*Rosina Joyce, Biodiversity Officer for Galway County Council, and Ray Fallon and Perter Butler of Conservation Volunteers Galway pictured with the Autumn Lady’s Tresses Orchids at Rinville Park, Oranmore. Photo Hany Marzouk.

A ‘near threatened’ orchid has been discovered in Oranmore for the first time in eighty years.

In the past week, between twenty and thirty Autumn Lady’s Tresses Orchids, which are classed as ‘Near Threatened’ in the Red Data List of Vascular Plants 2016 were discovered at Rinville Park.

This followed a joint environmental initiative by Galway County Council and Conservation Volunteers Galway to attract pollinating insects to Rinville Park.

According to the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland, the last recorded discovery of the orchid in Oranmore came in the 1940s.

In previous years, the new “Don’t Mow, Let it Grow” section of Rinville Park was cut short frequently resulting in the growth and blooming of wildflowers being suppressed. However, some seeds and plants can persist undetected for many years and re-emerge when mowing is stopped.

This orchid species starts to bloom in August and has a spiral arrangement of small white flowers which can grow to 20 centimetres.

Rosina Joyce, Biodiversity Officer for Galway County Council explained, “The no-mow area at Rinville Park has been a huge success in terms of conservation and biodiversity. In biodiversity terms, this is a significant discovery and success story in this part of County Galway. As we celebrate National Heritage Week, this find underscores the importance of preserving our natural heritage and the positive impact of sustainable practices on our environment”.

She continued, “The success of the no-mow project will provide a great opportunity for members of the public and local schools in the Oranmore area to see many of our wild native flowers in a public park and will hopefully inspire others to action as part of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. We are asking the public to not enter the marked no-mow area located near the carparking area at the seashore”.

Ray Fallon is a member of Conservation Volunteers Galway, which was founded in 2010 to protect and enhance natural heritage through volunteer participation in practical conservation projects. “The Lady’s Tresses Orchid is just one of six wild orchid species in the no-mow areas at Rinville Park, the others being Early Purple, Common Spotted, Marsh, Bee and Pyramidal Orchids. In addition, there are over thirty other wildflower plant species growing there. It is a great joy to see so much biodiversity and an honour for our voluntary organisation to maintain the area on behalf of Galway County Council,” he said.

Related News

34_CCC - Boat Launch_250625
Addition of €28k rescue boat a major upgrade to fleet of Clare Civil Defence
madden furniture 1
Landmark Ennis business Madden Furniture to close this month
tablet smartphone laptop 1
Man (58) in South-East Clare charged with having 1544 images of child sex abuse
alan o'callaghan conor ryan tony o'brien pat burke pat hayes 1
'We are the envy of the county' - Hayes says Killaloe MD Cllrs have best working relationship

Advertisement

Latest News
galway greyhound stadium
Double feature win for Long & Collins
micheál murray 1
Mint performance from the Murrays helps Miltown win O'Gorman Cup for second time
tablet smartphone laptop 1
Man (58) in South-East Clare charged with having 1544 images of child sex abuse
waterford v clare camogie 05-07-25 jennifer daly orla hickey 2
Waterford relievedly Rockett to last four following Clare scare
alan o'callaghan conor ryan tony o'brien pat burke pat hayes 1
'We are the envy of the county' - Hayes says Killaloe MD Cllrs have best working relationship
Premium
éire óg vs ballyea 04-07-25 david reidy paddy smyth 1
Éire Óg retain Division 2 League title in derby decider
killaloe canal 1-2
Teenage girl 'scared & angry' after boy (14) 'humped' her from behind in Killaloe
1 DSC_9129
Clare will have 'one hell of a shot' in quarter-final with Waterford - Carmody
inagh kilnamona v clonlara 05-09-21 30 kevin hehir paraic o'loughlin
Inagh/Kilnamona chase first senior title & Clonlara aim to regain silverware
east clare memorial pat hayes
Hayes accusses Tipperary councillor of spreading 'misinformation' on Killaloe to Ballina pedestrianisation

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement