Wild Flowers of the Dooras Peninsula

The Dooras (Dubhros) pensinsula juts out in to Lough Corrib, on the north-west side of the lake, and runs from the village of Corr na Móna to the island of Inisdoorus.  Along its length are to be found a wide variety of  wild flowers, many of which can be seen along the roadside, but some are hidden away and access is over wet and boggy ground.

My interest in wild flowers began in the early 70's. We would come to Corr na Móna each May for the fishing and, when our children were small and I wasn't fishing, I used to take them for walks. Seeing the variety of plants along the roadside prompted me to buy my first wildflower book, a pocket sized Collins Gem Guide.  This was my trusty reference book for along time before I graduated to more detailed guides as my interest developed. About ten years ago, I decided to try and catalogue the flowers growing locally, purely for my own interest. 

Over recent years, a number of visitors have stayed at the Cottage who share my interest and it is always a pleasure to swap notes on plant locations and identification. Some members of The Wild Flower Society and the BSBI have visited the area and stayed at the Cottage and, thanks to their willingness to share their knowledge and experience, I have been able to add to my catalogue of flowers. I am happy to give directions on where to find various plants and have a number of wildflower guides/keys which visitors expressing an interest in learning more about the local flora can borrow.  I would also recommend two excellent Irish websites to anyone interested in finding out more about our wildflowers: www.wildflowersofireland.net and www.irishwildflowers.ie

 

 

A new book, published October 2011, is recommended as an introduction to the wildflowers of Ireland - Wildflowers of Ireland, A Personal Record by Zoe Devlin. Published by The Collins Press

 

 

Many flowers can be seen along the roadside and some of these are shown below.  The selection of flowers on view depends on the season e.g. Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara is in flower in February/March; Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum in July/August. One of the more unusual flowers to be seen on the roadside would be St. Daboec's Heath Daboecia cantabrica, one of the Irish specialities, which flowers in June-August.  

There are at least 30 different species to be found in the garden, at different times of the year,  including Lords and Ladies Arum maculatum, Bog Pimpernel Anagallis tenella, Honeysuckle Lonerica periclymenum, Primrose Primula vulgaris,  Cuckoo Flower Cardamine pratensis and, in May/June, there are several examples of Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii to be seen in the "wild" patch in the back garden and in the bog beyond the wall.  In recent years one or two specimens of Western marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza occidentalis appeared in the front lawn but not in 2011.

The plants found along the lough shore are different again and a few of the rarer ones would be Irish Ladies Tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana, Grass of Parnassus Parnassia palustris  and Pipewort Eriocaulon aquaticum.

The best months to see wildflowers in bloom would be May through to August although you will still see several flowers blooming in March/April and September.

 

 

Apart from the wildflowers of the peninsula, there are other wonderful botanical locations in the area to explore including the woods in and around Clonbur and Cong and  the shores of Lough Mask

 

 

Further afield, but only about 1-1.5 hours drive away and worth a day's trip, is the world famous Burren with its amazing limestone pavement and unique mix of wildflowers. Many of the flowers located in the Burren can also be found on the Aran Islands and Inisboffin - both worth a day trip for the botanical interest and for sightseeing.

There are a selection of books available at the Cottage to enable you to identify your finds - you are welcome to take one with you if out for a day's exploring. I am also happy to share my local knowledge of where to find the different plants or can refer you to someone else who would have more information.

Sorcha Peirce

Wild Flower Photo Gallery