 

to the north and Gola Island to the southwest. Its maximum altitude is c.33 metres (100 feet). 

The land area of the island covers c.52 hectares. The island is accessible by boat from Bunbeg. 

The island forms part of a Special Protection Area for Birds (004131) under the EU Birds 

Directive 79/409/EEC. The site, together with neighbouring Inishsirrer, is also classified as an 

Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International as a result of its important population of 

wintering Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis, a species listed for protection under Annex 1 of the 

EU Birds Directive. In the winter of 1995 total numbers reached 300-400 (Birdlife International: 

www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html). The Important Bird Areas project identifies the 

key sites for bird conservation on objective scientific criteria and makes a strong case for their 

strict protection to sustain their important bird populations. 

Both islands are an occasional breeding site for up to five tern species: Common Tern Sterna 

hirundo, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea, Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii, Sandwich tern Sterna 

sandvicensis and Little Tern Sterna albifrons, all also listed for protection under the EU Birds 

Directive. 

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GEOLOGY 

The underlying bedrock of the two islands is granite. The granite has a well-marked jointed 

structure which gives the rock a roughly horizontal bedded appearance. This can be seen on the 

southern and western shores of Inishmeane when viewed from the sea (Photo 1). 

Photo 1: Granite Bedrock on Shores of Inishmeane 

The bedrock of the western two-thirds of the island of Inishfree Upper is Late Caledonian 

igneous intrusive grano-diorite rock, and the eastern third felsite and microgranite. In addition, 

glacial erratics (Photo 2) deposited during the last ice age occur on Inishfree Upper (such as at 

grid reference B 71482 12286). 

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Photo 2: Glacial Erratic on Inishfree Upper 

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SETTLEMENT 

Forsythe (2006) explored the archaeology sites of some of the west Donegal islands including 

Inishmeane in his Ph.D. thesis ‘Improving insularity: an archaeology of the islands off the north 

coast of Ireland in the later historic period, 1700-1847’. The earliest depictions of settlement in 

the islands are contained on early charts. MacKenzie’s 1759 view of the northwest coast shows 

Inishmeane with no houses. However, on the southern tip of Inishmeane, there is a place called 

Calluragh Point. This placename indicates a burial ground (Lacey et al., 1983). In addition, 

evidence of past settlement on Inishmeane is seen from the variety of stone structures on the 

island not only the houses (Photos 3 & 4) but also what may have been a granite kelp store made 

from dry-stone blocks with cement in places which would appear to have been used as a modern 

animal shelter. 

Photo 3: View from the Sea of Settlement on Inishmeane 

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Photo 4: Typical Houses on Inishmeane 

In addition, rectangular seaweed drying platforms above the beaches comprising large granite 

blocks also occur. An admiralty chart dating from 1854 and surveyed by Captain G.A. Bedford 

shows the settlement pattern on Inishmeane at that time (Photo 5) (Source: National Library of 

Ireland, Dublin). 

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Photo 5: Admiralty Chart Dating from 1854 Showing Inishmeane 

Ireland’s Valuation Office conducted its first survey of property ownership in Ireland from 

1848 to 1864. This survey became known as Griffith’s Valuation after Richard Griffith who was 

the director of the office at that time. It states that Inishmeane was controlled by the landlord 

Lord George A. Hill with an area of 117 statute acres, 0 roods and 6 perches comprising 1 house, 

19 offices and land (Annesley Malley, pers. comm.). The spread of settlement on this island can 

be seen by comparing the 6” colour (1834-1842) O.S. map of Inishmeane and the 25” black and 

white (1887-1913) O.S. map showing that, by the latter date, the number of houses on the island 

had substantially increased. 

MacKenzie’s 1759 view shows buildings on the north and east coast of Inishfree. The map 

evidence points to a strong continuity of settlement from the mid-eighteenth century to the 

present. There are no archaeological monuments recorded on the island and very few in the 

Rosses or Gweedore as a whole. However, a feature of historical importance to the islanders is 

the Mass Rock (Photo 6) on the eastern coast of the island where mass was held in secret during 

Penal Times. 

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Photo 6: Mass Rock on Inishfree Upper 

The period from 1691 to 1761 was the age of the Penal Laws against Catholics in Ireland when a 

determined effort was made to consolidate the Protestant ascendancy. 

In the eighteenth century, the islands of northwest Donegal were used mainly by the inhabitants 

of the mainland as summer grazing (booleying) grounds for cattle. It seems that as the 

populations in hilly areas of west Donegal increased in the late eighteenth and nineteenth 

centuries, the traditional booleying places often became permanent homes (Gerard Skehan, pers. 

comm.). In Inishfree, although most settlement is in the northeast quarter of this island, houses 

are not as clustered as on neighbouring Aranmore. Instead, they are scattered along the 

shoreline. This may be due not only to the advantages of being close to the shore for fishing and 

seaweed but the fact that settlement was restricted by the low, boggy ground over much of the 

island until drainage in the early nineteenth century was achieved by digging deep ditches over 

one-metre deep by two-metres wide. An admiralty chart dating from 1854 and surveyed by 

Captain G.A. Bedford shows the settlement pattern on Inishfree Upper at that time (Photo 7) 

(Source: National Library of Ireland, Dublin). 

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Photo 7: Admiralty Chart Dating from 1854 Showing Inishfree Upper 

In addition, a 6” O.S. map in the Conyngham Estate Papers housed in the National Library, 

Dublin annotated with the year 1913 shows the island subdivided into numbered plots probably 

held by individual tenants (Photo 8). 

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Photo 8: 6” OS Map Showing Tenant Plots on Inishfree Upper in 1913 

The old network of now revegetating tracks and field systems is still visible on Inishfree Upper 

and Inishmeane (Photo 9) delimited by old dry-stone walls now collapsed or hidden under 

vegetation and earthen banks. 

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Photo 9: Old Trackway on Inishmeane 

New fields were laid out in the form of strip boundaries (walls) which fan out from a central 

point on the island. These were originally up to 563 metres long and have been further sub- 

divided into smaller parcels. By 1851, although the fan pattern had been laid out, only a small 

part of the southern coast close to settlement had been successfully reclaimed. It is likely that the 

nearby tenants undertook this task. 

In 1876, the Conynghams owned lands in County Donegal amounting to 122,300 acres. The 

earliest records relating to the Conyngham estates date from Brigadier Henry Conyngham who 

flourished in the late seventeenth century. Inishfree, along with most of the Rosses, became the 

property of the Marquis of Conyngham in the late seventeenth century. It was then settled by the 

Alcorn and Grant families some time in the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries. Griffith’s 

Valuation states that Inishfree Upper encompassed an area of 341 acres, 0 roods and 18 perches. 

Settlement comprised 30 houses (Photos 10 &11) with land, 1 office and land, 7 land only and a 

schoolhouse (Photos 12 & 13) with farm size varying from 1 acre to 65.5 acres (Annesley 

Malley, pers. comm.). 

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Photo 10: Typical Vernacular Houses on Inishfree Upper 

Photo 11: Vernacular Longhouse on Inishfree Upper 

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Photo 12: The Old Schoolhouse on Inishfree Upper 

Photo 13: Interior of Abandoned Schoolhouse on Inishfree Upper 

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The only two-storey house on the island is claimed to have been built by the forebears of 

President Ulysses Simpson Grant, 18th President of the United States (1860-1877). Judging 

from architectural and cartographic evidence, it dates to at least the early nineteenth century 

(Gerard Skehan, pers. comm.). 

As already mentioned, the islands were depopulated during the twentieth century due to the 

harsh living conditions, emigration and lack of government support. Duffy (2004) gives a 

detailed account of the history of settlement on Inishfree in her book ‘Īníshfree: A Tribute to a 

Donegal Island and its People’. 

After the original islanders left in the mid-1970s, a commune was set up on the island for a 

number of years. Currently, there is only one full-time resident on Inishfree Upper. Although 

still largely depopulated at least during the harsher winter months, houses on both islands are 

being restored as holiday homes by the original islanders and their descendents, or by 

newcomers. Overall there is renewed interest in the cultural and natural heritage of these islands. 

On Inishfree, arts have flourished with some arts exhibition and workshops organised, and an 

Inishfree Writers’ Group created. The link between islanders remains strong with regular 

reunions for the islanders and their descendents organised on Inishfree Upper. There have been 

recent developments on both islands – for example, the installation of an electrical and 

freshwater supply to Inishfree Upper, and resurfacing of tracks and improved landing facilities 

on Inishmeane. 

However without careful planning within an overall framework of sustainable economic 

development, land-use changes, whether initiated by islanders or by newcomers not in tune with 

traditional practices, will potentially have an adverse effect on the unique heritage of the islands. 

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AGRICULTURE AND FISHING 

The earliest detailed description of social conditions in west Donegal is an account of life in the 

Rosses written in 1753 by an anonymous writer and published by JC Walker in his historical 

memoirs of the Irish Bards in 1786 showing that the livelihood of the peasants was derived from 

farming and that fishing was established in the area. 

Agriculture has always been harsh on these islands on account of the rocky terrain. Much of the 

islands are comprised of rock exposed at the surface with limited areas suitable for cultivation, 

on account of the thin, poor-quality topsoil. Areas suitable for cultivation are very sparse and, 

even then, the soil has required continual enrichment to maintain its fertility (typically using 

seaweed, shell sand and animal dung). 

The climate of the west Donegal islands is maritime, with mild temperatures and moderate to 

high precipitation. West Donegal and its fringing islands have a cloudy, cool and excessively 

moist climate. Data for the Rosses is very incomplete. There was a weather station at Bunbeg 

but this only operated between 1956 and 1959. Glenties is the nearest weather station 30 miles 

south of Bunbeg – records dating back to 1923. Average annual rainfall total is 1,525 mm with a 

minimum in spring and early summer. Rain days vary between 225 and 250 in a year. However, 

strong winds and heavy seas in autumn, winter and spring restrict any sea-related activity - 

notably marine transport and fishing. 

Historically, a diverse range of crops were grown on the islands (and in the Rosses as a whole) 

including potatoes, hay, corn and barley, with flax also grown elsewhere in the Rosses on the 

Conyngham Estate. Potato ridges or ‘lazy beds’ are clearly visible in places on both islands. 

Inishfree Upper has traditionally been grazed with sheep and cattle. Some of this livestock was, 

and still is, brought over from the mainland and neighbouring islands (such as Aranmore). Hens, 

geese, donkeys and pigs would also have been kept on the islands. 

On the 6” colour (1834-1842) O.S. map of Inishmeane, a corn kiln is sited due south of the cluster 

of houses and school on the southeastern corner of the island. This corn kiln, however, was not 

marked on the 25” black and white (1887-1913) O.S. map. A diverse range of vegetables would 

have been grown near to the houses. On Inishfree Upper, vegetables are still grown around the 

house of the only permanent resident. Recently two beehives have been installed on the island 

using the threatened native Dark European Bee Apis mellifera mellifera (Hans Schleweck, pers. 

26

comm.). This will play an important role in the study, conservation, restoration and improvement 

of this species with the potential of establishing a new cottage industry on the island. In addition, 

Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann has launched a horticulture programme implemented with success 

on some islands. An organic communal allotment scheme could be considered on Inishfree Upper 

but, at the present time, would not be justified on Inishmeane. Produce could be for personal 

consumption when the island is more populated during the summer months or sold on the 

mainland through farmers markets as branded Inishfree Upper products. 

Islanders would have lived on a diet dominated by milk, potatoes and fish with tea, bread and 

butter. Turf was cut on both islands in summer and stacked to dry out for winter use. This 

practice has largely ceased on both islands allowing the bog to recover to some extent. Hay was 

traditionally cut later on in summer in west Donegal. Corn was usually ripe for cutting in 

September with harvesting of turnips and potatoes the last tasks of autumn. During the winter, 

the corn was threshed. Drains were also cleared and ditches and fences mended in winter – 

weather permitting. 

In the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the islands were used mainly by inhabitants of 

the mainland as seasonal grazing grounds for cattle but, as large permanent island populations 

grew up, the islanders increasingly developed a dependence on fishing. In the nineteenth 

century, the Sprat Sprattus sprattus were one of the chief foods of the coastal communities 

during the late summer months. The flesh of fish was salted for the winter. Inishmeane formerly 

relied a lot on fishing (Aalen & Brody, 1969). Fishing as a whole faces a number of difficulties 

in modern times (and west Donegal is no exception), namely an ageing fleet, infrastructural 

weaknesses, poor access to markets, regulatory constraints and issues associated with pricing and 

the sustainability of stocks. Overfishing, or unsustainable fishing practices such as bottom 

trawling, causes a lot of damage to marine life. Overall fishing is more seasonal. The main 

species fished were traditionally the Herring Clupea harengus, Salmon Salmo salar and later the 

Lobster Homarus gammarus (Nautilus Consultants, 2007). All fishing activity in Gweedore Bay 

is currently small-scale, inshore potting activity, targeting Lobster with a bycatch of the Brown 

or Edible Crab Cancer pagurus (Bord Iascaigh Mhara, pers. comm.). 

The people in the Rosses pursued seals and porpoises for their flesh and used the sealskins for 

their shoes and for their curraghs, although the latter were usually covered with horse or 

cowhide. The coastline also provided edible seaweeds, shellfish, seabirds and their eggs which, 

are now, no longer consumed. 

27

DESIGNATED AREAS 

Forty-seven cSACs and 24 SPAs have been designated in County Donegal owing to the 

threatened habitats and rare species of high conservation value that they support. Inishmeane has 

been incorporated into the Inishsirrer and Inishmeane SPA (004131). It is also part of the 

Gweedore Bay and Islands cSAC under the EU Habitats Directive (site code 001141). This 

latter site is an extensive coastal zone situated between Bloody Foreland in the north and 

Burtonport in the south and near the towns of Derrybeg, Bunbeg and Annagry. It includes a 

large stretch of coastline and coastal habitats along with many islands including Inishsirrer, 

Inishmeane, Gola, Umfin, Inishfree Lower, Cruit and Owey, and areas of marine water between 

the islands and the coast. The site is of high ecological value for the occurrence of a wide range 

of coastal habitats including areas of well-developed machair and sand dunes. Associated with 

the dune systems are dune slacks with their own unique plant communities. These occur in both 

small, seasonally-flooded depressions interspersed between areas of high fixed dune and more 

extensive flat areas. It contains thirteen habitats that are listed; four with priority status on 

Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive and, as such, is of considerable conservation significance. 

Several of the bird species that use the site are listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive, such 

as Barnacle Goose, Chough, Great Northern Diver Gavia immer, Storm Petrel Hydrobates 

pelagicus and the Tern species, and, as such, are of particular significance. 

The site is notable for the presence of a number of rare plants species including the aquatic 

Slender Naiad Najas flexilis and the liverwort Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii, both of which are 

listed on Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive. Other scarce mosses recorded from the site 

include Distichium inclinatum and Rhodobryum roseum. Also found on the site are Small-white 

Orchid Pseudorchis albida, a protected species (Flora Protection Order, 1987) and the threatened 

Red Data Book species, Hoary Whitlowgrass Draba incana and the nationally scarce small fern, 

Moonwort Botrychium lunaria. 

Only the marine part of Inishfree Upper has been incorporated into the Rutland Island and Sound 

cSAC (site code: 002283). Rutland Island and Sound cSAC contains important examples of 

eight habitats listed on Annex 1 of the EU Habitats Directive namely fixed dunes, lagoons, 

marram dunes, embryonic shifting dunes, dune slacks, drift lines, reefs and shallow inlets and 

bays. It also includes beds of the valuable Eelgrass. The site supports a number of rare marine 

species including the hydroid Laomedea angulata. 

