Owenriff river, Oughterard
Owenriff river, Oughterard
Site Details
- Location
- Owenriff river, Oughterard
- Grid reference
- 53.4265993, -9.3299618
- Fossil Name
- Brachiopods
- Fossil Type
- Marine animals (shells, invertebrate animals – without backbones)
- Fossil Age
- Carboniferous
- Rock Type
- Limestone
- Access Info
- The fossils are located at the west end of Oughterard. Follow the Heritage Trail to St Michael’s Well where there is a convenient parking area. At the end of the parking area closest to Oughterard village centre, there is a short, narrow and steep staircase leading to the river. Below the stairs along the embankment, there is an outcrop of dark grey limestone. Immediately opposite St Michael’s well, brachiopods can also be found in the rough limestone wall running along the footpath. There is a further brachiopod bearing outcrop in the riverbed at the next stop along the Heritage Walk, a small park named The Shrubbery.
- Fossil Info
- The brachiopods found are easily identified as white 'smiley-face' shapes in the dark grey limestone in the riverbed.
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