Saltees island outing

The Saltees trip took place on June 1st. 

The boat left from Kilmore Quay.
Thanks to Ben and Bridie for the pictures from the trip...an excellent turnout.

 

Empowering Coastal Communities

Coastal Zone

The theme for the next meeting of the Waterford branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust on Monday January 14th will be :  the Coastal Zone...how to record what you see, a geographer's perspective.
The venue will be the Edmund Rice Heritage Centre, Barrack Street, Waterford at 7.30 p.m. 

The AGM will follow discussion. at 8.45  pm.  There will be very short  updates on a number of pressing ecological issues such as the Ash tree die back, the seal situation on our coast,   

Agenda

1.        Minutes of 2012 AGM

2.       Financial Report

3.       General Report from Chairman

4.       Motions

5.       Election of Committee

Note:   The Branch has had a busy year with individual members also contributing with a number of activities for children and adults.  There is much more we would like to do but that always depends on voluntary activity.  It is not necessary to commit to be part of the committee to undertake a project.  The AGM will be an opportunity to establish priorities and to do that I am asking you to make time to come to the AGM and help develop a plan of activities and priorities for the  coming year.

 

IWT Christmas outing

The Irish Wildlife Trust’s Christmas  walk and social takes place next Sunday December 16th  starting at 2 pm from the main car park at Woodstown.  We will walk to Creadan ( Fornaught) Strand and from there to the Giant’s Grave ( the Neolithic Passage grave at Harristown) along a section of the legendary Bóthar na mBan Gorm and by road back to Woodstown.  The walk is about 2½ hours and will be energetic in places.  The Bóthar is badly rutted near the Grave  and uneven in other places so strollers are not recommended..   But there is an option of a shorter route suitable for strollers.   Otherwise it is a family friendly event full of interest for all ages.  Afterwards there will be an informal Christmas get -together in a local hostelry and we would love to meet and chat with  members and friends 
and the general public  there.   

Coastwatch 2012

Cliff slumping near Raheen bridge

Catching crabs using recyled tyres at Fornaght Bay

Worms that think they are Coral dwellers at Newtown head

Washed up...not the blogger, the oyster bed remnants

Oyster beds at Woodstown

Dunmore East Walks Festival

The walks festival is on from May 18th to 20th. The pictures were taken today along part of the cliff walk.
For more information, check out www.dunmorewalks.com

Cove to Cove along the Stradbally coast May 13th

The May outing of  the  Waterford Branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust takes place on Sunday May 13th at Stradbally,  Co Waterford.  The topics will include the ecology of the coves and the flora of roadside verges.  The walk begins at 2.30 and will take about 2.5 hours  and is suitable for all ages.  Dogs may be taken on the lead.   All welcome.  Directions:  From Waterford follow the main Cork Road past the Kilmacthomas exit.  The signposted exit for Stradbally is about 2 miles past the Kilmacthomas exit.  Go through the village to Stradbally Cove where there is good parking.

Seaweed workshop April 14th

On Saturday, April 14th, 2 local IWT members will lead a seaweed workshop at Clonea Strand Hotel near Dungarvan as part of the Waterford Festival of Food. Hilary and Marie, along with Grace, will do a 2 hour talk / demo / tasting session and beach walk on how to identify edible seaweeds and how to cook with them to make tasty and wholesome dishes and snacks. Booking is necessary for this event with the organisers ...click here   

Dunmore cliff walk April 15th

The Dunmore – Rathmoylan cliff walk is coming into its spring glory with the aroma of gorse and the brilliance of sea thrift and sea campion all around. The Irish Wildlife Trust Waterford invites  members and the general public to come along for its April outing on Sunday April 15.   This is a 2.5 hour walk  and apart from the descent and rise from Portally Cove and the rise from Rathmoylan Cove, the route is easy along prepared track or field edge.  Start time is 2.30 pm and meeting point is the Lifeboat House, Dunmore East.   A bus will do the return leg.  We visit the Kittiwake colony at the start of the walk and learn something of this interesting sea bird. The outing is family friendly but dogs must be kept on the lead.  Walk leader is Ray McGrath.

Discover the secret lives of Jellyfish

‘Waterford Open Water’ presents A talk on the natural history of jellyfish


Date: Wednesday 14th March 2012

Time: 8 – 9 pm (45 min talk followed by open discussion)

Venue: Ramada Hotel, Waterford

Speaker: Dr Tom Doyle

This talk will provide a general introduction to jellyfish and their importance in coastal seas. The talk will discuss the different types of jellyfish in Irish waters (e.g. Moon, Portuguese Man-O-War), their life cycle (where do jellyfish go during the winter?), treatment/prevention of jellyfish stings (the pros and cons), their impacts on society (e.g. both positive and negative), and whether jellyfish are increasing with climate change or overfishing.

Dr Doyle is Ireland’s leading jellyfish expert. He has addressed the European Parliament on the rise of jellyfish, published his findings in international journals, and regularly speaks on national radio shows including Mooney Goes Wild, Morning Ireland, and Moncrieff. Tom is currently working on the EcoJel Project which is funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Ireland Wales Programme 2007-2013 – INTERREG 4A. EcoJel is a collaboration between Swansea University (Wales) and University College Cork (Ireland). EcoJel aims to assess the opportunities and detrimental impacts of jellyfish in the Irish Sea.

All are welcome. The talk is free but please contact Colm Breathnach on info@waterfordopenwater.com so we can get an idea of numbers. Tea and coffee will be served.

Press release

The IWT welcome the Garda investigation into the shooting of seals off the Waterford Coast last week, and encourage members of the public to report any information they may have to Tramore Gardai (051 391620).

