Donal Hickey: A little bit of the Caribbean in Killarney

Tiny rare fern likely made its way to Kerry via the Jet Stream

The discovery of a rare, tropical fern in Killarney National Park has sparked significant excitement. Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan

The discovery of a rare, tropical fern in Killarney National Park is being celebrated by plant lovers and scientists as being of conservation significance, but should people be that surprised?

After all, we’ve long been hearing how plants from hotter climes thrive in the temperate, moist climate of south-west Ireland and the warming effects of the Gulf Stream.