Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support Deputy Aindrias Moynihan. The Gearagh is a magical place. While it is only up the road from Clonakilty, it takes me about an hour to get there. I was lucky enough to see the penduline tits there. What is a penduline tit says you? The first penduline tit ever recorded in Ireland landed in the Gearagh last year. An incredibly rare Eurasian bittern was also found there. The Deputy is right; the Gearagh is a Mecca for rare migrating birds and a perfect habitat for them. When the water is at a certain level it creates a lovely shore which attracts thousands of wading birds during the winter months in particular. There are also marshy areas, lagoons and reed beds and it is perfectly designed because it an old road with a few humpback bridges runs right through the middle of it. The Gearagh is perfectly designed for visitors to visit and view wildlife and to become a national park and nature reserve. I fully support Deputy Moynihan's call.

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