Connemara National Park

Connemara National Park is located on the western side of Ireland near the midpoint of the island. The park only covers an area of 7.7 square miles (20 sq km) creating one of the smaller national parks from around the world, but only the second smallest in Ireland after The Burren National Park.

The small area is quite diverse from an ecological perspective displaying varied facets of nature.  The park is comprised of bogs, forests, grasslands, heaths, and mountains. The most prevalent vegetation across the park is the blanket mire and the heathland. 

Of this vegetation, the purple moor grass is the most commonly experienced, and when in bloom the purple flowers create some of the most astounding picturesque landscapes across the rolling hills.  It is easy to ascribe these captivating purple fields as majestic blankets laid down by the heavens.

Although they are limited and challenging to see rabbits, foxes, wild goats, and shrews are present in the park.  The park is more known for its diversity of bird species including those that nest and migrate through the area.

Some of the predator species include kestrel, Eurasian sparrow hawk, merlin, and the peregrine falcon which is the world’s fastest animal.  Some of the songbirds include skylark, European stonechat, European robin, and Eurasian wren.

Much of the terrain and landscape was part of the Kylemore estate which adds an element of history and culture to the national park experience.  The most significant part of the grounds is the Kylemore Abbey.