Alien Invaders Land In Clare

Accelerated global warming evidenced by record temperatures and rainfall levels is having a profound impact on County Clare's wildlife with increasing varieties and numbers of alien invaders landing on our shores, it has been claimed.

A new six part documentary series, due to be broadcast on TG4 later this month, features over a dozen foreign species never before featured on Irish television. ‘Coimhtíoch Gan Cuireadh’ or ‘Alien Invaders’ takes a broader look at Irish wildlife and recounts the fascinating stories of how some of Ireland’s alien species ended up in Ireland. The species include the Chinese Mitten Crab, Bank Vole, Mourning Dove, Emperor Dragonfly, Natterjack Toad, Slow Worm, Trigger Fish and Slipper Lobster.

According to Ballycar-resident John Murphy, Wildlife expert and Director of Waxwing Wildlife Productions, ‘The documentary features species of wildlife many people rarely if ever encounter even though they are present all around them. One such species, the Greater White-toothed Shrew this year most likely slipped into the country in the roots of large imported continental-sourced trees. This mammal is thriving in counties Tipperary and Limerick and will spread throughout the country like the bank vole has done.’

Mr. Murphy added, ‘some of these invaders are relative newcomers to our country, while others have been with us for some time. These Aliens take the shape of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, plants, fish, marine life and freshwater aquatic life forms.’ He explained that increasingly extreme Mediterranean climates had resulted in a dramatic rise in the numbers of exotic species of birds and maritime fish arriving and settling in Ireland. '‘We are seeing more and more cases of alien species of birds appearing on our shores. The arrival and spread of the Collared Dove, Cattle Egrets and the melodic Blackcap are prime examples of this growing trend. Meanwhile, during filming on Inish Bofin in County Galway this year we documented the first every sighting in Ireland of a Mourning Dove, which had arrived from the USA’ commented Mr. Murphy.

Ballynacahill, Ennis-resident Mr. Stan Nugent, Editor and Producer of ‘Alien Invaders’, stated that the documentary provided real evidence of how some foreign species were having a detrimental impact on the Irish environment and on native wildlife. He continued, ‘During filming we examined the presence of Chinese Mitten Crabs along the River Suir, which unlike the River Thames does not possess a tidal barrier to stop the invasive species from progressing hundreds of miles up stream. If left unchecked, these silent raiders will colonise our river systems to the detriment of other species. They will eat anything that comes their way including our native Crayfish and fish spawn. They put pressure on existing stocks of native fish stocks such as Brown Trout and Salmon. Mitten Crabs also live in holes, which they burrow out of the riverbank. This accelerates bank erosion.’

Mr. Nugent said that alien fish species were also appearing along Ireland’s coast in greater numbers. The Grey Triggerfish is a warm-water species with a normal range in the tropical Atlantic and the Mediterranean. However, in more recent times during summer months when the seas are at their warmest, they can be found in the waters around Ireland. The same can be said of sea creatures like the Slipper Lobster, which have only been caught in recent times in Lobster pots in the south of the country.

Meanwhile, the upcoming documentary focuses on the origins of many of Ireland’s newest wildlife species. The slow worm, which can only be found in the reclaimed meadow fringes of the Burren, where they were reportedly brought into Ireland by ‘new age hippies’ from Britain during the early 1970's. Elsewhere, it is widely believed that the Bank Vole was introduced to Ireland in the 1920s during work on the Shannon hydroelectric scheme when large machinery for this development was shipped from ports in the north of Germany to Foynes on the river Shannon and some other Irish ports.

