Kerry's Conor Pass to form part of new national park to be unveiled today

Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara Ciarraí will incorporate lakes, islands, marine reefs, and the iconic Conor Pass which the State has purchased

It is understood the State has purchased the Conor Pass in Co Kerry for 'significantly below' the asking price of €10m.

The Government will unveil a new national park in Kerry on Monday following the State’s acquisition of the Conor Pass.

The newest national park is to be named Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara Ciarraí and will include the Conor Pass and some surrounding areas.

It is understood that sites within the new park will include iconic islands, marine reefs, as well as mainland coastal and maritime sites on and off the Co Kerry coast.

It is understood the State has purchased the Conor Pass for “significantly below” the asking price of €10m.

Conor Pass itself is located on the foot of Mount Brandon and serves as the gateway to the Dingle Peninsula. It is located just 6km away from the coastal town, and spans over 20km connecting to Castlegregory.

The lands included within the pass contain three lakes: Lough Atlea, Lough Beirne, and Pedlars Lake, with the Owenmore River and Lough Clogharee forming one boundary of the proposed national park.

The western boundary of the lands overlooks both Brandon Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

To access the lands, visitors go through the Conor Pass Road, with Conor Pass Hill providing a spectacular southern boundary, while Sliabh Mhaca Ré forms the eastern boundary.

The lands were initially put on sale last August, with 1,400 acres auctioned off by its US owner Michael Noonan.

While there was some international interest in purchasing the site, Mr Noonan had stated his preference was for the lands to be bought as a whole.

After the lands went on sale, a petition was launched calling for the State to purchase Conor Pass, rewild it, and turn it into a national park.

The petition itself garnered more than 20,000 signatures.

The establishment of the new park in Kerry brings the number of national parks in Ireland to eight.

Most recently, the Boyne Valley National Park was established in 2023.