The announcement of Ireland’s inaugural marine national park, covering the coastal and significant surrounding terrestrial regions off the Dingle peninsula in Co Kerry, inclusive of the picturesque Conor Pass, will be made on Monday. Both Malcolm Noonan, the Minister for Nature, and Darragh O’Brien, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, explicate the particulars of Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí in an Earth Day-aligned ceremony in Dingle. The national park anticipates fostering open-air tourism within the region as well as improving the preservation of its abundant biodiversity.
The Government has negotiated a purchase of the Conor Pass area, totalling 1,400 acres, from its American proprietor. Initial asking price was €10 million, however, a Government insider has revealed the final agreement was made for significantly less, with the claim that the negotiation was “a good deal for the State”.
Furthermore, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have procured several additional locations across the Dingle Peninsula, such as the areas surrounding Inch beach, Mount Brandon, and the Owenmore river, all reputed for their “extraordinary biodiversity and heritage significance”.
The proposed eighth national park of the country is projected to encompass a variety of ecologically crucial marine zones, alongside numerous islands inclusive of the Blaskets, recognised for their valuable seabird breeding populations. This endeavour involves collaboration with the Office of Public Works, Birdwatch Ireland, and the Commissioners of Irish Lights.
Experts purport no new designations as areas inside the park already possess substantial protection under current biodiversity legislations. The primary aim of the national park is to optimise biodiversity preservation in respect to habitats whilst also fostering tourism.
As one of the highest mountain passes in Ireland, the Conor Pass is characterised by its slender serpentine roadway, extending for 12km between Dingle and Kilmore Cross on the Dingle Peninsula’s northern end. Renowned for its breathtaking mountainous panoramas and untouched beauty, the glacier-formed valley landscapes attract tourists, walkers, and cyclists.
Michael Noonan, a proprietor based in America, gradually accumulated the land over a series of years, using it primarily for sheep grazing. The property, which affords views of Brandon Bay, consists roughly of 1,000 acres suited for grazing, around 400 acres of woodland area, and includes three lakes: Lough Atlea, Lough Beirne and Peddlar’s Lake.
Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar expressed the Government’s interest in purchasing the land when it was for sale, although he insisted that the buying price should be fair.
The Dingle Peninsula is designated as a special protection zone for endangered and vulnerable species under the EU bird directive. Significant populations of Natterjack toads inhabit the Inch dunes, while the Owenmore serves as an essential habitat for freshwater pearl mussels. Additionally, the Conor Pass and Brandon areas are abundant in blanket bog. The islands are known for valuable bird species like the puffin, storm petrel, razorbill and gannet, and among the most notable marine life are sharks and rays.
Simultaneously with this, there are heightened calls for the Government to fortify protection off the western coast, aligning with an area newly labelled as a “hope spot” off the Greater Skellig coast, recognised for its substantial conservation value.
“Hope spots” are areas scientifically determined as vital for ocean health and appointed by the marine conservation movement, Mission Blue. The designated coastal water zone spans 7,000km2, extending from Kenmare Bay in Co Kerry to Loop Head in Co Clare. Under the guidance of oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earl, the initiative has globally identified 148 hope spots. The objective is to spur public awareness and backing for a global network of protected marine areas through the nomination of crucial conservation spaces.