Pollagoona bog is an area of high quality blanket bog located in the extensively afforested
Slieve Aughty uplands of County Clare, some 20km southeast of the town of Gort
(Co. Galway). Lough Atorick lies just to the northwest of the site. The bog is
completely surrounded by conifer plantation, dominated by Sitka spruce,
most of which is more than 15 years old. The bog is of particular interest
as it displays vegetation and morphological features transitional between
blanket and raised bog systems.
In general, the bog is of high ecological value, being soft, wet and quaking over
most of its surface. Sphagnum cover is high, with some well developed hummocks
while wet lawn areas, dominated by white-beaked sedge (Rhynchospora alba), are
also frequent. In the more central parts of the bog, plant species such as bog
asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) and cross-leaved heath
(Erica tetralix) dominate, along with Cladonia portentosa and
Sphagnum capillifolium. A feature of the bog vegetation is the presence
of bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) and cranberry (Vaccinium
oxycoccos), species that are more typical of raised bog habitats. Along
the intact bog margins, where the peat depth is shallower, i.e. <1 metre,
the vegetation is dominated by purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea). Pool
areas are generally not common however there is a small pool complex in the
eastern half of the site which is colonised by bog-bean (Menyanthes
trifoliata), mud sedge (Carex limosa), brown-beaked sedge
(Rhynchospora fusca) and the aquatic mosses Sphagnum cuspidatum
and S. auriculatum. As a result of the high ecological quality of the area
it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation.
The main restoration measure at this site involves the felling of poorly-developed
areas of conifer plantation around the margins of the intact unplanted bog and
the subsequent blocking of drains. This will increase the area of
bog habitat over time and will also prevent the drying out of adjoining
intact areas. In these afforested areas a modified bog vegetation is
often still present and there will be good regeneration of blanket bog
following tree felling.