It will be the nation's largest national park, encompassing more than 70,000 acres.

Additionally, as the majority of its territory will be at sea, it will be Ireland's first maritime national park.

Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí, the name of this proposed national park, would encompass 1,400 acres of land and woodland near the famous Conor Pass.

The State purchased this land, which was up for sale in August of last year, for an estimated sum of €6 million.

Separate property has been purchased for the 8km watercourse with nine lakes that forms the watershed of the neighbouring river An Abha Mhór.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site at Sceilig Mhichíl, the sand dunes at Inch Beach, Cnoc Bréanainn, and a number of islands off the coast of Kerry, as well as the surrounding water, will all be included in the new national park.

Malcolm Noonan, the minister of state for nature, and Darragh O'Brien, the minister for heritage and cabinet member in charge of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, will make the official announcement this afternoon.


Mr. Noonan stated that it is “a critical time for biodiversity in Ireland” when appearing on RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

According to him, the next step will be to work with the surrounding communities to create a collaborative management plan that would address public accessibility and the creation of walking routes.

“We have a wide range of different habitats from pristine rivers, sand dunes, salt marshes, sea cliffs, shallow bays and limestone reefs and a huge array of species from salmon, freshwater pearl mussel, natterjack toads, basking sharks and gannets,” added Mr. Noonan.

“Our core values revolve around responsible tourism, and we collaborate with Fáilte Ireland to establish a sound code of conduct that avoids unduly taxing sites and causing harm to the very habitats that visitors are visiting.”