Conor Pass: State is only willing to pay less than half asking price

The Conor Pass, Dingle, Co Kerry, went on the market last month for €10m, equating to just over €7,000 an acre. Pickture: Daft.ie

The State is still negotiating the sale of the iconic Conor Pass but is only willing to pay less than half the asking price.

The parcel of land in Co Kerry, which takes in one of the most panoramic driving routes in the country, went on the market last month for €10m, equating to just over €7,000 an acre.

Since then, a petition calling on the Government to purchase the Conor Pass, rewild it, and make it a national park has amassed almost 20,000 signatures.

Nestled at the foot of Mount Brandon, Conor Pass serves as the gateway to the Dingle Peninsula, located just 6km from the coastal town and spanning over 20km connecting to Castlegregory.

The land includes three lakes, Lough Atlea, Lough Beirne, and Pedlars Lake, with Owenmore River and Lough Clogharee forming the western boundary.

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While Minister of State for Parks and Wildlife Malcolm Noonan has engaged with the seller’s agent, it is understood he is not willing to pay even close to what is being demanded from US owner Mike Noonan.

Sources say the land is not in good ecological condition and public money would be better spent on other pockets of land that are more biodiversity-rich.

They have cited the recent purchase of land in the Black Valley by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

The 120 acres of land, which is a special area of conservation and is beside Killarney National Park, is described as “mountainous in nature” with the NPWS stating:

 The mosaic of natural habitats on site present a very positive conservation opportunity.

However, it is understood that Mr Noonan’s department would be willing to pay somewhere between €2,000 and €3,000 an acre for the land around the Conor Pass.

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Negotiations for the 1,400 acres, which includes 400 acres of forestry, have been described as “slow” and may take a number of months to conclude. In August, shortly after the Conor Pass was put on the market, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he wanted to see Ireland expand its national parks, but will only pay a “reasonable price”.

“I think it’s fair to say that the State won’t be paying €10m for it but we will be interested in talking to the owner about a reasonable price,” he said. “Because I’d like to see us extend our national parks. Our national parks are a wonderful public asset.”