Ireland is set to get its seventh National Park

The State has bought Dowth Hall

Ireland is set to get its seventh National Park.

The State has bought Dowth Hall and its lands in County Meath, paving the way for the development of the Boyne Valley National Park.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) along with other state bodies will now work on a Masterplan for the property.

Ireland’s National Parks protect the built heritage and biodiversity, while promoting education, research and recreation. 

The NPWS currently manages six National Parks, with Wicklow Mountains National Park the only one in the east of the country.

Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan TD believes investment of this nature is beneficial:

'Buying this land here for a national park is costing 11 million.'

'We, National Parks and Wildlife Service continue to buy land across the country where we see it has a high nature value.'