First marine national park makes waves
THE Government has announced its first Marine National Park, covering 70,000 acres of land and sea — including Conor Pass and world-famous Sceilg Mhichíl, which featured in two Star Wars films.
Pairc Naisiunta na Mara, Ciarrai, aims to protect and restore internationally significant biodiversity and archaeological heritage.
It will be the State’s eighth-largest national park and brings together new acquisitions by the National
Parks and Wildlife Service such as 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 waters around the Blasket Islands.
The region’s forests, uplands, heaths, blanket bogs, rivers, sand dunes and reef systems are hugely significant in terms of biodiversity.
They are home to a range of species, including puffins, peregrine falcons, storm petrels, gannets and razorbills; marine animals like whales, basking sharks and dolphins and other wildlife including otters, mountain hares, badgers and the country’s only native toad, the natterjack.
It brings some of the wildest land and seascapes in the country together in celebration of nature MALCOLM NOONAN TD AT LAUNCH
LAUNCH
But its cultural and archaeological value is also immense as it includes UNESCO World Heritage property Sceilg Mhichíl, while the seas surrounding it are the last resting place of many historic wrecks, including the Spanish Armada vessel Santa Maria de la Rosa, which was lost off Blasket Sound in 1588.
Nature Minister Malcolm Noonan told RTE’S Morning Ireland yesterday the State paid €6million for Conor Pass, which went on the market at €10million.
The new Marine National Park was announced by Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’brien and Minister of State for the Office of Public Works Kieran O’donnell.
Speaking at the launch in An Daingean, Minister Noonan said: “With the iconic
Conor Pass as the gateway, Ireland’s first Marine National Park brings mountains, blanket bog, heaths, rivers, coastal dunes, limestone reefs, sea cliffs and some of the wildest land and seascapes in the country together in celebration of nature.
“Alongside its seven sister parks, Pairc Naisiunta na Mara, Ciarrai will be a flagship for the protection and restoration of these incredible places and the globally important array of wildlife that they are home to. The Pairc will also honour the island and coastal communities who live alongside it by ensuring that their unique tapestry of cultural and natural heritage is central to the future story of this special place.”
Minister O’brien said bringing the Conor Pass and the lands at Inch into public ownership was a key commitment in the Programme for Government and yesterday’s announcement delivers that.
He added: “It has been many years in gestation and made possible through the Government’s renewed support of National Parks and Wildlife Service in recent years.”
Minister O’donnell, who oversees the OPW, said they will continue to manage the site.
He added: “Sceilg Mhichíl is one of only two UNESCO World Heritage Properties in Ireland and the most spectacularly situated of all early medieval island monastic sites.
“Together with An Blascaod Mor and Derrynane House Historic Park and Beach, the three sites combine to bring an epochal spirituality and sense of our cultural history into a Pairc of immense environmental and cultural significance.”
Minister for Education and local TD Norma Foley said she is delighted “the astounding beauty of my home county and her pristine seas has been recognised” by the creation of a second National Park in Kerry.
“This will be an incredible amenity,” she said. “It is a transformative moment for west Kerry and the entire county, allowing us to showcase the very best of our natural environment locally, nationally and internationally.”
Niall O Donnchu, director general of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, said the new park celebrates heritage in all its forms and they look forward to working with partners OPW, National Monuments Service, Commissioners for Irish Lights, Birdwatch Ireland, Kerry County Council and the local communities “to realise a truly world-class National Park”.