Facts Uncovered By ‘Alien Invaders’ About Ireland’s Counties (more info available on request – see Notes To Editor below):
Antrim: Trigger Fish and other marine invaders may soon be common off the Antrim coast
Armagh: How long will it be before Little Egrets and other Mediterranean birds nest in Armagh
Carlow: Chinese Mitten Crabs could MARCH into Carlow
Cavan: The Red Grouse and Hen Harrier are threatened by the spread of Spruce plantations
Clare: Bank Voles (pictured above left) were introduced to Clare during the construction of the Ardnacrusha Hydroelectricity Scheme
Cork: Dace, an alien species to our rivers, were accidentally introduced to the Blackwater in Cork in 1889 by an English pike angler
Derry: Trigger Fish and other marine invaders may soon be common off the Derry coast.
Donegal: Bird species like the Fulmar may disappear from County Donegal if fish stocks continue to decline
Down: How long before Alien Slipper Lobsters are caught off the Down coast
Dublin: Emperor Dragonflies may soon reach a pond near you
Fermanagh: Zebra Mussels, which are spreading throughout the Shannon-Erne waterway, originated in the Caspian Sea and came into Ireland on the hulls of pleasure boats
Galway: First ever sighting of a Mourning Dove in Ireland took place on Inish Bofin Island this year
Kerry: Ireland’s only Toad can only be found in isolated parts of Kerry
Kildare: Emperor Dragonflies may soon reach a pond near you
Kilkenny: Chinese Mitten Crabs could soon colonise the River Nore and threaten the native Crayfish
Laois: Greater White-toothed shrew, which appeared in Ireland for the first time this year, may soon be appearing in Laois
Leitrim: Alien flying insects may soon be seen around the lovely lakes of Leitrim
Limerick: The Greater White-toothed Shrew, which arrived in Ireland from the continent this year, is spreading rapidly throughout Limerick
Longford: The American Grey Squirrel was introduced to Longford and decimated its Red Squirrel population
Louth: Trigger Fish and other marine invaders may soon be common off the Louth coast
Mayo: The Great Skuas, which breed in the high Arctic, are being seen more frequently off the Mayo coast, and could become a menace to our breeding seabird colonies
Meath: Country hedgerows provide perfect breeding ground for bank voles
Monaghan: The Red Grouse may soon disappear from the countryside
Offaly: The native Pygmy Shrew is being threatened by the arrival of the Greater White-toothed shrew
Roscommon: Little Egrets making Roscommon their home
Sligo: How long before Alien Slipper Lobsters are caught off the Sligo coast
Tipperary: Ireland’s newest alien species is discovered in the Premier County
Tyrone: Emperor Dragonflies may soon reach a pond near you
Waterford: Chinese Mitten Crabs are colonising the River Suir and threatening native Irish fish
Westmeath: Snipe and Grouse disappearing from Westmeath
Wexford: Bird species like the Fulmar may disappear from the Saltee Islands if fish stocks continue to decline
Wicklow: Bank Voles could become a food source for Red Kites

‘Alien Invaders’ will be broadcast on TG4 for six weeks starting on Friday 26 September at 8.30pm. The series will culminate with a new book to be published in November. For more on ‘Alien Invaders’ see www.waxwingfilms.ie.

Alien Invaders Land In Clare

Accelerated global warming evidenced by record temperatures and rainfall levels is having a profound impact on County Clare's wildlife with increasing varieties and numbers of alien invaders landing on our shores, it has been claimed.

A new six part documentary series, due to be broadcast on TG4 later this month, features over a dozen foreign species never before featured on Irish television. ‘Coimhtíoch Gan Cuireadh’ or ‘Alien Invaders’ takes a broader look at Irish wildlife and recounts the fascinating stories of how some of Ireland’s alien species ended up in Ireland. The species include the Chinese Mitten Crab, Bank Vole, Mourning Dove, Emperor Dragonfly, Natterjack Toad, Slow Worm, Trigger Fish and Slipper Lobster.

According to Ballycar-resident John Murphy, Wildlife expert and Director of Waxwing Wildlife Productions, ‘The documentary features species of wildlife many people rarely if ever encounter even though they are present all around them. One such species, the Greater White-toothed Shrew this year most likely slipped into the country in the roots of large imported continental-sourced trees. This mammal is thriving in counties Tipperary and Limerick and will spread throughout the country like the bank vole has done.’

Mr. Murphy added, ‘some of these invaders are relative newcomers to our country, while others have been with us for some time. These Aliens take the shape of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, plants, fish, marine life and freshwater aquatic life forms.’ He explained that increasingly extreme Mediterranean climates had resulted in a dramatic rise in the numbers of exotic species of birds and maritime fish arriving and settling in Ireland. '‘We are seeing more and more cases of alien species of birds appearing on our shores. The arrival and spread of the Collared Dove, Cattle Egrets and the melodic Blackcap are prime examples of this growing trend. Meanwhile, during filming on Inish Bofin in County Galway this year we documented the first every sighting in Ireland of a Mourning Dove, which had arrived from the USA’ commented Mr. Murphy.