28

European and national legislation places a collective obligation on Ireland and its citizens to 

maintain at favourable conservation status areas designated as cSACs and SPAs. The 

Government and its agencies are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of 

regulations that will ensure the ecological integrity of these sites. 

According to the EU Habitats Directive, favourable conservation status of a habitat is achieved 

when: 

Its natural range, and area it covers within that range, is stable or increasing, 

The ecological factors that are necessary for its long-term maintenance exist are likely to 

continue to exist for the foreseeable future, and 

The conservation status of its typical species is favourable. The favourable conservation 

status of a species is achieved when: 

Population data on the species concerned indicate that it is maintaining itself, and 

The natural range of the species is neither being reduced or likely to be reduced 

for the foreseeable future, and 

There is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain 

its populations on a long-term basis. 

Conservation management plans are currently being produced for all these sites to ensure that the 

maintenance of the favourable conservation status of these sites is addressed. However, to date, 

these are not at an advanced stage for the aforementioned sites. Any conservation 

recommendations for the islands need to be in line with those in any future conservation 

management plans. Sites are usually zoned in these plans to ensure that the highest conservation 

areas are protected. Natural Zones are areas of high conservation value, which require no or 

little management intervention. Areas of Active Management are areas of high conservation 

value where high management input is needed to maintain, rehabilitate and restore them to a 

more desirable state. Intensively Used Areas/Infrastructure Zones (such as buildings and 

artificial surfaces) form an integral part of a nature conservation site. Impact Zones are areas 

outside the site where activities may have an impact on the site. Operations within designated 

areas that may require consent from National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) include: 

Land drainage including blocking, altering or deepening watercourses or wetlands, 

Burning of rooted vegetation, 

Causing erosion by any means (such as driving vehicles and riding horses), 

Commercial or private recreational activities liable to cause significant disturbance to 

birds, 

29 

Formatted: Bullets and 

Numbering 


Numbering

Construction or alteration of fences, tracks, paths, roads, embankments, car parks or 

access routes, 

Deliberate scaring of birds, 

Dumping, burning, disposal or storing of any materials including wastes, 

Grazing of livestock above a recommended density and period (as defined in NPWS 

Farm Plans or prescriptions under REPS [Rural Environment Protection Scheme] or other 

Government approved agricultural and/or environment schemes), 

Introduction (or re-introduction) into the wild of plants or animals species not currently 

found in the area, 

Vegetation clearance or habitat destruction except for routine maintenance, 

Planting of trees, 

Reclamation, in-filling, ploughing or otherwise disturbing the substrate, removal of soil, 

mud, sand, gravel, rock or minerals, 

Removing or altering walls or ruined buildings that may be roost sites for bats, 

Broad-scale application of any pesticide or herbicide. 

30

ISLAND FARMING AND WILDLIFE 

The natural heritage present on these islands cannot be divorced from its cultural history. There 

is documentary and anecdotal evidence of a long island tradition of working the land on these 

islands in ways that have ensured the survival of a wide range of semi-natural habitats and their 

associated flora and fauna, including many rare and uncommon species. Both islands, on 

account of their relative isolation and depopulated status, supported a diverse range of marine 

and terrestrial habitats of high conservation value. 

Owing to depopulation, however, traditional land management practices have declined. As a 

result, the favourable conservation status of some of these habitats (such as the semi-natural 

grasslands) is under threat. An example of adverse changes is undergrazing of the semi-natural 

grasslands on both islands resulting in a rank grassland sward. Recent changes to the Common 

Agricultural Policy, which break the link between subsidy and production, mean that the future 

of livestock grazing is at risk in large areas of the country because farmers no longer have to 

keep unprofitable enterprises running in order to receive subsidy. In this regard, Inishmeane was 

sheep and cattle-grazed not less than 15 years ago (Charlie O’Donnell, pers. comm.). 

Commonage Framework Plans have been produced to establish appropriate grazing regimes in 

order to address the serious issue of overgrazing of western pastures. Farmers must conform to 

the Commonage Framework Plan with regard to outwintering and stock levels. A Commonage 

Framework Plan for Inishmeane (dated February 2003) concluded that no destocking was 

necessary in that the pastures on these islands are undergrazed. Livestock grazing plays a key 

role in maintaining species-rich habitats by controlling more aggressive species which would 

otherwise dominate these areas and by preventing scrub encroachment (English Nature, 2005) 

that would lead to the shading out of the unique grassland flora. Fauna such as breeding waders 

may also suffer in that if a sward becomes too rank, breeding success is curtailed. 

31

CHAPTER 3: PLANTS AND VEGETATION 

HABITATS ON INISHFREE UPPER 

Stone Walls and Other Stonework (BL1) 

Although these are often not stockproof as they have not been maintained due to depopulation, 

they are characteristic of a particular area, both in the way they have been established and in the 

patterns they form in the landscape. They must be sensitively managed and removal not 

permitted. They also provide a valuable habitat for plants, animals and birds. Where soil has 

accumulated, they are often colonized with heath and grassland species with shade tolerant ferns 

(such as Hard-fern Blechnum spicant and Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata) within 

crevices between the stones. 

Rocky Sea Cliffs (CS1) and Shingle and Gravel Banks (CB1) 

The following species were recorded on more accessible coastal cliffs and rocks: Wild Thyme 

Thymus polytrichus (Photo 14), Thrift Armeria maritima, Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata, 

Buck’s-horn Plantain P. coronopus, Red Fescue Festuca rubra, Common Scurvygrass 

Cochlearia officinalis, the lichens Ramalina siliquosa, Verrucaria maura and Caloplaca marina 

and the moss Schistidium maritimum, the latter only found on coastal rocks beyond the spray 

zone. 

32

Photo 14: Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus 

Shingle and Gravel Banks were colonised with patches of Festuca rubra and occasional 

Plantago lanecolata, P. coronopus, Curled Dock Rumex crispus, Sand Sedge Carex arenaria, 

Sea Sandwort Honckenya peploides, White Clover Trifolium repens, Armeria maritima, Sea 

Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum, Cochlearia officinalis, and the lichen Ramalina 

siliquosa. There were also small discrete areas of unvegetated shingle around the coast (such as 

at grid reference B 70842 11993). 

33

Reed and Large Sedge Swamps (FS1) 

Common Reed Phragmites australis occurs in small patches on the island notably at grid 

reference B71311 12303 intermixed with wet grassland and dense bracken and at grid reference 

B 71654 12350. It also occurs in small stands on the rocky shore (such as at grid reference B 

70968 11740). 

Scrub (WS1) 

There is little in the way of tree cover on Inishfree Upper except for a line of aspen (Photo 15) 

Photo 15: Aspen Populus tremula 

along the edge of an inland cliff (grid reference B 71428 12298) grading into stands of Eared 

Willow Salix aurita. Willow scrub occurs at B 71799 11782 intermixed with Bramble Rubus 

fruticosus agg. but scrub cover was generally sparse on the island as a whole often grading into 

other habitats such as wet grassland. There are also small areas of Gorse Ulex europaeus scrub 

on lens of dry mineral soil within the bog/heath complex (such as at grid reference B 71969 

11984). In addition, on the western side of the island there was an extensive area of willow 

planted around one of the inhabited buildings. The planting of additional areas of willow and 

34

scrub species in general would provide much needed additional nesting habitat and shelter for 

resident and migrant bird species. 

Woody species making up the scrub around some of the many old ruined buildings were Wild 

Privet Ligustrum vulgare, Larch Larix sp., Hazel Corylus avellana, Escallonia Escallonia sp., 

Blackthorn Prunus spinosa, Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, and Elder Sambucus nigra; the 

latter hosting the fungus Auricularia auricula-judae. Other herbs around the ruined houses 

included non-native garden species such as Montbretia Crocosmia x crocosmiflora, and New 

Zealand Flax Phormium tenax. Ivy often occurs on the ruined buildings. 

There was evidence for a more extensive tree cover on Inishfree Upper in the past. Firstly, the 

presence of numerous stumps of Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris under deep peat and secondly, the 

presence of typical woodland herbs (such as Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella and Primrose 

Primula vulgaris) in rock crevices which protects them from livestock grazing. 

35

Cutover Bog (PB4) 

This habitat type (Photo 16) often forms a complex mosaic with wet heath and wet grassland. 

Photo 16: Cutover Blanket Bog 

Old peat banks and the occasional peat hagg (indicating the original level of the peat) colonised 

with Heather Calluna vulgaris and Bell Heather Erica cinerea occur throughout this habitat. 

The peat surface is largely well vegetated indicating that this is old cutover bog. However it 

lacks the diversity of vegetation structure and characteristic undisturbed pool/hummock 

complexes of intact blanket bog as well as characteristic bog mosses indicative of intact bog (e.g. 

Sphagnum magellanicum and Sphagnum imbricatum). 

Remnant bog species included patchy cover of Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix, building and 

carpet stage Calluna vulgaris, Bog Pimpernel Anagallis tenella, Black Bog-rush Schoenus 

nigricans, Many-stalked Spike-rush Eleocharis multicaulis, Round-leaved Sundew Drosera 

rotundifolia, Star Sedge Carex echinata, Tormentil Potentilla erecta, Purple Moor-grass Molinia 

caerulea, Bog Asphodel Narthecium ossifragum, Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis, 

Deergrass Trichophorum cespitosum, Common Cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium and 

36

Carnation Sedge Carex panicea, the liverwort Odontoschisma sphagni, and mosses including 

Hylocomnium splendens, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrum lanuginosum, Polytrichum 

commune, Campylopus atrovirens, and C. introflexus. There were also large treacherous wet 

carpets and low hummocks of the bog mosses Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum and 

Sphagnum capillifolium (Photo 17) in places. 

Photo 17: Sphagnum capillifolium hummock 

The lichen Cladonia portentosa was also locally abundant with C. uncialis less common. Marsh 

Pennywort Hydrocotyle vulgaris and Anagallis tenella, Carex echinata, Schoenus nigricans and 

Bog-myrtle Myrica gale occurred in more flushed sloping areas in conjunction with Molinia 

caerulea. The aeration of the peat due to drainage is indicated by the presence of Soft-rush 

Juncus effusus stands in places. A Sphagnum squarrosum-dominated intermixed with carpets of 

Anagallis tenella, Jointed Rush Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, and Yorkshire-fog Holcus 

lanatus. A flush occurs at Grid ref. B 71267 11588. 

The cutover bog contained old bog pools in places. The largest found on the island was at Grid 

ref. B 71668 12020 measuring c. 20m x 20m and colonised with extensive stands of Eriophorum 

37

angustifolium together with carpets of the bog moss Sphagnum cuspidatum. Other bog pools 

contained abundant Bog Pondweed Potamogeton polygonifolius. The Sphagnum cover (the 

main species being Sphagnum cuspidatum, S. capillifolium and S. papillosum) on the old cutover 

bog was quite extensive in places where high watertables are being maintained (e.g. where water 

collects at the base of gentle slopes or at the foot of peat banks). In wetter areas (e.g. along 

drains), Royal Fern Osmunda regalis is very common (Photo 18). 

Photo 18: Royal Fern Osmunda regalis 

This fern is very frequent in suitable habitat in western Ireland but much rarer in the eastern half 

of the country. 

An interesting feature on the old cutover bog was the presence of stumps of bog pine (Photo 19) 

(e.g. at Grid ref. B 71449 11939 and B 71463 11938) indicating that the island was once covered 

in forest before the climate became wetter and allowed blanket bog to form and dominate. 

Including the root spread, these stumps were up to 1m across. 

38

Photo 19: Bog Pine on Inishfree Upper 

39

Exposed Siliceous Rock (ER1) 

This occurs throughout the island both on the coast and inland. These rocky outcrops (Photo 20) 

Photo 20: Exposed Siliceous Rock 

support a diverse range of higher plants, ferns, bryophytes and crustose and foliose lichens 

namely Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre, Sheep’s Sorrel Rumex acetosella, Red Fescue Festuca 

rubra, Heath Bedstraw Galium saxatile, Thymus praecox, Cat’s-ear Hypochoeris radicata, 

Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum (Photo 21), Bell Heather Erica cinerea, Polypody 

Polypodium vulgare, Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris dilatata, Ctenidium molluscum, Dicranum 

scoparium, Hylocomnium splendens, Thamnobryum alopecurum, Frullania tamarisci, Cladonia 

ciliata, Peltigera lactucifolia, and in more coastal areas Ramalina siliquosa. 

40

Photo 21: Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum 

41

Drainage Ditches (FW4) 

These occur sporadically throughout the island. They support such species as Potamogeton 

polygonifolius, Water-starwort Callitriche agg., Common Duckweed Lemna minor, Plicate 

Sweet-grass Glyceria notata, Water Mint Mentha aquatica, Bristle Club-rush Isolepis setacea, 

Marsh Horsetail Equisetum palustre, Bulbous Rush Juncus bulbosus, False Fox-sedge Carex 

otrubae, Brookweed Samolus valerandi, Purple-loosestrife Lythrum salicaria, Common Marsh- 

bedstraw Galium palustre, Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus, 

Fool’s-water-cress Apium nodiflorum, Water-cress Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum, Creeping 

Buttercup Ranunculus repens and Lesser Spearwort Ranunculus flammula. The most species- 

rich drain was what is known locally as the March Ditch. 

Improved Agricultural Grassland (Improved) (GA1) 

This grassland type consisting of a species-poor Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne-Crested 

Dog’s-tail Cynosuros cristatus sward of relatively low conservation value occurs around some of 

the old ruined buildings. 

Wet Grassland (GA4) 

Wet grassland (Photo 22) covers large areas of the eastern part of the island as a stand-alone 

habitat. It also occurs in smaller stands as a complex mosaic with dry siliceous heath, wet heath, 

dense bracken and bramble stands, old revegetated cutover bog and exposed siliceous rock. It 

commonly occurred on the wet ground between rocky outcrops (Photo 23). 

42

Photo 22: Species-rich Wet Grassland 

43

Photo 23: Wet Grassland in Hollow Between Rocky Outcrops 

This often-rank grassland type varied in species richness and sward height depending on grazing 

history, degree of improvement and soil wetness. The ranker stands with colonising bramble 

have probably not been grazed in some time. The wet grassland generally occurred on peaty 

substrates. 

The species composition of this grassland type comprised dense stands of the rushes Juncus 

effusus, Sharp-flowered Rush Juncus acutiflorus, and J. articulatus, together with a diverse range 

of other grasses and herbs namely Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, Holcus lanatus, 

Bush Vetch Vicia sepium, Cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata, Velvet Bent Agrostis canina, 

Angelica Angelica sylvestris, Trifolium repens, Red Clover Trifolium pratense, Yellow-rattle 

Rhinanthus minor, Marsh Ragwort Senecio aquaticus, Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza 

fuchsii, Self-heal Prunella vulgaris, Silverweed Potentilla anserina, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, 

Anagallis tenella, Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis, Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca, Oval 

Sedge Carex ovalis, Ranunculus repens, Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris, Marsh Thistle 

Cirsium palustre, Galium palustre, Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, Marsh Willowherb 

Epilobium palustre, Carex echinata, Amphibious Bistort Persicaria amphibia, Tufted Vetch 

44

Vicia cracca, Plantago lanceolata, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Common Sorrel 

Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus flammula, Cynosuros cristatus, Lythrum salicaria, Common 

Knapweed Centaurea nigra and the mosses Scleropodium purum, Calliergonella cuspidata, 

Thuidium tamariscinum, Sphagnum palustre, and Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus. 

These grasslands support wading birds such as Snipe Gallinago gallinago. Snipe were flushed at 

a number of locations throughout the island. The grasslands also supported a high population of 

such butterflies as Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina and Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus. 

Dry Siliceous Heath (HH1) 

This often sheep-grazed habitat occurred on shallow peat overlying high rocky ground (Photo 

24) stretching right down to the coast in places and in these locations could be called coastal 

heath. 

