Clare County Development Plan 2023–2029 (as varied)

1. Page 501

   Cite this pagePDF p. 501 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   Natural Heritage Sites in County Clare Site Name Sheet No. 1:50,000 Grid Ref. Principal Characteristics/Critical Feature(s)/Key Words Townland(s)/District Summary Description Loop Head 63 Q693 474 Upper Carboniferous (Namurian) sandstones and shales of the Ross Sandstone Formation. Kilbaha North, Kilbaha South The rocks between Loop Head and Ross village represent the type section of the Upper Carboniferous Ross Sandstone Formation. This formation consists of alternating, parallel-bedded sandstones and dark shales. Sedimentary structures such as scouring and channelling can be seen as well as flute, groove and rill casts. Some sand-filled channels are up to 10m deep and 100m wide. These rocks were probably deposited in a deep-marine trough or sub-marine fan where occasional turbidites deposited sandstones. At Loop Head and along the coast many fold structures can be seen in the cliffs. These rocks were folded towards the end of the Carboniferous by a period of mountain building called the Variscan Orogeny. There are numerous features of coastal erosion, such as arches, stacks, storm beaches, blowholes and cliff patterns totally influenced by the geological structures. Maghera Quarry 52, 58 R 520 901 Ordovician Caher Hill Formation, pyroxene tuffs – a volcanic rock Maghera (Feakle) Olivine-pyroxene tuffs are exposed in a small quarry a long a private road. They are within the Caradoc rocks of the Caher Hill Formation which include a suite of497

2. Page 502

   Cite this pagePDF p. 502 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   Natural Heritage Sites in County Clare Site Name Sheet No. 1:50,000 Grid Ref. Principal Characteristics/Critical Feature(s)/Key Words Townland(s)/District Summary Description volcanic rocks such as spilite, pyroxeneolivine basalt, basic tuffs and volcanic breccias, amygdaloidal trachytes, graptolitic black shales and cherts. Magowna 57 R 283 822 Carboniferous limestones and Clare Shales. Magowna Castle The junction between the Carboniferous Limestone and the Clare Shales can be seen in the waterfall, almost half a kilometre northwest of Magowna Castle. This is an interesting site and demonstrates well the contrast between the two different rock types. Interesting microfossils have been found at this site. Mullaghmore/ Slieve Roe/ Knockanes 52 R 33000 95750 Terrace and pavement development on flat and inclined bedded Carboniferous limestone, diverse karren features, limestone erratics, shallow marl-floored lake, abandoned cave and a structurally controlled gorge. Glenquin, Coolorta, Creehaun, Gortleacka, Knockans Lower, Leitra, Aglsih, Ballyeighter, Rockforest The isolated mountains of the Mullaghmore – Slieve Roe – Knockanes site hosts many interesting features including spectacular limestone terraces and pavements, which have developed on the flat and inclined limestone beds. A diverse range of sub-aerial karren features such as rundkarren (rounded solutional grooves), kamenitza (shallow pools in the limestone) and rillenkarren (narrow, sharp-edged solution grooves formed on steep limestone faces) are found at this locality. Densely scattered limestone erratics are another feature and are particularly abundant in498

3. Page 503

   Cite this pagePDF p. 503 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   Natural Heritage Sites in County Clare Site Name Sheet No. 1:50,000 Grid Ref. Principal Characteristics/Critical Feature(s)/Key Words Townland(s)/District Summary Description the Rock Forest townland. The erratics here are the best such examples in the Burren region. Other features of note include the ancient, structurally controlled Glenquin gorge, the marl-floored Lough Gealáin and the abandoned phreatic cave at Gortlecka. The Mullaghmore – Slieve Roe – Knockanes site is a very important karst site, but extremely little scientific work has been done here. It has great potential for academic study. Pol an Ionain 51 R 09800 99750 Ancient chambered cave with important sediments and a large stalactite situated within Carboniferous limestone Craggycorradan The cave is an ancient, chambered cave, containing varved sediments and a renowned stalactite, 6.541m long, which is reputed to be the largest free hanging stalactite in the world. The sediments are potentially of great importance as a record of environmental and climatic changes over the time the cave has existed. Poulsallagh 51 M 0861 0180 Well-developed range of karren forms in the inter-tidal zone of the limestone coast. Ballyryan At Poulsallagh Bay and the coastal section immediately to the north of it, a compact area of foreshore exhibits a sequence of biochemically induced karren landforms that is the equal of any site in the world. On the south side of Poulsallagh Bay, where part of this protective layer has been eroded away, smooth, karren-free499

