Galway Bay offers habitat to common seals and otters, and is an important ornithological site for seabirds, waders and waterfowl.

There are areas of fen dominated by great fen-sedge and black bog-rush, with common reed, purple moor-grass, bogbean and long-stalked yellow-sedge.

[1] The orchid-rich grassland occurs on the flanks of some low drumlin hills to the west of Galway City.

The plants here are calcium-loving species including kidney vetch, harebell, spring gentian, yellow-wort, greater knapweed, common spotted-orchid, lesser twayblade, pyramidal orchid and some scrubby juniper.

Have you ever seen the seagulls a-flying o'er the Heather or the crimson sails on Galway Bay the fishermen unfurl?