2023 County Report for Co. Clare
Donncha Ó Catháin, Phoebe O’Brien, and Hannah Mulcahy
There were a number of nice records in the eastern ‘half’ of County Clare in 2023, these included a new site for Euphorbia hyberna (Irish Spurge) found by Donncha Ó Catháin in a small wood north of Killanena. Phoebe O’Brien recorded Scutellaria minor near Feakle; a nice find as there are only a handful of H9 records. Donncha and Hannah Mulcahy recorded Meconopsis cambrica (Welsh Poppy) in the Slieve Bearnagh Mountains. Donncha also recorded Thalictrum minus (Lesser Meadow-rue) near Lough Atorick.
Notable records from other parts of the VC included Lathyrus palustris (Marsh Pea) at Dromore, found by Enda Mooney NPWS; this appears to be a new county record.
Donncha carried out a recording project focusing on rare/scarce ferns under the NPWS grant scheme for small recording projects. Highlights were:
- Phegopteris connectilis (Beech Fern) in a small wood near Broadford; last recorded in H9 in late 1800’s
- Two populations of Hymenophyllum wilsonii (Wilson’s Filmy-fern) and three of H. tunbrigense (Tunbridge Filmy-fern) in the Broadford Hills/Slieve Bearnagh region; these appear to be 1st records for the south-east of Co. Clare.
- Huperzia selago (Fir Clubmoss) re-found at Glendree (last recorded at this locality in 1963)
- New sites for Oreopteris limbosperma (Lemon-scented Fern) in the Slieve Aughty Mountains, including three hectad firsts
- Equisetum hyemale (Rough Horsetail) near O’Briensbridge; (2nd record for H9)
- Killarney Fern gametophytes at a number of upland localities in East Clare.
