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°W / 55.017; -8.050Coordinates: 55°01′N 8°03′W / 55.017°N 8.050°W / 55.017; -8.050
Area 169.58 square kilometres (41,900 acres)
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]

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.

Castle and gardens

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 extinct golden eagle were reintroduced into the park in 2000.

See also

References

  1. ↑ John Jenkins and John Pigram (2005). Outdoor Recreation Management. Routledge. p. 262. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
  2. ↑ Glenveagh National Park: In-depth history of Glenveagh
  3. ↑ Ireland : Active Pursuits : National Parks | Frommers.com
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