Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
Lough Corrib is situated north of Galway city, and is the second-largest lake in Ireland. It consists of two parts: a smaller, shallower basin to the south and a large, deeper basin to the north, connected by a relatively narrow channel. It supports one of the largest areas of wetland vegetation in the country, with extensive submerged beds of stonewort
Chara, as well as reed-swamp, marsh, fen and wet grassland. The lakeshore includes woodland, raised bog, callow, and limestone pavement. Apart from raised bog these habitats are also present on the many lake islands. The lake is used for trout fishing.
This is an important site for wintering waterfowl. Several additional species occur in numbers of national importance, including
Anser albifrons flavirostris (140 birds, 1996),
Anas penelope (1,000 birds, 1995),
Anas strepera (35 birds, 1996),
Anas clypeata (84 birds, 1996),
Aythya fuligula (2,676 birds, 1996),
Bucephala clangula (145 birds, 1996),
Vanellus vanellus (4,050 birds, 1995) and
Pluvialis apricaria (7,000 birds, 1995). Lough Corrib is one of only three regular breeding sites known for
Melanitta nigra in Ireland, and numbers are of national importance (30 pairs, 1995).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The uncontrolled discharge of sewage, particularly into the southern part of the lake, is causing nutrient pollution. Other threats to habitat quality are wildfowling (causing disturbance to birds) and increasing pressure from fishing and from lakeshore developments such as hotels, holiday homes and marinas.
National None
International High17,728 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Lough Corrib, 17,728 ha). 17,728 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Lough Corrib, 17,728 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lough Corrib (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lough-corrib-iba-ireland on 24/11/2024.
