Clare Island lies 5 km off the west coast of Mayo at the entrance to majestic Clew Bay. It is 7 km long and, at its broadest, 5 km wide, and rises to a height of 462 metres at Knockmore. The island is a mix of semi-natural and improved grassland, maritime sward and heath and precipitous cliffs along the north shore, up to 100m in places.
Clare Island supports one of the most important seabird colonies in Ireland. At least 13 species of seabird breed here, including over 4,000 fulmar, which is about 12% of the national population for this species. Puffin, Gannet, Chough and Peregrine also breed here.
This is a remarkable island, with a long association with natural history. A biodiversity baseline survey, The Clare Island Survey (1909 – 1911), was undertaken at the start of the 20th Century. Lead by the renowned Robert Lloyd Praeger, it was a world leading multidisciplinary (zoological, botanical, archaeological, and geological) survey of its time. The results of this painstakingly detailed study of the island was published by the Royal Irish Academy and serves as a benchmark of the heritage of the island. Recently the New Clare Island Survey was undertaken to assess the environmental changes that have taken place on Clare Island over the intervening hundred years. The Island BioBlitz will add to this knowledge base and continue the long tradition of biological inventory on Clare Island.
Ours records show that already 918 species have been recorded for Clare Island, details of which can be downloaded here: download Clare Island species list
If you would like to assist with the biological recording please contact [email protected]
For further information and details of accommodation see http://www.clareisland.ie/
Island Wildlife Festival programme
Clare Island – Island Wildlife Festival
Friday 10th June
11:30 – 12:30hrs Guided ramble through island flora – Donal Synnott
13:00 – 14:00hrs Tour of Macalla Farm: Retreat Centre and Organic Farm
19:00hrs Island BioBlitz registration at Base Camp – Go Explore Hostel
Saturday 11th June
10:00 – 11:00hrs Bogland Ecology: carnivours plants to alpine flowers – Dr. Heather Lally
11:30 – 12:00hrs Island BioBlitz launch at Base Camp: Ciara Cullen & Liam Lysaght
12:00 – 13:00hrs Botanical walk: Beach to Bog – Donal Synnott
14:00 – 15:00hrs Introduction to seaweed identification – Robert Wilkes (EPA)
15:00 – 16:00hrs Archaeological Tour: 5,000 years of human habitation – Ciara Cullen
16:00 – 17:00hrs Insect identification walk
18:00 – 19:00hrs Wildlife walk – Colin Heaslip
20:00 – 20:30hrs New Clare Island Surveys: Past, present & future – Donal Synnott
22:00 – 23:00hrs Bat walk – Harm Deenan (Bat Conservation Ireland)
23:00 – 00:00hrs Stargazing: constellations, planets, campfires and marshmallows
Sunday 12th June
06:00 – 07:00hrs Early morning bird walk – Liam Lysaght
08:00 – 10:00hrs Opening of moth traps – Ken Bond
10:00 – 11:00hrs Kids beachcombing and Found Art workshop
12:00hrs Island BioBlitz – finishes
12:30hrs Island BioBlitz – winners announced
13:00hrs Farewell Soiree and Traditional Music Session