Ireland's newest national park to help develop eco-friendly farming

The Boyne Valley boasts heritage highlights including Brú na Bóinne's Newgrange and Dowth — but the new national park is tipped to also be used to examine how Ireland can now 'merge farming for nature with intensive agriculture'. Picture: Meath County Council/PA

Ireland's newest national park is to be used as a testbed for developing ecologically-friendly farming methods.

The new national park will be developed in Co Meath's Boyne Valley after an €11m purchase of 500 acres in an area that is already a Unesco World Heritage site.

It is hoped the land and historic buildings located next to the Newgrange neolithic tombs will be opened to the public in the next 18 months.

However, minister of state for parks and wildlife, Malcolm Noonan said it is “distinctly different” from the seven other existing national parks such as those in Killarney and Wicklow as it provides an “opportunity to use this as a testbed for research into best practice and changes of agricultural practices”.

Chiamaka Chikezie, Orla Murphy, Aoife Gallagher, and Zara Broe from Scoil Mhuire in Co Meath launching the Boyne Blueway in Trim, Co Meath, last year. It is one of the world’s first accredited Blueways. Picture: Julien Behal Photography

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He added that the site will be used to examine how Ireland can now “merge farming for nature with intensive agriculture” as we seek to reduce carbon emissions.

“You can have very rich biodiversity in farmland and have thriving farm animals and thriving productivity,” Mr Noonan said. “So I think from that perspective, it offers a really unique opportunity for the State to be involved centrally with partners in research into best practice in farming for nature.”

He said the State has a “duty” to farmers to use the land in a way that “points a way forward” for them.

The lands, which cover approximately a third of the total area of the Unesco World Heritage Property of Brú na Bóinne also includes two buildings, Dowth Hall, an 18th century country house, and Netterville Manor, a Victorian manor house, which will now be restored.

Mr Noonan said the site tells the story of Irish heritage over millennia, layering prehistoric archaeology, 18th century architecture, and rich natural heritage which, when open, will provide one unique visitor experience.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said walking trails and interpretive centres will be developed on the land so it can be enjoyed by the public.

“We’re going to take this on another step,” he said.

We’re going to masterplan this area. Now that will take some time to secure the site but we hope in a relatively short space of time within 24 months or so that we will be able to have limited public access here too.

“This is for the people, this is a purchase for the people.”

A recent biodiversity survey of the lands reported 54 species of birds, five of which are of high conservation concern, including a population of red-listed and highly threatened native grey partridge which is supported by a captive breeding population on site as well as woodcock, kestrel, swifts, yellowhammer, grey wagtail and seven species of bee.

"We will conserve and protect Dowth's heritage in line with our obligations to Unesco and we will enhance responsible tourism, ensuring it becomes a standout destination," said Mr O'Brien.