Part of the townland of Carrowkeel in County Sligo is within the Bricklieve Mountain and Keishcorran special area of conservation. The site encompasses an area of 1,696 hectares and is located west of Lough Arrow and about 6 km north-west of Boyle. The site is a large block of upper carboniferous limestone and contains some blanket bog.
The Bricklieve Mountain and Keishcorran special area of conservation is not one of those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation for reasons of environmental protection under the EU Habitats Directive. However, anyone wishing to cut turf on this site should apply for consent to the local office of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, which is situated in Ballinafad, County Sligo.
This is also a site of significant archaeological importance with monuments in the area which are recorded under the statutory Record of Monuments and Places and as such, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I must be notified prior to any works being carried out at these monuments. There are also a number of monuments in this area, in my guardianship. My consent is required under the National Monuments Acts, prior to any works being carried out at these monuments. My Department has no record of any prior notification of works or of any application for Ministerial consent for this site.