Cnocán Bán Site

Acres: 280
Location: Maamturks

County: Galway
Purchase Date: 2023

Overview: Located within the scenic Maamturk Mountains, the Cnocán Bán site spans 280 acres across mountain peaks and river valleys. This land holds immense potential for ecological restoration and conservation. As part of the Maamturk Mountain Special Area of Conservation (SAC), it is recognized as an area of high ecological importance at the European level. The region is home to rare habitats such as blanket bog, alpine heath, Northern Atlantic wet heath, and rivers that serve as spawning grounds for the iconic Atlantic Salmon. This upland site, encompassing parts of the Glenlosh and Failmore valleys, represents a unique opportunity to restore and protect vital ecosystems in Galway.

Current Condition: Previously a hill farm, the site’s mosaic of habitats has been degraded over decades due to sheep grazing, leaving much of the land in poor condition. The landscape features open ground, small paddocks near the farmhouse, and larger stretches of overgrazed uplands typical of West Ireland. Bordered by Sitka spruce plantations and other hill farms, the site itself is composed of three land parcels. A large portion sweeps up both sides of the Glenlosh Valley, split by the fast-flowing Bealnabrack River. The northern hill is blanketed in peat, heath and acidic grassland, while the southern hill has grass and heath at its base and exposed peat and rock at the summit, with patches of Connemara marble visible. The farm is dominated by wetland vegetation, including purple moor-grass, sedges, rushes, and heather, but suffers from low biodiversity due to decades of agricultural use.

Vision: Hometree envisions transforming Cnocán Bán into a thriving reserve that balances woodland restoration with the protection of fragile peat- and heathland. Efforts will focus on introducing native tree species, improving biodiversity, and restoring existing vital habitats such as blanket bogs and wet heath, while also conserving the site’s rich river valley ecosystem. The Bealnabrack River, with its salmon and trout populations, will be carefully managed to maintain its current high ecological status. The site also offers an opportunity to demonstrate sustainable, restorative management practices that can serve as a model for over-grazed uplands across Ireland.