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About Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park is a unique and special place. It was
Ireland's first National Park and came into being in 1932 when
the Muckross Estate (the core of the present day National Park)
was
presented
to the Nation by Senator Arthur
Vincent and his parents-in-law Mr. and Mrs. William Bowers
Bourn, in memory of his late wife Maud.
Situated in south-west Ireland, close to the most
westerly point in Europe, the National Park covers over 25,000 acres
(10,000 hectares) of mountain, moorland, woodland, waterways, parks
and gardens. A major geological boundary occurs within the Park,
and this, in combination with the climatic influence of the gulf
stream and the wide range of altitudes in the Park, gives rise to
an unusual and varied ecology.
The mountainous old red sandstone uplands
support large areas of blanket bog, and the remoteness and relative
inaccessibility of some of these areas aids the continued survival
of Ireland's only remaining wild herd of native Red
Deer. In addition to this, the largest area of old-growth
Oakwoods left in the country
can be found on some of the lower mountain slopes, a remnant of
the woodland that once covered much of Ireland.
The lowland limestone areas of the National Park also
boast some rare habitats, notably a large stand of pure Yew
woodland at Reenadinna on the Muckross Peninsula, which is thought
to be one of only three pure Yew woods in Europe. Other significant
woodlands include several large areas of swamp woodland (carr) on
the shores of Lough Leane, which provide an important refuge for
wildlife.
Central to Killarney National Park however are its three
lakes, all inter-linked but
quite different in their respective characters. The lakes support
a large population of Brown Trout, as well as an annual run of Salmon,
and sport angling has been a popular pastime for generations in
Killarney. Noteworthy fish species include the Arctic Char and Killarney
Shad.
In addition to all the mammal and fish life one would
expect in an area such as this, the Park boasts a wealth of bird
life, including migrant Greenland White-fronted Geese, which
spend the winter months on some of the bogs in the area. Several
unusual invertebrate species are also to be found in the Killarney
valley, such as the Northern Emerald Dragonfly, which is found nowhere
else in the country. Noteworthy
plant species include the Strawberry Tree and the insectivorous
Greater Butterwort.
Human history has also left its mark in the Killarney
area, and the well preserved remains of Inisfallen
Abbey, a monastic settlement which was founded in the 7th century
and inhabited until the 14th century, still stand on an island in
Lough Leane (meaning 'Lake of Learning'). Muckross
Abbey (founded in about 1448) is also still standing, the central
feature of which is a vaulted cloister around a courtyard which
contains a huge Yew tree, traditionally said to be as old as the
abbey itself. Muckross House,
the ancestral home of the Herbert family, is at the core of the
National Park, and is open to visitors all year round. In the same
area is the Muckross Traditional
Farming Project, a re-creation of rural Ireland prior to electrification.
An
additional human influence on the area is that of several past introductions
of exotic species that have impacted on the natural ecosystems of
Killarney. The most notable of these introduced species are Common
Rhododendron which has infested
large areas of the National Park, and Sika Deer which overgraze
the woodland floor and pose a potential threat to the genetic integrity
of the native Red Deer. Both Rhododendron and Sika Deer can have
an adverse effect on the native flora by inhibiting regeneration.
A more recent (and accidental) introduction is that of the American
Mink, which is now firmly established in the Park alongside the
native Otter. Extinctions inflicted by humans include that of the
Wolf and the Golden Eagle, which was relatively common even up until
the latter half of the last century.
Killarney National Park faces many
conservation and management challenges, including its proximity
to a major tourist town. Killarney is one of Ireland's best known tourist
destinations, and it caters for hundreds of thousands of visitors
each year, most of whom spend at least a part of their stay within
the National Park.
Careful management is needed to ensure that there
is minimal conflict between the joint objectives of conservation
and recreation. Dúchas,
The Heritage Service, is the body responsible for the administration
and management of National Parks in Ireland. Park
Rangers are employed to facilitate the day to day running of
the Park, to monitor the flora, fauna and habitats within the National
Park, and to undertake projects which will assist the survival of
so much wild nature. In recognition of the status of Killarney National
Park, it was designated in 1981 by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve,
part of a global network of natural areas with conservation, research,
education and training as their major objectives.
Killarney
National Park Education Centre was established to fulfill an
educational role within the National Park and as such it caters
for a wide variety of groups and individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
Its ethos is not to put forward a message of conservation as such
but rather to allow people to experience some of the natural aspects
of the park and conduct scientific studies where appropriate. By
presenting information and providing experiences in such a way it
is hoped that individuals will be made more aware of their natural
environment and will be encouraged to make up their own minds about
environmental and conservation issues. Hostel
and camping accommodation is available for groups visiting the
National Park for educational purposes and field activities.
Home
Killarney National Park
Introduction ~
Photo Gallery ~
What's Happening? ~
History ~
Noteworthy Species ~
Bird life ~
Red Deer ~
Lakes ~
Muckross House ~
Oakwoods ~
Yew Wood ~
Park Rangers ~
Rhododendron ~
Cultural Heritage ~
Visiting the Park ~
Killarney Town
Killarney National Park Education
Centre
Introduction ~
Recent Visits ~
Staff ~
Primary Schools ~
Post-primary Schools ~
Third Level Groups ~
Tour Groups ~
Youth Groups ~
Accommodation ~
Cappanalea
Other Irish National Parks
Burren
~ Connemara
~ Glenveagh
~ Mayo ~ Wicklow
Mountains
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