Photo 24: Dry Heath 

However all dry heath has been mapped in a general heath category either as a stand-alone 

habitat in its own right or in intimate, often complex, mosaics with other habitats including what 

45

might be called wet heath (Figure 1). This heath has a species composition of wind-clipped 

carpets of Calluna vulgaris often intermixed with extensive carpets of the liverwort Frullania 

tamarisci and the lichen Cladonia ciliata. Other species included Erica cinerea, Hypochoeris 

radicata, Green-ribbed Sedge Carex binervis, Trifolium repens, Potentilla erecta, Pilosella 

officinarum, Mountain Everlasting Antennaria dioica, Sheep’s-bit Jasione montana, Lousewort 

Pedicularis sylvatica, Eyebright Euphrasia sp., Bitter-cress Lathyrus linifolius, Slender St 

John’s-wort Hypericum pulchrum, Heath-grass Danthonia decumbens, Burnet Rose Rosa 

pimpinellifolia, Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis, Brown Bent Agrostis vinealis, Milkwort 

Polygala sp., Anthoxanthum odoratum, Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, Thymus 

polytrichus, Mat-grass Nardus stricta, and the bryophytes Dicranum scoparium, Rhytidiadelphus 

loreus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Hylocomium splendens, Frullania tamarisci, Pleurozium 

schreberi, and Hypnum jutlandicum and the lichen Peltigera lactucifolia. The dry heath was 

eroded down to bare rock and gravel in several places probably due to a combination of natural 

climatic factors and overgrazing by sheep. Nardus stricta was locally abundant indicating 

overgrazing. The dry heath often forms a complex mosaic with other habitats namely exposed 

siliceous rock, cutover bog, wet heath, Bramble stands and dense Bracken Pteridium aquilinum; 

the latter often at the sheltered bases of the rocky outcrops. The granite rocks themselves 

supported mats of English Stonecrop Sedum anglicum (Photo 25) and cushions of Racomitrium 

lanuginosum. The heath was in very good condition in places although blasted short by a 

combination of strong coastal winds and probably sheep grazing. 

Photo 25: English Stonecrop Sedum anglicum 

46

Wet Heath (HH3) 

Wet Heath occurs on shallower peat to bog proper often in mosaic with cutover bog, dense 

bracken and bramble stands, wet grassland, dry siliceous heath and exposed siliceous rock. A 

common scenario was the wet heath and wet grassland being confined to the wet hollows 

between the expanses of exposed siliceous rock. However all wet heath has been mapped in a 

general heath category either as a stand-alone habitat in its own right or in intimate often 

complex mosaics with other habitats including what might be called dry heath that occurs either 

inland or around the coast (Figure 1). In some parts of the site, wet heath may have been 

derived from the degradation of blanket bog by drainage associated with past turbary activities. 

The wet heath has a species composition of Calluna vulgaris, Creeping Willow Salix repens, 

Erica tetralix, Molinia caerulea, Succisa pratensis, Pedicularis sylvatica, Potentilla erecta, and 

wefts of the mosses Thuidium tamariscinum, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pleurozium schreberi, 

Sphagnum papillosum, Aulacomium palustre, Hylocomium splendens, Dicranum scoparium, 

Scleropodium purum and Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus and the liverwort Mylia taylorii. Raw peat 

surfaces were colonised with Carex panicea and Eriophorum angustifolium. In some places, the 

heath is grassy in character with Cynosuros cristatus, Plantago lanceolata, Centaurea nigra, 

Agrostis canina and Trifolium repens entering the vegetation. In the more intensively grazed 

areas, (and also on the dry Calluna heath), waxcap fungi (Hygrocybe spp.) were abundant 

including Hygrocybe pratensis, H. virgineus, H. conica and H. punicea. This group of attractive 

brightly coloured fungi are important indicators of unimproved grasslands. In contrast to 

Inishmeane, these fungi were noticeably more abundant. The sheep and cattle on Inishfree 

Upper help to maintain the short sward height favoured by these fungi. Grazers have the full run 

of the island, with many of the fences in poor repair allowing easy access. Currently circa 50 

sheep graze the island from November to March and circa 20 head of cattle and 10-15 calves 

from June to the end of October under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (Hans 

Schleweck, pers. comm.). 

47

Dense Bracken (HD1) 

Bracken occurred in dense stands (Photo 26), often with Bramble, as a stand-alone habitat both 

near the coast and inland at the sheltered base of rocky outcrops or covered the dry field banks. 

Photo 26: Bracken Pteridium aquilinum in Mosaic with Dry Heath 

It also occurred as a mosaic with wet grassland, neutral grassland and machair in stands of 

varying density depending on location. Under the shade cast by the less dense bracken stands, 

plants tolerant of shade such as Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum and Oxalis acetosella 

occurred. As scrub is not common on the island, the denser Bracken and Bramble stands play a 

vital role in providing valuable nesting cover for breeding birds. A breeding bird survey was 

carried out in spring 2009. The wet heath is often uniform in structure possessing a limited 

number of dominant species. There was, however, no sign of heather dieback from burning or 

due to Heather Beetle damage anywhere on the site apart from a small area (2m²) at Grid. ref. 

B 71557 11673. 

48

Machair (CD6) 

The word ‘machair’ is Irish, meaning an extensive, low-lying fertile plain. The word ‘machair’ 

features in Irish placenames, such as Maghera Strand in County Donegal. ‘Machair’ has now 

become a recognised scientific term for a specific coastal feature, defined by some as a type of 

dune pasture (often calcareous due to a high shell content) that historically has been subject to 

local cultivation, and has developed in wet and windy conditions. Machair is one of the rarest 

habitats in Europe, found only in the north and west of Britain and Ireland. Machair has arisen 

by the erosion of sand dunes by the prevailing wind. The plant species richness of machair can 

be very high giving a blaze of colour in summer (Photos 27-28) from the white flowers of 

Euphrasia sp., and Wild Carrot Daucus carota, the yellow flowers of Buttercups Ranunculus 

spp., and Lotus corniculatus to the red and purple flowers of Trifolium pratense, and Prunella 

vulgaris. 

Photo 27: Machair on Gently Undulating Ground 

49

Photo 28: Machair on Sandy Ridge 

Often there are damper areas within machair colonized by Silverweed Potentilla anserina, 

Ragged-Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi and Rhinathus minor. Orchids are particularly diverse in 

machair. During this project, a special study of the orchids of the islands was carried out as part 

of the OrchidIreland survey which aims to update our knowledge on the status and distribution of 

our native orchid species (Photos 29-30) on the Island of Ireland. 

50

Photo 29: Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea 

Photo 30: Frog Orchid Coeloglossum viride 

51

The project is funded by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Northern Ireland 

Environment Agency (NIEA), with support form CEDaR, Ulster Museum and National 

Biodiversity Data Centre, Waterford. 

Machair is concentrated in the northeastern corner of Inishfree Upper. Species in the grassland 

sward comprised Prunella vulgaris, Violet Viola sp., Daisy Bellis perennis, Trifolium repens, 

Carex flacca, Plantago lanceolata, Dandelion Taraxacum officinale agg., Succisa pratensis, 

Cynosuros cristatus, Yarrow Achillea millefolium, Euphrasia sp., Fairy Flax Linum catharticum, 

Harebell Campanula rotundifolia, Festuca rubra, Pilosella officinarum, Trifolium pratense, 

Lady’s Bedstraw Galium verum, Prunella vulgaris, Hypochoeris radicata, Frog Orchid 

Coeloglossum viride, Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria 

(Photo 31), Common Twayblade Listera ovata, Thymus polytrichus, Daucus carota, Cochlearia 

officinalis, Holcus lanatus, Adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum (Photo 32), Common 

Ragwort Senecio jacobaea, Ranunculus repens, Rumex acetosa, Centaurea nigra, Plantago 

lanceolata, and Lotus corniculatus. 

Photo 31: Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria 

52

Photo 32: Adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum 

53

Mosses were locally frequent, notably Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Dicranum scoparium, 

Hypnum lacunosum, and Tortula ruraliformis. Rocky outcrops penetrated the machair sward in 

places. 

Low-intensity land use as practiced on the machair is as important for plants and animals as it is 

to the local people. Cattle have long played an important part in the conservation of the machair 

habitat. They do not graze as closely as sheep leaving more tussocks in the sward. Tussocks are 

good habitats for invertebrates and thus provide both food and nest sites for birds. Waders have 

been known to use hoof prints as nest-cups, while some Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula try 

to conceal their nest beside a dry cow pat. The break-up of coarse plants (such as iris root 

systems) further opens up and improves the pasture, with any bare patches created being good 

for invertebrates and as seed beds for annual plants. Dung contains the seeds and grain 

necessary to regenerate the ground while also adding nutrients and humus. Too much bare 

ground eroded (or poached) by stock can, however, encourage invasive weeds such as Ragwort. 

Sheep will eat this when it is young whereas cattle find it poisonous. Heavy cattle grazing in 

summer prevents plants from flowering or setting seed and leading to less variety of species. It 

also removes cover for nesting and feeding birds and increases the risk of nests being trampled. 

Artificial fertilisers reduce the variety of plants and tend to favour the more aggressive, but not 

necessarily the best, species in the grassland and therefore they should not be applied. Too many 

sheep can break open the thin dry soils, or rub against sand banks, thus promoting erosion. 

A coastal monitoring project was carried out between 2004 and 2006. This project was the first 

comprehensive national survey of Irish sand dune and machair sites. Machair, which is a priority 

Annex I habitat under the EU Habitats Directive, was estimated to occupy 2752.6ha. It was 

recorded from 59 sites in counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal during the project. Since 

1996, there has been an estimated loss of 66.4ha or 2.35% of the total habitat, primarily due to 

restructuring of land holdings and agricultural improvement, overgrazing and general recreation. 

The overall conservation assessment for the habitat was that the habitat was in unfavourable-bad 

condition due to many machair commonages being fenced resulting in greater concentration of 

livestock in confined areas, overgrazing, supplementary feeding and poaching of the land (Ryle 

et. al., 2009). This makes the machair habitat on Inishfree Upper, which is deemed to be in good 

condition, all the more important in conservation terms. 

54

Marram Dunes (CD2) 

Marram Ammophila arenaria dunes only occurred in small patches on parts of the northern and 

western coasts of the island and therefore was not mapped. Other species between the Marram 

stems included Carex arenaria, Lotus corniculatus, Senecio jacobaea, Groundsel Senecio 

vulgaris, Trifolium pratense, Sea Campion Silene uniflora, Common Mouse-ear Cerastium 

fontanum, Sedum acre, Cochlearia officinalis, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium repens, 

Honckenya peploides, Hypochoeris radicata, Daucus carota, and Taraxacum officinale agg. 

Dry Calcareous and Neutral Grassland (GS1) 

This is a very common habitat in several scattered locations, notably around many of the ruined 

buildings. It also forms intimate mosaics with other habitats, notably wet grassland, exposed 

siliceous rock, dry siliceous heath and dense bracken stands in places. It generally consists of a 

very rank, relatively species-poor sward. The grasses comprised Festuca rubra, Cynosuros 

cristatus, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus and occasionally Lolium 

perenne. Herbs in the sward included Plantago lanceolata, Cerastium fontanum Rumex acetosa, 

Trifolium pratense, Ranunculus repens, Prunella vulgaris, Ranunculus repens, Bellis perennis, 

Taraxacum officinale agg., Trifolium repens, Centaurea nigra and Potentilla anserina. Mosses 

consisted of Calliergonella cuspidata, and Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus. The species diversity 

and composition of the sward varied reflecting the degree of past improvement, and grazing 

history. 

Marsh (GM1) 

A marsh of high conservation value occurs at Grid ref. B 71037 11847 grading into wet 

grassland in places. The species composition of the marsh comprised Apium nodiflorum, 

Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Lychnis flos-cuculi, Lythrum salicaria, Ranunculus repens, Angelica 

sylvestris, Iris pseudacorus, Osmunda regalis, Cardamine pratensis, Marsh Cinquefoil Potentilla 

palustris, Holcus lanatus, Dactylorhiza sp., and occasional stands of Juncus effusus and Juncus 

acutiflorus. Mosses included extensive wefts of Plagiothecium undulatum, Scleropodium 

purum, Thuidium tamariscinum and Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus. 

55

Lower Saltmarsh (CM1) and Upper Saltmarsh (CM2) 

Small areas of saltmarsh (Photo 33) occur in a number of places around the island in sheltered 

inlets. 

Photo 33: Saltmarsh 

Lower Saltmarsh (CM1) is subject to more prolonged submersion by sea water and is more 

strongly saline than Upper Saltmarsh (CM2). As a result, it is characterised by a predominance of 

halophytes, or salt-tolerant plants such as Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritima, Common 

Saltmarsh-grass Puccinellia martima, and Glassworts Salicornia agg., together with Armeria 

maritima, Sea Aster Aster tripolium, and Sea Plantain Plantago martima. Upper salt marsh is 

subject to less frequent and less prolonged inundation by the sea and, as a result, is not as saline in 

character as Lower Saltmarsh (CM1). Vegetation is typically dominated by rushes (particularly 

Sea Rush Juncus maritimus and Saltmarsh Rush Juncus gerardii) and Sea-milkwort Glaux 

maritima. 

56

Dry/Humid Acid Grassland (GS3) 

Dry/humid acid grassland occurs within some fields on the western side of the island. This area 

of grassland has developed on a former area of ‘lazy beds’ with grassland species such as 

Anthoxanthum odoratum, Prunella vulgaris, Trifolium pratense, Potentilla anserina, Cerastium 

fontanum, and Holcus lanatus in the hollows and Calluna vulgaris and other heath species such 

as Heath Spotted-orchid Dactylorrhiza maculata, Carex panicea, and Potentilla erecta more 

dominant on the drier ridges. 

Littoral Rock (LR), and Littoral Sediment (LS) 

Littoral Rock (Photo 34) occurs all around the island comprising large flat expanses of rock and 

extensive areas of rock pools in places containing intertidal brown, green and red algal species 

and fauna tolerant of exposed or more sheltered conditions (Photo 35). 

Photo 34: Exposed Littoral Rock 

57

Photo 35: Harbour Crab Liocarcinus depurator 

Marine species have been incorporated into the lists of fauna and flora recorded (Appendix 2-3). 

Sand shores occur mainly on the northern coast of the island. There are also discrete, largely 

unvegetated, muddy shores on the north-eastern coast. 

58

SUMMARY OF CONSERVATION VALUE OF INISHFREE UPPER 

Inishfree Upper is, by and large, in a high degree of naturalness in terms of the habitats and 

species present. The low human population will have helped to maintain the natural history 

interest of the site by reducing disturbance of the wildlife and curbing intensive agricultural 

activities. No recent turbary was seen on the island and the old cutover bog has revegetated well 

as indicated by the wetness of the peat and the high bog moss cover over many areas. Dumping, 

however, is a problem in some areas with dumped cars on the machair at Grid ref. B 71646 

12668 and a shipwreck (Photo 36) on the western coast at Grid. ref. B 70783 11876. Flotsam 

and jetsam (Photo 37) from passing ships were locally frequent all around the rocky shores of 

the island and an annual clean-up by a community group is recommended. 

Photo 36: Shipwreck on Inishfree Upper 

59

Photo 37: Litter on Shores of Inishfree Upper 

Occasional illegal shooting of the legally protected Common Seal Phoca vitulina is also a 

problem. Overgrazing cannot be considered to be contributing to the erosion of the peat at the 

present time. However undergrazing of the wet grassland areas is a problem. If this continues, 

then these grasslands will eventually scrub over, with the loss of the diverse grassland flora due 

to overshading effects. In addition, wet grassland that becomes too rank is not suitable as 

breeding wader habitat. 

