Birdie

Birdie and friends are having a Staycation over the next 3 weeks, and we hope that when we come back at the end of August, we'll be seeing a lot more things getting up and running again, not least of all the schools. It's been a long time since 12th March!

Very enjoyable walks in Lucan Demesne and St. Catherines these days. Looking at the young Oaks planted just a few years back, its hard to believe that they can live for up to 1,000 years! They reach adulthood at 700 years!

Then there's the wild flowers - Thistle, Meadowsweet, Bindweed, and Ragworth are just four - there are plenty of the beautiful blooms all over the place.

Illegal dumping continues around Lucan ....

It was somewhat disconcerting to find the items in the above picture dumped in the Demesne! Surely things are not that bad that Santa won’t need his outfit anymore.
Just wondering, if Santa is about, will he have a face mask!

Much of nature seems to be a month earlier than ususal. Have you noticed the brown leaves on the Chestnut Trees, and conkers falling already. There are plenty of Blackberries around, and I don't mean the phones!!!
Between Blackberries and Apples these days!

Esker Cemetery - Great job on the grass cutting in this huge area. By the time the workers get to the end, it must be time to start all over again.

Heritage Week runs from 15th to 23rd August. Keep an eye out for local events. Society for Old Lucan (SOL), are planning tours of St. Finian's on 23rd, details on Facebook 'Society for Old Lucan (SOL)' & Twitter: @Soc4OldLucan. Email OldLucan@gmail.com

A big 'Bualadh Bos'

The Comma Butterfly

For anyone with an interest in wildlife or nature now is the time to be on the lookout for a butterfly that has only started to colonize Ireland in about the last ten years. It is known as the comma butterfly. It gets its name from the small white comma on the under wing that can be seen when it has its wings in the closed position.

On a bright sunny day if you are lucky, you might see one with wings outstretched on brambles or nettles absorbing the rays of heat. In which case you will notice that it looks quite similar to our more common small tortoiseshell butterfly. However given good views you will notice that the wings of the comma are scalloped in appearance unlike the small tortoiseshell or any other Irish butterfly.

Note the white 'comma' on the underwing, from which it gets its name.

In the last ten years they have gradually been moving north from County Wexford where they initially started to breed and this year in particular they seem to be appearing throughout County Dublin in many different location. In fact they have been seen in Lucan this July. They are generally found along woodland edges and old hedgerows which have plenty of brambles and nettles and July and August are a good time to see one.

Sean Geraty