IR23 South Wexford Coast A Natural Heritage Coastline

On the program of this outing is the discovery of the biodiversity of the southern Irish coast (Kilmore Quay). Accompanied by a nature guide, the students were able to discover the particularity of the southern Irish fauna and flora through a hike between dunes and the beach. He took the time to show and explain the diversity of the species present. A presentation on the impact of climate change made students aware of the fragility of thisnatural environment. It was the occasion to discover the famous local tourism places.
The Saltee Islands: Home to smugglers, rebels and more lately royalty, the Saltee Islands are also one of the most important seabird sanctuaries in north-western Europe. These stunningly beautiful islands are home to thousands of seabirds, including gannets and puffins, and are also a breeding site for Grey Seals. The owner of the Great Saltee, Michael Neale, declared it an independent princedom in 1956, with himself as its first Prince. Prince Michael's stone throne, along with various other memorials can be seen on the Saltees. The rich waters around the islands harbour an exceptional underwater sealife and attract divers from all over Ireland and beyond.

Forlorn Point: Surely one of the most evocative names on the Wexford coast, Forlorn Point is the narrow spit of land jutting out to sea on your right. Some of the oldest exposed rocks anywhere in Ireland are to be found here, dating to 600 million years ago. Older still are some of the rocks on the beachfront just east of here - these are almost 2 billion years old and date almost to the beginning of the world!

Of international conservation importance, Ballyteige Burrow or 'The Burrow' as it is locally known, is ore of the finest sand dune systems in the South East. There are three main walking routes - along the beach, through the dunes, or on the path by the fence that separates the dunes from the adjoining farmland. Walking along the shore provides opportunity to watch passing seabirds. Little terns occasionally nest on the beach at the western end. In the dunes, you will see meadow pipits, wrens, stonechats and linnets. In spring and autumn, wheatears and reed buntings pass through. In spring and early summer, the song of the skylark, a sound becoming scarce in much of the country, fills the dunes. One of the few places in Ireland where the turf ant is found, there are also rare woodlice, snails, wasps and two of Ireland's rarest bee species: the great yellow bumblebee and the shrill carder bee.

Ballyteige Burrow Fauna: The fauna that is immediately obvious on Ballyteige Burrow are the birds and butterflies. Along the beach you will see a variety of sea birds and in the dunes meadow pipits, wrens, stonechats and linnets. Butterflies and moths found here include Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow, Hummingbird Hawk Moth, Dark Green Fritillaries, Common Blues and the Cinnabar Moth.

The sand dunes of Ballyteige Burrow in Kilmore Quay are home to a number of rare plants as well as those you would expect to commonly find in a network of sand dunes. Marram grass covers the seaward side of the dunes.

Other areas of the dunes are carpeted in purple and gold during the summer months by the diverse range of flora found here. Look out for beautiful hybrid marsh orchids, burnet roses as well as wild asparagus and thyme

The French and Irish students were able to draw comparisons with Dunkirk.