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 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 Dúchas, The Heritage Service Links  |
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Dúchas, The Heritage Service is the Irish State body responsible for national monuments and historic properties, national parks and wildlife, waterways, visitor services and the national inventory of architecture. It is an integral part of the Government Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. Dúchas as an entity was launched in 1997 after a restructuring of ministerial and departmental responsibilities (the functions now performed by Dúchas were formerly carried out by the Office of Public Works). The Irish word 'Dúchas' translates into English as "heritage, birthright, patrimony, native place, natural state and homeland", and is therefore quite appropriate to the work of the service. The primary aim of Dúchas is the conservation and preservation of natural and built heritage, and under conditions compatible with that purpose to develop facilities, interpretative programmes and publications so that people may visit and appreciate the outstanding heritage of Ireland, and consequently will be well disposed to its continued protection.
National Parks in Ireland exist to "conserve natural plant and animal communities and scenic landscapes which are both extensive and of national importance, and, under conditions compatible with that purpose, to enable the public to visit and appreciate them". There are currently six national Parks in Ireland, and these are:
You can visit the Heritage Ireland website by clicking here. 
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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