60

HABITATS ON INISHMEANE 

Rocky Sea Cliffs (CS1) and Shingle and Gravel Banks (CB1) 

Moderately steep vegetated sea cliffs were most extensive on the western side of the island. The 

following species were recorded on more accessible rocks: Thymus polytrichus, Armeria 

maritima, Plantago lanceolata, Festuca rubra, Sileneuniflora, Plantago maritima, Plantago 

coronopus, Rumex crispus, Cochlearia officinalis, the lichens Ramalina siliquosa, Verrucaria 

maura and Caloplaca marina and the mosses Schistidium maritimum (a coastal moss tolerant of 

salt spray) and Homalothecium sericeum. Shingle beach occurs on the southeastern corner of the 

island (Photo 38). 

Photo 38: Shingle Beach 

There was also a bank of boulders stretching from Grid ref. B 78577 28174 north to B 78606 

28218), which was colonised with a Festuca rubra-dominated sward and occasional Plantago 

lanecolata, Rumex acetosa, Armeria maritima, Tripleurospermum maritimum (Photo 39), 

61

Rumex crispus, Silene uniflora, Cochlearia officinalis, Potentilla anserina and the lichen 

Ramalina siliquosa. 

Photo 39: Sea Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum 

Marram Dunes (CD2) 

Marram dunes are partially stabilised hills or ridges of sand that occur along the seaward edge of 

the main sand dune system (Fossitt, 2000). They have been mapped along with Fixed Dune 

(CD3) as a general sand dune habitat category on the Inishmeane habitat map (Figure 2). 

Marram dunes (Photo 40) occur on the south-eastern side of the island largely comprising dense 

stands of Marram grass. 

62

Photo 40: Marram Dunes 

This species is sometimes intermixed with a rank sward of Festuca rubra further from the shore, 

probably representing a transitional zone between marram and fixed dunes. Other species 

between the marram stems included Carex arenaria, Lotus corniculatus, Senecio jacobaea, 

Trifolium pratense, Silene uniflora, Cochlearia officinalis, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium 

repens, Honckenya peploides, Hypochoeris radicata, Senecio vulgaris, Daucus carota, 

Taraxacum officinale agg., and Colt’s-foot Tussilago farfara. 

Fixed Dunes (CD3) 

Fixed dunes are stabilised ridges or hills of sand with a more or less complete cover of 

vegetation (Fossitt, 2000). They have been mapped along with Marram Dune (CD2) as a general 

sand dune habitat category on the Inishmeane habitat map (Figure 2). Fixed dunes (Photo 41) 

reach their zenith on the south-eastern part of the island forming classic dune ridge and hollow 

topography. 

63

Photo 41: Fixed Dunes 

Species comprised Carex arenaria, Carex flacca, Daucus carota, rank and dense Festuca rubra, 

Senecio jacobaea, Senecio vulgaris, Potentilla anserina, Ranunculus repens, Rumex acetosa, 

Centaurea nigra, Plantago lanceolata, Lotus corniculatus, Galium verum, Achillea millefolium, 

Tussilago farfara, Ranunculus acris, Trifolium pratense, and occasionally Armeria maritima and 

Linum catharticum. Mosses were locally frequent notably Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, 

Homalothecium sericeum and Tortula ruraliformis. 

Reed and Large Sedge Swamps (FS1) 

Common reed Phragmites australis forms a large bed at Grid ref. B 78750 28812. It is 

intermixed with a rank Festuca rubra and Creeping Bent Agrostis stolonifera sward in places 

with occasional Dactylis glomerata and abundant Potentilla anserina. Phragmites australis also 

occurs in small patches elsewhere (e.g. at Grid ref. B 78806 28963). 

There is a roughly rectangular-shaped area of treacherous Bulrush Typha latifolia swamp (Photo 

42) bordered by long grass-covered banks at B 78443 28705 intermixed with Juncus acutiflorus, 

Ranunculus flammula, Cardamine pratensis, Holcus lanatus, Lemna minor, Festuca rubra, 

64

Potentilla anserina, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Common Spike-rush Eleocharis palustris, 

Persicaria amphibia, and with extensive carpets of the moss Calliergonella cuspidata in more 

open areas. 

Photo 42: Bulrush Typha latifolia Swamp 

There was another smaller area of Bulrush swamp at B 78493 28730. 

There is a brackish Grey Club-rush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani swamp (Grid ref. B 78747 

28964) at the northern end of the island, hemmed in to the north by dry heath on shallow peat 

overlying rocky ground and dune ridges. The Grey Club-rush swamp is intermixed with 

Hydrocoyle vulgaris, Lemna minor, Ranunculus flammula, Cardamine pratensis and the moss 

Calliergonella cuspidata. Two young plants of the potentially invasive Rhododendron 

Rhododendron ponticum had colonised the swamp but invasive plant species were largely absent 

from the island. This swamp grades into a large area of Marsh (GM1). This brackish marsh 

(Photo 43) comprises winding channels dominated by a Carex sp., alternating with a Festuca 

rubra-Agrostis stolonifera-dominated sward. Other species in the marsh included Dactylorhiza 

sp., Epilobium palustre, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Ranunculus repens, Cardamine pratensis, 

65

Potentilla anserina, Holcus lanatus, Angelica sylvestris, Trifolium pratense, Apium nodiflorum, 

Arrowgrass Triglochin sp., Juncus articulatus, the moss Calliergonella cuspidata and the 

liverwort Lophocolea bidentata. 

Photo 43: Grey Club-rush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Swamp 

Dry Calcareous and Neutral Grassland (GS1) 

This was a very common habitat (Photo 44), mainly in the centre of the island within old fields 

bound by old dry-stone walls (some in disrepair) and grass-covered banks of varying width (1- 

3m), but also covering the numerous tracks traversing the island. 

66

Photo 44: Rank Neutral Grassland Covers Large Areas of Inishmeane 

It generally consisted of a very rank, species-poor Festuca rubra-dominated sward that appears 

in at least some locations to have recolonised areas of cultivation, as evident by abundant weeds 

of disturbed ground persisting in the sward (e.g. Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense, Hogweed 

Heracleum sphondylium and also Common Nettle Urtica dioica) and the presence of ‘lazy beds’ 

(e.g. at Grid Ref. B 78665 28766) used for the cultivation of potatoes – the latter representing an 

important part of the cultural landscape of the island. Other grasses comprised Dactylis 

glomerata, Holcus lanatus and occasionally Lolium perenne, Cynosuros cristatus, False Oat- 

grass Arrhenatherum elatius and Tall Fescue Festuca arundinaea. The species diversity and 

composition in the sward varied from one part of the island to another, probably depending on 

degrees of improvement, grazing history and soil wetness. These grasslands were however 

generally species-poor, although with proper grazing management they would become suitable 

as potential breeding wader areas. 

Other herbs in the sward comprised Centaurea nigra, Cerastium fontanum, Plantago lanceolata, 

Achillea millefolium, Trifolium pratense, Prunella vulgaris, Rumex acetosa, Trifolium pratense, 

Trifolium repens, Carex flacca, Heracleum sphondylium, Plantago lanceolata and in damper 

67

areas Agrostis stolonifera, Ranunculus repens, Juncus acutiflorus, Potentilla anserina, 

Persicaria amphibia, and Angelica sylvestris. In the shorter sward areas (e.g. along the tracks), 

the waxcap fungi Hygrocybe pratensis and Hygrocybe coccinea were found. This group of 

attractive brightly coloured fungi are important indicators of unimproved grasslands and reply on 

short swards grazed by, for example, sheep. In contrast to Inisfree Upper, these fungi were 

noticeably less abundant, probably due to the fact that there are 50 sheep on Inisfree Upper at 

present helping to maintain the optimum sward height for these fungi. The reinstatement of 

grazing management should help them to thrive. The rank nature of these grasslands is not 

surprising given the fact that they have not been grazed for 15 years. The last grazers were sheep 

that were on the island for a continuous period of 10 years all year round. Cattle were last on the 

island over 15 years ago (Charlie O’Donnell, pers. comm.). The original inhabitants would have 

kept donkeys for transporting goods. Small narrow drains have been dug through the grassland 

in places (e.g. at Grid ref. B 78627 28554). These neutral grasslands graded into dry heath in 

places at higher elevations at the southern tip of the island. Towards the coast, these grasslands 

are less improved and rank, with species often found on coastal grasslands entering the sward, 

notably Armeria maritima, Thymus polytrichus and Plantago maritima. Despite the fact that 

these grasslands are often disturbed and species-poor, they support the wading bird Snipe. Snipe 

were flushed at Grid refs. B 78570 28629 and B 78465 28531. 

Amenity Grassland (Improved) (GA2) 

This grassland type only occurs in front of an occupied cottage (Grid ref. B 78503 28475 

comprising a species-poor Lolium perenne-Festuca rubra sward of relatively low conservation 

value. 

Dry Siliceous Heath (HH1) 

This habitat occurs on shallow peat overlying the highest ground on the northern, western and 

southern parts of the island (Photo 45). 

68

Photo 45: Dry Heath 

It has a species composition of wind-clipped carpets of Calluna vulgaris often intermixed with 

extensive carpets of the liverwort Frullania tamarisci and the lichen Cladonia ciliata. Other 

species included Erica cinerea, Potentilla erecta, Blechnum spicant, Succisa pratensis, Lotus 

corniculatus, Prunella vulgaris, Dactylorhiza sp., Nardus stricta, Crowberry Empetrum nigrum 

(Photo 46) and the mosses Dicranum scoparium, Breutelia chrysocoma, Hylocomnium 

splendens, Aulacomium palustre and Hypnum jutlandicum. 

69

Photo 46: Crowberry Empetrum nigrum 

Other species more typical of coastal areas occur within the heath closest to the shore notably 

Plantago maritima, P. coronopus, Thymus polytrichus, and Armeria maritima. In coastal areas, 

the heath can be called coastal heath. However all heath has been mapped as dry siliceous heath 

(Figure 1). The dry heath has eroded down to bare rock and gravel in several places on the 

highest ground (Photo 47) probably due to a combination of natural climatic factors and 

overgrazing by sheep in the past. 

70

Photo 47: Eroded Coastal Dry Heath 

In some areas, overgrazing has allowed a Nardus stricta sward to dominate. On the southern tip 

of the island, dry heath forms a complex mosaic with neutral grassland. 

Dense Bracken (HD1) 

Bracken stands occurred in dense stands at the sheltered base of rocky outcrops as a stand-alone 

habitat, or sparsely in mosaic with rank neutral grassland or fixed dunes. There is another 

narrow strip of dense bracken above a boulder beach on the western side of the island at B 78580 

28217 intermixed with a rank Festuca-rubra-dominated sward. 

Littoral Rock (LR), and Littoral Sediment (LS) 

Littoral Rock occurs all around the island comprising large flat wave-cut platforms with 

extensive areas of rock pools in places containing intertidal brown, green and red algal species 

(Photos 48-49) and fauna tolerant (Photos 50-51) of exposed or more sheltered conditions. 

71

Photo 48: Lower Shore Exposed at Low Tide Showing Brown Algae 

Photo 49: Green Algae on Intertidal Rocks Exposed at Low Tide 

72

Photo 50: Snake-locks Anemone Anemonia viridis 

Photo 51: Diverse Marine Life (e.g. Worms and Sponges) Colonises Intertidal Rocks 

73

Sand shores occur as discrete units on the more sheltered eastern side of the island. Marine 

species have been incorporated into the lists of fauna and flora recorded (Appendix 2-3). 

Cutover Bog (PB4) 

This habitat type often formed part of a complex mosaic of heath, grassland and flushes. Flushed 

areas occur in narrow strips hugging the bases of the old peat banks supporting a diverse range of 

higher plants and bryophytes, namely Epilobium palustre, Callitriche agg., Ranunculus 

flammula, Lemna minor, Osmunda regalis, Juncus bulbosus, Broad-leaved Pondweed 

Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Agrostis stolonifera, Potentilla anserina, 

Juncus articulatus, Lythrum salicaria, Apium nodiflorum, Hydrocotle vulgaris, Forget-me-not 

Myosotis sp., Eriophorum angustifolium, Persicaria amphibia, Juncus effusus, Floating Club- 

rush Eleogiton fluitans, Rorippa nasturtium-quaticum, Cardamine pratensis and the bryophytes 

Calliergonella cuspidata, Calliergon giganteum, Sphagnum palustre, S. cuspidatum, 

Aulacomium palustre, and Fissidens sp. 

Remnant bog species included Schoenus nigricans (Photo 52), Narthecium ossifragum, 

Eriophorum angustifolium and Carex panicea. Shallow water has accumulated on the bare 

eroded peat in places and these areas have colonised with Ranunculus flammula and Anagallis 

tenella. Heath species comprised widely distributed carpet stage Calluna vulgaris, Nardus 

stricta, Empetrum nigrum, Dactylorhiza sp., Succisa pratensis, Agrostis vinealis, and the mosses 

Dicranum scoparium, Aulacomium palustre, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum inundatum, 

Hypnum jutlandicum and Breutelia chrysocoma. 

74

Photo 52: Black Bog-rush Schoenus nigricans 

The grassland consisted of rank Festuca rubra-dominated grassland with Dactylorhiza sp., 

Centaurea nigra, Angelica sylvestris, Holcus lanatus, Prunella vulgaris, Plantago lanceolata 

and Potentilla anserina in places. 

75

SUMMARY OF CONSERVATION VALUE OF INISHMEANE 

Inishmeane, like Inishfree Upper, is by and large in a high degree of naturalness in terms of the 

quality of the habitats and species present. The low human population (the population of 

Inishmeane in 1911 was 82 (Central Statistics Office, Dublin), after which there was a steady 

decline until it was largely depopulated in the mid-1960s) will have helped to maintain the 

natural history interest of the site by reducing disturbance of the wildlife and curbing intensive 

agricultural activities. Flotsam and jetsam from passing ships was, however, locally frequent 

around the rocky shores of the island but this could be easily removed by a local community 

group. The peatland habitats are actively eroding down to bare rock and gravel substrates due to 

a combination of natural wind-induced erosion and past overgrazing. However as the island has 

not been grazed for 15 years, as evident by the rank nature of most of the island grasslands, 

overgrazing cannot be considered to be directly contributing to erosion at the present time. 

Undergrazing of the wet grassland areas is, however, a problem. If this continues, then these 

grasslands will eventually scrub over with the loss of the grassland flora due to overshading 

effects. In addition, wet grassland that becomes too rank is not suitable as breeding wader 

habitat. The island has been largely abandoned since the mid-1960s and this will have helped to 

maintain the natural history interest of the site by curbing turbary and other intensive agricultural 

activities. A very small area (3m²) of recent turbary for fuel was noticed, however, in one 

location (Grid ref. B 78570 28946). In spite of these minor threats, much of the peripheral areas 

of the island are considered to be in a high degree of naturalness. 

It is considered that, with careful management, further improvements to the conservation value 

of the island can be met. For example, the rank grasslands in the centre of the island can be 

managed for conservation, notably to attract threatened breeding birds such as the Corncrake, 

protected under Annex 1 of the EC Birds Directive. A BirdWatch Ireland Island Feasibility 

Study was carried out in 2001 (Barron, 2001). This study found that, due to the relative 

inaccessibility of such islands as Inishmeane, they have to a large extent been protected from 

development pressure and intensive agricultural activities. Inishmeane and Gola Island in 

County Donegal were deemed to offer good opportunities for encouraging Corncrake to the 

island. BirdWatch Ireland already carry out a programme of Mink Mustela vison control in order 

to protect the nestlings of the Corncrake and other shore birds (e.g. Ringed Plover). 

