Official opening of Cloncrow Bog and Village Trail, Tyrrellspass
As the grey skies cleared around noon on Easter Monday, a large crowd gathered at Tyrrellspass Castle for the official opening of Cloncrow Bog and Village Trail.
In the function room, a full house was welcomed by committee members of ETHOS (Everything Tyrrellspass Has, on Show), Eugene Dunbar and Peter Deegan.
Eugene introduced ETHOS and how the idea developed over time. He outlined the importance of Cloncrow bog, its significance to the community of Tyrrellspass, and to the greater environment; the activities taking place on the bog, especially the trail; and the restoration work by the CarePeat Project, under the supervision of Prof Terry Morley, NUIG.
The success of that work is evident on Cloncrow Bog, where the water table has been raised through a process of cell bunding on the cutover, which in turn has had a dramatic impact on biodiversity, and the capacity of what is a unique habitat to store – rather than emit – carbon.
The positive effects of the work on Cloncrow bog are exceptional and the new addition of the trail will make them accessible to all.
Eugene acknowledged the cooperation of all the landowners along the trail, who were all supportive of the project from first consultation. The landowners were presented with beautiful photographs taken on Cloncrow as tokens of appreciation.
The project was made possible thanks to the support of Westmeath County Council, Sport Ireland, and through funding from the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, Dept of Rural and Community Development.
Following the presentations and brief overview of the works carried out on the bog, the crowd of several hundred, young and not quite so young, strolled towards the trail head, which is in the car park of Tyrrellspass Castle, and followed the trail down what is known locally as ‘Cuffes Lane’.
The walk was officially opened by Mary Goldsberry of Westmeath County Council, who has been supporting ETHOS throughout their application and development process.
Beginning at Tyrrellspass Castle, Cloncrow Bog and Village Trail passes through a range of diverse habitats and down a turfcutters lane, once used to bring home hand-cut turf for domestic use. The walk is bounded by bog woodlands that now support a rich range of biodiversity such as butterflies, moths, birds, insects and mammals.
The trail meanders from the lane through intact raised bog, with its sphagnum mosses, and woodlands with Scots pines and other native species of trees.
The trail continues through reclaimed pastures before entering Tyrrellspass village on the north side, and goes on through the Belvedere Orphanage, St Sinian’s Church, to the village green, with its heritage protected buildings and Imogen Stuart statue. The loop finishes back at Tyrrellspass Castle.
The trail, a valuable asset to village community and the whole county, is an easy, low impact 3.5km loop through 10,000 years of natural and human history. It incorporates opportunities, through signs and an outdoor classroom area, to educate future generations on the importance of boglands to the environment, and it provides an outdoor amenity for the local and wider communities.
Credit is due to ETHOS, and all who enabled the project to reach fruition.