Murlough Nature Reserve

Murlough Nature Reserve is a dune heathland on the coast of County Down in Northern Ireland, near Newcastle. It is on a peninsula between Dundrum Bay and Murlough Bay (Irish: Murlach, meaning 'sea inlet') and has views of Slieve Donard, the highest peak in the Mourne Mountains. Its 6,000-year-old sand dune system has been managed by the National Trust since 1967, when it became Ireland's first nature reserve.[1] It is also home to Murlough Beach.

Murlough Nature Reserve
Murlough Nature Reserve, February 2010
Located on the south east coast of Northern Ireland
Located on the south east coast of Northern Ireland
Location of Murlough Nature Reserve in Northern Ireland
LocationCounty Down, Northern Ireland
Nearest cityBelfast
Coordinates54°14′03″N 5°51′10″W
Area697 acres (2.82 km2)
Established1967
Governing bodyNational Trust

Features

At 697 acres,[2] it is the largest dune heathland in Ireland, with a network of paths and boardwalks through the dunes.[1] Breeding birds include meadow pipit, Eurasian skylark, common cuckoo, European stonechat, common linnet and common reed bunting. Shorehauling grey seal and common seals are also common in the area. Between 50 and 130 common and grey seals regularly use the area for moulting, resting and feeding.[3] Rare plants local to the site are pyramidal orchid and carline thistle.

On the Dundrum Bay side of the nature reserve is Murlough Beach, a shingle beach and four-mile-long Blue Flag beach.[1]

Grid ref: J414351.[2]

History

In 1857, the 4th Marquess of Downshire built Murlough House as a summer residence on the peninsula. They built a wooden bridge connecting to Keel Point, replaced in 1893 with the current granite one.[4]

The house and sand dunes were extensively used by the US Army during the Second World War.[5] In 1942 the US 1st Battalion, 13th Armored (1st Division) arrived followed by the 818th Tank Destroyer Battalion (XV Corps) in April 1944.[6]

Moths and butterflies

Several rare moths and butterflies can be found within the reserve. Of the 23 butterfly species recorded at Murlough, the marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), is of European importance - other notable species include dark-green fritillary (Argynnis aglaja), grayling (Hipparchia semele) and cryptic wood white (Leptidea juvernica). One species, the wall brown butterfly (Lasiommata megera) has not been recorded for several years. Over 750 species of moth have been recorded at Murlough Nature Reserve - examples include small elephant hawkmoth (Deilephila porcellus), sand dart (Agrotis ripae) and the micro moths Pyrausta cingulata and Hysterophora maculosana. A total of 806 Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) have been recorded within the nature reserve boundary.

Notable migrant species noted in the area have included: cosmopolitan (Leucania loreyi), tawny pinion (Lithophane semibrunnea), double line (Mythimna turca), white-speck, the delicate and L-album wainscot

In 2012 a Stephens' gem (Megalographa biloba) was recorded at Murlough NNR - this was the 1st record for Ireland of this North American species.

  • Landscape, February 2010
    Landscape, February 2010
  • Gorse-covered dunes, May 2021
    Gorse-covered dunes, May 2021
  • Gorse burning, February 2010
    Gorse burning, February 2010
  • Exmoor ponies at Murlough, used for grazing management
    Exmoor ponies at Murlough, used for grazing management

References
  1. "Murlough National Nature Reserve". Discover Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  2. "Murlough National Nature Reserve". The Mourne Mountains. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  3. "Murlough National Nature Reserve". National Trust. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  4. Trotter, Robert (2021). "The Marquess of Downshire and the Dundrum Estate". Lecale Review. 19.
  5. "Murlough, Dundrum and Clough". GI Trail NI - discover the path the GI's took in Northern Ireland. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  6. "United States Army Forces in Northern Ireland Stations of Units". Retrieved 28 June 2022.
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