THE KILLARNEY NATIONAL PARK
South and west of the town of Killarney are the world famous Lakes of
Killarney. Killarney National Park, 10,236 hectares in extent, comprises the
mountains and woodlands surrounding the Lakes as well as the three Lakes
themselves. The Park includes the peaks of Mangerton, Torc, Shehy and the
Purple mountains while just to the west of the Park rises MacGillycuddys Reeks,
the highest mountain range in Ireland.
The nucleus of the National Park is the 4,000 hectare Bourn Vincent Memorial
Park, formerly known as the Muckross Estate, which was presented to the State
in 1932 by Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Bourn and their son-in-law Senator Arthur Vincent
to be Ireland's first National Park. In recent years, lands and waters of
the former Kenmare Estate have been added, including Knockreer, Ross Island and
Innisfallen.
In 1981, the Park was designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, part of a
world network of natural areas which have conservation, research, education and
training as major objectives.
History
Human occupation of the Killarney area dates back to at least the bronze Age, when copper was first mined at Ross Island, almost 4,000 years ago.
In early Christian times, monastic settlements provided the main evidence of
the occupation of the area. The most important of these was the monastery on
Innisfallen founded by St. Finian the Leper. The "Annals of
Innisfallen", written there in the 11th-l3th centuries, are a major source
of information on the early history of Ireland.
Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the displaced Gaelic chieftains,
McCarthy Mor and the O'Donoghue of Ross, held the lands around the Lakes.
Later the lands came into the hands of the Herberts of Muckross and the Earls
of Kenmare respectively. In 1911, the Muckross Estate was purchased by Mr. W.
B. Bourn as a wedding gift for his daughter, Maud.
Docent.
Donal McCarthy Mor founded Muckross Abbey, a Franciscan Friary, in
1448.These well-preserved ruins were the burial place of local Chieftains and,
in the 17th and 18th
centuries, of the Kerry Poets, O'Donoghue, O'Rathaille and
O'Suillehhain.
Muckross Demesme
The most familiar part of the National Park is the Muckross Demesne, of
which the focal point is Muckross House. The House, built in 1843, is now
jointly managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Trustees of
Muckross House (Killarney) Ltd. as a major centre for visitors.
The House, to which there is an admission charge, is presented primarily as
a late 19th century mansion. In the former stables of the House is a restaurant
and craft shop.
Muckross Gardens, are renowned for their fine collection of rhododendron
species and hybrids and azaleas. There is an extensive water-garden and a
rock-garden on a natural limestone outcrop. Many tender and exotic trees
flourish in the mild climate and sheltered location around the large expanse of
informal lawn and in the Arboretum.
Wildlife
A pedigree herd of Kerry cattle, once the dominant breed in Ireland, graze
the demesne grasslands. The only native herd of Red! Deer remaining in the
Ireland roam the upland areas of the Killarney National Park, especially on the slopes of
Torc and Mangerton,. Now numbering over 850, this herd has had a continuous
existence since the return of Red Deer into Ireland at the end of the last Ice
Age, 10,000 years ago. Japanese Sika Deer, introduced to Killarney in 1865,
are found not only on the open mountain hut also throughout the woodlands. Most
of the other native mammals, as well as the long established introduced
species, occur in the Park. Worthy of note is the Bank Vole, a species first
identified in 1964 in north west Kerry. From there its range has expanded and
now includes the National Park.
With the varied habitats of mountain moorland, woodland and lake, the Park
is rich in bird species. On the uplands, the most common birds are the Meadow
Pipit, Stonechat and Raven. Peregrine Falcons and Merlins are occasionally seen
as is the Red Grouse. The woodlands support characteristic bird communities
with the Chaffinch and Robin as the most common breeders. The aquatic habitats
are home for Heron, Mallard, Little Grebe and Water Rail which all breed around
the Lakes while the Kingfisher and the Dipper are frequently seen on the rivers
and streams. In both winter and summer native bird populations are augmented by
migrant species. In winter for example, a small flock of around 40 Greenland
White fronted Geese from the world population of around 12,000 feed in the
Killarney Valley.
Natural stocks of Brown Trout and Salmon inhabit the lakes, and fishing for
these is free, subject only to the usual Salmon licence regulations. The lakes
also contain populations of Charr, usually a fish of Sub-Arctic lakes and of
Killarney Shad, a small lake dwelling form of Twaite Shad.
Vegetation
Within the National Park are the most extensive areas of natural woodland remaining in the country. On the Old Red Sandstone of which the mountains are composed, are the native oak woods, dominated by the Sessile Oak with Holly and other evergreens as the under-storey. On the low-lying Carboniferous Limestone, swamp forest on the lake edges is dominated by Alder, while on the limestone reefs of the Muckross Peninsula is a unique Yew Wood.
The mild oceanic climate permits a luxuriant growth of mosses and filmy ferns, many of them growing as epiphytes on the branches and trunks of the trees. In the uplands, the Park contains interesting areas of bog and moorland vegetation.
Some of the characteristic plants of this region are those which are found otherwise only in Southern and South-Western Europe. Examples of these are the Greater Butterwort, St. Patrick's Cabbage and Arbutus.
Knockreer Estate
Knockreer Estate, the closest part of the National Park to the town of
Killarney, is the northern portion of the former demesne lands of the Earls of
Kenmare. There are several pleasant walks through pasture and woodlland and
along the shores of Lough Leane. Knockreer House, and its surrounding gardens
command fine views of Lough Leane and the Mountains beyond.
Vistitor Facilties
The Killarney National Park Visitor Centre at Muckross House is the main
Information Office and is open on a year round basis. It includes an
audiovisual introduction to the Park and exhibition area. A Park Information
Office is open during the Summer (July -September) at Torc Waterfall.
Publications on sale at these offices include booklets for the self-guiding
nature trails, an illustrated guide book and large scale Ordnance Survey map of
the Park.
Seeing the Park
Jaunting Cars:- A traditional feature of Killarney,
Jaunting cars are available for hire at locations adjoining the National Park.
Most Jaunting car routes pass through the Park.
Motor Cars:- Cars may enter Muckross Demesne by the
Muckross House gate, 5km from Killarney, the opening hours of which are
displayed at the gate.
Bicycles:- These can be hired in Killarney and are a
convenient form of transport particularly in the demesne areas of the
Park.
Pedestrians:- The outlying areas are suitable for
hill-walking but visitors are urged not to venture alone into remote areas. As
well as Nature Trails, there are also many developed paths.
For further information please contact the Park Superintendent, Killarney
National Park, Muckross, Killarney.
Tel.No.064 31440. Fax No.064 33926.
Please mention Kerry Insight if you contact the Park Superintendent
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