Glenveagh National Park and Castle - Letterkenny
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Glenveagh National Park is situated
on the eastern side of the Derryveagh
Mountains in the north-west of County Donegal. The Park contains 14,000
hectares of mountain, raised bogland, lakes and woodlands and
is dissected by the valley which gives the park its name, Glenveigh
(*Gleann Bheatha*)
meaning Glen of the Birches. The Estate was established by John Adair who, in April, 1861 evicted 244 tenants and cleared the land so as not to mar his views of the magnificent landscape. This ignoble history makes the beautiful views all the more poignant for today's visitor. The Park lands include the two highest mountains in Donegal, Errigal and Slieve Sneacht. At the south-west end of the park are the ice-carved cliffs of the Poisoned Glen, a corruption of the name in Irish which mean 'heavenly glen'. Lough Veagh has natural stocks of brown trout, salmon and artic char. The visitor to the Park can also visit the 19th century Glenveagh Castle with its Neo-gothic architecture complete with ramparts, turrets and a round tower. In 1975 Glenveagh Estate was purchased for the State from Mr Henry McIlheney by the Office of Public Works and in 1981 Mr McIlhenny presented Glenveagh Castle and gardens as a gift to the Irish nation. The Park has the largest herd of Red Deer in Ireland if not in Europe. The deer spend the summer on the Derryveagh mountains, coming down hill in winter. The most frequently sighted birds in the Park are the meadow pipit, stonechats, grouse, ravens, siskins, tree-creepers, redstarts, wood warblers and occasionally peregrines and merlins. The Golden Eagle was reintroduced to the park in 2000. The Golden Eagle became extinct 100 years ago, largely due to over hunting by both farmers and game keepers. Wildlife in the Park includes badgers, foxes, the native Irish Hare and stoats. The Park is particularly spectacular when the prolific *Rhododendron Ponticum* are in bloom in early Summer. Glenveagh National Park and Castle are open every day, with Visitors Services open from 9.30am - 6pm. The last bus to the Castle @4.45pm. Last bus from the Castle at 5.45pm. To book tel. +353 (0)74 9137090 ext. 3609. | |||||||||||||||||||