Dromalonhurt lies in the beautifully scenic valley below Bealach Oisín, some
15 kilometres southwest of Killorglin, Co. Kerry. The site adjoins the Caragh
River, a well-studied river catchment which is considered to be acid-sensitive,
and lies within the Killarney National Park, MacGillycuddys' Reeks and Caragh
River Catchment Special Area of Conservation.
This project site consists of 102 hectares of blanket bog in Coillte ownership,
28.9 hectares of which are planted with conifers. The site itself occurs
within a larger area (c. 220 hectares) of blanket bog that was surveyed by the
Wildlife Service in 1989 as Ballygisheen, when it received a high rating for
its ecological value. The unplanted portion of the site contains good quality
blanket bog habitat. The vegetation is typically dominated by purple moor-grass
(Molinia caerulea), black bog-rush (Schoenus nigricans) and a
range of typical species of sedges and mosses. Cover of Sphagnum cover is good
and includes the nationally rare Sphagnum pulchrum. A large area of quaking peat
with extensive pool systems occur within the site and this area supports
brown-beaked sedge (Rhynchospora fusca) which is a rare species in
the southwest of the country. The planted area of this site is dominated by
Sitka spruce of variable quality and the presence of bog vegetation under
these trees varies with canopy cover.
At this site the conifer crop will be felled, left on site and any significant
drains will be blocked.