Our beautiful Lessser Horseshoe Bat sculpture will be migrating from North Kerry to South Kerry this week, making the trek from Tralee Library to Killarney Library. The sculpture has been roosting in Tralee since September, spending Halloween and a jolly Christmas in the County Town. The sculpture, affectionately known as Helen, will move to the transition zone of our Biosphere, adjacent to the National Park and the woodlands that support this species. Although the Lesser Horseshoe Bat is particularly sensitive to light (photophobic), we're confident that Helen will be tolerant of the bright lights of Killarney.
The move to Killarney is poignant, not just because of its occurrence in our Biosphere, but also due to the woodlands of Killarney being a stronghold for the species. The Lesser Horseshoe Bat are dependent on our native woodlands for roosting and foraging and is a species synonymous with native woodlands, but only west of the Shannon. In fact, this species occurs in just six counties west of the Shannon, from Cork to Sligo. We are very grateful to our funders in Creative Ireland and Kerry County Council Arts for enabling us to commission sculptor Majorie Cunningham to sculpt this impressive piece. We are also thankful to the Kerry libraries, in particular Tralee, for hosting Helen. Onward to Killarney!!
