Cork

Capel Island and Knockadoon Head Nature Reserve

Location:
Capel Island off the south coast near Youghal, Co. Cork.
GPS:
Latitude: 51.88
Longitude: -7.861
Area (ha.):
143.0

These reserves comprise all of Capel Island off the south coast near Youghal, Co. Cork, part of Knockadoon headland opposite the island and the intervening sea area. The reserve comprises 143.0 hectares, of which 126.9 are State-owned and 16.1 are privately owned.

Established:
1985
Ownership:
Partly State-owned and partly privately owned

Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve

Location:
The entrance to Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve is located approximately 1km from Glengarriff village, Co. Cork, on the Kenmare Road (N17).
GPS:
Latitude: 51.752
Longitude: -9.575
Area (ha.):
301

Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve covers some 300ha, with the dominant habitats being old oak woodland and young woodland which is regenerating in areas which have been cleared of non-native conifers over the last few years. The woods form one of the best examples of oceanic sessile oak woodland in Ireland, being rated at least as important as the Killarney oakwoods.  The Nature Reserve is part of the much larger Glengarriff Harbour & Woodlands Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

For more information please see the Glengarriff Nature Reserve website.

Established:
1991
Ownership:
State-owned

Kilcolman Bog Nature Reserve

Location:
The Reserve is situated approximately 4 miles north west of Doneraile, just off the Charleville to Mitchelstown road, Co. Cork.
GPS:
Latitude: 52.248
Longitude: -8.613
Area (ha.):
30

The fen is located in a glacially eroded limestone hollow, south of the Ballyhoura Mountains in north Cork. It has been a traditional wintering ground for Greenland white fronted geese and thousands of duck and is also of great botanical importance, harbouring a number of plant species absent or extremely rare elsewhere in Co. Cork.  The reserve is comprised of 30 hectares, or which 9 are State-owned and 21 are privately owned.

Established:
1993
Ownership:
Partly State-owned and partly privately owned

Knockomagh Wood Nature Reserve

Location:
Situated on a hillside overlooking and adjoining Lough Hyne Nature Reserve, Co. Cork.
GPS:
Latitude: 51.506
Longitude: -9.31
Area (ha.):
12.5

It consists of a small area of sessile oak and mixed broadleaf woodland.

Established:
1989
Ownership:
State-owned

Lough Hyne Nature Reserve

Location:
Situated about 6 km south-west of Skibbereen, Co. Cork.
GPS:
Latitude: 51.501
Longitude: -9.299
Area (ha.):
65

This is a sea lough with a very wide range of important habitats within the lough and its seaward approaches, a range seldom found in more extensive areas elsewhere. These varied habitats support an exceptionally wide range of animal and plant species.

Established:
1981
Ownership:
State-owned

The Gearagh Nature Reserve

Location:
River Lee, Co. Cork.
GPS:
Latitude: 51.885
Longitude: -8.999
Area (ha.):
300

This is the largest area of alluvial woodland in Ireland. It consists of a network of narrow channels separating  small islands which are covered in oak, ash, hazel and hawthorn. Wild garlic is abundant in the spring. The area is subject to frequent flooding and dangerous and difficult to access.

Established:
1987
Ownership:
Property of the ESB