Wicklow Mountains National Park
| Wicklow Mountains National Park | |
|---|---|
 Cloghernagh Mountain | |
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| Location | County Wicklow, Ireland |
| Nearest city | Dublin |
| Area | 204.83 square kilometres (50,610 acres) |
| Established | 1991 |
| Governing body | NPWS National Parks and Wildlife Service |
Wicklow Mountains National Park (Irish: Páirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Chill Mhantáin) is a 204.8-square-kilometre (50,600-acre) protected area in Ireland, one of six national parks in the country. The park stretches through County Wicklow as well as small areas of South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown in County Dublin. The park is located in the Wicklow Mountains a short distance south of Dublin. It contains a variety of attractions that are popular with city dwellers seeking recreation, and areas visited by tourists and history enthusiasts.
Glendalough
Chief among the historic sites is Glendalough, which features a collection of Early Medieval monastic structures associated with St Kevin, a hermit priest. Other sites include the Education Centre in Bolger's Cottage, on the Miners' Road by the Upper Lake, Glendalough, and remnants of mining villages.[1]
Activities and environment
Recreational activities available within the park include walking and hiking, rock climbing, limited swimming and fishing, and many opportunities for sightseeing and photography.[2] Motor tourists may take the R756 road which passes through the Wicklow Gap.[3] Another scenic driving route follows the historic Military Road designated R115 from the Dublin Hills south through the centre of the mountains to Laragh village.
The variety of habitats found in the park ranges through blanket bog, deciduous woods, coniferous woods, upland grassland, heath, exposed rocky areas and scree.[4] Numerous plant species including bluebells, wood sorrel and wood anemones, woodrush, bracken, polypody fern and various species of mosses are found. Among trees common in the park are holly, hazel and mountain ash.
Some of the protected wildlife of the park are ten species of bats, rare otters, and nine threatened or internationally important species of birds including the hen harrier, peregrine falcon and whooper swan.[5]
Park history and management
Having been proposed for many years, establishment of the park was announced by Charles Haughey, the Taoiseach in 1988, at Glendalough.[6] An interpretive centre was financed in 1990 and the park officially opened in 1991.[7][8] It is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service under the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Park staff are responsible for nature conservation, promotion of research and education, public safety and facilitation of good relations between the park and surrounding communities.[9] In May 2009 an addition of 28.33 square kilometres (7,000 acres) to the park was announced.[3]
References
- ^ "Mining". National Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "Recreation". National Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ a b "New Lands". National Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "Habitats". National Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "Threatened Species". National Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "Dáil Éireann - Volume 421 - 26 June, 1992 Estimates, 1992. - Vote 10: Office of Public Works (Revised Estimate)". Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "Dáil Éireann - Volume 405 - 05 March, 1991 Written Answers. - County Wicklow Proposed Amenity Development". Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ Casey, Seán (2002). "Wicklow Mountains National Park: An Insight" (PDF). Sherkin Comment (31). Sherkin Island Marine Station. ISSN 0791-2447. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "Park Management". National Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 11 July 2011.