Derryvree’s sealed wetland complicates any single image of Ice-Age Ireland. Its freshwater plants indicate a locally productive, largely treeless tundra during an interval framed by glacial activity, while Castlepook’s animal remains reveal diversity without proving that all species shared one place or moment. This contrast suggests that regional conditions, preservation and dating methods strongly shape what can be inferred about past landscapes. The tentative cut-marked reindeer bone adds another layer: possible human visitation need not imply settlement. How should researchers combine wetland, cave, glacial and taphonomic evidence to build nuanced picture of Ireland’s environments, potential human access during MIS 3?