By Jennifer Ciotta

The natural beauty of Killarney National Park provided inspiration for W.B. Yeats throughout his writing.  The Park spans 25,000 acres in the most western section of Ireland.  An astonishing panorama can be seen atop the mountains, which are composed of brilliant red sandstone. This environment provides shelter for the last herd of Red Deer to exist in Ireland.  Fighting to maintain their numbers at 700 despite hunting and deforestation, the Deer have resided in the uplands for almost 11,000 years.  In the limestone-filled lower area, ancient Oakwoods fill the landscape, the original trees dating back thousands of years, however, the newly planted Oakwoods are around 200 years old.  Similar to the Red Deer, the Oakwoods struggle against extinction throughout the modern day, resisting the uprising of industry and technology.  Meanwhile, the Yew woods that remain in the Park are only three of its kind throughout Europe.  The Yew forest resembles images from a Grimm's fairytale  or the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  The Yews shade the dense surroundings thus creating a cool, humid climate in which green moss can grow, producing the "creepy" forest effect. Almost resembling a marsh, the woodland floor and bottoms of tree trunks are covered with moss, in some areas six feet deep; and in total, the Yew woods stretch 60 acres.  The Park's three lakes sustain aquatic wildlife, perfect for avid fishermen and fisherwomen, while the birdlife includes swans, plovers, owls and falcons.  In addition to the wildlife, W.B. Yeats most likely received stimulus from the views at sunset and sunrise.  The luminous sun bursting through the clouds, its golden rays creating a divine spectrum across the clear blue water, sets the tone for any piece of writing.

Besides the magic of Mother Earth, the attraction to the Park stems from its cultural history as well.  On Inisfallen Island is a seventh century monastery, from the Christian age of man, yet the area of Killarney is believed to have the existence of man dating back all the way to the Bronze Age due to copper mines and a stone circle.  The monastery, in the form of multicolored stone ruins, was occupied for 700 years, originally founded by St. Finian, a leper.  During this time, the "Annals of Inisfallen" were written, a historical account by the monks, and the original manuscript stays in safe keeping in a library in Oxford.   Sharing the property is Muckross Abbey, run by the Franciscans and founded in 1448.  The Abbey has a unique history of being raided due to persecution, however, during these times of peril, the monks quietly remained in the areas, always returning when the coast was clear.  The stunning whitewash walls have been reconstructed many times, but the structure still stands, signifying strength and courage.  Inside the Abbey are decorative arches, resounding stone floors and an enormous Yew tree, still growing from the fifteenth century, through the roofless sanctuary.  Furthermore, built in 1843, the Muckross House beautifies the Park with its Victorian architecture, while combined with the ideal location of sitting on a lake and having mountainous scenery for the background. An exceptional aspect of the property is the re-creation of traditional Irish farm life.  Stepping back in time to the 1930's serves as the purpose of the project.  Visitors can observe low income and well off farmers carry on their daily chores, even having the opportunity to talk with the farmers or stop in a house to sample traditional cooking.  The experience parallels visiting an Amish community in the United States since electricity is not an energy source; instead human labor and animals maintain farm life.  The lovely gardens of Muckross House showcase spectacular red and purple flowers set against luscious greens, while the House itself contrasts wealth, in the upstairs rooms, to service, in the downstairs section. Skilled tradesmen and women make pottery, weave and bind books in front of guests.

The Education Centre holds a variety of activities, however, the website is not yet updated for spring/summer 2007, therefore it is best to check online before departing on a tour.  Past events have included: a guided nature walk, family fun days for children to tour the Park and use microscopes, and a bat box workshop where children build wooden boxes to promote bat activity and conservation.

Advertisement: