On Earth Day, Ireland Announces its First Marine National Park in County Kerry

-

Conor Pass, County Kerry

 

(April 22, 2024) Ireland announced today that it is creating Ireland’s first Marine National Park - Páírc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí -  in County Kerry, as part of the country's 2024 Earth Day celebrations.

The Pairc includes the Conor Pass, as well as new sites at Inch Peninsula, Mount Brandon and the Owenmore River in Co. Kerry, and is enriched by the inclusion of nature and heritage places managed by OPW, Commissioner for Irish Lights and BirdWatch Ireland. It will be dedicated to the protection and restoration of its internationally significant biodiversity and archaeological heritage.  See the video here.


 

According to a press release issued today:

The new Páirc, which is centred around Corca Dhuibhne in Co. Kerry, will unite some of Europe’s most ecologically valuable places in celebration of nature across 70,000 acres of lands and seas.

It brings together new acquisitions by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, such as the Conor Pass, the Owenmore River catchment, lands at Mount Brandon and the sand dune system at Inch Peninsula, along with sites already under State ownership, such as the limestone reefs of Kerry Head Shoals and the waters around the Blasket Islands.

The announcement was made by Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD  and Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Kieran O’Donnell TD.


Here is a list of sites in the new park:


• Conor Pass (Newly acquired lands) 

• Owenmore River Catchment (Newly acquired lands)

• Mount Brandon (Newly acquired lands)

• Inch Peninsula (Newly acquired lands)

• Derrynane House, Historic Park and Beach (Managed by OPW)

Islands:

• Sceilig Michíl (Managed by OPW)

• Little Skellig (Managed by BirdWatch Ireland)

• Puffin Island (Managed by BirdWatch Ireland)

• Land on Great Blasket Island (Managed by the OPW)

• An Tiaracht Nature Reserve (Managed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights)

• Valentia Tetrapod Trackway

Seas:

• Waters around the Blasket Islands

• Kerry Head Shoals

Status of Lands

The Páirc brings together a suite of sites that have long been recognised and designated individually for their biodiversity and heritage value, and recognises their collective value for the first time. All lands within the National Park are in State ownership and all are already designated in their own right under European Law, or as statutory Nature Reserves. This means that there will be no additional regulatory burden or restriction on activities resulting from the creation of the Páirc.


For full details about visiting Ireland, go to ireland.com/en-us/.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

General Edward L. Logan, Namesake of Boston's Logan International Airport

-
Image
General Edward L. Logan (1875-1939), namesake of Boston’s Logan International Airport , died on July 6 1939 from a sudden 'heart ailment.'  His brother, Reverend Leo J. Logan, presided over the funeral mass at the Gate of Heaven Church in South Boston, with tributes by leading politicians like Senator David I. Walsh , former Massachusetts Governor and Boston Mayor James M. Curley and former Mayor John F. Fitzgerald .  Logan is buried at the Calvary Cemetery in West Roxbury.  A first generation Irish-American, military leader, civic leader and municipal judge with family roots in Galway and South Boston,  Edward was the oldest of nine children of Lawrence and Catherine (O’Connor), according to Michael Cummings of Milton, an expert on the Logan Family. Edward’s father Lawrence immigrated to Boston from Ballygar, County Galway, in 1858, and became a successful businessman at a young age when he became president of the Boston Brewing Company in South Boston.  The family resided a
Read more

Damian McGinty, former Celtic Thunder Star, Performs in Hartford and Providence this Fall

-
Image
Damian McGinty , the young singing star from Derry, Northern Ireland who performed with Celtic Thunder , is returning to New England in October as part of a national tour with  Ethan Bortnick . They will be performing in Hartford, CT on October 5, followed by two shows in Providence, RI on October 12, 2014. Find details here. McGinty was part of the original Celtic Thunder ensemble for several years, and left the band in 2012 when he won a coveted spot on the television show Glee .  Since then he has embarked on a solo career that has taken him around the world.  In 2013 McGinty was Cultural Ambassador for his home city of Derry, Northern Ireland . Find year round details on Celtic and Irish cultural activities at IrishMassachusetts.com .
Read more

Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Boston Irish Famine Memorial on June 28, 2023

-
Image
On Wednesday, June 28, the Irish community from greater Boston is gathering alongside public officials, businesses and immigrant organizations to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Boston Famine Memorial. The event, which is free and open to the public, runs from 11 a.m. to Noon and features reflections from local leaders as well as traditional Irish music and a blessing of the memorial park and of those gathered.  Please check back for updated information  in the coming days  Thank you.
Read more