Killarney National Park was Ireland’s first national park. It was created in 1932 when the Mucross Estate was donated to the Irish Free State. The Muckross Estate had several owners. In the early 20th century it was purchased from the Guinness family by a wealthy Californian William Bowers Bourne. He gave it to his daughter as a wedding present, but when she died shortly after the marriage the estate was given to the Irish people by her husband and his family.
Today the park is maintained by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
off the leash 
The only national park I’ve been to outside of the US is Waterton, which is in Canada. It’s easy to pair with a trip to Glacier. There’s a chance I might be moving to Montana, and I would 3.5 hours from Glacier and within a day’s drive of Banff and Jasper. Wish me luck!
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Sounds good. Hope it works out.
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Looks lovely – beautiful pictures!
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Killarney National Park looks beautiful. Is the Muckross House open to the public?
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Yes but by guided tour only.
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It’s unbelievable how many UNESCO sites are in Ireland, like the dawn of creation happened there or something. :0)
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We missed the park in 2014, sorry for it now viewing your wonderful photographs.
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That’s great news ! ! I think I’ll post also about what else is being done to preserve nature in other parts of the world… mainly the Philippines, of course. I’ve been following concerned citizens’ efforts to conserve natura.
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