In July and August 2025, on behalf of Limerick City and County Council, Bat Eco Services carried out static bat surveys in Rathkeale town and surrounding areas with funding from the Heritage Council.
The focus was the lesser horseshoe bat, a species protected under Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive. This species was detected at 18 of the 64 monitoring locations, which is about 28% of the sites surveyed. Detecting lesser horseshoe bats can be challenging because of the type of echolocation calls they use. To improve accuracy, a large number of static detectors were placed across the area. The aim was to map where these bats are active, identify feeding areas, and locate possible commuting routes.
Key Findings
This was the first year of the study, and the results show how valuable static monitoring is for mapping bat distribution. The survey identified 18 new locations where lesser horseshoe bats are active around Rathkeale.
Background
Within 15 km of the survey area, there is one Special Area of Conservation (SAC) where lesser horseshoe bats are a qualifying interest: Curraghchase Woods. This is the only SAC in County Limerick designated for this species. According to Article 17 reporting (Marnell et al., 2019), the range of the lesser horseshoe bat in Ireland is shrinking and considered “Inadequate.” This highlights the importance of protecting areas where the species is found. Outside of the main summer and winter roosts monitored by Bat Conservation Ireland and NPWS, the species is likely under-recorded.
The lesser horseshoe bat is an Annex II species under the EU Habitats Directive. Its conservation status is “Least Concern,” and the national population is stable with a steady annual increase (Aughney et al., 2021). The core range in Ireland is limited to six western counties (about 5,993 km²), mainly in Kerry/west Cork and Clare/Galway. Preferred habitats include broadleaf woodland and riparian areas (Roche et al., 2014).
Conservation Status (NPWS, 2019):
- Range: Inadequate
- Population: Favourable
- Habitat: Inadequate
- Overall Status: Inadequate
- Overall Trend: Deteriorating
All other bat species recorded during the survey are Annex IV species.
