Landscape and Amenities.pdf - Offaly County Council

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015
Volume 1 - Written Statement
High Sensitivity Areas Characteristics Sensitivities
e) Croghan Hill and its
Environs
•
•
Croghan Hill and its environs including
Raheenmore Bog (which was
designated a nature reserve under
the Wildlife Act 1976) and Cannakill
Deserted Medieval Village, are the
main elements of this high amenity
area.
Croghan Hill is an extinct volcano
which lies 234 metres above sea
level and commands views over
north and east Offaly and the
surrounding counties.
•
•
•
This is an area of archaeological and high
amenity value and is highly sensitive to
new developments.
Croghan Hill, due to its elevated nature in
comparison to its surrounding flat
landscape, impacts on the visual quality of
the surrounding area and is highly
sensitive to developments of any nature,
in particular sand and gravel extraction.
The Council recognises the scenic quality
and recreational value of the Croghan Hill
area including Croghan Hill, Raheenmore
Bog and Cannakill Deserted Medieval
Village.
f) Bogland Areas •
•
County Offaly contains a number of
raised and blanket boglands.
Clara bog, an important Natural
Heritage Area (NHA), is also
important for its visual amenities
and scenic qualities.
• Other important bogland areas
include the All Saints Bog,
Sharavogue Bog, Slieve Bloom
Blanket Bog and Raheenmore Bog.
• Offaly County Council has a strong policy
of conservation of a representative sample
of peatlands and the protection of
peatland habitats.
g) The Esker Landscape •
•
•
Eskers were built up under the ice
cap about ten thousand years ago
and also have archaeological significance,
as they formed the early
highways in Ireland.
In old Irish, ‘eiscir’ means divide
while ‘riada’ means road.
The Eiscir Riada traverses the
northwestern corner of County
Offaly in a more or less continuous
line from Shannonbridge to
Clonmacnoise and eastwards onto
Clara, Tullamore, Durrow and
Rahugh, in Co. Westmeath. [Note:
The Slí Mor (ancient road) followed
the Eiscir Riada].
• The eskers have geomorphologic,
scientific, historical, cultural, recreational
and amenity value and uniqueness.
• In particular, the esker system north of
Clara bog is critically important, as it is
most likely the source of nutrient rich
water, which feeds the bogs soak systems.
Eskers are also of economic importance and
there is a need to balance the conservation of
the important landscape features associated
with eskers providing educational / tourism
and recreational potential with the requirements
of aggregate extraction and economic
development. Hence, the esker landscape is
highly sensitive to any future development
and the opening up of new pits for sand and
gravel extraction will be strongly resisted
(Refer to Chapter 10, Rural Development).
Chapter 16 | Landscape & Amenities | page 170