The Irish government has just announced the creation of a brand new national park! Named “P’iric Nuisi’nta na Mara”, the site is located in County Kerry, on the Corca Dhuibhne peninsula. It covers more than 28,000 hectares, but is essentially a marine zone. The site thus becomes Ireland’s first marine national park!
Although the park covers mainly maritime territory, the site also extends over some 566 hectares of land. Situated not far from the mythical Conor Pass, its lands include wild and beautiful places, including lakes, mountains, and magnificent green expanses plunging towards the ocean.
The land was put on the market last August by a wealthy Irish-American landowner, Michael Noonan. They were eventually bought by the Irish state for $6 million (€5.6 million), following a massive petition signed by the local population.
The land acquired includes nearly 9 lakes, the Owenmore River, Mount Brandon, the sand dunes of Inch Beach, Skellig Michael Island and several offshore islands.
This is Ireland’s eighth national park. The latter was created to better protect Ireland’s natural heritage, with its biodiversity, fauna, flora and valuable historical sites.
Tourism developments are currently being discussed, with a view to setting up possible educational, sports and cultural facilities. This will ensure the preservation of the site, while boosting local tourism, which has already been booming for years, thanks to Killarney National Park and the famous “Ring of Kerry”.
This is excellent news, and promises future travellers new, colourful adventures, ever closer to nature!
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