Knockadoon Head facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Knockadoon Head
Capel Island and Knockadoon Head
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Type	National
Location	County Cork
Operated by	National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland)
Status	Open all year

Knockadoon Head is a beautiful piece of land that sticks out into the sea, located in County Cork, Ireland. It's also a special place called a national nature reserve, which means it's protected to keep its nature safe. This reserve includes Knockadoon Head itself and a nearby place called Capel Island. Together, they cover about 353 acres (or 1.4 square kilometers). The Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service helps look after it, but some parts are privately owned.

What is Knockadoon Head?

Knockadoon Head and Capel Island became a national nature reserve in 1985. This means the Irish government legally protects them. Most of this special area, about 314 acres (1.27 square kilometers), is owned by the state. A smaller part, around 40 acres (0.16 square kilometers), is privately owned. The reserve covers Knockadoon Head, Capel Island, and the sea between them.

History and Features

Knockadoon Head has an old signal tower. It was built way back in 1803. Its main job was to warn people if the French army was trying to invade Ireland. However, the tower was no longer needed and was left empty in 1815. Today, visitors can enjoy a lovely looped cliff walk at the reserve. It offers amazing views of the coast and the sea.

Amazing Wildlife

Knockadoon Head is a great spot for nature lovers, especially birdwatchers. In 2003, something very exciting happened there. A rare bird called a Hume's Warbler was seen at Knockadoon Head. This was the very first time this type of bird had ever been recorded in Ireland! It shows how important and unique this nature reserve is for wildlife.