National Parks
Dail Éireann — 2023-07-06
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Aindrias Moynihan (FF), Cork North-West

The ESB is the primary owner of the site. Over the years, the electricity generated there has diminished as a proportion of the electricity used in the country. The need for the ESB scheme from an electricity point of view has declined. This wonderful park right beside Macroom town draws in wildlife, including migrating birds. We had a special visitor again earlier this year and that, in turn, drew a great many people to the Gearagh. This is a double-edged sword because the more that people know about the area, the more who will be attracted to visit it, which creates a threat that it will be damaged. A great many people do not know the place and when they arrive on the site there is little information provided. There is an understanding locally that the ESB does not encourage interest in the site, make people aware of it or put up signage. There is so much that could be done practically on the ground to give people information and promote the place ahead of it securing status as a national park.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2023-07-06/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:52:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2023-07-06