Connemara National Park Celebrates 45 Years

Connemara National Park marked its 45th anniversary on Saturday, commemorating its official opening to the public in 1980.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) hosted a special heritage event recognising the park’s role in conservation, biodiversity, and regional development.

Covering over 2,300 hectares, the park includes key parts of the Twelve Bens mountain range along with extensive areas of western blanket bog, heath, grassland, and woodland. Since its establishment, Connemara National Park has played a central role in protecting and managing some of Ireland’s most distinctive upland habitats and species.

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, praised the park’s contribution to both environmental protection and the local economy. He noted recent developments including the expansion of the park, investment in sustainable visitor facilities, and progress in managing invasive species.

Connemara National Park receives around 300,000 visitors each year and is the largest state employer in the north-west Connemara region. A multi-million-euro partnership with Fáilte Ireland is currently supporting the development of new accessible trails, aimed at enhancing the visitor experience for people of all abilities.

Saturday’s event featured biodiversity project displays, traditional craft demonstrations, and exhibitions of rare heritage breeds including the Connemara pony, Irish moiled cattle, Cladoir sheep, wild Irish goat, and Irish honey bee. NPWS Regional Manager Eugene Finnerty acknowledged the long-standing efforts of staff past and present, highlighting the park’s strong links to the local community and its role in safeguarding natural heritage.

Much of the land now forming Connemara National Park was previously part of the Kylemore Abbey Estate and the Letterfrack Industrial School, with the remainder acquired from private landowners before the park’s public opening in 1980.