4. Page 504

   Cite this pagePDF p. 504 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   Natural Heritage Sites in County Clare Site Name Sheet No. 1:50,000 Grid Ref. Principal Characteristics/Critical Feature(s)/Key Words Townland(s)/District Summary Description limestones are exposed and still preserve glacial striae. The northern part of the site includes remnants of cave passages, some with quartz rich sediments derived from across Galway Bay. These exotic clasts are evidence of an earlier glacial till removed from the Burren area by later ice movement. The area also provides an ideal teaching environment and fuses biological, geological and geomorphological processes. Rineanna Point 64 R 346 598 The base of Waulsortian limestone strata Rineanna North Base of Waulsortian exposed along strike on shore section into an old quarry, comparable to Deel River section on the opposite shore of the Shannon. . The limestone is heavily karstified, with karren and kamenitza (solution pits). Rinnamona 51 R 2969 9404 Mushroom rocks – isolated wave worn stones in grazing fields Rinnamona The four stones in question are an example of a phenomenon classed as mushroom stones. These are thought to have formed when lakes existed for periods long enough for water to dissolve the limestone below the lake level. Emergent limestone above the lake level was not dissolved. In some stones such as at Rinnamona, this has created a marked smooth surface below a lip.500

5. Page 505

   Cite this pagePDF p. 505 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   Natural Heritage Sites in County Clare Site Name Sheet No. 1:50,000 Grid Ref. Principal Characteristics/Critical Feature(s)/Key Words Townland(s)/District Summary Description Roadford AKA Doolin Phosphate Mine 51 Q083 971 Phosphate mines in the basal Namurian strata, overlying the Carboniferous limestone. Toomullin, Doolin In the river about 500m above Roadford, an outcrop of rock phosphate occurs at the base of the Namurian Clare Shales overlying the Carboniferous limestone. Phosphate mining took place here from 1924 to 1947. Some phosphatic nodules may be found in the shale exposures in the area. Sheshymore 51 R 24150 95900 Extensive area of undisturbed limestone pavement, developed on a single bed of upper Brigantian limestone. Sheshymore An extensive area of undisturbed limestone pavement with well-developed karren forms. Tabular blocks of limestone or clints in this area are defined by eastwest and north-south orientated joints. The central and eastern areas of pavement are smooth and predominantly karrenfree suggesting previous burial beneath a protective layer of calcareous glacial till. Grikes are deepest in this area (1.5-2.5m). Several of the larger north-south trending joints have been enlarged to form vegetated trenches. Karren forms in this area include solution pans (or kamenitza), rundkarren (rounded grooves) and meanderkarren. Physical and chemical weathering has resulted in the decay of the peripheral limestone pavement to clitter and vegetated rocky grassland.501

6. Page 506

   Cite this pagePDF p. 506 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   Natural Heritage Sites in County Clare Site Name Sheet No. 1:50,000 Grid Ref. Principal Characteristics/Critical Feature(s)/Key Words Townland(s)/District Summary Description Spanish Point 57 R 023 785 Upper Carboniferous (Namurian) sandstone, siltstone and mudstone of the Central Clare Group. Breaffy South, Leagard South The coastal section at Spanish Point consists of well-bedded sandstones, siltstones and mudstones of the Upper Carboniferous (Namurian) Central Clare Group. Sedimentary structures are well preserved here and include crossbedding, cross-laminations and symmetrical wave ripples. Some of the thicker sandstone units have undergone segmentation, or boudinage, as a result of the extensional forces exerted on the limbs of folds during the Variscan Orogeny. A marine band is present on the north side of the Spanish Point bay, with a prominent palaeosol horizon 2.5m below it stratigraphically, with rootlets, dessication cracks etc. This represents a higher ground area between deltaic channels, exposed above water when the sediments were accumulating. Sraheen AKA: The Banshee Stone 58 R 4286 7964 Mushroom rock – isolated wave worn stone in grazing field. Sraheen Mushroom stones are thought to have formed when lakes existed for periods long enough for water to dissolve the limestone below the lake level. Emergent limestone above the lake level was not dissolved. In some stones such as at Sraheen, this has created an etched lower surface with a major overhang.502

7. Page 507

   Cite this pagePDF p. 507 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   Natural Heritage Sites in County Clare Site Name Sheet No. 1:50,000 Grid Ref. Principal Characteristics/Critical Feature(s)/Key Words Townland(s)/District Summary Description St. Brendan’s/ Poulnagollum 51 St. Brendan’s Well: R 14600 98400 Poulnagollum: M15300 05200 Cave system developed within Carboniferous Limestone. Ballydonohoe, Ballyteige, Ballycastell, Ballyconnoe North, Ballyconnoe South, Ballyisheen Beg, Ballyinsheen More, Ballyneillan, Caherbarnagh, Caherbullog, Cahercloggaun, Cahermaan, Cahermakerrila, Cooleabeg, Cooleamore, Coolmeen, Cragreagh, Cullaun, Derreen South, Gowlaun, Killeany, Kilmoon East, Kilmoon West, Larheenbeg, Lisdoonvarna, Lisheenagh, Lislarheenmore, Lismorahaun, St. Brendan’s/Poulnagollum includes St. Brendan’s Well near Lisdoonvarna, the main rising for a significant area of karstic drainage focused on the Poulnagollum – Poulelva cave system on the eastern side of Slieve Elva, the intermediate Killeany rising and the proven drainage from the Cullaun caves (Cullaun 0-3) on the western side of Poulacapple. The Poulnagollum –Poulelva cave system is Ireland’s longest cave system. With approximately 14km total passage, much of which is active streamway, this cave system exhibits many features of interest revealing a complex history of development. The St. Brendan’s - Poulnagollum site also includes a number of less developed, simple canyon type and supposedly postglacial streamways in the caves of Cullaun on the east of the site. This site has a complex history relating to at least one previous glacial advance and retreat. There is major scope for research, both underground and on the surface, of the various phases of development of the karst history of the valley.503

