Ross Strand
Ross Strand
Welcome to Ross Strand, located along the County Mayo coastline. This popular Beach is located approximately 3miles/5km. North of Killala town.
Bird Life
Some of the more common birds that can be seen at the beach include:
- Cormorants (Broigheall)
- Shags (Seaga)
Waders:
- Snipe (Naoscach)
- Lapwing (Pilibin)
- Oysercatcher (Roilleach)
Terns:
- Common Tern (Geabhrog)
- Arctic Tern (Geabhrog Artach)
- Sandwich Tern (Geabhrog dhuscothach)
Gulls:
- Common Gull (Faoilean Ban)
- Kittiwake (Saidhbhear)
- Blackheaded Gull (Faoilean ceanndubh)
- Great Black-backed Gull (Droimneach mor)
- Lesser Black-backed Gull (Droimneach beag)
- Herring Gull (Faoilean scadan)
Area of Scientific Interest
The Moy Estuary:
Killala Bay is an extensive triangular estuary with mudflats lining the sides of the channel of the Moy river. The area offers rich feeding to wildfowl and waders, including Mallard, Shelduck, Curlew Teal, Whooper Swan, Wigeon and Golden Plover. Around Killala the saltmarshes are of botanical interest with flatsedge. Adjacent sand dunes support Whitlowgrass, a mountain plant, while the long ridge of Bartragh Island presents a good series of sand dunes. The Birds using Killala Bay occur in regionally important numbers but their numbers could be affected by any changes that affect the density of the invertebrate organisms on which they fed. Pollution by sewage or other effluent can be extremely damaging.
Esker at Killala:
Just south of Killala, the main Ballina road cuts through an Esker ridge whose Norht and North Eastern sides are thickly covered by hazel woodland. A notable feature of the wood is the ground flora which occurs in an unusual degree of diversity, especially for the west of Ireland. The herb species includes wood anemone, wood sorrel, pignut, wood sanicula, woodruff and wild strawberry which would indicate that the esker gravels have considerable lime content. The abundance of ferns and the large leafy liverwort are an indication of the western extreme of this location. Meelick Lough contains a population of the thin lipped mullet which is an introduced species to the area. Eskers are interesting glacial land forms which reach their best development in Ireland. However they are rare in Mayo and seldom covered by woodland. Eskers are always vulnerable le to excavation as they contain mostly sand and gravel.
Sand Dunes:
Sand carried inland by onshore winds is deposited in a streamline form around some obstacle. Plants then colonise these small mounds of sand. As sand deposition proceeds, their foliage crates even more deposition and the root network binds the sand into low embryo dunes. As these dunes grow in height they coalesce parallel to the shoreline. In turn they are colonised and stabilised by other establishing plants and the dunes continue to grow.
Dune Erosion:
Almost all dunes are subject to erosion, most commonly caused by ‘blowouts’. This happens when the wind gains access to the sand beneath the vegetation at the crest and rapidly erodes the surface causing a depression. As the wind is channelled into it, the depression grows until its width reduces the channelling effect of the wind, leaving low-lying rolling dune pasture called Machair. Frontal erosion occurs when the entire seaward face of the dune system is cut back by storm waves. This can be recognised by a steep slope of loose sand and slipping clumps of crestal vegetation. Human activity also has a large part to play in dune erosion. The removal of sand and shingle can leave large areas of dune open to wind erosion. Cutting dune vegetation or over-grazing the area by cattle or horses is another damaging activity. Recreation at beaches can also damage dunes. Vehicle movements can damage the turf carpet and the creation of paths through the dunes exposes bare sand where blow-outs cold occur.
Killala Town:
Killala Town occupies and important position in the long history of Ireland. The round tower in the centre of the town stands approx.. 25 metres high and dates from 1170-1230 (after the Viking invasions). The entrance to the tower is raised approximately 3 metres above ground level and was reached by a ladder that could be withdrawn into the tower in order to prevent attackers gaining entry. Usually these towers were for the protection of monks and were used as safe repositories for manuscripts and treasures of the church.
Killala has strong connections with the Irish uprising of 1798. In August of that year, General Humbert and over 1,000 troops landed at Kilcummin with arms, uniforms and ammunition to help the Irish overthrow British rule. Killala became the headquarters of the Franco-Irish force and was the centre of the shore-lived Irish Republic proclaimed by General Humbert. In October of that year, after the loss of many lives, the British defeated the French and the Irish rebels.
Further Information:
If you would like to research further information, for example, on tourist attractions or activities within this area, find some useful links below:
www.met.ie (For up to date weather forecast)
Mayo Beaches
Westport Civic Offices
Altamont Street
Westport
Co. Mayo
Phone: (098) 50400
Email: westportao@mayococo.ie
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.