Discover the island’s wildest hidden gems
The island of Ireland is where kittiwakes soar, seals laze on the beaches, and puffins return to nest on an island dedicated to them. Thanks to the efforts of conservation specialists, our island and its surroundings maintain a hugely diverse ecosystem.
In Northern Ireland, over 720 species of butterflies and moths flutter across the wildflowers in the 6000-year-old sand dune system within the Murlough Nature Reserve in County Down. Follow the boardwalk through this dramatic landscape in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains, and look out for the marsh fritillary butterfly — a species listed as vulnerable in Europe — or explore other habitats home to wintering wildfowl and waders on a nature trail through the area.
Off the Causeway Coast, Rathlin Island’s towering cliffs and sea stacks make for the perfect bird habitat, so it’s no wonder the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds set up their seabird center here. Stand on the viewing platform and admire the colonies of seabirds including razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes, and puffins.
Looking for a wildlife adventure in the city? Check out Bog Meadows Nature Reserve. Just a 30-minute bus journey from central Belfast, this 19-hectare wild space complete with walking trails, bird hides, meadows, ponds, and hedgerows is a city oasis. The area was formed on the former floodplain of a river carved by melting glaciers during the Ice Age, and now it’s where people come to discover 14 species of butterflies, hear the songs of the hedge warbler, and watch the skies for the peregrine falcon.
In Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, discover one of our most prevalent natural landscapes, the bog. You’ll find an abundance of wildlife in the raised bogland of the Clara Bog Nature Reserve in County Offaly. Follow the boardwalk on a 1-kilometer loop around Clara Bog and look for butterwort, dragonflies, frogs, and Ireland’s only native land reptile, the viviparous lizard, as well as kestrel, snipe, and many other flora and fauna.
If you like puffins, then checking out Puffin Island on the Wild Atlantic Way simply makes sense. The island is an Irish Wildlife Conservancy reserve off the coast of County Kerry where breeding puffins nest during the summer months. This small yet mighty island rises to 145 meters and cannot be landed on without permission. Luckily, a boat trip takes wildlife enthusiasts close enough to see the puffins as well as Manx shearwaters, guillemots, razorbills, and kittiwakes that also nest here.
Whether you’re by the rocky coast of the Wild Atlantic Way or in Dublin Bay, keep an eye on the waters. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot a seal popping its head up from the sea. To understand how experts are helping the island’s seal population, visit Seal Rescue in County Wexford. Visitors to this sanctuary in Ireland’s Ancient East can learn about seal rescue and rehabilitation as they meet seal pup patients, or even become rescuer for a day.
Where will you visit first?
