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Wicklow Mountains National
Park 
Ireland's fourth National Park was established in 1991 in Wicklow with an initial core area of 3,700 hectares centred on Glendalough, and including the Glenealo Valley and Glendalough Woods Nature Reserves. The Park has been considerably extended since then and now covers an area of close to 20,000 hectares, including the internationally important Liffey Head Bog. The main Park visitor facilities and Education Centre are still located in the Glendalough Valley. Upland heath and blanket bog dominate the mountainous areas of the Park, and the moorland bird species include Ravens, Red Grouse, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Peregrine Falcons and Merlin. Ring Ouzel, a rare and declining thrush species also breeds on the scree slopes. A large herd of Red/Sika Deer hybrids is present in the area, in addition to Otters, Red Squirrels, Badgers, Foxes and Hares. The Park includes the beautiful Upper Lake at Glendalough and most of the glaciated valley in which it lies. Glendalough also contains a series of deciduous woodlands dominated by Sessile Oak, which was extensively coppiced in the past to produce timber, charcoal, and bark for tanning leather. Woodland aside, one of the most notable features in the Glendalough Valley is the monastic settlement, which includes a cathedral, round tower, and St. Kevin's Church. The foundation of the settlement is attributed to St. Kevin who died early in the 7th century, but most of the remains date from the 8th - 12th centuries. Another significant monument in the Park is a prehistoric passage grave on the summit of Seefin mountain. The Wicklow Mountains themselves are comprised of a large mass of Granite which, as it solidified many millions of years ago, compressed and baked the adjacent sedimentary rocks forming mica-schist. Much of this has now been washed away but the geological boundary holds high concentrations of lead, iron and zinc which were mined in the past. There are plans for a phased expansion of the National Park to afford further protection to the Wicklow Mountains and their natural habitats, and eventually the Park may be Ireland's largest, extending over some 30,000 hectares.
The Education Centre, Wicklow Mountains National Park, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Phone +353 404 45656 E-mail edcentre@indigo.ie 
Home Killarney National Park Introduction ~ Photo Gallery ~ What's Happening? ~ History ~ Noteworthy Species ~ Bird life ~ Red Deer ~ Lakes ~ Muckross House ~ Oakwoods ~ Yew Wood ~ Park Rangers ~ Rhododendron ~ Cultural Heritage ~ Visiting the Park ~ Killarney Town Killarney National Park Education Centre Introduction ~ Recent Visits ~ Staff ~ Primary Schools ~ Post-primary Schools ~ Third Level Groups ~ Tour Groups ~ Youth Groups ~ Accommodation ~ Cappanalea Other Irish National Parks Burren ~ Connemara ~ Glenveagh ~ Mayo ~ Wicklow Mountains Links  |
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