Fota Wildlife Park director ready for the quiet life after 40 years at helm

Minister of State for the Office of Public Work’s, Kieran O’Donnell, Michael McGrath, Minister of State for Nature Malcolm Noonan, Sean McKeown irector of Fota Wildlife Park and and Lynda McSweeney, head of education at Fota Wildlife Park at the official opening of Fota's Education, Conservation and Research Centre on Friday. Pictures: Darragh Kane

From wild life to a quiet life — after 40 years as director of Fota Wildlife Park in Cork, Sean McKeown retires on Monday, just days after delivering the largest single development in the park’s history.

It was more than fitting that the last official duty for the man who helped open the pioneering park in 1983, and who has overseen its development as both a major European centre for conservation of critically endangered species and a national visitor attraction, was to help formally open its new €5.5m Education, Conservation and Research Centre ECRC], that will train future generations of conservationists.