Cleggan Tidy Towns

27/09/2026

UPDATE ON MANX SHEARWATER GROUNDINGS

This autumn we are seeing an unusually large number of grounded Manx Shearwaters ('Manxies') in the greater Cleggan-Claddaghduff area. In the past two weeks alone, we have recorded the rescue of 19 Manxies and at least 6 known cases of grounded birds that were run over before they were found. The actual number of grounded Manxies that were run over or killed by cats or dogs is almost certainly much higher.

For background on how to identify these beautiful birds, why they are grounding here, and the basics of how to respond, see the previously posted "Manx Shearwater Alert".

Just to highlight and clarify a couple of key points regarding rescue procedure:

Collection
• If you find a grounded, apparently uninjured Manxie and you feel comfortable with collecting it, then: Wearing gloves, place your hands around its wings and body so that it can’t flap and hurt itself, pick it up (usually fairly easy), put it in a well-ventilated cardboard box and secure the lid, and keep it in a quiet, preferably dark room until releasing it (within 24 hrs max).
• Do NOT try to give it any food or water. It won't take any and will be fine without any for its short time in your care. Putting food and water in the box will only make a mess and soil the bird's plumage.
• After any handling, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.

Release
• If possible, do NOT release your rescued Manxie from Cleggan Pier, or Cleggan Beach, or Aughrus Pier. This is because at these locations, in the daytime the little Manxies are very vulnerable to being gobbled up by marauding gulls; at night they're susceptible to being again disoriented by the same lights that disoriented them to begin with and simply re-grounding; and whatever the time of day it is by no means a straight shot from these areas out to the open-sea southwestward heading these birds need.
• Rescued Manxies have the best chance of actually getting back on course to where they need to be headed (the South Atlantic!) if released from a sea cliff on the outer coast. However, such locations can be extremely hazardous. Children should never be allowed to participate in such a release. And unless you are truly experienced with the procedure, we strongly urge you to contact our Manxie Response Coordinator, Claude (text 083 826 8158) for assistance.

Reporting
We are trying to log and map all Manxie groundings in the area. You can greatly help by notifying us about *any* Manxie you find. Please text this information to Claude, at 083 826 8158, including location, time, and the bird's status (dead; alive but not captured; alive & captured).

Many thanks to everyone already helping to give the grounded Manxies a second chance. We do need more boots on the ground to find the birds before they are killed. Please let us know if you'd like to join the effort!

28/07/2026

The Cleggan flowerbed is looking particularly beautiful now. Many of the plants were originally planted by the late Elisabeth Cully. Huge thanks to all the Garden Ladies for their continued efforts in maintaining the flowerbed.

Moya McCambridge, who recently visited from Scotland, took these fantastic photos for us. We hope you enjoy them.

If anyone interested in gardening can spare an hour occasionally to help maintain the flowerbeds, we’d love to hear from you!

11/07/2026

After over 60 years the lamp is back on Cleggan Pier!

Up until the early 1960’s Cleggan Pier had a Victorian oil lamp which provided the only lighting on the pier, prior to electrification. The original lamp was badly damaged in a severe storm and subsequently lost.

Cleggan Tidy Towns located a lamp exactly same as the original. It was previously located in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin but removed as it was in poor condition. However, local Cleggan experts restored it, fitted a solar light and put it back on the pier in its original location.

The project would not have been possible without the help of James Flanagan, the Lamplighter of Phoenix Park who found the lamp for us. Tommy and Terry led the restoration with help from Ben, Darren and John. Cathal gave practical advice on securing it. We are very grateful for this local support. Thanks also to Galway County Council who funded the restoration with a heritage grant.

Take a walk down the Pier and see your new lamp in situ.

08/05/2026

For anyone interested in bats, ecology and conservation

05/05/2026

This time of year again…
Please help us by cutting the seed heads of any gunnera in your locality and prevent further spread of this invasive plant. Thank you.

STOP GUNNERA SPREADING

Now is the time to remove seed heads to prevent the planting spreading and re-seeding itself.
In the last few years many local residents have participated in this campaign and we have made great progress in some areas.
To maintain this, we need to repeat the removal of seed heads every spring, otherwise the gunnera spreads back into areas previously cleared. Cleggan Tidy Towns thanks everyone who helps with this.

Advice from Galway County Council is below.

· Cut the seed heads when small – ideally when no taller than 10cm/4”-- as they are then less likely to be viable and will be easier to handle.
· Seal the cut heads in a strong plastic bag. Let the seed heads rot down in the bag on your site. This will take several months or more.
· Very small plants can be dug out if the entire root can be removed. Place in same bag as seed heads. Do NOT try to dig out mature plants, as this can cause further spread.

For more information check out:
https://biodiversity.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/invasive-species/gunnera

02/05/2026

This is a great opportunity to pick up flowers and vegetables for your garden.

30/03/2026

New safety signs

Thanks to James at GCC for giving our Gardening Ladies two new safety signs. Sadly our previous sign was run over by a speeding truck!

The Gardening Ladies are always looking for helpers. Everyone is welcome - you do not need to be an expert or to even have gardening tools. Come and join us.

Thanks
Cleggan Tidy Towns