List of Ramsar sites in the Republic of Ireland facts for kids

Ireland is home to many special places called wetlands. These are areas like marshes, bogs, and lakes where water covers the land, or is very close to the surface, for at least part of the year. Wetlands are super important because they are home to many different plants and animals, and they also help keep our water clean.

Some wetlands are so important that they are recognized around the world! This happens through something called the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention is an international agreement that helps protect and wisely use wetlands. It was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. When a wetland is listed under this convention, it's called a "Ramsar site."

Ireland has 45 of these amazing Ramsar sites. Together, they cover a huge area of about 66,994 hectares (which is about 670 square kilometers!). These sites are protected because they are vital for wildlife, especially birds, and for the health of our planet.

Ireland's Special Wetlands

Here is a list of the Ramsar sites in the Republic of Ireland. Each one is a unique and important wetland that helps protect nature.

Name	Location	Area (km2)	Designated	What makes it special?	Image
Baldoyle Bay	Dublin 53°24′N 6°8′W / 53.400°N 6.133°W / 53.400; -6.133 (Baldoyle Bay)	2.03	25 October 1988
Ballyallia Lough	County Clare 52°53′N 8°55′W / 52.883°N 8.917°W / 52.883; -8.917 (Ballyallia Lough)	3.08	11 June 1996	This is the lowest lake on the River Fergus.
Ballycotton Bay	County Cork 51°50′N 8°0′W / 51.833°N 8.000°W / 51.833; -8.000 (Ballycotton Bay)	0.92	11 June 1996
Ballymacoda	County Cork 51°52′N 7°55′W / 51.867°N 7.917°W / 51.867; -7.917 (Ballymacoda)	3.75	11 June 1996
Bannow Bay	County Wexford 52°27′N 6°17′W / 52.450°N 6.283°W / 52.450; -6.283 (Bannow Bay)	9.58	11 June 1996
Blacksod Bay and Broadhaven Bay	County Mayo 54°03′N 10°0′W / 54.050°N 10.000°W / 54.050; -10.000 (Blacksod Bay and Broadhaven Bay)	6.83	11 June 1996	Broadhaven Bay has special Atlantic salt marshes, muddy areas that appear at low tide, reefs, and shallow bays.	A view overlooking Broadhaven Bay
Blackwater Estuary	County Cork, County Waterford51°57′N 7°48′W / 51.950°N 7.800°W / 51.950; -7.800 (Blackwater Estuary)	4.68	11 June 1996
Broadmeadow Estuary	53°27′N 6°10′W / 53.450°N 6.167°W / 53.450; -6.167 (Broadmeadow Estuary)	5.46	11 June 1996
Castlemaine Harbour	County Kerry 52°7′N 9°55′W / 52.117°N 9.917°W / 52.117; -9.917 (Castlemaine Harbour)	29.73	30 May 1990
Clara Bog	County Offaly 53°19′N 7°37′W / 53.317°N 7.617°W / 53.317; -7.617 (Clara Bog)	4.60	6 December 1988
Coole Lough and Garryland Wood	County Galway 53°5′N 8°51′W / 53.083°N 8.850°W / 53.083; -8.850 (Coole Lough and Garryland Wood)	3.64	30 May 1990
Cork Harbour	County Cork 51°50′N 8°15′W / 51.833°N 8.250°W / 51.833; -8.250 (Cork Harbour)	14.36	11 June 1996
Cummeen Strand	County Sligo 54°17′N 8°30′W / 54.283°N 8.500°W / 54.283; -8.500 (Cummeen Strand)	14.91	11 June 1996
Dundalk Bay	County Louth 54°00′N 6°20′W / 54.000°N 6.333°W / 54.000; -6.333 (Dundalk Bay)	47.68	11 June 1996
Dungarvan Harbour	County Waterford52°3′N 7°35′W / 52.050°N 7.583°W / 52.050; -7.583 (Dungarvan Harbour)	10.41	11 June 1996
Easky Bog	County Sligo 54°11′N 8°49′W / 54.183°N 8.817°W / 54.183; -8.817 (Easky Bog)	6.07	30 May 1990
The Gearagh	County Cork 51°52′N 9°1′W / 51.867°N 9.017°W / 51.867; -9.017 (The Gearagh)	3.07	30 May 1990
Inner Galway Bay	53°12′N 9°10′W / 53.200°N 9.167°W / 53.200; -9.167 (Inner Galway Bay)	119.05	11 June 1996
Killala Bay and Moy Estuary	County Mayo, County Sligo 54°15′N 9°10′W / 54.250°N 9.167°W / 54.250; -9.167 (Killala Bay and Moy Estuary)	10.61	11 June 1996