76

CHAPTER 4: ANIMAL LIFE 

MAMMALS 

Otter Lutra lutra are known to frequent the inlet near the island pier on Inishfree Upper and were 

also observed offshore. It is highly likely that they also use the coastal waters of Inishmeane, 

even if they are not permanent residents. The Fox Vulpes vulpes is present on Inishfree Upper 

only. The Common Seal occurs around both islands. Both Otter and Common Seal are 

protected under Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive and also the Wildlife Act, 1976 and the 

Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. Mink (Photo 53) are trapped in tube traps on both islands as 

part of a predator control project supported by BirdWatch Ireland to protect ground-nesting birds 

such as the threatened Corncrake. 

Photo 53: Mink Mustela vison 

The Irish Whale & Dolphin Group (IWDG) has been monitoring cetacean records (whales and 

dolphins) since 1991. Records from IWDG prove that a number of cetacean species frequent the 

waters around and between the west Donegal islands (e.g. Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus, 

Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus, Killer Whale Orcinus orca, and Minke Whale 

Balaenoptera acutorostrata). 

77

FISH 

Although commercial fishing is in decline, a diverse range of fish is caught by sea anglers around 

the islands. But it is the Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus that deserves a special mention. 

Until recently, little was known about the abundance, behaviour and migratory patterns of this 

fish. However, due to recent research work funded by the Heritage Council and carried out by Dr 

Simon Berrow and NPWS, they have been increasingly recorded off the County Donegal coast 

including Inishmeane in recent years. 

Fifty Basking Sharks were recorded off the County Donegal coast in one week in June 2009. 

Satellite tagging enables scientists to monitor their future migratory patterns to provide the data 

required to aid the conservation of these gentle filter-feeding giants of the sea. It is now known 

that the Basking Shark can migrate enormous distances. There is a record of one shark travelling 

1,878km (1,167 miles) in 77 days across the Celtic Sea and up the western seaboard of Ireland. 

They are also now known to travel across the Atlantic; a Basking Shark tagged in the Isle of Man 

in 2007 crossed over to Newfoundland, a distance of 9,589km [5,958 miles] in 82 days! 

The Basking Shark was hunted off the south and west coasts until 20 years ago. Its Irish name is 

Liop an Dá – unwieldy beast with two fins – or more generally Liabhán Mór, signifying a great 

leviathan. It was also known as Liabhán Chor Gréine – the great fish of the sun, due to its habit of 

swimming just below the surface. 

BIRDS 

The birds of County Donegal are better recorded than most other wildlife groups largely due to 

the legion of amateur and professional birdwatchers in the Country. The diversity of habitats in 

an area will largely determine the variety of bird species found so the more limited range of 

habitat available on Inishmeane greatly reduces the numbers of bird species relative to Inishfree 

Upper with its wider range of semi-natural habitats. The strength of Inishfree for birds is the 

extensive wet heath/cut-over bog/wet grassland mosaic which occupies most of the island. 

Taken with the scrubby ditches and field boundaries, it provides nesting opportunities for most 

of the bird species on the island. On the other hand, the dry heath and low cliff-bound coast 

around the west and north of Inishmeane doesn’t have a parallel on Inishfree, nor does the 

reedbed which occupies part of the old cut-away bog in the low-lying, north-east of the island. 

78

The heath doesn’t have any definite breeding bird species that are different from what is found 

on Inishfree but it does support Barnacle Geese in winter. 

The Islands’ Special Role in Bird Conservation 

County Donegal’s offshore islands have a very special role in bird conservation. In recent years, 

they have become the last remaining stronghold in Ireland of the Corncrake – a species listed for 

protection under Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. The importance of island habitat in an 

overall survival plan for the Corncrake – one of only two species in Ireland that appears on the 

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – is underlined by the fact that approximately one-third of 

Ireland’s Corncrake population, or 50% of the County Donegal total, was concentrated on the 

north Donegal islands of Tory and Inishbofin in recent years. 

However neither of the two islands studied currently has breeding Corncrakes. Inishmeane had 

them until recently with a peak population of 14 recorded in 2005 calling from the grasslands, 

cutover bog, marram dunes, and reedbeds (Sandy Alcorn, pers. comm.) but the lack of grazing or 

cutting has allowed the grassland to grow too rank and dense for the birds and they have died 

out. 

Most islanders assume that the predations of Mink, which have returned despite having been 

eliminated a few years ago, account for the loss of the Corncrake but even without the Mink, the 

habitats on the island are not suitable for breeding Corncrake. Corncrakes are highly sensitive to 

changes in agricultural practices. They thrive in long grass but the lack of farming on 

Inishmeane has allowed grass to become too thick for their needs. The attraction of the 

Corncrake back to the islands as a breeding species will require changes in grazing management 

of the grasslands. The right management usually means the traditional form of farming, which 

would have persisted for many generations, but owing to depopulation has now ceased. An 

alternative is to subject at least some of the grasslands to an annual cut in summer. 

A Corncrake was seen in 2009 on Inishfree Upper but did not breed. A BirdWatch Ireland Island 

Feasibility Study was carried out in 2001. This study found that due to the relative 

inaccessibility of such islands as Inishmeane, they have to a large extent been protected from 

development pressure and intensive agricultural activities. Inishmeane and Gola Island in 

County Donegal were deemed to offer good opportunities for encouraging Corncrake to the 

islands. The Corncrake requires tall vegetation to shelter in early in the season when it first 

arrives in April or May from Africa. It also requires hay meadows to breed in. The hay 

79

meadows must be cut from the centre outwards to give the young birds a chance to escape to the 

edges of the field without having to leave the cover of tall grass but, even more important, they 

must be cut very late in the season. BirdWatch Ireland promotes non-intensive farming practices 

for the conservation of breeding habitat for Corncrake and an annual census of population 

numbers and distribution is undertaken. 

Terns have largely abandoned nesting colonies on mainland Donegal due to disturbance. They 

survive on the islands, but not on Inishfree or Inishmeane. The trouble is that most human 

activity on the islands takes place during the birds’ breeding season and is concentrated on the 

sandy shores that the Terns, and the Ringed Plovers, need. But if Terns show an interest in a 

patch of shore, that patch could be put temporarily out of bounds by fencing it off for the few 

weeks they need to rear their chicks. In any case, it would be more likely to be one of the 

smaller shingly patches around the west coast of Inishfree than the main beach at Fartown. Even 

here, disturbance could also account for their absence and although there are no confirmed 

records, it is likely that the rarest species, Little Tern (Photo 54), did breed on Inishmeane until 

recently. It was encouraging to see Little Tern, along with Arctic and Common Tern, feeding 

and roosting around the shores of Inishfree Upper with Sandwich Tern also observed. 

Disturbance is usually unwitting and can be reduced if people are made aware of its importance. 

Photo 54: Little Tern Sterna albifrons 

Chough is given full protection under Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive and Annex II of the 

Bern Directive, and is present on both islands. This attractive red-beaked crow is a specialist of 

80

the sparse dry heath and machair vegetation of the extreme western coasts of Ireland, nesting in 

caves, and occasionally in ruined houses (Photo 55). 

Photo 55: Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 

On both islands, this seems to be where one or two pairs do indeed nest. Choughs depend on a 

range of habitats including grazed dune systems, grazed coastal heath and coastal grassland, and 

strandline seaweed beds. 

Chough feed in short vegetation, rotting seaweed and in dung, probing for fly and beetle larvae 

and other invertebrates. Cattle dung is also an important source of invertebrate food, except 

where the use of cattle worming agents like Ivermectin kill off the invertebrates that normally 

recycle dung back into the soil. 

In winter, a flock of Barnacle Geese moves among the largely uninhabited islands of west 

Donegal between Inishkeeragh and Inishirrer (Merne and Walsh 2002 & 2003 and Walsh and 

Crowe 2008). Inishfree is unsuitable but the flock uses Inishmeane which is nationally important 

81

for this species. The total number in this grouping is declining (605 in 1999, 555 in 2003, 392 in 

2008). While the total County Donegal population is stable (2424 in 1999, 2057 in 2003, 2334 

in 2008), it is declining as a percentage of the Irish Population (30% in 1999, 23% in 2003, 19% 

in 2008). In fact, the Irish population has gone up by more than 35% between 2003 and 2008. 

This seems to be because the increasing number of birds coming to Ireland are re-locating 

themselves to ever more remote, or secure, locations. 

These beautiful birds nest on the cliffs of north-east Greenland and winter exclusively around the 

coasts of north-west Ireland and western Scotland. Research on the Inishkea Islands of County 

Mayo proved that their presence improved the condition of cattle. The cattle probably help the 

geese by lowering the vegetation to the level they need to access their favoured ground-hugging 

food plants. The geese return the favour by using their fine beaks to graze nutritious shoots, 

which cattle can’t reach, and then passing most of these through their inefficient digestive 

systems as droppings to be hoovered up by the cattle (Cabot, 1999). This is a classic example of 

how the needs of wildlife and humans are often linked and work best in partnership rather than in 

competition. 

The sandy shores of both islands are used by small numbers of wading birds, especially on 

migration and in winter. Sanderling Calidris alba, en route from breeding in the high Arctic to 

wintering anywhere between Donegal and the coasts of South Africa, were seen on both islands. 

Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus bred in small numbers on both islands 

and would be present all year. Other waders seen included the Curlew Numenius arquata, 

Redshank Tringa totanus and Dunlin Calidris alpina. Snipe were flushed from wet grassland in 

several locations on the islands. All of these could, in theory, also breed, but it is now unlikely 

as all are declining rapidly as breeding birds in Ireland and are now mainly winter visitors and 

passage migrants. 

The encouragement of breeding wader populations on the islands will require the proper 

management of these wet grasslands through the correct timing and frequency of grazing; cattle 

grazing creating the tussocky wet or damp grassland preferred by breeding waders. 

Strong north-west winds between July and October bring one of the most exciting bird spectacles 

to prominent headlands around County Donegal. From all corners of the Atlantic, a wide range 

of pelagic seabirds drift inshore – Shearwaters, Petrels, Skuas and others. It is only on these 

relatively rare occasions that these wonderful birds can be seen from land. On the September 

82

visit to Inishmeane, reasonable conditions briefly occurred and from the north-west corner of the 

island, Sooty Shearwaters Puffinus griseus from the Falkland Islands along with Great Skuas 

Stercorarius skua from Iceland and the north of Scotland were seen passing between the western 

tips of Inishirrer and Umphin, at a distance of about 2 km. But, unfortunately, this remarkable 

migration which attracts birdwatchers to the better headlands in Mayo, Clare and west Cork 

would only be properly experienced from Inishfree or Inishmeane in the most extreme conditions 

when the birds just might take a sheltered route inside the chain of outer islands. Under more 

typical conditions, Aranmore lighthouse has been used with some success to experience this 

migration. 

Other commoner seabirds that were seen migrating on 19 th September 2009 included Gannets 

Sula bassana, Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus, Fulmars Fulmaris glacialis, Razorbills Alca 

torda and Guillimots Uria aalge. All of these, along with Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo, 

Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Eider Duck Somateria mollissima and Black Guillimot 

Cepphus grille can be seen in the waters or on rocks around the islands at different times of the 

year. However, of these, only Black Guillimot is likely to breed around the rocky shore of our 

two islands and especially Inishmeane. 

Neither island has a particularly long list of resident or breeding species. Lack of trees and 

woodland is a limiting factor. The birds are mostly the common species of scrubby heath, like 

Linnets Carduelis cannabina, Stonechats Saxicola torquata and Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis 

with a Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis seen on Inishfree Upper in November 2008. The 

most specialised landbirds found were the Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus and the 

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus (Photo 56), both present in the reedbeds of Inishmeane. 

Photo 56: Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus 

The full list of birds recorded on the islands is presented in Appendix 2. 

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MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES 

Butterflies and moths (Photo 57-58) are so closely related that they are best dealt with together. 

Photo 57: Garden Tiger Arctia caja 

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Photo 58: Six-Spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae 

There are many families of each and the differences between the butterfly and moth families are 

no greater than the differences between the various moth families. In general, most moths fly at 

night and their presence largely goes undetected, despite being vastly more numerous and varied 

than butterflies. Ireland has only 41 butterfly species, but over 500 species of the larger (macro-) 

moths and over 1000 species of the smaller (micro-) moths. Micros are much harder to detect so 

the small numbers found during the survey do not reflect their real presence. The full list of 

butterflies and moths recorded on the islands is presented in Appendix 2. 

Butterflies 

Ten species were recorded on Inishfree and five on Inishmeane. The combined total was twelve. 

Most important was one of the Inishmeane species, the Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia 

(Photo 59). 

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Photo 59: Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia 

In September 2009, this was recorded in the form of the distinctive tents which are made by the 

caterpillars, rather like very dense spiders’ webs (the adults flying in June are usually much 

harder to detect). This butterfly is important as it is the only insect in Ireland which is given 

protection under Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive. It is declining severely throughout 

Europe and Ireland is one of its last strongholds. The food-plant of the caterpillars is Succisa 

pratensis, which is very common, but it will only be used by the Marsh Fritillary where many 

other conditions are also met. Marsh Fritillary could also be present on Inishfree Upper but was 

not seen during the present survey. Donegal has more known sites for the species than any other 

county but its very particular requirements make it vulnerable to general changes in land 

management. For example, it needs the ground to be disturbed as if by cattle or horses. But 

either too much grazing or too little can easily destroy a colony. 

Inishfree has a close relative, the equally beautiful Dark-green Fritillary Mesoacidalia aglaia, 

which is confined in County Donegal to coastal grassland. Grayling Hipparchia semele also 

found on Inishfree is a coastal specialist in County Donegal. 

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Moths 

The easiest way to record moths is to set traps which use an ultra-violet light to lure them into a 

closed box where they will spend the rest of the night until released, after being identified, in the 

morning. Three traps were used on both islands during the 2009 visits on two occasions each: 

Inishmeane (29th June and 18th September) and Inishfree (13th July and 21st August). Smaller 

numbers of moths were also recorded during the day; some as caterpillars (Photo 60). 

Photo 60: Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia Caterpillar 

Sixty-seven species of macro-moths were recorded on Inishfree Upper and 13 micro-moths. The 

totals for Inishmeane were 40 macro-moths and 12 micro-moths. As the visits were spread over 

the season, the overlap in species between the two islands was minimised and the grand total for 

both islands was 84 species of macro-moths and 24 micro-moths. However, due to adverse 

weather conditions, moth catches are unlikely to reflect the full complement of species on the 

islands and further recording work in the future is required. 

Most of the macro-moth species on Inishmeane can be assumed to also occur on Inishfree Upper, 

the larger island, but there will be a few species on each island which will not be found on the 

87

other. It is noted that only one micro-moth species was found on both islands – the Brown 

China-mark Elophila nymphaeata. This is not an indication of the rarity of micros, as might at 

first be suspected. It is more likely to be that the micros are so varied and hard to detect that the 

selection from each island is more or less random. In fact, all 23 species probably occur on both 

islands. 

Most species of macro-moths are common and widespread. This is almost always the case 

anywhere and the only species found at most locations will be a selection of these. But our two 

islands have a number of species which are local or specialized in their choice of habitat or food 

species. Barred Rivulet Perizoma bifaciata is a scarce southern species in Ireland. The two 

found on Inishfree Upper are the first records for County Donegal. Inishmeane is only the 

second site in County Donegal for Pretty Pinion Perizoma blandiata, an open country species 

which is now extinct in Northern Ireland and survives mainly on the Connacht coast and in the 

Burren of County Clare. Scotch Annulet Gnophos obfuscate is another west coast specialist but, 

preferring rocky coasts, sharing the habitat with the slightly more frequent Northern Rustic 

Standfussiana lucernea. The Scotch Annulet was found on both islands but the Northern Rustic 

only on Inishmeane. Also on Inishmeane is the Marbled Coronet Hadena confusa, a sand dune 

species mainly found in the north-west of Ireland. Other coastal specialists are Archer’s Dart 

Agrotis vestigialis, Galium Carpet Epirrhoe galiata, Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata, 

Small Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila porcellus, Pod Lover Hadena perplexa capsophila and 

Thyme Pug Eupithecia distinctaria (Photo 61). 

