Birdwatch Ireland Meath

Cloosh Valley, County Galway is unrecognizable. The once vibrant landscape now scared by large blackened tracts of burnt bog, forest and fauna. Days after a gorse fire was finally extinguished by the combined forces of the Fire Service, Army and local volunteers, the scale of the destruction is still being assessed. Passing comment on the initial results as to the extent of damage done, Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources Seán Kyne said; “The fire at Cloosh Valley, in particular, is one of the most serious and largest ever to occur in Ireland. Thousands of acres of forestry and bogland have been destroyed with terrible consequences for wildlife. Of even greater concern are the many homes, businesses and communities that have been put at serious risk.” The fire was started illegally by someone burning gorse. But the dry weather and windy conditions created the perfect environment for the fire to quickly to get out of hand. Media coverage of the story moved