IWT are concerned that the 4 injured seals appear to have been shot close together at sea, in a deliberate act. All stranded close to each other in the same area of a 3 mile long beach, within days of each other, and had to be euthenased as they were in a badly injured state.

Seals are a protected species under the Wildlife Act, and play an important role in the marine food chain and their reduction may lead to negative consequences for ecosystem balance.

We believe that this type of animal persecution has a very negative impact on the country's image as a visitor destination, and it's reporting on BBC news last week sends out all the wrong signals from a nation which is appreciated by Britons and other for its natural environment.

There has been speculation about the perpetrators of this wanton and cruel act and we would ask all interested organisations to declare their condemnation of it.

Some pictures provided by Marie

Investigation into Waterford seal slaughter?

The IWT deplores the wanton destruction of our wildlife following confirmed reports that two grey seals had been shot in the head near Tramore, Co. Waterford sometime on Tuesday February 21^st. These animals suffered a horrible death having swam ashore with awful head injuries. They were later euthanized under veterinary supervision. Aside from the terrible cruelty of this act our seals are protected by law under the Wildlife Act 1976 (as Amended 2000). They are also protected under Annex II and IV of the European Habitats Directive.

The IWT is now calling for a full investigation by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Gardaí into this illegal act. Those responsible must be brought before the courts to demonstrate that the law will be upheld and such barbaric acts will not be tolerated.

IWT chairman Pádraic Fogarty says “too often in this country we see no regard for wildlife law. Whether it’s the poisoning of eagles or the destruction of important habitats there seems to be a reluctance by the relevant authorities to bring those responsible to justice. What does this say about our attitude to our natural heritage?”

...even made it on to BBC news here.

Coper Coast walk

The Waterford branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust will host a walk along a section of the Copper Coast at Bunmahon on February 12th. The leader will be Des Cowman who talk about local geology and wildlife. Meet at the main carpark at Bunmahon at 2 p.m. The walk will last 2 hours and will head to Tra na mBo. 

 

 
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Coastal walk

The June walk of the Irish Wildlife Trust took place on Sunday 26th along the cliff path between Ballymacaw,  Rathmoylan Cove and Portally.

Saleens walk

Thanks to Dennis for the two pictures from the walk today from the Saleens to Brownstown Head.

Portally Cove at it's best

Some pix taken at Portally Cove last weekend.

Cliff walk report part 2

Our final destination: Portally Cove...any chance of continuing this fine walk on to Ballymacaw and even Rathmoylan?

once again the steps are a little demandiing for the less agile!

Fine coastal features at the mouth of Portally

and a Geo which has a small protective fence around it to prevent the less wary slipping in

Dunmore Cliff Walk Report part 1

Looking back over the Flatrocks to the Lighthouse and on up the Suir Estuary.

Well done to Ray McGrath and the Dunmore East Tourism and Commerce Group for their fine booklet entitled: Guide to 7 walks in Dunmore East and surrounding area. For more information on the annual Walking Festival check here.

The new steps may be a bit steep for some but maybe improved

The addition of a seat with views over to the Hook and a small bridge over a marshy area

Should development be allowed on such a superb coastline?

Heritage week walk

Celebrate Heritage Week with the Waterford Branch of the Irish Wildlife Trust on Sunday August 29th at Tramore Backstrand and Sand-dunes.

There will be a walk to the dunes observing and identifying bird and plant life as you go with walk leader, Denis Cullen.The walk starts at 2 pm from carpark beyond public toilets and lasts approx 1.5 hours., As this is part of IWT's nationwide Wildwatch Walks, you will receive an identification sheet, which you can complete on the walk and which will be entered into a draw for a prize (for most species identified). This adds to interest, especially for children. There is no need to book, just wear appropriate clothing and if you can, car pool, or travel by bicycle on foot, or by public transport. Binoculars would be helpful, and a pen for completing the Wildwatch form.

Contact Marie for more information: 0868124275

Other events coming up.......If you are interested in the heritage of the Comeragh Mountains; Waterford County Council are running an 8 week course in Rathgormack, starting on Sept 15th, covering flora, fauna, geology, archaeology, genealogy and discussion on developing tourism potential of the Comeraghs.

Contact Bernadette Guest for more more details. 058 22000.

Great news for Waterford Coastline

An Bord Pleanála finally released its decision on the hotel, golf and housing complex at Garrarus and Kilfarrasy proposed by Islandikane Developments Ltd. The decision is a complete refusal to grant planning permission and one which overturns Waterford County Council’s decision to grant permission in Feb 2009.

This refusal by An Bord Pleanála is the decision that the Garrarus group have worked so hard to create a case for and the Bord has recognised and reiterated the compelling reasons to preserve the site as one that is characterised by its open landscape, rural style settlement and special habitats. To read a copy of the Bord’s decision click here.

This is a landmark decision by the Bord which should provide a test case which can set a precedent to prevent similar style developments on other areas of special protection in Ireland. The positive response by the Bord to the appeals it received arguing against this development is one that substantiates the effort, expertise and dedication of all those involved in making these appeals.

This result is the culmination of each and every submission that was lodged with Waterford County Council Planning Authority as all of these were part of the file that was submitted to An Bord Pleanála and so there are many, many people who have contributed to this outcome. The GDCR would like to thank everyone for the support, advice and work that they have undertaken in order to contribute and participate in the campaign of opposition to the proposed development. Their website is here.

We have preserved, for now, the landscape, character and unspoilt beauty of the place in which we live and relax and this is no small victory.