Goats return to Howth Head to help reduce fire risk to homes

A ground-breaking conservation grazing project with Old Irish Goats in the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere Reserve at Howth was recently launched.

The scheme, set to run for the next 3 years, is a partnership project between Fingal County Council and the Old Irish Goat Society with support from the Howth SAAO.

A group of 25 Old Irish Goats, originating from the national herd in Mulranny, Co Mayo arrived in their new home on Howth Head last week as the first phase of the project got underway.

The project will utilise traditional methods of management, a goat herder and sheepdogs.

It will also trial, for the first time in Ireland, the Norwegian “No-fence” system which employs GPS tracking to define fenceless grazing areas.

The Old Irish Goat Society has hired a herder, Melissa Jeuken, to manage the grazing project on Howth.

Melissa says the goat herd’s presence won’t affect visitors to the popular beauty spot.

“We are reminding the public to keep their dog on a lead and ask you to please not to feed the goats if you encounter them,” she said.

“You can and should keep visiting this incredible place and enjoying the walking routes and scenery that Howth has to offer.”

Seán Carolan, of the Old Irish Goat Society said: “The herder will manage the goat herd on Howth, move the goats on a daily basis from site to site and look after the breeding programme”.

This critically endangered, native breed of goat makes its return to the heathlands of Howth Head, after a hiatus of nearly a century.

These goats will play an important role in managing growth to reduce fire risk to homes, while also enhancing the biodiversity of the priority heathland habitats.

The Old Irish goat has the ability to control the accumulation of gorse, especially after fires and due to their grazing behaviour and efficient digestive systems, adapt to feeding on harsher environments with low nutritive quality heathlands.

They effectively offer a more economical and sustainable solution to managing the landscape.

The project is seeking to re-establish the traditional grazing role of the goat by reinstating the indigenous breed to the heathlands overlooking Dublin City.

A breeding programme is being run by the Old Irish Goat society to conserve the breed and

Fingal County Council will work in partnership with the society to continue this very important endeavour.

Up until the 1940s, Howth Head was traditionally grazed by livestock and goats in particular.

However, with the decline of traditional grazing, wildfires became more frequent, Gorse and Bracken growth expanded and the diversity and quality of the heathland declined.

“There is a clear link between the disappearance of livestock and the decline of the heathland on Howth” said Hans Visser, Biodiversity Officer with Fingal County Council.

“By reinstating grazing with goats, we intend to restore the heathland and reduce the wildfire risk on Howth.”

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Séana Ó Rodaigh and the Cathaoirleach of Mayo, Councillor Michael Smyth were present to witness the momentous occasion.

“This is a truly unique project,” Mayor Ó Rodaigh said.

“Fingal County Council has proposed a natural, sustainable solution to reducing wildfire risk that also benefits the animals themselves who belong in this beautiful habitat.”