Funding allocated to rhododendron clearance work in Connemara National Park

The Rhododendron Altaclarense flowers on the ground. Picture: Dan Linehan

Half a million euro will be spent on clearing rhododendron from Connemara National Park - one of the biggest threats faced by peatlands in the west.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will embark on a two year plan to tackle the “extremely invasive” plant which regrows vigorously when cut, so it will be necessary to kill or remove the plant stumps from the land.