Knockmoyle and Sheskin	County Mayo 54°12′N 9°33′W / 54.200°N 9.550°W / 54.200; -9.550 (Knockmoyle and Sheskin)	11.98	1 June 1987
Lough Barra Bog	County Donegal 54°57′N 8°7′W / 54.950°N 8.117°W / 54.950; -8.117 (Lough Barra Bog)	1.76	1 June 1987		Lough Barra Bog
Lough Corrib	53°30′N 9°15′W / 53.500°N 9.250°W / 53.500; -9.250 (Lough Corrib)	177.28	11 June 1996		Lough Corrib
Lough Derravaragh	County Westmeath 53°40′N 7°20′W / 53.667°N 7.333°W / 53.667; -7.333 (Lough Derravaragh)	11.20	11 June 1996		Lough Derravaragh
Lough Ennell	County Westmeath 53°27′N 7°23′W / 53.450°N 7.383°W / 53.450; -7.383 (Lough Ennell)	14.04	11 June 1996		Lough Ennell
Lough Gara	County Sligo, County Roscommon 53°56′N 8°25′W / 53.933°N 8.417°W / 53.933; -8.417 (Lough Gara)	17.42	11 June 1996
Lough Glen	County Westmeath 53°25′N 7°23′W / 53.417°N 7.383°W / 53.417; -7.383 (Lough Glen)	0.81	11 June 1996
Lough Iron	County Westmeath 53°37′N 7°17′W / 53.617°N 7.283°W / 53.617; -7.283 (Lough Iron)	1.82	11 June 1996
Lough Oughter	54°2′N 7°25′W / 54.033°N 7.417°W / 54.033; -7.417 (Lough Oughter)	14.64	11 June 1996		Lough Oughter
Lough Owel	County Westmeath 53°35′N 7°23′W / 53.583°N 7.383°W / 53.583; -7.383 (Lough Owel)	10.32	11 June 1996		Lough Owel
Meenachullion Bog	County Donegal 54°54′N 8°7′W / 54.900°N 8.117°W / 54.900; -8.117 (Meenachullion Bog)	1.94	30 May 1990
Mongan Bog	County Offaly 53°19′N 7°58′W / 53.317°N 7.967°W / 53.317; -7.967 (Mongan Bog)	1.27	6 December 1988
North Bull Island	Dublin 53°22′N 6°8′W / 53.367°N 6.133°W / 53.367; -6.133 (North Bull Island)	14.36	6 September 1988		North Bull Island
Owenboy	County Mayo 54°6′N 9°28′W / 54.100°N 9.467°W / 54.100; -9.467 (Owenboy)	3.97	1 June 1987
Owenduff catchment	County Mayo 54°3′N 9°40′W / 54.050°N 9.667°W / 54.050; -9.667 (Owenduff catchment)	13.82	31 July 1986
Pettigo Plateau	County Donegal 54°37′N 7°57′W / 54.617°N 7.950°W / 54.617; -7.950 (Pettigo Plateau)	9.00	31 July 1986
Pollardstown Fen	County Kildare 53°11′N 6°51′W / 53.183°N 6.850°W / 53.183; -6.850 (Pollardstown Fen)	1.30	30 May 1990		Pollardstown Fen
Raheenmore Bog	County Offaly 53°20′N 7°21′W / 53.333°N 7.350°W / 53.333; -7.350 (Raheenmore Bog)	1.62	6 December 1988
The Raven	County Wexford 52°20′N 6°19′W / 52.333°N 6.317°W / 52.333; -6.317 (The Raven)	5.89	31 July 1986		The Raven Nature Reserve
Rogerstown Estuary	Dublin 53°30′N 6°8′W / 53.500°N 6.133°W / 53.500; -6.133 (Rogerstown Estuary)	1.95	25 October 1988
Sandymount Strand and Tolka Estuary	53°20′N 6°12′W / 53.333°N 6.200°W / 53.333; -6.200 (Sandymount Strand and Tolka Estuary)	6.54	11 June 1996		Sandymount Strand
Slieve Bloom Mountains	County Offaly, County Laois 53°3′N 7°38′W / 53.050°N 7.633°W / 53.050; -7.633 (Slieve Bloom Mountains)	22.30	31 July 1986		Slieve Bloom Mountains
Tralee Bay	County Kerry 52°16′N 9°48′W / 52.267°N 9.800°W / 52.267; -9.800 (Tralee Bay)	8.61	10 July 1989		Tralee Bay
Tramore Backstrand	County Waterford 52°10′N 7°7′W / 52.167°N 7.117°W / 52.167; -7.117 (Tramore Backstrand)	3.67	11 June 1996
Trawbreaga Bay	County Donegal 55°17′N 7°15′W / 55.283°N 7.250°W / 55.283; -7.250 (Trawbreaga Bay)	10.03	11 June 1996
Wexford Wildfowl Reserve	County Wexford 52°30′N 6°20′W / 52.500°N 6.333°W / 52.500; -6.333 (Wexford Wildfowl Reserve)	1.94	15 November 1984

Learn More About Wetlands

In Spanish: Anexo:Sitios Ramsar en Irlanda para niños

• To learn more about the agreement that protects these sites, check out the Ramsar Convention.
• You can also see a full list of all Ramsar sites around the world here: List of Ramsar sites worldwide.
• Find out about other protected areas in Ireland: List of Special Protection Areas in the Republic of Ireland.