Connemara National Park- County Galway
Situated in the West of Ireland in County Galway, Connemara National Park covers some 2,957 hectares ( 7306 acres) of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs, heaths, grasslands and woodlands. Some of the Park's mountains, namely Benbaun, Bencullagh, Benbrack and Muckanaght, are part of the famous Twelve Bens or Beanna Beola range. Connemara National Park was established and opened to the public in 1980. Much of the present park lands were part of the Kylemore Abbey Estate and the Letterfrack Industrial School, the remainder having been owned by private individuals. Many remains of human presence can be seen in the Park. The oldest are megalithic court tombs some 4,000 years old.There is also an early 19th century graveyard about which little is known. Also of that period is Tobar Mweelin, a well which was tapped to supply water to Kylemore Castle around 1870 and is still in use today. Stretches of the old Galway road, in use over a century ago, may still be seen in the northern sections of the Park, but other stretches are obscured by vegetation. Ruined houses, a disused lime kiln, old sheep pens, an ice house, drainage systems and old walls in various parts of the Park, are all evidence of a greater population and more extensive use of these lands in the past.
Western blanket bog and heathland are the predominant vegetation types to be found in the Park. The boglands, situated in the lowlying areas, are normally very wet, while higher up the mountains, a drier community of mountain blanket bog develops. Heather covers the mountain sides, with ling, cross-leaved heath and bell heather all very common. Probably the most common and most abundant plant in the Park is purple moor grass, responsible for the colour of much of the landscape throughout the year.
The birdlife of the Park is varied. The most common song birds would be Meadow pipits, skylarks, stonechats, chaffinches, robins and wrens. Birds of prey are sometimes seen, usually Kestrel, Merlin or a Peregrine Falcon. The largest mammal in the park is the famous Connemara Pony. Although a domestic animal this pony is very much part of the Connemara countryside.
I am really looking forward to taking a lovely long hike thru Connemara Park. I am sure I will have a million photos to share after our day there. Since nature shots are my favorite photos to take and I have no doubt that I will not be disappointed! Well I will have to start doing some research on what I want to share with you next. I do hope that you enjoy reading the things that I write. Please do leave me a message, I sometimes wonder if anyone even reads these :-)
Bright blessings!