8. Page 508

   Cite this pagePDF p. 508 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   Natural Heritage Sites in County Clare Site Name Sheet No. 1:50,000 Grid Ref. Principal Characteristics/Critical Feature(s)/Key Words Townland(s)/District Summary Description St. Brendan’s Well 51 R 13 98 Lower Clare Shales, Namurian in age. Knockaunvickteera St. Brendan’s Well is located about 1 mile east of Lisdoonvarna along Gowlaun Stream. The lower Clare Shales are exposed in this stream overlying the Carboniferous Limestone of Hodson (1954). According to Hodson (1954) one of the more notable features of exposures of the Clare Shales in the Lisdoonvarna area is the reduction of the Phosphate Group to a few inches and the occurrence of faunal band rich in goniatites. The site also shows a diverse cephalopod fauna within concretions or nodules at the exposure together with a rich conodont fauna. The area indicates the attenuated nature of the northern Clare Shales, and the junction between the Upper and Lower Carboniferous. It is one of the few places in Ireland in which this horizon is exposed. Tomeens 58 R 465 810 Unroofed and partially roofed river cave developed within Waulsortian limestone Milltown, Kiltanon The Tomeens consists of a linear river cave with unroofed, partially roofed and fully roofed sections, the unroofed sections resulting from roof collapse. It has a number of stream oxbows and dry oxbows. The process is still in progress and will ultimately result in the cave becoming504

9. Page 509

   Cite this pagePDF p. 509 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
   Natural Heritage Sites in County Clare Site Name Sheet No. 1:50,000 Grid Ref. Principal Characteristics/Critical Feature(s)/Key Words Townland(s)/District Summary Description an open canyon with the river downcutting the limestone bed. Toonagh Quarry, 57 R 303 838 Active limestone quarry with Burren Formation, Carboniferous, Viséan Limestone Ballybrody, Drummina, Toonagh Commons This quarry, 3.5km north of Ennis off the main Ennistymon road on the Corofin road, is the best representative section in the County, other than karstic exposures in the Burren, for the typical Clare Burren Formation. The broad dip of the beds, and features of the overall sequence can be seen in an always changing quarry. Tuamgraney 58 R637 831 Carboniferous limestone with karstic features Rock outcrop in the Garden of Remembrance in the village displaying some fine beds of Carboniferous limestone, with a moderate dip of about 30 degrees to the north west. They are characterized by solution runnels called karren, down the surfaces, more usually seen in the Burren. Turkenagh 51 R 3387 9246 Mushroom rocks – isolated wave worn stones in limestone pavement area, adjacent to turlough. Turkenagh Mushroom stones are thought to have formed when lakes existed for periods long enough for water to dissolve the limestone below the lake level. Emergent limestone above the lake level was not dissolved.505

10. Page 510

    Cite this pagePDF p. 510 (opens the publisher’s copy in a new tab)
    Natural Heritage Sites in County Clare Site Name Sheet No. 1:50,000 Grid Ref. Principal Characteristics/Critical Feature(s)/Key Words Townland(s)/District Summary Description At Turkenagh it appears that the lake is actively still forming mushroom stones at high water levels by dissolution of limestone pavement. They may in fact represent what many other sites were like at an early stage in their development, with residual mushrooms being an advanced state. Vigo Cave 51 R 26051 90518 Ancient, abandoned vadose cave exposure site. Nooan Vigo is a significant cave unrelated to present day topography and containing entrance and deep cave sediments. The cave is unusual as it runs almost in a straight, SSW direction beneath the Namurian Shale cover. It has one of the best undisturbed cave entrance facies in Ireland with considerable potential for fruitful excavation. The complementary interior cave sediments together with the distinctive morphology of the ancient cave make it a valuable karst heritage landform. Recent calcite dating indicated a minimum age of at least 6,000 years for the cave.506

Source Clare County Council: Clare County Development Plan 2023–2029 (as varied) (2023–2029) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.