Ballynacahill, Ennis-resident Mr. Stan Nugent, Editor and Producer of ‘Alien Invaders’, stated that the documentary provided real evidence of how some foreign species were having a detrimental impact on the Irish environment and on native wildlife. He continued, ‘During filming we examined the presence of Chinese Mitten Crabs along the River Suir, which unlike the River Thames does not possess a tidal barrier to stop the invasive species from progressing hundreds of miles up stream. If left unchecked, these silent raiders will colonise our river systems to the detriment of other species. They will eat anything that comes their way including our native Crayfish and fish spawn. They put pressure on existing stocks of native fish stocks such as Brown Trout and Salmon. Mitten Crabs also live in holes, which they burrow out of the riverbank. This accelerates bank erosion.’

Mr. Nugent said that alien fish species were also appearing along Ireland’s coast in greater numbers. The Grey Triggerfish is a warm-water species with a normal range in the tropical Atlantic and the Mediterranean. However, in more recent times during summer months when the seas are at their warmest, they can be found in the waters around Ireland. The same can be said of sea creatures like the Slipper Lobster, which have only been caught in recent times in Lobster pots in the south of the country.

Meanwhile, the upcoming documentary focuses on the origins of many of Ireland’s newest wildlife species. The slow worm, which can only be found in the reclaimed meadow fringes of the Burren, where they were reportedly brought into Ireland by ‘new age hippies’ from Britain during the early 1970's. Elsewhere, it is widely believed that the Bank Vole was introduced to Ireland in the 1920s during work on the Shannon hydroelectric scheme when large machinery for this development was shipped from ports in the north of Germany to Foynes on the river Shannon and some other Irish ports.

Facts Uncovered By ‘Alien Invaders’ About Ireland’s Counties (more info available on request – see Notes To Editor below):
Antrim: Trigger Fish and other marine invaders may soon be common off the Antrim coast
Armagh: How long will it be before Little Egrets and other Mediterranean birds nest in Armagh
Carlow: Chinese Mitten Crabs could MARCH into Carlow
Cavan: The Red Grouse and Hen Harrier are threatened by the spread of Spruce plantations
Clare: Bank Voles (pictured above left) were introduced to Clare during the construction of the Ardnacrusha Hydroelectricity Scheme
Cork: Dace, an alien species to our rivers, were accidentally introduced to the Blackwater in Cork in 1889 by an English pike angler
Derry: Trigger Fish and other marine invaders may soon be common off the Derry coast.
Donegal: Bird species like the Fulmar may disappear from County Donegal if fish stocks continue to decline
Down: How long before Alien Slipper Lobsters are caught off the Down coast
Dublin: Emperor Dragonflies may soon reach a pond near you
Fermanagh: Zebra Mussels, which are spreading throughout the Shannon-Erne waterway, originated in the Caspian Sea and came into Ireland on the hulls of pleasure boats
Galway: First ever sighting of a Mourning Dove in Ireland took place on Inish Bofin Island this year
Kerry: Ireland’s only Toad can only be found in isolated parts of Kerry
Kildare: Emperor Dragonflies may soon reach a pond near you
Kilkenny: Chinese Mitten Crabs could soon colonise the River Nore and threaten the native Crayfish
Laois: Greater White-toothed shrew, which appeared in Ireland for the first time this year, may soon be appearing in Laois
Leitrim: Alien flying insects may soon be seen around the lovely lakes of Leitrim
Limerick: The Greater White-toothed Shrew, which arrived in Ireland from the continent this year, is spreading rapidly throughout Limerick
Longford: The American Grey Squirrel was introduced to Longford and decimated its Red Squirrel population
Louth: Trigger Fish and other marine invaders may soon be common off the Louth coast
Mayo: The Great Skuas, which breed in the high Arctic, are being seen more frequently off the Mayo coast, and could become a menace to our breeding seabird colonies
Meath: Country hedgerows provide perfect breeding ground for bank voles
Monaghan: The Red Grouse may soon disappear from the countryside
Offaly: The native Pygmy Shrew is being threatened by the arrival of the Greater White-toothed shrew
Roscommon: Little Egrets making Roscommon their home
Sligo: How long before Alien Slipper Lobsters are caught off the Sligo coast
Tipperary: Ireland’s newest alien species is discovered in the Premier County
Tyrone: Emperor Dragonflies may soon reach a pond near you
Waterford: Chinese Mitten Crabs are colonising the River Suir and threatening native Irish fish
Westmeath: Snipe and Grouse disappearing from Westmeath
Wexford: Bird species like the Fulmar may disappear from the Saltee Islands if fish stocks continue to decline
Wicklow: Bank Voles could become a food source for Red Kites

