Friday, November 10, 2006

National Parks in Ireland

There are six national parks in Ireland, covering a combined area of 596 sq km, or only 0.86% of Ireland's total land area (68890 sq km). The criteria and standards for national parks are laid down by the World Conservation Union (also known as IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature). Much of the land is also designated as a SAC (Special Area of Conservation (PDF format)) under the EU Habitats Directive.


Travelling clockwise around Ireland from Dublin the national parks:

  1. Wicklow Mountains National Park, Co. Wicklow (159 sq km)
  2. Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry (103 sq km)
  3. The Burren National Park, Co. Clare (17 sq km)
  4. Connemara National Park, Co. Galway (30 sq km)
  5. Ballycroy National Park, Co. Mayo (118 sq km)
  6. Glenveagh National Park, Co. Donegal (170 sq km)

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The island of ireland

Once upon a time, and for 15000 years, ice a mile high blanketed Ireland. When the lingering Ice Age finally released and the Irish ice departed it left a landscape scoured. Across land bridges linking Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe plants and animals arrived to colonise the new lowlands, mountains and valleys. The world’s ice continued to melt, the sea levels to rise, and some 8000 years ago Ireland became the island we now know, accounting for just 0.01% of the world's total land area and the most westerly point of Europe.

Though at Alaskan latitudes, the country's climate is tempered, due partly to the neighbouring waters of the Gulf Stream and partly the prevailing southwesterlies that veering and backing make landfall on our sodden coast. These offerings from the Atlantic mean it is never too hot, never too cold. But without doubt it is wet. Rain lingers year round, never far away, though is most frequent in winter, the western counties and, inevitably, on the day of your parade.