Ireland is to inaugurate a new national park in County Meath, named the Boyne Valley National Park (Brú na Bóinne). The Irish State acquired the World Heritage lands of Dowth Hall and its estate, including Netterville, to establish this new park.
Following in the footsteps of Connemara National Park and Killarney National Park, a brand-new park will be opening in Ireland in the next few months. Located in County Meath, the future site will be known as the Boyne Valley National Park (or Brú na Bóinne). This will be Ireland’s seventh park.
This project will be an opportunity for the Emerald Isle to put the spotlight on an exceptional site, already famous for its landscapes, wide-open spaces and historical remains, some dating back over 5,000 years!
Covering 223 hectares, the property is considered a site of national and international importance for its cultural and natural heritage.
Because the park will include major historical and tourist sites. Starting with the Newgrange prehistoric site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Older than the pyramids of Gyzeh or Stonehenge, the site attracts thousands of visitors every year! Other cairns nearby include Knowth and Dowth, also on the Brú na Bóinne site. Magnificent, but smaller than Newgrange, they’re also worth a visit!
But that’s not all!
The future Boyne Valley National Park will also include Dowth Hall, an 18th-century neoclassical country house, and Netterville Manor, a late-Victorian house.
Add to this a host of hiking trails and sporting activities of all kinds, and you’ll understand just how attractive this new national park is for tourists!
It’s an opportunity for Ireland to develop a new pole of attraction, both for the local economy and for tourism.
Although the purchase price was not disclosed, the property had been put up for sale for 10 million euros.
The Irish government has emphasized that these lands offer an exceptional opportunity to designate a seventh national park in Ireland. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will continue to manage the farmlands, habitats and species present, and work to protect and enhance them.
This is because, as well as being a tourist attraction, the area boasts immense biodiversity. The future park would be home to red deer, some 50 bird species and countless wild species.
A master plan for the new park will be drawn up by the NPWS, Ireland’s National Monuments Service and Ireland’s Office of Public Works.
Niall O Donnchu, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, said the new national park will be a special place where history, heritage, nature and culture meet.
The work now begins to develop a master plan that will maximize its potential for residents, visitors and future generations.
All the more reason for future travellers to come and explore Ireland and its historical and natural wonders!
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