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Killarney National Park Facts

Killarney National Park Facts
Killarney National Park is a 25,425 acre park in Ireland. It was the country's first national park, established in 1932 after being donated by the Muckross Estate. In 1981 Killarney National Park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure conservation of the area and its ecosystems. Woodland has covered the area for approximately 10,000 years, from the time of the last glacial period. Evidence of humans found in the region dates to 4000 years ago, during the Bronze Age. The park contains many historical buildings and ruins as well many beautiful sites for visitors to explore.
Interesting Killarney National Park Facts:
Innisfallen Island is located in one of the lakes in Killarney National Park. It contains the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey, a monastery dating to 640 that was occupied for about 850 years.
Muckross Abbey is an abbey located in Killarney National Park that was founded in 1448. It was damaged and rebuilt over the centuries and is the burial place of several poets from County Kerry.
The land that comprises Killarney National Park was divided into two estates in the 1700s. The estates were owned by the Brownes and the Herberts (Muckross Estate).
During the 18th and 19th centuries much of the wood in the area was used for industry. The oak trees in the park are roughly 200 years old due to replanting in the early 1800s.
Muckross Estate was bought in 1910 by an American as a wedding present for his daughter Maud. Between 1911 and 1932 the estate was vastly improved. Maud died in 1929. In 1932 her husband and parents donated the estate to the Irish government in her honor.
In 1932 the Irish government passed the Memorial Park Act and took over its management.
Killarney National Park is home to the Lakes of Killarney which includes Upper Lake, Muckross Lake, and Lough Lake. These three lakes comprise almost 25% of the park.
There are three main woodland types in Killarney National Park including oak woodlands, yew woodlands, and wet woodlands.
Located within Killarney National Park is the only wild herd of native red deer. These deer were protected by the former estates that make up the park today. In 1970 the population of the herd was only 11 but it has since grown to about 700.
There are at least 141 different bird species within Killarney National Park including redstart, wood warbler, ring ouzel, red grouse, osprey, merlin, nightjar, meadow pipits, and peregrine falcons.
There are rare species of fish found in Killarney National Park's lakes including Killarney shad and Arctic char, as well as more common species such as salmon, and brown trout.
Tourists are able to visit Killarney National Park all year. Muckross House has a visitor information center.
Main attractions in Killarney National Park include Muckross House, Muckross Abbey, Ross Castle, Ross Island, Torc Waterfall, Ladies View, Old Weir Bridge, Old Kenmare Road, O'Sullivan's Cascade, Tomies Oakwood, Denis Cottage, and Knockreer Demesne.


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