Rivers & Lakes

Atlantic Salmon

Atlantic Salmon

Copyright Mike Brown

Atlantic Salmon
Copyright Mike Brown

Atlantic Salmon

Atlantic Salmon

Copyright Mike Brown

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Rivers

The Lower River Shannon flows through Kerry and is a significant conservation area. Large populations of Bottle-nosed Dolphins, Freshwater Pearl Mussels, Atlantic Salmon and Otters inhabit the area, all of which are protected species.

Surrounding the Lower River Shannon are also a number of alluvial wet woodlands, lagoons, Mediterranean salt meadows, Atlantic salt meadows and reefs. These are all listed on the EU Habitats Directive.

The River Blackwater is important river in Kerry and much of its basin is protected as a SAC.  It is one of the places where the rare Kerry Slug occurs, as well as other protected species such as Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Atlantic Salmon and Lesser Horseshow Bat.

Kerry Slug

This black and white picture depicts The Kerry slug. It generally grows to approximately 7-8cm in length, has a dark brown body with light brown spots. The slug as two sets of tentacles, characteristic for all terrestrial slugs and snails. It is (apparently) the only slug species that will curl itself into a ball when it is disturbed. It has a Lusitanian distribution, which describes animals and plants that only occur along the western seaboard of Europe and not in the interior of counties. The Kerry slug likes wet weather and feeds on lichens living on rocks and lower tree trunks. The Kerry Slug is an important species and is well protected appearing under Annex II and Annex IV of the European Union Habitats Directive. Being an Annex II species means that the area in which the Kerry Slug lives is guarded under Irish and European law as a Special Area of Conservation. Being listed as an Annex IV species means that the Kerry Slug is an animal of European Community interest and requires strict protection.

Kerry Slug

Kerry Slug

This black and white picture depicts The Kerry slug. It generally grows to approximately 7-8cm in length, has a dark brown body with light brown spots. The slug as two sets of tentacles, characteristic for all terrestrial slugs and snails. It is (apparently) the only slug species that will curl itself into a ball when it is disturbed. It has a Lusitanian distribution, which describes animals and plants that only occur along the western seaboard of Europe and not in the interior of counties. The Kerry slug likes wet weather and feeds on lichens living on rocks and lower tree trunks. The Kerry Slug is an important species and is well protected appearing under Annex II and Annex IV of the European Union Habitats Directive. Being an Annex II species means that the area in which the Kerry Slug lives is guarded under Irish and European law as a Special Area of Conservation. Being listed as an Annex IV species means that the Kerry Slug is an animal of European Community interest and requires strict protection.

Enlarge image

The Kerry Slug is easily recognisable. It can grow up to 9cm in length and its body is covered in distinctive spots. Brown slugs produce yellow spots, while black slugs produce white spots. In Ireland, the species it confined to Kerry and West Cork.

Lakes

Lough Leane

The three main lakes of Killarney are some of the best known lakes in Kerry. Lough Leana, also known as the Lower Lake, is the largest of the three and is dotted with small islands. It is thought that Lough Leana, meaning ‘Lake of Learning’, owes its name to Inisfallen Abbey. This was a 7^th century monastery that was located on one of the lake’s islands known as Inisfallen. The most important of these is Inisfallen Island, which is home to the 7^th century Inisfallen Abbey. A record of Early Irish History, known as the Annals of Inisfallen, was written here from 11^th-13^th centuries.

Muckross Lake (Middle Lake) is home to Dinis Island and its variety of sub-tropical vegetation. The third lake is known as the Upper Lake. The lakes are famous for trout and salmon fishing and attract large numbers of visitors each year.