6 National Parks to Explore in Ireland

Checkout places to visit in Ireland

Ireland

A country in the north-western Europe. Ireland, or Republic of Ireland shares its only border with Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. It is surrounded by the ocean in all it's other sides. About 40% of the countries 5 million population lives in the greater city area of Dublin.

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National Parks to Explore in Ireland

Burren National Park

The Burren National Park, located in the south-eastern corner of the Burren, Co Clare is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It is a place of great natural beauty. There are various marked trails in the Park that take you through many fascinating and beautiful habitats. It is the smallest of the six National Parks in Ireland, while the adjacent territory, including the Cliffs of Moher, is included in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark.

Connemara National Park

A majestic national park covering some 3,000 hectares of scenic mountains, expansive bogs, glorious grasslands and enchanting woodlands. 500 metres high, Diamond Hill rises above the small village of Letterfrack. This is one of the finest hikes in the country. There are many remnants of human habitation within the park. There is a 19th-century graveyard as well as 4,000-year-old megalithic court tombs. Much of the land was once part of the Kylemore Abbey estate.

Glenveagh National Park

Glenveagh National Park is a remote and hauntingly beautiful wilderness of rugged mountains, pristine lakes, tumbling waterfalls and enchanted native oak woodland in the heart of the Derryveagh Mountains in the north west of County Donegal. The Park, over 16,000 hectares in extent consists of three areas. The largest of these is the former Glenveagh Estate, including most of the Derryveagh Mountains.

Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park, was the first national park in Ireland, created when the Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish Free State in 1932It contains many features of national and international importance such as the native oakwoods and yew woods together with an abundance of evergreen trees and shrubs and a profusion of bryophytes and lichens which thrive in the mild Killarney climate.

Wicklow Mountains National Park

The National Park which covers much of upland Wicklow, contains an area of approximately 20,000 hectares. This includes large areas of mountain blanket bogs, including the Lugnaquilla and Liffey Head Bog complexes and Glendalough Wood Nature Reserve. The primary purpose of Wicklow Mountains National Park is the conservation of biodiversity and landscape. The Park is also an invaluable recreational space for locals and visitors alike.

Wild Nephin National Park

Wild Nephin National Park is located in the Owenduff/Nephin Mountains area of the Barony of Erris in northwest County Mayo, Ireland. It is one of the largest expanses of peatland in Europe, consisting of 117.79 square kilometres of Atlantic blanket bog. It is a unique habitat with a diverse flora and fauna. It was established as a national park on 1 November 1998. The area of the park is a candidate Special Area of Conservation as part of a site known as the Owenduff/Nephin Complex.

Map of National Parks to explore in Ireland