Islands of Ireland: Seen and heard on Rossdohan

An island where New Zealand gum trees, giant ferns and sequoia exist side by side

A mansion was built on Rossdohan Island, Co Kerry, in 1875, but destroyed by fire in 1922, during the Civil War. The ruins above are of a later house. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

THIS is an extraordinary island, where New Zealand gum trees, giant ferns, and sequoia exist side by side. You could be forgiven for thinking a tribe of hunter-gatherers, or even King Kong might emerge into an exotic glade in front of you. Where other woods, at this time of year, are carpeted with bluebells, Rossdohan's woods opt for scatterings of purple loosestrife.

The sylvan circumstances play havoc with your sense of scale. One tree has a girth of over 5m; that is about three times the height of the average person. Most of the trees disappear into the heavens in various dimensions, with plentiful new growth to replenish the species. While there are no macaques or quetzals reposing among the branches, a species of mosquito has been identified there, drawn by the hot, damp micro-climate. Other alien insects have also been recorded. Was this a template for a JG Ballard novel with sub-tropical scenarios and  Second World War aircraft ditched in the jungle? You might have to be convinced that it isn't.