merrion street

Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, will this evening address The Wilderness in Modified Landscape Conference in the Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo.

The recently announced Nephin Wilderness Project forms the backdrop to this conference. This innovative project will deliver a dedicated wilderness of forest, mountain, bog, river and lakes in the Nephin Beg Range.

This project arose following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Coillte earlier this year.

Minister Deenihan commented:

"This is an ambitious project that is setting aside a significant parcel of land for the creation of a unique wilderness landscape. The project will complement Ballycroy National Park, which borders the Coillte lands, which is in itself a significant attraction of national importance comprising 11,000 hectares of blanket bog, mountainous terrain and unspoilt natural beauty.

"The Nephin Wilderness Project shows the benefits that can come when different organisations work together in partnership. My Department, Coillte and Mayo County Council are delivering a vision for Nephin that will restore the area to natural wilderness. This will take many years, but will be of lasting and long term benefit to Ballycroy National Park, to the wider region, and to visitors."