Spare a click for Killyconny Bog

Cavan people have been asked to lend their online support to a local bog as it seeks to achieve the accolade of being part of an Irish bid to receive a top environmental prize. Killyconny Bog is one of 12 Irish bogs part of Ireland's entry in The Natura 2000 Award.

Killyconny Bog SAC (also known locally as Cloghbally Bog and Mullagh Bog) is a 191 hectare raised bog just outside the historic Cavan town of Mullagh. It is an important bog which has played a big role in the local community for generations, and its location is unique as not only is it the most northern project site, but it is the only LIFE project site to share two counties: Cavan and Meath. It is said that the Apostle of Franconia, St Kilian, had connections to this impressive bog.

Earlier this year, on World Peatlands Day 2020 (02 June), The Living Bog Irish raised bog restoration project, co-funded by the Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht and the EU LIFE programme, was nominated for one of Europe’s top environmental awards.

The Living Bog, which commenced in 2016 and finishes this December 2020, is among 27 finalists for the European Commission’s Natura 2000 Awards. The awards recognise excellence in the management of Natura 2000 sites. The Living Bog is nominated in the ‘Community’ category, with the bog project’s work in the local community and its involvement of community groups and individuals – including turf cutters – in project actions recognised by the European Union’s environmental bodies.

A high-level jury will decide on five winners, but from the finalists the public will also choose its winner: The Citizens’ Award.

Up to September 15, the general public will be voting for its favourite Natura 2000 Award finalist, and the application that receives the most votes will win the coveted European Citizens’ Award.  Since the Natura 2000 awards started in 2014, there have been no Irish winners in any category.

The Natura 2000 Award is designed to reward excellence in the management of Natura 2000 sites  (Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas) and showcase the added value of the network. It pays tribute to all those who work to make Natura 2000 a success whilst drawing public attention to its substantial achievements.

The Natura 2000 network works to ensure the long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats, and is the centre piece of the EU’s nature and biodiversity policy. It is currently made up of over 27,800 sites. In total, it covers almost a fifth of Europe’s land area and almost 10% of the EU marine areas, making it the largest coordinated network of conservation areas anywhere in the world.

To date, no Irish project has won an award at the award ceremonies, held each year in Brussels.

You can voting for the Irish entrant at: https://natura2000award-application.eu/en/finalists