Clara bog
Encyclopedia
Clara Bog is one of the largest relatively intact raised bogs remaining in Ireland
. It lies southeast of the R436
regional road
between the village of Ballycumber
and the town of Clara
, in County Offaly
.
Much of the bog is state-owned and managed as a nature reserve covering some 460 ha. A Special Area of Conservation
covers 836 ha.
Government to preserve the area by a number of international naturalists, David Bellamy
among them. The area was secured for preservation following the intervention of the Dutch
Government
who bought the land and donated it to the Irish State.
Clara Bog has been a nature reserve since 1987 and its development since the last ice age
, flora
, hydrology
, have all been extensively studied. In 1988 it was designated a Ramsar Site. Clara Bog and Raheenmore Bog
(also in County Offaly) have been twinned with Bargerveen Nature Reserve, a Dutch Ramsar Site, under the Eurosite twinning programme.
) from bogs as fuel for their fires, and the tradition continues on the margins of Clara Bog. In 1992 Ireland considered putting forward Clara Bog as a World Heritage Site
, but after some years on UNESCO's "tentative list" it was decided that the bog's integrity had been damaged by peat extraction and its candidature was withdrawn in 2009. There have been negotiations to relocate turf-cutters to alternative sites of less ecological value.
completed his last official public engagement as Taoiseach
in his hometown of Clara, when he opened the €2.1 million Clara bog visitor centre and library. He commented that the siting of the visitor centre avoided unnecessary intrusion on the tranquillity of the nature reserve.
Public access to the bog is via a trackway from a car park on its eastern edge. Visitors are advised not to leave the boardwalk for safety reasons.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It lies southeast of the R436
R436 road
The R436 road is a regional road in Ireland linking Kilbeggan, County Westmeath and Ferbane, County Offaly. It passes through the town of Clara, County Offaly, Ballycumber, through cutaway peat bogs to Ferbane where it terminates at the N62.The road is long....
regional road
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
between the village of Ballycumber
Ballycumber
Ballycumber is a village located where the R436 regional road crosses the River Brosna in County Offaly, Ireland. It is west of the town of Clara, on the western edge of Clara bog. According to the Census 2006, the DED population for Ballycumber was 688 people...
and the town of Clara
Clara
Clara is a town on the River Brosna in County Offaly and is the 10th largest town in the midlands of Ireland. The town has a population of 3001 , however a number of well populated housing estates lie outside the town boundary making the actual population higher...
, in County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
.
Much of the bog is state-owned and managed as a nature reserve covering some 460 ha. A Special Area of Conservation
Special Area of Conservation
A Special Area of Conservation is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive , also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora...
covers 836 ha.
History
Clara Bog came to public attention in the 1980s when requests were being made to the IrishRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Government to preserve the area by a number of international naturalists, David Bellamy
David Bellamy
David James Bellamy OBE is a British author, broadcaster, environmental campaigner and botanist. He has lived in County Durham since 1960.-Career:...
among them. The area was secured for preservation following the intervention of the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
who bought the land and donated it to the Irish State.
Clara Bog has been a nature reserve since 1987 and its development since the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
, flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
, hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
, have all been extensively studied. In 1988 it was designated a Ramsar Site. Clara Bog and Raheenmore Bog
Raheenmore Bog
Raheenmore Bog is a raised bog north-west of Daingean, County Offaly, in the Republic of Ireland. Since the 1980s the greater part of the bog has been maintained as a 162 hectare Nature Reserve, which is currently managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service...
(also in County Offaly) have been twinned with Bargerveen Nature Reserve, a Dutch Ramsar Site, under the Eurosite twinning programme.
Peat extraction
For centuries the Irish have taken turf (peatPeat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
) from bogs as fuel for their fires, and the tradition continues on the margins of Clara Bog. In 1992 Ireland considered putting forward Clara Bog as a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, but after some years on UNESCO's "tentative list" it was decided that the bog's integrity had been damaged by peat extraction and its candidature was withdrawn in 2009. There have been negotiations to relocate turf-cutters to alternative sites of less ecological value.
Access and facilities for the public
In 2011 Brian CowenBrian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
completed his last official public engagement as Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
in his hometown of Clara, when he opened the €2.1 million Clara bog visitor centre and library. He commented that the siting of the visitor centre avoided unnecessary intrusion on the tranquillity of the nature reserve.
Public access to the bog is via a trackway from a car park on its eastern edge. Visitors are advised not to leave the boardwalk for safety reasons.