Our Local Turlough

Rahasane Turlough is the name given to the largest surviving Turlough in Ireland. It is down the road from K.N.S. It is situated on the Dunkelin river, west of Craughwell. It consists of two basins which are connected  at times of flood but separate as the waters drain away. In summer the lake empties and the basins are grazed by cattle, horses and sheep.

What is the Turlough?

• A turlough is a disappearing lake. 
• It is mostly found in limestone places in Ireland west of the river Shannon. 
• The name comes from the Irish words 'Tuar' meaning dry and 'Lough' meaning lake.
•  They are almost unique to Ireland. 
• The turloughs usually flood in autumn and they usually dry out between April and July when the weather is dry. 

Rahasane Turlough:

•  Is a karst (exposed limestone) lake. 
• There is no surface outlet and it is surrounded on all sides by rising land.
• Most of the Turlough is open, flat and grassy land with large rocks scattered around the floor. 
• It has an active swallow hole system. Some swallow holes can reach 5 meters in diameter and are 2-3 meters deep. 
• Rahasane Turlough covers 257 hectares.

Wildlife in the Turlough:
Is famous for the wintering wildlife populations. Which include....

• Whooper and Bewicks swans.
• Greenland, white fronted geese.
• Mallard ducks.
• Black terns.
• Lapwing .
• Redshank.
• Snipe.
• Dunlin.

Rahasane is important to Europe:

• Rahasane Turlough is a special area of conservation under the habitats directive which is an important European Law that protects vulnerable wildlife which includes animals and plant species.
• The Irish government is obliged to protect and maintain the environment in and around the Turlough.
• It implements laws and enforces regulations to ensure the ecological integrity of the site. 

By Tiernan.

Picasso

Were're learning about Picasso.

He was born in Malaga, Spain on the 25 October 1881 and he died on the 8 April 1973 aged 91.

Picasso was an artist.

He was very wacky and very inspiring.

He normally does portraits e.g. this is the portrait of Dora Mar.

By: Ella Wilkinson

Pictures of Our Trip to Rahasane Turlough

Some of the birds that can be seen in the Rahasane Turlough!

Curlew

Whooper Swan

Lapwing

Golden Plover

Black Tail Godwit

Male Wigeon

Female Wigeon

Trip to Rahasane Turlough

Second class recently went on trip to Rahasane Turlough with Mrs. Kelleher’s third and fourth class. The day started off with second class going in to Mrs Kelleher’s room to listen to the bird expert Susan who talked the class through what the different birds where called, where they live, what they eat, what they look like and lastly the sounds the birds make. Susan showed the class a presentation on all this information and told the class to especially look out for Curlew’s and Godwits while at the Turlough. As well as getting the class to do puzzles on this new information on birds that they had learnt. Next the class got prepared to go to the Turlough to do this they put on their wellies, coats and high visibility jackets and were paired up in two’s before making their way out of the classroom. The class walked from the school to the Turlough in pairs of twos quietly so as to not scare the birds and wildlife away. While at the Turlough everyone waited patiently for their turn to look through Susan’s telescope to get a closer look at the birds that were far away. They got to see Curlew’s, Godwits, and whooper swans to just name a few. When the class were finished exploring the Turlough they walked back to the school. All of the students enjoyed the day in the Turlough as they got to learn interesting facts about the birds and wildlife of the Turlough. 

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This page will be managed and updated by 2nd class.