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Connemara National Park, situated in County Galway in western Ireland, covers an area of scenic mountains, stretches of bogs and heaths and grasslands.
Bog plants dominate the park, and it is not uncommon to see carnivorous plants such as sundew and butterwort.
Bird life is varied, including small birds such as wrens and robins, as well as rarer birds of prey like the kestrel. A herd of purebred Connemara ponies live in the park, and red deer are currently being reintroduced.
The park is formed from the former lands of the Kylemore Abbey and the Letterfrack Industrial School. Most of the land was previously used for agriculture, and several of the bogs were previously used for fuel.
Peat ditches, now overgrown, can still be seen. The oldest evidence of human influence in the park is the 4,000 year-old megalithic court tombs found in the northern section.
Connemara is part of the Irish Gaeltacht, an organization of the regions of the country where the Irish language is still used in everyday life by the inhabitants. These regions are instrumental in keeping alive the rich heritage of Irish Gaelic, which has experienced a resurgence in this century. Road signs are in Irish, but the population is also fluent in English.
Several nature trails run through the park, and guided tours are available. The Kylemore Abbey, originally built as a castle in 1868, is open for visitors.
The park is open year round, with the visitor center open daily from April to September.
Outdoor Activities |
The mountains rise above the bogs in Connemara.
One of many scenic views in Connemara.
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