Researchers Wanted

The watchwords of the Cabragh Wetlands Trust are "Conservation, Recreation, Education", core values that cement the Trust firmly at the heart of the community. Conservation speaks for itself, and with our Open Days, talks, workshops, camps and flourishing school visits, we are doing a lot to develop recreational and educational programmes. With third-level students heading back to University, it seems a good moment to raise the important issue of higher education.

The Cabragh Wetlands are a potential treasure trove for the serious student. Very little research has been carried out here, apart from some crucial work in the mid-1990's which established just how important it was to preserve the wetlands because of the rarity and diversity of species and habitats. More recently valuable work has been done on invertebrates like beetles and butterflies, but much more remains to be done. As the area has had almost no top-flight academic research, any work is almost bound to be original and ground-breaking, and hence should have a very good chance of earning high marks. Any examiner will appreciate the vibrancy of originality.

Botanists, biologists, zoologists, entomologists, hydrologists, geographers, historians, climatologists……there is something here for you. We need talented undergraduate and post-graduate students to get into the wetlands and find out just what is there, how well it is surviving, and how it can be best protected. Whether you are a student at the TI, or a native of the area who is heading to Dublin, Cork, Limerick or elsewhere to study, do bear in mind that a unique opportunity is available here in the heart of North Tipperary. We need to establish good base-line data about the flora and fauna of the Wetlands, both native and seasonal visitors, and to find out more about how the ecology of the wetlands works as a whole, from the flow and purity of the water, to the interrelationships between species in the waterways, reedbeds, watermeadows and hedgerows. There are about a dozen distinct habitats across the site, all worthy of serious study.

Any ambitious and enthusiastic student would be doing themselves a disservice if they did not consider doing their research at Cabragh, and in principle all the Trust wants in return is a copy of your research and results, and if appropriate a presentation to the committee. Bear us in mind, and pass the message on to friends and fellow students.