The Galway coast supports a wonderfully diverse and rare habitat which is in urgent need of protection. Our coastal habitats are in poor condition and are deteriorating and eroding at an increasing rate due to climate change and, in many areas, increased amenity pressure.
Machair Habitat
Machair is a delicate coastal grassland habitat, which only exists in the west of Ireland and Scotland. Machair systems present a complex landscape mosaic of habitats comprising both wet and dry areas which gives rise to a diversity of species, including rare and sensitive breeding waders and pollinators.
“The sand dunes of Conemara are unlike the extensive sand dunes in Donegal, Sligo and Kerry. Here they are starved of a sand supply. Because of that it is crucial to hold what sand we have in place. If we don't look after the unique plants that give the dunes its strength, there is no sand to replace it.” says Dr Kevin Lynch, an expert coastal geomorphologist at Galway University.
Slyne Head Peninsula
The Slyne Head Peninsula, west of Ballyconneely, supports a number of large open machair areas. These lands are privately owned and farmed commonage, with sheep and cattle grazing the areas - a practice which is important to maintaining species characteristic of the habitat.
The EU-funded LIFE on Machair project is working closely with farmers and the local community at Doonloughan for the protection and restoration of the habitat, its ground nesting birds and pollinators.
In Spring, the LIFE on Machair project erected temporary predator-proof fences to help protect sensitive, ground-nesting birds at the critical time of year when their eggs hatch on the ground. However, due to several factors, including disturbance by dogs, only a small number of birds are successful. It is important that dog walkers take great care between January and June, and ensure ground nesting birds and small chicks are not disturbed.
Campers
In summer, this area is popular with holiday makers, who drive onto the habitat and camp there, often unaware that it is a protected area and privately owned land. The volume of vehicles has increased in recent years, and the combination of amenity pressure and stronger storms means that the machair is being damaged: considerable areas are being lost with no chance for recovery.
Abandoned camping gear and use of dunes as toilets adds to the problems which locals and landowners are left to deal with. As the land is privately owned, Galway County Council do not provide facilities.
This area at Doonloughan has come under immense pressure from holiday/amenity vehicles in recent years with large portions of the site being badly damaged as a result.
It is essential that no vehicles drive on the machair or the dunes in order to allow these sensitive habitats to recover.
In 2023 and 2024 ,the LIFE on Machair project erected several signs and message boards in the area but holiday makers continue to drive across the machair. In August 2024, with the support of the local landowners and National Parks and Wildlife Service, the LIFE on Machair project will install timber railings to restrict vehicle access onto the fragile habitat. Walkers and livestock are free to move between the barriers. Additional works including decompaction of the ground and chestnut fencing to protect the coastline will follow.
Caitriona Maher is a project ecologist with the National Parks & Wildlife Service
