Harbour to Headwaters
Annamoe
Ecology Notes
Nutrient enrichment of our rivers from high concentrations of Nitrate and Phosphate can cause eutrophication of waterbodies and causes excessive growth of plants and algae.
This can cause displacement of our natural flora and fauna and result in oxygen depletion in waters. This negatively impacts on native species such as Salmon and Trout.
Heritage Information
Annamoe, from the Irish ‘Ath-na-MBó’, meaning the ‘Ford of the Cow’, was the headquarters of the O’Toole clan who ruled the region from Castlekevin in the 13th century.
By the 19th century, it was owned by the Barton family, the most famous of which was Robert Barton who, despite his privileged background, joined the republican movement prior to the War of Independence (1919-1921), and became an MP for West Wicklow.
Feature Creature: Kingfisher
Kingfishers eat fish, minnows, and sticklebacks, but they also prey on aquatic insects, freshwater shrimp, and tadpoles. The Kingfisher is easily recognisable by its distinctive orange and blue plumage. It nests and breeds in small tunnels, dug in vertical banks along streams and rivers.