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Photo 61: Thyme Pug Eupithecia distinctaria 

More widespread species which are thinly distributed, and only in the western counties, are the 

Marsh Oblique-barred Hypenodes humidalis and Satyr Pug Eupithecia satyrata. 

The micro-moths also produced some surprises. Coleophora mayrella, Epinotia subocellana, 

Oegoconia sp., Pseudopostega crepusculella and Scoparia subfusca are all first records for 

County Donegal. There are at least two Oegoconia species which cannot be distinguished from 

each other without dissection but, whichever one it is, these are extremely rare moths in Ireland. 

Pseudopostega crepusculella is also extremely rare. It is a tiny species only about 6mm long and 

was found dayflying in the dunes on Inishmeane. The others mentioned above, although not 

previously recorded in County Donegal, are likely to be common. 

A few migrant species were recorded. These were the Painted Lady Cynthia cardui and Red 

Admiral Vanessa atalanta butterflies, the macro-moth Dark Sword-grass Agrotis ipsilon and the 

micro-moths Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella and Diamond-backed Moth Plutella xylostella. 

This last one is a tiny species which it is hard to imagine would have flown here from the 

continent, yet no less than 18 were caught on Inishmeane. Small numbers of Painted Lady arrive 

89

here most years but this year (2009) saw a real invasion with thousands landing on coastal 

headlands before moving on cross-country. 

The dry heath habitat on Inishmeane, the dry/wet heath and wet grassland mosaic on Inishfree 

Upper, the machair grassland on Inishfree Upper, and the rocky shores of both are the most 

important habitats for butterflies and moths. That, of course, accounts for the greater part of the 

area of both islands but it is a measure of how natural they both are. These habitats are all rich in 

wildflower species. 

As with many other wildlife groups, the level of grazing is crucial to the maintenance of habitats 

upon which butterflies and moths depend. Too much grazing, or at the wrong time, and many of 

the food plants of these insects will be eliminated. Too little, or none at all, and a few vigorous 

grass or shrub species will reduce overall food plant diversity. The extremely windy conditions 

on Inishmeane help to keep the heath in a healthy condition despite the lack of grazing but the 

grasslands on the sheltered side of the island are losing diversity. The Marsh Fritillary probably 

survives although it appears to be very scarce. The cattle on Inishfree Upper can potentially play 

a vital role in habitat management although it would be desirable if they were not present during 

the summer months of April to August to allow the plants to flower and set seed. 

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CHAPTER 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 

INTRODUCTION 

If these habitats are to remain in or attain favourable condition, then various legislative and 

financial incentives (e.g. enhanced payments under the REPS scheme or NPWS Farm Plan 

Scheme for designated areas or commonages) for favourable conservation land management 

activities (e.g. the reinstatement of traditional grazing practices, or control of predators) need to 

be made available to the islanders within an overall framework of sustainable economic 

development. 

The islands fulfill many roles in addition to being a place to live: a cultural role in preserving 

natural, linguistic, architectural (vernacular buildings) and archaeological heritage, an 

environmental education role in teaching inhabitants and tourists alike about environmental 

sustainability (in fact, islands are particularly good at this as they are so obviously self-contained 

units with clear boudaries), a tourism and recreational function that although poorly developed at 

present might increase in the future, and finally a productive role in providing fishing grounds 

and grazing rights. These roles or functions can potentially conflict with each other if not 

carefully planned. 

A multitude of projects, carefully prepared, would have no real benefit without the local 

knowledge of the islanders, acquired over many generations. It will involve more than a simple 

consultation or invitation to make comments about projects already defined or even imposed. 

Inhabitants, through existing bodies involved in island development should be involved in the 

initiating of new projects from the early stages, adopting a bottom-up approach to community 

involvement. They should be involved at all stages of the project: the technical and financial 

aspects, the market research, additional training to successfully implement the projects, the 

scheduling of tasks, and not only the practical implementation. 

The recommendations outlined below are merely suggestions on what could be initiated on the 

islands with the involvement of all stakeholders. Many of the recommendations will be 

applicable to all Donegal Islands and not just the two islands chosen for the pilot study. Further 

periods of extensive consultation involving workshops, seminars and meetings will be required 

involving all stakeholders: Islanders, Comhdháil Oileáin na hĒireann, Comhar na nOileán Teo, 

Donegal County Council, Údarás na Gaeltachta and other governmental bodies and NGOs. 

91

Consultations should ask the inhabitants to think individually about how they would like the 

islands to evolve (or stay). 

Owing to the decline of traditional fishing and farming practices, alternative environmentally 

sustainable income-generating practices would be prudent. These could focus on the unique 

natural assets and scenic beauty of the islands including birdwatching, photography, walking and 

sea mammal watching. Some of these activities are already offered by local boatmen but these 

tend to be sporadic and piecemeal. In addition to these direct income-generating activities, 

indirect income would be generated in support services to these direct activities namely in the 

provision of B&B and hotel accommodation on or off island and ferry services to the islands; a 

three-month pilot ferry scheme supported by Comhar na nOileán Teo to Inishfree Upper and to 

the neighbouring island of Rutland started in 2009. There is also scope for exploring the 

possibility of initiating the production of organic vegetables for selling in farmer’s markets on 

the mainland as well as expanding bee-keeping as low-impact cottage industries. 

Financing can come from central government or from the European Community through 

structural funds. Financing is distributed at county level through Údarás na Gaeltachta, the 

County Council or directly from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. 

Other funding sources for projects can come from the Western Development Commission, 

Northwest Tourism, the National Fund for Ireland, Rural Development Programme (LEADER) 

2007-2013 through Comhar na nOileán Teo, the newly formed LEADER/Partnership Company 

for the inhabited offshore islands of Ireland, and The EU Programme for Peace and 

Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland (2007-2013) - 'the PEACE 

III Programme' through Pobal. 

It is hoped that this report will be a first step in raising awareness of the natural heritage of these 

islands amongst the islanders and visitor alike. Other awareness-generating activities will be 

required; for example, workshops on plant and animal identification and monitoring. Training in 

practical conservation land management will also be required. 

A bilingual biodiversity pack, leaflet and/or video detailing the important habitats and species on 

the islands would also be prudent to be distributed to locals and visitors alike. It is vital that this 

includes a Countyside Code of Practice tailored to the unique natural heritage of the islands. 

Some habitats will require little intervention apart from periodic monitoring. For example, the 

small patches of saltmarsh, rocky shore, exposed rock and swamp on Inishfree Upper can be left 

to their own devices. The cutover bog can also be left to recover further on its own. There are a 

92

number of sources of funding available for habitat management; for example, various options 

under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme. Payments to island farmers under the REPS 

scheme are higher in recognition of the fact that farming on the islands is more costly. Some 

islanders on Inishfree Upper already participate in REPS. The Forest Service Native Woodland 

Scheme provides funding of €4952/ha (€6349/ha where oak-dominated) for woodland 

establishment. The applicant may also be eligible for premiums under the general Forest Service 

Afforestation Grant and Premium Schemes. 

Environmental organisations such as BirdWatch Ireland already carry out conservation 

management activities on the islands and this technical expertise can be drawn on further to 

initiate additional conservation land management activities. The technical expertise of other 

environmental NGOs (e.g. Irish Wildlife Trust, Irish Peatland Conservation Council) and NPWS 

can also be called on. The ability to retain sustainable livestock grazing, using suitable types and 

numbers of livestock at the appropriate time of year, is essential to the maintenance of many 

important wildlife habitats on the islands. 

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RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SUGGESTIONS 

HABITAT MANAGEMENT 

Scrub/Tree Cover 

In the light of the paucity of scrub and tree cover on the islands that provide shelter and 

Blanket Bog 

breeding sites for birds, undertake a programme of tree, scrub and hedgerow planting in 

strategic locations. Only native species of local provenances adapted to local soil and 

climatic conditions should be used. Suitable species would include Hawthorn, 

Blackthorn, Ash Fraxinus excelsior, Oak Quercus sp., Holly Ilex aquifolium, Gorse, 

Birch Betula spp. and Rowan Sorbus aucuparia. Suitable locations for new native 

hedgerows would be around the boundaries of the ruined buildings where dry-stone walls 

do not occur. 

Graze with sheep between 1 st March and 31 st October at a maximum stocking density of 

0.075 LU per hectare (equivalent to one sheep per two hectares) using fencing as 

necessary. 

Cattle should not be permitted on intact areas of blanket bog or the wettest areas of 

cutover bog by using fencing because of trampling damage (and cattle safety concerns). 

It is especially important that livestock are excluded from 1 st November until 28 th /29 th 

February. Permit some traditional rough grazing by cattle on cutover bog. 

Do not use bog or wet areas as a location for supplementary feeding for livestock. 

Avoid cutting turf on intact (uncut) areas of bog as this will affect the drainage of the 

bog. 

Do not burn in an uncontrolled manner and avoid burning during the bird-nesting season 

(1 st March to 31 st August). 

Avoid reclaiming, reseeding, cultivating or planting conifers on the bog. 

94 


Numbering

Avoid the use of fertilizer, lime or herbicides on the bog. 

Do not use the bog to dump waste. 

Wet Grassland 

Follow stocking rate restrictions in terms of timing of grazing and stocking levels grazing 

generally between 1 st June and 31 st December and excluding stock from 1 st January until 

31 st May using fencing as necessary. 

Prevent overgrazing and poaching which may involve better stock management on the 

land concerned, by using fencing or a reduction in the overall stock numbers held on a 

particular holding. 

Avoid damaging the grasslands by cultivation, ploughing, reseeding and drainage of the 

sward. 

Control rushes where their cover exceeds 50% of the total area through controlled 

grazing to improve the habitat for breeding waders. 

Ensure no machinery is permitted on the grasslands from 1 st April until 30 th June to 

protect ground-nesting birds. 

Supplementary feeding sites should not be permitted on areas of species-rich grassland. 

Avoid the use of fertilizer, herbicides or pesticides. 

Control bracken that is encroaching on the grasslands as necessary by cattle grazing and 

Machair 

trampling in early summer. 

Exclude stock from the machair between May and July to allow the flora to flower and 

set seed. 

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Heath 

Artificial fertilizers, farmland manure and lime reduce the variety of plants and tend to 

favour the more aggressive, but not necessarily the best, species in the machair grassland 

and therefore they should not be applied. 

Many areas of heath on the island have been eroded to bare rock due to an interaction 

between past overgrazing and the windy Atlantic climate. Experimental areas could be 

fenced off in the worse affected areas in an attempt to restore the heath. Avoid grazing 

eroded or overgrazed sites by fencing them off from livestock until they have recovered. 

Avoid supplementary feeding on heaths. 

In early summer, use grazing cattle to trample bracken that may be encroaching on the 

heath. 

Limit sheep stocking rates to 0.6 sheep per hectare on dry heath and 0.2 sheep per hectare 

on the wetter areas of heath by fencing. 

Do not plant trees on heath as this will result in overshading of the heath flora. 

Swamp 

Avoid draining, reseeding, ploughing, cultivation and fertilizing. 

• Plant new areas of reedbeds where suitable soil and hydrological conditions permit to 

provide additional habitat for reedbed species (such as Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler) 

and migrant birds. Existing areas of damp, improved, species-poor grassland should be 

targeted for such features rather than areas of habitat of high conservation value. 

Field Boundaries 

Draw up a field boundary management plan for all field boundaries on the islands 

identifying priority boundaries for regeneration or restoration. 

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Dry-stone walls could be built to their original height and width, using stone 

characteristic of the area informed by local building traditions. The restored dry-stone 

wall should follow the original field boundary line. Only local stones should be used for 

restoration work. Sheep shelters and kelp drying racks of historical value could also be 

restored. 

Sand Dunes 

Monitor erosion of the sand dunes on the island and, where serious erosion is occurring, 

take practical steps (such as building of sand trap fencing and planting of Marram grass) 

to prevent loss of the habitat. 

Cutting of Marram should be prohibited to prevent erosion to the dunes that form a 

protective function to adjacent land. 

Vehicular access through the dunes should be strictly controlled. 

Information notices pointing out the value of sand dunes as an amenity and wildlife 

resource and stressing the vulnerability of sand dunes to human pressure and interference 

could be erected in a suitable location. 

Shingle/Rocky Shore 

The removal of foreshore material (such as shingle) should be very strictly controlled in 

Buildings 

that it helps protect the coast from erosion and provides nesting substrate for shore birds. 

Seek the advice of NPWS when renovating old buildings in that these may harbour bats 

that are very sensitive to disturbance. 

Avoid using timber preservative chemicals to which bats are sensitive in the renovation of 

old buildings. NPWS can provide a list of approved preservatives. 

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BIRDS 

Instigate a programme of grazing and mowing management of the wet grassland and 

machair on the islands to provide the optimum breeding habitat for breeding waders 

(such as Snipe), Corncrake and Chough in conjunction with BirdWatch Ireland and 

NPWS. The timing of grazing and stocking rates should not be at the expense of other 

important habitats on the island. Grazing levels should follow any published 

management plans for the Special Protection Area (SPA). 

Nesting sites of shore birds (such as Ringed Plover and Terns) to be fenced off each season 

and protected from predators and trampling damage by dogs and people. Where visitor 

pressure is high, notices could be erected to deflect people before disturbance occurs. 

Put bird (and bat) boxes on the sheltered walls of the ruined buildings with the permission 

of the householders. 

Consider creating wader scrapes at strategic locations on the islands in conjunction with 

BirdWatch Ireland and with the permission of the landowners. 

Continue to support the monitoring of populations of key bird species by BirdWatch 

Ireland. 

Continue to promote conservation agreements for key species by BirdWatch Ireland 

amongst landowners. 

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS 

Support an annual programme of identification workshops, training, seminars and 

exhibitions to the public including local schools focusing on all aspects of island heritage 

(such as built heritage, arts and crafts, Irish language, placenames, genealogy and natural 

history) involving environmental NGOs, Donegal County Council and island 

development bodies. This programme could tie in with National Heritage Week, 

National Biodiversity Week, International Biodiversity Day and World Wetlands Day. 

98

Place the key findings of this report including digitized habitat map and any future 

research findings on the Donegal County Council website. 

Facilitate the participation of the public in a Spring Watch and Autumn Watch project 

where biodiversity sightings on the island can be submitted to a dedicated website. 

Ensure that island stakeholders are notified of the presence of notable species and 

habitats on their land and the opportunities they have to help in their conservation. 

Biodiversity awareness and training programmes could be developed and guidance 

documents relating to conservation management techniques could be distributed annually 

to council staff involved in giving advice to island landowners and land managers, or 

who assess planning applications on the basis of impact on the biodiversity of the islands. 

Consider commissioning a biodiversity logo for Donegal Islands as a whole, for use on 

all promotional and awareness creation materials. This could depict a key species of 

importance (such as Chough, Corncrake or Tern) that breeds or has bred on the islands. 

Place interpretative boards in suitable locations on the island and on the mainland 

depicting the natural, landscape, historical, built and archaeological heritage of County 

Donegal’s islands for the benefit of local communities and tourists alike. 

Fund the production of a DVD depicting the natural, landscape, historical, architectural 

and archaeological heritage of all Donegal islands. 

Create a general information leaflet focusing on the heritage of the islands with an 

accompanying map showing places of interest. 

Explore the possibility of creating a way-marked heritage trail similar to those on 

Aranmore involving all stakeholders on the islands – paying due cognisance to the need 

to prevent damage to existing habitats when designing the route. 

