Download Nature and Wildlife in Roscommon - The Heritage Council
Download Nature and Wildlife in Roscommon - The Heritage Council
Download Nature and Wildlife in Roscommon - The Heritage Council
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Turlough. Photo by John Earley<br />
turlouGhs<br />
Turloughs are more or less unique to Irel<strong>and</strong>. <strong>The</strong>y are often<br />
associated with limestone areas <strong>and</strong> occur mostly <strong>in</strong> the<br />
western counties <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Roscommon</strong>. Turloughs are<br />
temporary water bodies that are filled <strong>and</strong> emptied though<br />
a swallow hole that is connected with the underground<br />
water table. Generally turloughs are filled dur<strong>in</strong>g the w<strong>in</strong>ter<br />
<strong>and</strong> wetter months of the year.<br />
Turloughs are considered as a priority habitat for nature<br />
conservation <strong>in</strong> the European Union because of their rarity<br />
world-wide <strong>and</strong> their importance for wildlife. <strong>Roscommon</strong><br />
has some wonderful examples of turloughs <strong>and</strong> many<br />
have been designated for nature conservation due to their<br />
exceptionally high quality <strong>and</strong> value for birds <strong>and</strong> wildlife<br />
e.g. turloughs at Ball<strong>in</strong>turly, Coolcam Turlough, Four Roads,<br />
Lisduff <strong>and</strong> Castleplunket.<br />
Lapw<strong>in</strong>g. Photo by John Earley<br />
20<br />
Turlough violet. Photo by John Earley
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