County Laois

This map of Laois was drawn back in the 1500s to dilineate territories but is a great example in how densely populated by trees and forestation parts of Ireland were back then.

Logging

Logging can be a cause of biodiversity loss in forests.

Copyright Environment Protection Agency

An Irish bog

Peatlands, together with their unique collection of plants and animals, are a seriously endangered European habitat. Ireland is among the last countries in Europe where a wide range of peatlands still exist in their natural state. Peatlands originally covered 17% of the land surface of Ireland, a higher proportion than any other European country, with the exception of Finland. Today less than one quarter of the original peatland area remains in an intact condition. Conservationists predict that if exploitation continues on deeper peat of the midland raised bogs, these will be the first bogs to disappear in this century. Blanket bogs, especially in the West of Ireland, are also under increasing threat.

Sherman's Directory 1839

Sherman's Directory recorded 19 Pawn Shops in Waterford in 1839

Courtesy of Waterford City Library Services

Horse and Cart

A photo of three children and two adults with a horse and cart, taken in Swords in the 1920s.

© Swords Historical Society.

Aerial view of North Slob

Photograph of the North Slob from the air showing the coast and Raven wood.

Dodo

Dodos were unique to the island of Mauritius and had become extinct by the late 17th century. This example was acquired by the Royal Irish Academy following an excavation in 1865 in a marshy area of Mauritius which led to the recovery of a small number of Dodo skeletons. It is now located in the Natural Histroy Museum in Dublin.

A Mountain Biker

MTB Association of Dublin at Lough Bray, Co. Wicklow

© Morgan O'Connell/MAD 2004