For every myth and legend there is a fact about Ireland to be found.


The Aran Islands - The Aran Islands lie on the most westerly edge of Europe across the mouth of Galway Bay
The Burren - In the Burren hills, rising to just over 1,000 feet, Co Clare has the finest development of bare limestone plateau in all of northern Europe.
Donegal Mountains - This view north from the crest of the granite Derryveagh mountains is one of the most impressive inland panoramas in Donegal.
Lowland Bog - The topography of central Ireland is such that when the icesheets disappeared the entire middle reaches of the Shannon were a great shallow lake, many times the area of Lough Neagh.
Killarney Lakes - Killarney's verdant and magnificent setting is a blend of geology, geography and climate.

Cormorant, Mute Swan, Great-crested Grebe
Corncrake, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot
Linnet, Redpoll

Badger - Although its closest relations are other carnivores like the Otter and the Marten, the Badger is for all the world Ireland's bear.
Common Newt - Only one species of newt is found in Ireland (there are three in Britain) which should simplify identification.
Dolphins - Many people are unaware of the fact that dolphins are found in Irish inshore waters as wild animals as distinct from those found in marinas and aquaria.
Grey Squirrel - The Grey Squirrel was introduced into Co. Longford in the early years of the present century and has since spread to a few other counties in the midlands and the north.
Mice - Known also as Field Mouse and Long-tailed field mouse this 'wild' mouse has been in Ireland much longer than its 'domestic' relative the House mouse.
Killer Whale - The Killer whale is arguably the most spectacular animal to be found in or around Ireland.
Leisler's bat - Though no more than a small to medium bat by European standards, the Leisler's is the largest found in Ireland.
Lesser-horseshoe bat - This little bat occupies a westerly range throughout Britain and Ireland. In Ireland most are found west of the Shannon and in Munster.
Natterer's bat - This is a widespread and locally common Irish bat.
Pipistrelle bat - This tiny mammal with a most Iyrical name competes with the Pigmy shrew for the distinction of being Ireland's smallest.
Red Deer - It is probably only as a result of conservation efforts that this magnificent animal is still found wild in Ireland.
Irish Seals - This seal is known also as the Atlantic seal, its range corresponding roughly with the north-western seaboard of the Atlantic.
Viviparous lizard - This, Ireland's only lizard, is found in all sorts of dry habitats but favours sandy or rocky places, particularly near the sea.

Bird Cherry - This is a shrub or tree up to about fifteen metres tall but usually rather less, whose brown peeling bark has a strong unpleasant smell.
Broom - The broom grows as a shrub up to about two metres tall, has large, bright, lemon-yellow pea-like flowers and green branchlets.
Gorse - When gorse is in flower, kissing is in fashion - so goes the old expression.
Rowan - This is a slim and attractive tree with smooth grey bark, up to twenty metres but usually less.
Sloe/ Blackthorn - This is a dense shrub up to six metres tall with almost black branches. Many short side-shoots are produced which become thorns.
Strawberry Tree - Arbutus is a small evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean coast of Europe, Brittany and Ireland.
Witches' Trees - The following trees of Ireland have been grouped together, for the supernatural or superstitious aspects of the names, however tenuous the connection.
Yew Tree - Almost every old churchyard in Ireland has a yew tree.