Rahasane Turlough

By Adam Lawlor Smalle

January 2012

Our Local Turlough

Rahasane Turlough is the name given to the largest surviving turlough in Ireland.

It is down the road from our school. It is situated on the Dunkellin river, west of

Craughwell. It consists of two basins which are connected at

times of flood but separate as the waters drain away.

In summer, the lake empties & the basin is grazed by cattle, horse & sheep

What is a Turlough ?

A turlough is a disappearing lake. Mostly found in limestone area’s of Ireland,

west of the river Shannon. The name comes from the Irish “tuar”

meaning dry and “loch” the Irish for lake. They are almost unique to Ireland. Most turloughs flood in autumn and then dry

up usually between April and July.

Map of Craughwell Village and Turlough

Rahasane Turlough

Rahasane is a karst (exposed limestone) lake There is no surface outlet & is surrounded on

all sides by rising land Most of the turlough is open, flat and grassy,

with large rocks scattered over the floor It has an active swallowhole system Some of the swallowholes can reach 5

meters in diameter & are 2 to 3 meters deep It covers 257 hectares

Wildlife in the Rahasane Turlough

Famous for its wintering wildfowl populations Whooper & Bewicks Swans Greenland White – fronted Geese Mallard Ducks

- see photo Widgeon Ducks Black Terns

Wildlife in the Rahasane Turlough contd. Summer birdlife

includes nesting waders including Lapwing Redshank Snipe Dunlin

Redshank & Lapwing (below)

Wildlife in the Rahasane Turlough contd. There is a small run of Atlantic Salmon

through the Dunkellin River They just pass through & do not spawn The Fairy Shrimp was first recorded in Ireland Otters are to be found at the neck of the

turlough Look up “otters in Rahasane” for video proof

on Google

Types of Vegetation

Dry grassland incl. Red Fescue Crested Dogs – tail Creeping Cinquefoil (very

rare) Fen Violet (very rare) Silverweed Creeping Brent

Wet Communities incl. Fan-leaved Water

Crowfoot Fennel Pondweed Lesser Pondweed Fat Buckweed

Rahasane is Important to Europe

Rahasane Turlough is a Special Area of Conservation under the Habitats Directive which is a important European Law that protects vulnerable areas for wildbirds & animals and plant species

The Irish Government is obliged to protect and maintain the environment in and around the Turlough

It implements laws & enforces regulations to ensure the ecological integrity of the site

Poem lamenting damage to Rahasane Turlough if proposed Sewage Plant was sited at its neck, since averted.

Who cares? By Michael O’Rourke

Who cares about the rabbit or hare?Its 2007, hasn’t he been long enough there

The Celtic Tiger can run around thereBulldoze that hill; don’t mind the old mill,

We can crush the stone for gravel and fill.Who cares?

Now what about the speckled brown trout,The Saragossa eel, the widgeon or teal,

The salmon and pike can get on their bike,And don’t get bothered about the rare old otter,

Sure can’t he find some other clean water?Who cares?

Who cares about the river bedAll those lovely fishes lying dead

The sewerage scheme should go ahead.Who cares about the rare red squirrel

To see them was such a thrillBut sure we can do without him as well.

Who cares?And what about the Turlough fair

Or do people know its thereWith its many birds so rare

Some how travelled very far.To stroll there scenting the still clean air

With Craughwell water running thereIts sweet green grass grazed quite bare.

Who cares?

Who cares about feather or finTo damage all this is surely a sin

The oyster in its crusty shellI won’t chance those, I think they smell.

We often came to visit here And stopped to eat at Moran’s of the Weir.

Who cares?And what about the martin cat

With all of the development there will be only room for the rat.With the roundabouts and big wide roads

There will be no space left for lizard or toad.The hedgehog too

Sure there may be room for him in the zoo.Who cares?

And last the King Fisher bird with plumage bright His habitat destroyed who gives a sh--.

Who cares?