A remnant shred of the once great forest of aughty.

This is Gortacarnaun woods, southeast Galway, a couple of hundred metres from the Clare border.

83 Hectares of sessile oak with holly, birch and poplar

This is a small part of Ireland's last great oak forest which sprawled across south Galway and along the western banks of the river shannon down into in east Clare. It was said to be the last stronghold of Brian Boru and his people.

The forest of aughty survived into medieval times, after which timber and steel demand destroyed it. The hills had rich iron deposits (evidenced today in stream) and a fuel source to liberate it! In their peak local furnaces needed up to one hectare of mature woodland per day

The @woodlandleague has an ambitious plan to restore some of this great forest by connecting the numerous remaining parts.

I would need political leadership and support for the local community. A statement of intent for our new gov? @pippa_hackett

http://www.woodlandleague.org/the-great-forest-of-aughty-project-proposal/

Ubiquitous rhodendron and overgrazing along with some historical dumping

Deer everywhere in here. Canopy had less Oak than expected with lots of strangely tall holly! The woods runs down onto the edge of a bog where stunted birch give way to open ground.