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National Parks

Glenveagh National Park

Glenveagh National Park

 

The general principles under which National Parks were designated and managed were set out by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1969. National Parks are areas that are set aside to preserve, promote and enhance natural heritage. National Parks are assets of great ecological, social, educational, recreational and aesthetic value which are accessible to the public and their appreciation and enjoyment are encouraged. With an area of 16,958 hectares, Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal, is the second largest of the six National Parks in Ireland. For more information, see www.npws.ie  

 

National Parks

National Park       

Region             

Area 

(hectares)

Land Types                  

Ballycroy         

County Mayo

11,000

Atlantic blanket bog,  mountainous terrain

Boyne Valley (under development)

County Meath

223

UNESCO World Heritage site containing the Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth megalithic passage tombs.

Burren

County Clare

1500

Limestone pavement, calcareous grassland

Connemara

County Galway

2,957

Atlantic blanket bog,  mountain and wooden terrain

Glenveagh

County Donegal

16,958

Rugged mountain, blanket bog, pristine lakes

Killarney

County Kerry

10,236

Mountain, lakes and wooden terrain

Wicklow

Mountains

County Wicklow

20,483

Rounded peaks, bog, forestry