‘Alien Invaders’ will be broadcast on TG4 for six weeks starting on Friday 26 September at 8.30pm. The series will culminate with a new book to be published in November. For more on ‘Alien Invaders’ see www.waxwingfilms.ie.

Jobs Boost For North Clare

Atlantis Developments Ltd. confirmed today the decision by Clare County Council to grant planning permission for the development of “Park And Ride” facilities to the Cliffs of Moher.

The developer expects that the project will create up to 30 full-time jobs and bring significant benefits to the local economy when up and running. The proposed development consists of "park-and-ride" bus services from Liscannor and Coogyulla, Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience.

According to John D. Flanagan of Atlantis Developments Ltd., ‘It is proposed that the facilities will run in conjunction with the operating hours and procedures of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, with the capacity to handle some of the hundreds of people that visit Ireland’s premier tourist attraction daily.’ He added that the primary aim of the development is to capture some of the estimated one million tourists that visit the Cliffs of Moher each year and, in turn, spread economic benefits to surrounding towns and villages.

‘In the last few years, visitor numbers to the cliffs have increased from 645,000 to over one million people. However, surrounding tourist attractions, towns and villages have noted a significant fall off in visitor numbers. Altantis Developments believes that by working in tandem with the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, we can strike a counterbalance that further enhances the Cliffs of Moher’s position as a leading tourist attraction while increasing the tourist spend elsewhere, thus helping to revitalise rural communities across North Clare’, explained Mr. Flanagan. He continued, ‘Atlantis Developments is conscious that the planning permission that has been granted may be the subject of an appeal process but looks forward to the having the facility up and running for the 2010 season at the latest’.

Meanwhile, Atlantis Developments Ltd. confirmed that it has commenced construction work on Phase One of a new sewage treatment plant for Liscannor Village. The plant, estimated to cost between EUR1-2M, is designed to cater for all existing commercial and private properties located within the zoned areas of Liscannor village, as outlined under the North Clare Development Plan.

John D Flanagan commented, ‘the existing treatment plant in the village of Liscannor is currently at capacity both hydraulically and biologically. Atlantis Developments Ltd anticipates that the construction of the interim wastewater treatment plant will alleviate the pressure on such vitally important infrastructure’. ‘Located on the outskirts of Liscannor village, Phase One will facilitate any new development proposals that Clare County Council deem appropriate’, he concluded.

Phase One of the new plant, due for completion in May 2009, has been designed by Tobin Consulting Engineers and is being delivered by Atlantis Developments Ltd, in conjunction with the North Clare Development Plan.

Atlantis Developments is also currently developing a EUR25m hotel complex, near Quin in County Clare. Ballykilty Manor Hotel will be the sixth hotel to be developed by Atlantis Developments Ltd. as it continues to strengthen its portfolio in the hotel sector. Atlantis Developments Ltd. said that the 5-star development would create 30 jobs during construction and a further 45 full-time and part-time positions when it opens in 2010.

Since 2006, the holiday and accommodation body has opened the newly refurbished Peacockes Hotel in Maam Cross, County Galway; Tír Gan Éan House Hotel and Holiday Complex in Doolin, County Clare; the Smerwick Harbour Hotel, near Dingle, County Kerry; the Burren Coast Hotel and Holiday Lodges in Ballyvaughan, County Clare; and the Cliffs of Moher Hotel in Liscannor, County Clare. The new hotels have generated in excess of 235 jobs. The group is also promoting the famed Joseph McHugh's pub in Liscannor and the AA 5-star Ballyvara House in Doolin.