The Murrough Wetlands

Complex of wetlands in County Wicklow, Ireland

53°00′32″N 6°03′04″W / 53.009°N 6.051°W / 53.009; -6.051Area1,489 acres (6.03 km²)DesignationSpecial Area of Conservation
Special Protection AreaGoverning bodyNational Parks and Wildlife Service

The Murrough Wetlands (Irish: Na Bogaigh Murrach) are a 15-kilometre (9.32 mi) long complex of coastal wetlands in County Wicklow, Ireland.^[1] The main wetland is centred around Broad Lough immediately north of Wicklow town. Broad Lough is a large estuarine lake that is cut off from the Irish sea by a long, thin shingle ridge. Smaller, disconnected wetland areas such as the East Coast Nature Reserve and the Kicoole Marshes are also included in the complex.^[2] The Murrough Wetlands are the most extensive wetland area on the east coast of Ireland, and are an EU-designated Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area.^[3]

Habitats

Annual vegetation of drift lines
Perennial vegetation of stony banks
Atlantic salt meadows
Mediterranean salt meadows
Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the Caricion davallianae
Alkaline fens

Bird species

Eurasian reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Eurasian teal (Anas crecca)
Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
Pale-bellied Brent Goose (Branta bernicla)
Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata)
Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
European herring gull (Larus argentatus)
Little Gull (Larus minutus)
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata)
Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
European golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
Common redshank (Tringa totanus)
Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

References

^ "The Murrough Wetlands SAC - Site Synopsis" (PDF). National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
^ "The Murrough Wetlands - Wicklow Town". wicklowheritage.org. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
^ "Factsheet - The Murrough Wetlands SAC". European Environment Agency. Retrieved 13 May 2022.

Geography of County Wicklow

Protected Areas

Special Areas of Conservation	Ballyman Glen Bray Head Buckroney-Brittas Dunes and Fen Carriggower Bog Vale of Clara Deputy's Pass Glen of the Downs Holdenstown Bog Knocksink Wood Magherabeg Dunes The Murrough Wetlands Slaney River Valley Wicklow Mountains Wicklow Reef
Special Protection Areas	Poulaphouca Reservoir The Murrough Wetlands Wicklow Head Wicklow Mountains
Nature Reserves	Deputy's Pass Glen of the Downs Glendalough Glenealo Valley Knocksink Wood Vale of Clara
National Parks	Wicklow Mountains National Park

Landforms

Beaches	Arklow Beach (North and South) Bray Beach Brittas Bay Clogga Beach The Cove Ennereilly Beach Glen Beach Greystones Beach (North and South) Kilcoole Beach Leamore Strand Magheramore Beach Newcastle Beach Porter's Rock Beach Sallymount Bay Beach Silver Strand Beach Travelahawk Beach
Mountains and hills	Arklow Hill Barnacullian Benleagh Bray Head Camaderry Camenabologue Carrick Mountain Carrigvore Church Mountain Cloghernagh Conavalla Corrigasleggaun Croaghanmoira Croghan Mountain Djouce Duff Hill Gravale Great Sugar Loaf Keadeen Mountain Kippure Little Sugar Loaf Lobawn Lugduff Luggala Lugnaquilla Maulin Moanbane Mullacor Mullaghcleevaun Prince William's Seat Scarr Seefingan Silsean Slievemaan Sugarloaf Table Mountain Tonduff Tonelagee Turlough Hill War Hill
Valleys and passes	Deputy's Pass Glen of Imaal Glen of the Downs Glencree Glendalough Glendasan Glenealo Glenmacnass Glenmalure The Sally Gap Vale of Clara The Wicklow Gap
Forests & gardens	Avondale Forest Killruddery Knocksink Wood Mount Usher Gardens National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh Powerscourt Estate Russborough Estate Tomnafinnoge Woods Victor's Way
Lakes	Arts Lough Broad Lough Glendalough Upper Lake Glendalough Lower Lake Lough Dan Lough Tay Lough Ouler Lough Bray (Upper and Lower) Lough Nahanagan Poulaphouca Reservoir Lough Firrib Cleevaun Lough Three Lakes Kelly's Lough Vartry Reservoir
Rivers	River Aughrim River Avoca River Avonbeg Avonmore River River Dargle River Derreen River Derry River Dodder Glencullen River River Greese River Liffey River Slaney River Vartry
Waterfalls	Ballinafunshogue Waterfall Carrawaystick Waterfall Coolalingo Waterfall Devils Glen Waterfall Fraughan Glen Waterfall Glenmacnass Waterfall Jackson Falls Poulanass Waterfall Powerscourt Waterfall
Hiking Trails	Saint Kevin's Way Wicklow Way Djouce Mountain Walk The Spinc Trail Wicklow Round