Rahasane Turlough
By Adam Lawlor Smalle
January 2012
Our Local Turlough
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Rahasane Turlough is the name given to the
largest surviving turlough in Ireland.
It is down the road from our school.
It is situated on the Dunkellin river, west of
Craughwell.
It consists of two basins which are connected at
times of flood but separate as the waters drain
away.
In summer, the lake empties & the basin is
grazed by cattle, horse & sheep
What is a Turlough ?
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A turlough is a disappearing lake.
Mostly found in limestone area’s of Ireland,
west of the river Shannon.
The name comes from the Irish “tuar”
meaning dry and “loch” the Irish for lake.
They are almost unique to Ireland.
Most turloughs flood in autumn and then dry
up usually between April and July.
Map of Craughwell Village and Turlough
Rahasane Turlough
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Rahasane is a karst (exposed limestone) lake
There is no surface outlet & is surrounded on
all sides by rising land
Most of the turlough is open, flat and grassy,
with large rocks scattered over the floor
It has an active swallowhole system
Some of the swallowholes can reach 5
meters in diameter & are 2 to 3 meters deep
It covers 257 hectares
Wildlife in the Rahasane Turlough
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Famous for its wintering wildfowl populations
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Whooper & Bewicks Swans
Greenland White – fronted Geese
Mallard Ducks
- see photo
Widgeon Ducks
Black Terns
Wildlife in the Rahasane Turlough contd.
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Summer birdlife
includes nesting
waders including
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Lapwing
Redshank
Snipe
Dunlin
Redshank & Lapwing (below)
Wildlife in the Rahasane Turlough contd.
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There is a small run of Atlantic Salmon
through the Dunkellin River
They just pass through & do not spawn
The Fairy Shrimp was first recorded in Ireland
Otters are to be found at the neck of the
turlough
Look up “otters in Rahasane” for video proof
on Google
Types of Vegetation
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Dry grassland incl.
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Red Fescue
Crested Dogs – tail
Creeping Cinquefoil (very
rare)
Fen Violet (very rare)
Silverweed
Creeping Brent
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Wet Communities
incl.
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Fan-leaved Water
Crowfoot
Fennel Pondweed
Lesser Pondweed
Fat Buckweed
Rahasane is Important to Europe
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Rahasane Turlough is a Special Area of
Conservation under the Habitats Directive
which is a important European Law that
protects vulnerable areas for wildbirds &
animals and plant species
The Irish Government is obliged to protect
and maintain the environment in and around
the Turlough
It implements laws & enforces regulations to
ensure the ecological integrity of the site
Poem lamenting damage to Rahasane Turlough if
proposed Sewage Plant was sited at its neck, since averted.
By Michael O’Rourke
Who cares about the rabbit or hare?
Its 2007, hasn’t he been long enough there
The Celtic Tiger can run around there
Bulldoze that hill; don’t mind the old mill,
We can crush the stone for gravel and fill.
Who cares?
Now what about the speckled brown trout,
The Saragossa eel, the widgeon or teal,
The salmon and pike can get on their bike,
And don’t get bothered about the rare old otter,
Sure can’t he find some other clean water?
Who cares?
Who cares?
Who cares about the river bed
All those lovely fishes lying dead
The sewerage scheme should go ahead.
Who cares about the rare red squirrel
To see them was such a thrill
But sure we can do without him as well.
Who cares?
And what about the Turlough fair
Or do people know its there
With its many birds so rare
Some how travelled very far.
To stroll there scenting the still clean air
With Craughwell water running there
Its sweet green grass grazed quite bare.
Who cares?
Who cares about feather or fin
To damage all this is surely a sin
The oyster in its crusty shell
I won’t chance those, I think they smell.
We often came to visit here
And stopped to eat at Moran’s of the Weir.
Who cares?
And what about the martin cat
With all of the development there will be only room for the rat.
With the roundabouts and big wide roads
There will be no space left for lizard or toad.
The hedgehog too
Sure there may be room for him in the zoo.
Who cares?
And last the King Fisher bird with plumage bright
His habitat destroyed who gives a sh--.
Who cares?