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Cummeragh River Bog, Co. Kerry

Panorama of Cummeragh River Bog, Co. Kerry, taken from Glenbeg mountain looking north. Photo: E. v/d Borch

Cummeragh River Bog is one of the sites purchased in 1993 with funds raised in the Netherlands. During the summer IPCC were fortunate to organise for a Dutch student from the Hogere Agrarische School in Delft, the Netherlands, a Mr Emile van der Borch to undertake a wildlife survey of Cummeragh River Bog in Co. Kerry. IPCC were excited about the results particularly the range of habitats occurring on the site and their pristine quality.

Hummock and pool vegetation on Cummeragh River Bog. Photo: P. Foss

Cummeragh River Bog is a domed lowland Atlantic blanket bog of 46 ha in extent. The site occurs in a valley surrounded on all sides by water. It is the most intact southerly blanket bog of Ireland. With the funds donated by a Dutch man - Mr Vim Linschouten this bog was purchased and it is now protected in our network of peatland sites. The bog was given as a gift to the Irish people to be managed by Dúchas the Heritage Service.

Cummeragh River Bog is a National Heritage Area (No. 365), a National Nature Reserve (declared in 1994) and is proposed as a Special Area of Conservation because of its unique undisturbed character and its international conservation importance.

Emile van der Borch (right) and IPCC's Conservation Officer Patrick Crushell (left) estimating moss cover on Cummeragh River Bog. Photo: P. Foss

Three transects and 58 relevés were recorded to study the vegetation types present on the site. This allowed for the compilation of a detailed vegetation map (see above).

The survey of Cummeragh River Bog found:
* 159 plant and 93 bird and fauna species on the bog.
* Seven different vegetation and habitat types including: hummock & pool system, flat blanket bog, flushed bog areas, grassy heathland, marsh, river (boundary) and willow woodland.
* The Willow woodlands contained St Patrick's cabbage (Saxifraga spathularis), blue bells, wild angelica, bramble and other water loving species enhancing the biodiversity of the site.
* 8 breeding bird species were recorded including: Skylark, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Wren, Sand Martin and Stonechat.
* The large heath butterfly was found regularly on Cummeragh River Bog. The Marsh Fritillary was also recorded on the site. These two butterflies are very rare and the Marsh Fritillary is an endangered species in Europe.
* There was some damage at the boundaries of Cummeragh River Bog from sheep and cattle, which has been reported to Dúchas.

This work will contribute to the development of a management plan for this special site.

Vegetation Map of Cummeragh River Bog prepared by Emile van der Borch as a result of a field survey during 2000.

- Report by Catherine O'Connell from IPCC Members Magazine Peatland News 30