Welcome!

Bat Conservation Ireland (Caomhantas Ialtóg na hÉireann) is a Charity dedicated to the conservation of Ireland's bats. We promote conservation of bats by disseminating educational materials, giving talks and leading bat walks, carrying out nationwide surveys and monitoring of bats, acting as an umbrella group for the local bat groups and providing a central repository for bat records.

Latest News

Windfarm Survey Guidelines

We have developed and launched guidelines for surveying for bats at windfarm sites, or where existing windfarms are proposed for extension or modification. These guidelines can be found on the publications page of this website, click here to download a pdf of the guidelines.

Lesser Horseshoe Bat Appropriate Assessment Guidelines

We have also written guidelines for dealing with the very special and highly protected lesser horseshoe bat in the Appropriate Assessment process. These guidelines can also be found on the publications page of this website, click here to download a pdf of the guidelines.

Who are you going to call?

Bat Conservation Ireland was saddened to hear that, due to funding cuts, The National Parks and Wildlife Service is no longer running the BAT HELPLINE SERVICE for people with queries or worries about bats. Our contact details are shown below, however, and we are always happy to help with batty queries.

Landscape Conservation for Irish Bats

Bat Conservation Ireland commissioned a study by The Centre for Irish Bat Research into bat's use of the Irish landscape and we are proud to announce the final report for the study can be found on the publications page of this website, click here to download a pdf of the report In addition, you can browse through maps of bat landscape suitability on the website of the National Biodiversity Centre. Click on 'Bat Landscapes' to see the dataset.

WHITE NOSE SYNDROME

A fungal disease that has caused deaths of over 1 million bats in the U.S. has been found in a number of European countries. Bat Conservation Ireland has more information on White Nose Syndrome (click here to download pdf) and recommends that bat workers and cavers familiarise themselves with guidelines to prevent the spread of this fungus that is potentially lethal to bats.

DVD ON IRISH BATS AVAILABLE NOW

A DVD packed with information, images and film footage of Irish bats has been produced. Proceeds from the sale of this DVD will contribute to BCIreland's bat conservation work. For more information on the DVD and instructions how to buy it please click here.

Contact details

Bat Conservation Ireland's address and telephone number are: Ulex House, Drumheel, Lisduff, Virginia, Co. Cavan. Tel: 086 4049468