Glenveagh
Glenveagh National Park Páirc Náisiúnta Ghleann Bheatha | |
---|---|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
Lough Veagh at Glenveagh | |
Location | County Donegal, Ireland |
Nearest town | Letterkenny |
Coordinates | 55°01′N 8°03′W / 55.017°N 8.050°WCoordinates: 55°01′N 8°03′W / 55.017°N 8.050°W |
Area | 169.58 km2 (65.48 sq mi) |
Established | 1986[1] |
Governing body | NPWS National Parks and Wildlife Service |
Glenveagh (from Irish Gleann Bheatha, meaning 'glen of the birches'[2]) is the second largest national park in Ireland.[3] National parks in Ireland conform to IUCN standards.[4]
Geography
The park covers 170 square kilometres of hillside above Glenveagh Castle on the shore of Lough Veagh (Loch Ghleann Bheatha), 20 km from Gweedore in County Donegal. The network of mainly informal gardens displays a multitude of exotic and delicate plants from as far afield as Chile, Madeira and Tasmania, all sheltered by windbreaks of pine trees and ornamental rhododendrons.
History
The estate was established by John Adair, who became infamous for evicting 244 of his tenants and clearing the land so they would not spoil his view of the landscape. The gardens and castle were presented to the Irish nation in 1981 by Henry P. McIlhenny of Philadelphia who had purchased the estate in 1937.
Environment
The park is home to the largest herd of red deer in Ireland and the formerly extirpated golden eagle were reintroduced into the park in 2000.
See also
References
- ↑ John Jenkins and John Pigram (2005). Outdoor Recreation Management. Routledge. p. 262. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
- ↑ Glenveagh National Park: In-depth history of Glenveagh
- ↑ Ireland : Active Pursuits : National Parks | Frommers.com
- ↑ "National Parks in Ireland". National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland). Retrieved 3 June 2018.
External links
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Glenveagh National Park. |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Glenveagh. |