99

Consider establishing a wildlife observatory on one or both of the islands in a suitable 

location, in conjunction with environmental NGOs, to educate visitors on the heritage of 

the islands and to monitor wildlife populations for the benefit of future management 

plans. 

Facilitate community involvement with the management of the island’s resources through 

opportunities to participate in habitat and species monitoring and practical conservation 

activities (such as tree, hedgerow and scrub planting, repair of dry-stone walls, and an 

annual litter clean-up) in conjunction with all stakeholders (such as island development 

bodies, Donegal County Council, and environmental NGOs). 

WASTE MANAGEMENT 

Waste management policies to be implemented on the islands based on the principles of 

minimisation of waste, maximum recycling, the controlled disposal of waste, an end to 

dumping, burning and burying and the minimisation of waste left by visitors, according 

to the individual circumstances of each island. 

There could be an on-going education programme on the islands on the importance and 

benefits of proper waste disposal and the dangers of improper waste disposal (such as the 

impact on wildlife and on the image of island life projected to tourists). 

At points of entry to islands, notices could be erected asking visitors not to leave waste 

behind (except in waste bins) and encouraging them to take their waste home with them. 

An annual clean-up of the island with emphasis on the coastal zone could be carried out 

annually as part of An Taisce’s National Spring Clean. 

100

ECOTOURISM 

Tourism could be developed, in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland Northwest, County 

Enterprise Boards and other relevant stakeholders in a sustainable manner to ensure that 

no damage is done to the resources that the tourist comes to see and that local 

communities reap the economic benefits of such an initiative. Such initiatives should 

conform with the principles espoused in the existing Greenbox initiative 

(www.greenbox.ie) covering counties Fermanagh, Leitrim, west Cavan, north Sligo, 

south Donegal and north-west Monaghan, with the natural and cultural environment of 

the islands being promoted, and support being provided for the development of products 

and services which allow for sustainable use of natural marine and land resources (such 

as ‘island-hopping’ trail). 

FURTHER RESEARCH 

• Initiate a comprehensive historical landscape assessment of the island utilizing a 

combination of fieldwork and desk-based analysis of maps, estate records, newspaper 

articles and other sources in repositories such as the National Library of Ireland and the 

National and County Archives. This should include a study of the traditional and modern 

farming practices on the island. The results of this study should be disseminated 

throughout the farming sector and to the general public. The findings will be the basis 

for teasing out more detailed habitat management prescriptions on the island. 

• Commission a marine survey of the sub-tidal marine habitats and associated species 

around the islands and their adjacent islets. 

101

POLICY AND LEGISLATION 

• Compile a collaborative detailed biodiversity action plan for each island involving all 

island stakeholders and promote through the local media. 

• Ensure that appropriate consultation and regulatory mechanisms exist, and that agreement 

is reached with landowners for any changes proposed to improve the status of 

ecologically-sensitive sites on the island. 

• Implement and enforce current statutory regulations, codes of practice and guidelines of 

relevance to biodiversity conservation on the island in co-operation with statutory 

agencies and the Gardaí. 

• Incorporate any biodiversity considerations into any future local area plan for the islands. 

The availability of affordable, quality homes for permanent residents on the islands is 

essential to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of island communities. 

However the restoration of old buildings can disturb breeding bird and bat colonies. The 

restoration of old buildings, therefore, should be subject to an ecological impact 

assessment. A pro-active approach to housing needs should be made. As a first step, this 

should involve an audit to establish the number, type and condition of housing stock on 

the islands. Restoration work and new buildings should respect the traditional styles and 

techniques of each island. Grant aid should be provided for the restoration of old houses 

exhibiting vernacular styles. 

In the case of small islands, Integrated Coastal Zone Management is likely to involve the 

whole territory of the island. Islanders should be consulted when local authorities are 

drawing up Integrated Coastal Zone Management plans. 

102

APPENDIX 1A: HABITAT MAP OF INISHFREE UPPER 

103

APPENDIX 1B: HABITAT MAP OF INISHMEANE 

104

MAMMALS 

APPENDIX 2 

FAUNA RECORDED ON 


Common Name Scientific Name Inishfree Upper Inishmeane 

Fox Vulpes vulpes X 

Mink Mustela vison X X 

Rabbit Oryctolagus 

cuniculus 

House Mouse Mus musculus X 

Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus X X 

Otter Lutra lutra X 

Common Seal Phoca vitulina X X 

BIRDS¹ 


Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea X X 

Blackbird Turdus merula X 

Black Guillimot Cepphus grille X X 

Brent Goose Branta bernicla X 

Chough Pyrrhocorax 

pyrrhocorax 

105 

X X 

Common Gull Larus canus X X 

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos X 

Common Tern Sterna hirundo X 

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo X X 

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus X 

Curlew Numenius arquata X X 

Dunlin Calidris alpine X X 

Dunnock Prunella modularis X 

Eider Duck Somateria mollissima X 

Fulmar Fulmaris glacialis X 

Gannet Sula bassana X X 

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis X 

Great Skua Skua skua X 

Greater Black-backed Gull Larus marinus X X 

Guillimot Uria aalge X 

Heron Ardea cinerea X X 

Herring Gull Larus argentatus X X 

X

Hooded Crow Corvus corone X X 

Kittywake Rissa tridactyla X X 

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus X 

Linnet Carduelis cannabina X X 

Little Tern Sterna albifrons X 

Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus X 

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis X X 

Oystercatcher Haematopus 

ostralegus 

106 

X X 

Peregrine Falco perigrinus X 

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba X X 

Raven Corvus corax X X 

Razorbill Alca torda X 

Redshank Tringa totanus X 

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata X 

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus X 

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula X X 

Robin Erithyacus rubecula X X 

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus X 

Sand Martin Riparia riparia X 

Sanderling Calidris alba X X 

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis X 

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus 

schoenobaenus 

Shag Phalacrocorax 

aristotelis 

X 

X X 

Skylark Alauda arvensis X X 

Snipe Gallinago gallinago X X 

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis X 

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos X 

Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus X 

Starling Sturnus vulgaris X 

Stonechat Saxicola torquata X X 

Swallow Hirundo rustica X X 

Turnstone Arenaria interpres X 

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe X 

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus X 

Wren Troglodytes 

troglodytes 

¹Bold type indicates actual or probable breeding species 

X X

FISH 


Goldsinny Wrasse Ctenolabrus rupestris X 

Two-spotted Goby Gobiusculus flavescens X 

Sand Goby Pomatoschistus minutus X 

Painted Goby Pomatoschistus pictus X 

Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus X 

107

INVERTEBRATES 

Scientific Name Inishfree Upper Inishmeane 

PHYLUM PORIFERA (SPONGES) 

Halisarca dujardini X 

Grantia compressa X 

PHYLUM CNIDARIA (JELLYFISH, 

SEA ANEMONES) 

Dynamena pumila X 

Actinia equine X 

Anemonia viridis X 

Urticina felina X 

Anthopleura ballii X 

Cereus pedunculatus X 

Cyanea lamarckii X 

PHYLUM NEMERTEA (RIBBON- 

WORMS) 

Lineus longissimus X 

PHYLUM ANNELIDA (SEGMENTED 

WORMS) 

Chaetopterus variopedatus X 

Arenicola marina X 

Lanice conchilega X 

Pomatoceros triqueter X 

Spirorbis sp. X 

PHYLUM CRUSTACEA (CRABS, 

BARNACLES, WOODLICE) 

Liocarcinus depurator X 

Oniscus asellus X 

Philoscia muscorum X 

Semibalanus balanoides X 

Palaemon serratus X 

Galathea squamifera X 

Pisidia longicornis X 

Macropodia rostrata X 

Cancer pagurus X 

Carcinus maenas X 

PHYLUM MOLLUSCA (SLUGS AND 

SNAILS) 

Cepaea hortensis X 

Cepea nemoralis X 

108

Helix aspera X 

Arion ater X 

Lepidochitona cinerea X 

Tricolia pullus X 

Gibbula magus X 

Gibbula cineraria X 

Calliostoma zizyphinum X 

Patella vulgata X 

Helcion pellucidum X 

Bittium reticulatum X 

Lacuna pallidula X 

Lacuna parva X 

Lacuna vincta X 

Littorina littorea X 

Littorina mariae X 

Littorina obtusata X 

Littorina saxatilis X 

Eatonina fulgida X 

Barleeia unifasciata X 

Rissoa interrupta X 

Rissoa lilacina X 

Rissoa parva X 

Cingula cingillus X 

Onoba semicostata X 

Lamellaria lateens X 

Nucella lapillus X 

Hinia reticulata X 

Hinia incrassata X 

Rissoella diaphana X 

Omalogyra atomus X 

Odostomia turrita X 

Retusa truncatula X 

Elysia viridis X 

Hermaea bifida X 

Musculus costulatus X 

Musculus discors X 

Heteranomia squamula X 

Heteranomia squamula X 

Lucinoma borealis X 

Cerastoderma edule X 

Spisula solida X 

Ensis arcuatus X 

109

Ensis siliqua X 

Angulus tenuis X 

Chamelea gallina X 

Venerupis senegalensis X 

Dosinia exoleta X 

Hiatella arctica X 

Oxychilus cellarius X 

Trochulus hispidus X 

Helicella itala X 

Cochlicella acuta X 

Potamopyrgus antipodarum X 

Stagnicola fusca X 

Galba truncatula X 

Aplexa hypnorum X 

Pisidium personatum X 

Pisidium obtusale X 

PHYLUM BRYOZOA 

(SEA MATS) 

Membranipora membranacea X 

Electra pilosa X 

PHYLUM ECHINODERMATA 

(STARFISH, BRITTLESTARS) 

Antedon bifida X 

Astropecten irregularis X 

Asterina gibbosa X 

Asterias rubens X 

Ophiothrix fragilis X 

Psammechinus miliaris X 

Spatangus purpureus X 

PHYLUM TUNICATA 

(SEA SQUIRTS) 

Clavelina lepadiformis X 

Ascidia mentula X 

Botryllus schlosseri X 

PHYLUM ARTHROPODA 

ORDER ARANEAE (SPIDERS) 

Xysticus cristatus X 

ORDER COLEOPTERA (BEETLES) 

Agabus montanus 

Amara communis 

X 

110 

X

Aphodius rufipes X 

Cantharis pallida X 

Carabus granulatus X 

Chrysolina banksi X 

Coccinella undecimpunctata X 

Coccinella septempunctata X 

Neocrepidodera transversa X 

Rhagonycha fulva X 

Serica brunnea X 

ORDER DIPTERA (FLIES) 

Scatophaga stercoraria X 

Tachina grossa X 

ORDER HEMIPTERA (TRUE BUGS) 

Nabis rugosus X 

ORDER HYMENOPTERA (ANTS, BEES, 

WASPS, ICHNEUMONS) 

Myrmica rubra X 

ORDER ODONATA (DRAGONFLIES 

AND DAMSELFLIES) 

Sympetrum striolatum X 

ORDER ORTHOPTERA 

(GRASSHOPPERS) 

Omocestus viridulus X 

111

ORDER LEPIDOPTERA 

(BUTTERFLIES AND 

MOTHS) 

BUTTERFLIES 

Common Name Scientific Name Inishfree 

Common Blue 

Dark-green Fritillary 

Grayling 

Polymmatus 

icarus 

Mesoacidalia 

aglaia 

Hipparchia 

semele 

Green-veined White Pieris napi X 

Marsh Fritillary 

Euphydryas 

aurinia 

Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina X 

112 

Upper 

X X 

Painted Lady Cynthia cardui X X 

Peacock Inachis io X 

Ringlet 

Small Heath 

Aphantopus 

hyperantus 

Coenonympha 

pamphilus 

Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae X X 

Small White Pieris rapae X 

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta X 

MACRO-MOTHS 

Antler Moth 

Cerapteryx 

graminis 

Archer's Dart Agrotis vestigialis X 

Barred Rivulet 

Perizoma 

bifaciata 

Barred Straw Eulithis pyraliata X 

Beautiful Golden Y 

Bright-line Brown-eye 

Autographa 

pulchrina 

Lacanobia 

oleracea 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

Inishmeane 

X 

X X 

Broom Moth Melanchra pisi X 

Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum X X 

Buff-tip 

Phalera 

bucephala 

Burnished Brass Diachrysia X X 

X

chrysitis 

Chevron Eulithis testata X 

Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae X 

Clouded-bordered Brindle Apamea crenata X X 

Common Carpet 

Common Rustic agg. 

Epirrhoe 

alternate 

Mesapamea 

secalis agg. 

Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens X 

Crescent 

Dark Arches 

Celaena 

leucostigma 

Apamea 

monoglypha 

113 

X X 

X 

X 

X X 

Dark Sword-grass Agrotis ipsilon X 

Dotted Clay Xestia baja X 

Double Dart 

Graphiphora 

augur 

Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum X 

Double-striped Pug 

Gymnoscelis 

rufifasciata 

Drinker Euthrix potatoria X 

Dusky Brocade Apamea remissa X X 

Ear Moth agg. 

Amphipoea 

oculea agg. 

Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia X 

Flame Shoulder 

Ochropleura 

plecta 

Flounced Rustic Luperina testacea X 

Fox Moth 

Macrothylacia 

rubi 

X 

X 

X 

X X 

X X 

Galium Carpet Epirrhoe galiata X X 

Garden Carpet 

Xanthorhoe 

fluctuata 

Garden Tiger Arctia caja X 

Gold Spangle 

Grass Emerald 

Grass Rivulet 

Heart and Dart 

Autographa 

bractea 

Pseudoterpna 

pruinata 

Perizoma 

albulata 

Agrotis 

exclamationis 

X 

X 

X 

X X 

X

Heath Rustic Xestia agathina X 

Ingrailed Clay Diarsia mendica X 

July Highflyer 

Hydriomena 

furcata 

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba X X 

Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes X 

Lime-speck Pug 

Ling Pug 

Lunar Underwing 

Map-winged Swift 

Eupithecia 

centaureata 

Eupithecia 

goossensiata 

Omphaloscelis 

lunosa 

Hepialus 

fusconebulosa 

X 

114 

X X 

Marbled Coronet Hadena confusa X 

Marsh Oblique-barred 

Middle-barred Minor 

Hypenodes 

humidalis 

Oligia 

fasciuncula 

Muslin Footman Nudaria mundane X X 

Narrow-winged Pug Eupithecia nanata X X 

Northern Eggar 

Northern Rustic 

Lasiocampa 

quercus 

Standfussiana 

lucernea 

Northern Spinach Eulithis populate X 

Pink-barred Sallow Xanthia togata X 

Plain Golden Y Autographa jota X 

Pod Lover 

Hadena perplexa 

capsophila 

Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi X X 

Pretty Pinion 

Red Twin-spot Carpet 

Perizoma 

blandiata 

Xanthorhoe 

spadicearia 

Riband Wave Idaea aversata X 

Rosy Rustic 

Ruby Tiger 

Rustic 

Hydraecia 

micacea 

Phragmatobia 

fuliginosa 

Hoplodrina 

blanda 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X X 

X 

X

Satyr Pug 

Scalloped Oak 

Scotch Annulet 

Shaded Broad-bar 

Silver Y 

Eupithecia 

satyrata 

Crocallis 

elinguaria 

Gnophos 

obfuscate 

Scotopteryx 

chenopodiata 

Autographa 

gamma 

Single-dotted Wave Idaea dimidiata X 

Six-spot Burnet 

Small Elephant Hawk-moth 

Zygaena 

filipendulae 

Deilephila 

porcellus 

Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi X 

Small Wainscot 

Chortodes 

pygmina 

Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impure X 

Spectacle 

Square-spot Rustic 

Abrostola 

tripartite 

Xestia 

xanthographa 

Straw Dot Rivula sericealis X 

Thyme Pug 

Eupithecia 

distinctaria 

Treble-bar Aplocera plagiata X 

True Lover's Knot 

White Ermine 

Lycophotia 

porphyrea 

Spilosoma 

lubricipeda 

White-line Dart Euxoa tritici X 

Yellow Shell 

MICRO-MOTHS 

Camptogramma 

bilineata 

X 

X 

115 

X X 

X 

X X 

X X 

X 

X 

X X 

X 

X 

X X 

X X 

Aethes piercei X 

X 

Acleris asperana X 

Agriphila 

straminella 

Common Grass-veneer Agriphila tristella X 

X 

Ancylis badiana X

Timothy Tortix Aphelia paleana X 

Bee Moth Aphomia sociella X 

Brown China-mark 

Rush Veneer 

Crambus perlella X 

Chrysoteuchia 

culmella 

Cochylimorpha 

straminea 

Coleophora 

mayrella 

Elophila 

nymphaeata 

Epinotia 

subocellana 

116 

X 

X 

X 

X X 

Eucosma cana X 

Eudonia 

mercurella 

Micropterix 

calthella 

Nomophila 

noctuella 

X 

X 

Oegoconia sp. X 

Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella X 

Small Magpie 

Pseudopostega 

crepusculella 

Scoparia 

pyralella 

Scoparia subfusca X 

Eurrhypara 

hortulata 

X 

Udea lutealis X 

X 

X 

X 

X

FLOWERING PLANTS 

Common Name 

APPENDIX 3 

FLORA RECORDED ON 


Scientific Name 

Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus X 

117 

Inishfree 

Upper 

Yarrow Achillea millefolium X X 

Velvet Bent Agrostis canina X X 

Common Bent Agrostis capillaris X X 

Creeping Bent Agrostis stolonifera X X 

Early Hair-grass Aira praecox X X 

Grey Alder Alnus incana X 

Marram Ammophila arenaria X X 

Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis X X 

Bog Pimpernel Anagallis tenella X X 

Angelica Angelica sylvestris X X 

Mountain Everlasting Antennaria dioica X X 

Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum X X 

Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria X 

Fool’s-water-cress Apium nodiflorum X X 

Lesser Burdock Arctium minus sens. lat. X X 

Thyme-leaved Sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia X 

Thrift Armeria maritima X X 

False- Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius var. 

bulbosum 

Sea Spleenwort Asplenium marinum X 

Sea Aster Aster tripolium X 

X X 

Lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina X X 

Spear-leaved Orache Atriplex prostrata X X 

Daisy Bellis perennis X X 

Hard-fern Blechnum spicant X X 

Soft-brome Bromus hordaceus X 

Sea Rocket Cakile maritima X 

Water Star-wort Callitriche agg. X X 

Heather Calluna vulgaris X X 

Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris X X 

Harebell Campanula rotundifolia X 

Shepherd’s-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris X 

Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis X X 

Inishmeane

Sand Sedge Carex arenaria X X 

Green-ribbed Sedge Carex binervis X 

Star Sedge Carex echinata X X 

Long-bracted Sedge Carex extensa X 

Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca X X 

Oval Sedge Carex ovalis X 

Common Sedge Carex nigra X X 

False Fox-sedge Carex otrubae X 

Carnation Sedge Carex panicea X X 

Flea Sedge Carex pulicaris X 

Remote Sedge Carex remota X 

Bottle Sedge Carex rostrata X 

Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa X 

Sea Fern-grass Catapodium marinum X X 

Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra X X 

Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea X X 

Red Valerian Centranthus ruber X 

Sea Mouse-ear Cerastium diffusum X X 

Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum X X 

Fat-hen Chenopodium album agg. X 

Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense X X 

Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum X X 

Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre X X 

Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare X X 

Common Scurvygrass Cochlearia officinalis agg. X X 

Frog Orchid Coeloglossum viride X 

Pignut Conopodium majus X 

Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna X 

Smooth Hawk’s-beard Crepis capillaris X X 

Montbretia Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora X X 

Crested Dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus X X 

Cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata X X 

Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii X X 

Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. 

coccinea 

Dactylorhiza incarnata X 

Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. 

incarnata 

Western Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza majalis X 

118 

X 

X

Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. 

brevifolia 

119 

X X 

Heath Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata X X 

Heath-grass Danthonia decumbens X X 

Wild Carrot Daucus carota X X 

Wavy Hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa X 

Round-leaved Sundew Drosera rotundifolia X X 

Scaly Male-fern Dryopteris affinis X X 

Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata X 

Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas X X 

Many-stalked Spike-rush Eleocharis multicaulis X 

Common Spike-rush Eleocharis palustris X X 

Sand Couch Elytrigia juncea X 

Crowberry Empetrum nigrum X X 

Short-fruited Willowherb Epilobium obscurum X 

Marsh Willowherb Epilobium palustre X X 

Hoary Willowherb Epilobium parviflorum X 

Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense X 

Water Horsetail Equisetum fluviatile X 

Marsh Horsetail Equisetum palustre X 

Bell Heather Erica cinerea X X 

Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix X X 

Common Cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium X X 

Common Stork’s-bill Erodium cicutarium agg. X 

Escallonia Escallonia macrantha X 

Eyebrights Euphrasia officinalis agg. X X 

Tall Fescue Festuca arundinacea X 

Red Fescue Festuca rubra X X 

Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria X 

Ash Fraxinus excelsior X 

Cleavers Galium aparine X X 

Marsh Bedstraw Galium palustre X X 

Lady’s Bedstraw Galium verum X X 

Field Gentian Gentianella campestris X X 

Dove's-foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle X 

Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum X 

Sea-milkwort Glaux maritima X X 

Plicate Sweet-grass Glyceria notata X 

Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea X

Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. 

conopsea 

Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. 

densiflora 

Hebe Hebe sp. X 

Ivy Hedera helix X 

Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium X X 

Mare’s-tail Hippuris vulgaris X 

Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus X X 

Sea Sandwort Honckenya peploides X X 

Bluebell Hyacinthoides nonscripta X 

Marsh Pennywort Hydrocotyle vulgaris X X 

Tutsan Hypericum androsaemum X 

Slender St John’s-wort Hypericum pulchrum X 

Square-stalked St John’s-wort Hypericum tetrapterum X 

Cat’s-ear Hypochaeris radicata X X 

Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus X 

Bristle Club-rush Isolepis setacea X 

Sheep’s-bit Jasione montana X X 

Sharp-flowered Rush Juncus acutiflorus X X 

Jointed Rush Juncus articulatus X X 

Toad Rushes Juncus bufonius sens. lat. X X 

Bulbous Rush Juncus bulbosus X X 

Compact Rush Juncus conglomeratus X 

Soft Rush Juncus effusus X X 

Saltmarsh Rush Juncus gerardii X X 

Sea Rush Juncus maritimus X X 

Crested Hair-grass Koeleria macrantha X X 

Nipplewort Lapsana communis X 

Japanese Larch Larix kaempferi X 

Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius X 

Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis X 

Common Duckweed Lemna minor X X 

Autumn Hawkbit Leontodon autumnalis X 

Lyme-grass Leymus arenarius X X 

Lax-flowered Sea-lavender Limonium humile X 

Fairy Flax Linum catharticum X X 

Common Twayblade Listera ovata X 

Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne X X 

Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum X 

Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus X X 

120 

X 

X

Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus pedunculatus X X 

Field Wood-rush Luzula campestris X 

Heath Wood-rush Luzula multiflora subsp. hibernica X X 

Ragged-Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi X 

Purple-loosestrife Lythrum salicaria X X 

Apples Malus sylvestris sens. lat. X 

Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea X 

Water Mint Mentha aquatica X X 

Purple Moor-grass Molinia caerulea X X 

Tufted Forget-me-not Myosotis laxa X X 

Bog-myrtle Myrica gale X 

Mat-grass Nardus stricta X 

Bog Asphodel Narthecium ossifragum X X 

Red Bartsia Odontites vernus X X 

Hemlock Water-dropwort Oenanthe crocata X 

Adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum X 

Early-purple Orchid Orchis mascula X 

Royal Fern Osmunda regalis X X 

Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella X 

Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica X 

Amphibious Bistort Persicaria amphibiaa X X 

Sand Cat’s-tail Phleum arenarium X 

Common Reed Phragmites australis X X 

Fox-and-cubs Pilosella aurantiaca X 

Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum X 

Common Butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris X 

Lodgepole Pine Pinus contorta X 

Buck’s-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus X X 

Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata X X 

Greater Plantain Plantago major X X 

Sea Plantain Plantago maritima X X 

Lesser Butterfly-orchid Platanthera bifolia X X 

Annual Meadow-grass Poa annua X 

Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis X X 

Heath Milkwort Polygala serpyllifolia X 

Common Milkwort Polygala vulgaris X 

Polypodies Polypodium vulgare sens. lat. X 

Aspen Populus tremula X 

Broad-leaved Pondweed Potamogeton natans X 

Bog Pondweed Potamogeton polygonifolius X X 

Silverweed Potentilla anserina X X 

Tormentil Potentilla erecta X X 

121

Bramble Potentilla fruticosa X 

Primrose Primula vulgaris X X 

Selfheal Prunella vulgaris X X 

Wild Plum Prunus domestica X 

Blackthorn Prunus spinosa X 

Bracken Pteridium aquilinum X X 

Common Saltmarsh-grass Puccinellia maritima X 

Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris X X 

Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus X 

Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria X 

Lesser Spearwort Ranunculus flammula X 

Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens X X 

Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor X X 

Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum X 

Great Yellow-cress Rorippa amphibia X 

Water-cress Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum X X 

Dog-rose Rosa canina X 

Burnet-rose Rosa pimpinellifolia X X 

Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. X X 

Raspberry Rubus idaeus X 

Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa X X 

Sheep’s Sorrel Rumex acetosella X X 

Curled Dock Rumex crispus X X 

Rumex crispus ssp. littoreus Rumex crispus ssp. littoreus X 

Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius X X 

Knotted Pearlwort Sagina nodosa X 

Procumbent Pearlwort Sagina procumbens X X 

Glassworts Salicornia agg. X 

Eared Willow Salix aurita X 

Rusty Willow Salix cinerea subsp. oleifolia X 

Creeping Willow Salix repens X 

Osier Salix viminalis X 

Salix x calodendron X 

Salix x multinervis X 

Elder Sambucus nigra X 

Brookweed Samolus valerandi X X 

Rue-leaved Saxifrage Saxifraga tridactylites X 

Londonpride Saxifraga x urbium X 

Grey Club-rush Scirpus tabernaemontani X 

Black Bog-rush Schoenus nigricans X X 

Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre X X 

English Stonecrop Sedum anglicum X 

122

Marsh Ragwort Senecio aquaticus X 

Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea X X 

Groundsel Senecio vulgaris X X 

Blue Moor-grass Sesleria caerulea X 

Sea Campion Silene uniflora X X 

Potato Solanum tuberosum X 

Goldenrod Solidago virgaurea X X 

Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis X 

Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper X X 

Smooth Sow-thistle Sonchus oleraceus X 

Greater Sea-spurrey Spergularia media X 

Marsh Woundwort Stachys palustris X X 

Bog Stitchwort Stellaria uliginosa X 

Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis X X 

Russian Comfrey Symphytum x uplandicum X 

Tansy Tanacetum vulgare X X 

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale agg. X X 

Wood Sage Teucrium scorodonia X 

Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus X X 

Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium X 

Zigzag Clover Trifolium medium X 

Red Clover Trifolium pratense X X 

White Clover Trifolium repens X X 

Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritimum X X 

Sea Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum X X 

Colt’s-foot Tussilago farfara X X 

Bulrush Typha latifolia X 

Gorse Ulex europaeus 

Wych Elm Ulmus glabra X 

Common Nettle Urtica dioica X X 

Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus X 

Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys X 

Thyme-leaved Speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia X X 

Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca X 

Bush Vetch Vicia sepium X 

Violet Viola sp. X 

Heath Dog-violet Viola canina X X 

Common Dog-violet Viola riviniana X 

Eelgrass Zostera marina X 

BRYOPHYTES (MOSSES AND 

LIVERWORTS) 

Aulacomnium palustre X 

123

RED ALGAE 

BROWN ALGAE 

Brachythecium rutabulum X 

Breutelia chrysocoma X 

Bryum pseudotriquetrum X 

Calliergon giganteum X 

Calliergonella cuspidata X X 

Campylopus atrovirens X 

Dicranum scoparium X X 

Fissidens sp. X 

Frullania tamariscii X X 

Homalothecium lutescens X 

Homalothecium sericeum X X 

Hylocomnium splendens X X 

Hypnum jutlandicum X 

Hypnum lacunosum X X 

Lophocolea bidentata X 

Mnium hornum X 

Odontoschisma sphagni X 

Pellia epiphylla X 

Pleurozium schreberi X 

Polytrichum commune X 

Racomitrium lanuginosum X 

Rhizomnium punctatum X 

Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus X X 

Schistidium marina X 

Sphagnum capillifolium X X 

Sphagnum cuspidatum X 

Sphagnum inundatum X 

Sphagnum palustre X X 

Sphagnum papillosum X 

Sphagnum squarrosum X X 

Sphagnum subnitens X 

Tortula ruraliformis X X 

Catenella caespitosa X 

Chondrus crispus X 

Dilsea carnosa X 

Polysiphonia lanosa X 

Rhodothamniella floridula X 

Ascophyllum nodosum X 

Chorda filum X 

Colpomenia peregrina X 

124

GREEN ALGAE 

FUNGI 

LICHENS 

Cystoseira tamariscifolia X 

Dictyopteris membranacea X 

Dictyota dichotoma X 

Fucus serratus X 

Fucus spiralis X 

Fucus vesiculosus X 

Halidrys siliquosa X 

Himanthalia elongata X 

Laminaria digitata X 

Laminaria hyperborea X 

Laminaria saccharina X 

Leathesia difformis X 

Pelvetia canaliculata X 

Sargassum muticum X 

Codium sp. X 

Enteromorpha sp. X 

Ulva lactuca X 

Auricularia auricula-judae X 

Hygrocybe coccinea X 

Hygrocybe conica X 

Hygrocybe pratensis X X 

Hygrocybe punicea X 

Hygrocybe virgineus X 

Caloplaca marina X 

Cladonia ciliata X 

Cladonia portentosa X X 

Cladonia uncialis X 

Peltigera lactucifolia X 

Ramalina siliquosa X X 

Verrucaria maura X X 

Xanthoria sp. X 

125

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Conyngham Estate Papers: ms maps 107L-109L, 110m-115m. estate of the most honourable The 

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Merne, O.J. & Walsh, A.J. (2002). “Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis in Ireland, spring 1999,” 

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127

USEFUL WEBSITES 

BirdWatch Ireland 

www.birdwatchireland.ie 

Bord Iascaigh Mhara 

www.bim.ie 

Comhar na nOileán Teo. 

www.oileain.ie/en/ComharnanOilean 

Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann 

www.oileain.ie 

Donegal County Council 

www.donegalcoco.ie 

Donegal Moths 

www.skylark.ie/donegalmoths 

Fáilte Ireland 

www.failteireland.ie 

Greenbox 

www.greenbox.ie 

Irish Peatland Conservation Council 

www.ipcc.ie 

Irish Wildlife Trust 

www.iwt.ie 

National Parks and Wildlife Service 

www.npws.ie 

Northern Regional Fisheries Board 

www.nrfb.ie 

The Heritage Council 

www.heritagecouncil.ie 

Údarás na Galetachta 

www.udaras.ie 

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© County Donegal Heritage Office, Cultural Services, Donegal County Council 2010 

129

Ecological Study of Inishfree Upper & Inishmeane - Donegal County ...

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