IE058
Rahasane turlough


Country/territory: Ireland

IBA criteria met: B1i, C3 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 257 ha

BirdWatch Ireland
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2009 unfavourable low low
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2000 baseline)
Situated on the Dunkellin river, west of Craughwell in south-west Galway, this is the last large turlough (karst lake) remaining in Ireland. The site comprises marshes, seasonally flooded wet meadows, with limestone outcrops and scrub at its margins. In the summer the site is grazed by cattle and sheep.

Key biodiversity
This is an important site for wintering waterfowl. Species wintering in nationally important numbers include Anser albifrons flavirostris (139 birds, 1995) and Anas penelope (5,570 birds, 1996).


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rahasane turlough. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rahasane-turlough-iba-ireland on 19/03/2024.