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Leagan Gaeilge shíos |
 Stag in the snow at Glenveagh National Park |
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 all week from April to September, and from Thursday to Saturday during October. Contact the Park on (+353) 74 9137090 or email . |
| Tá Páirc Naisiúnta Gleann Bheatha suite ar oirthear Shléibhte Dhoire Bheatha in Iar-thuaisceart Co. Dhún na nGall. Tá an pháirc déanta suas de 14,000 heachtar de shléibhte, portach, lochanna agus coillte. Tá gleann ag scarthú an pháirc agus seo an áit a fuair Gleann Bheatha a ainm. An miniú atá leis nó 'Glen of the Birches'. Chrúthaigh John Adair an estát i mí an Aibreáin 1861 nuair a chaith sé amach 244 tionóntaí. Ghlán sé amach an talamh mar nach mhaith leis a dhearcadh ar an tírphictiúr aontach a mhilliú. Dheanann an stáir anuasal seo na radharcanna aláinn níos géara do chuairteoirí go dtí an pháirc sa lá atá inniú ann. Tá an dhá shliabh is airde i nDún na nGall, An Earagail agus Sliabh Sneacht ar thalamh Pháirc Gleann Bheatha. Ag an taobh thoir théas den pháirc, tá an Ghleann Nimhithe, aillte geartha as leac oighir. Tá neart bríc agus bradáin le fáil i Loch Bhéigh. Thíg le cuairteoirí cuairt a thabhairt ar Chaisleán Gleann Bheatha chomh maith. Togadh an chaisleán sa naoú haois déag. Tá ailtireacht nua-ghotach ag an chaisleán le chéile le rampair, tuirníní agus cloigtheach. Sa bhliain 1975 cheannaigh Oifig na hOibreacha Poiblí estát Gleann Bheatha ón tUasal Henry McIlhinney agus chug siad don stáit é. In 1981 thug an tUasal McIlhinney Caisleán Gleann Bheatha agus na garraíthe mar bhronntanas do mhuintir na hÉireann. Tá níos mó rua-phoc i nGleann Bheatha nó áit ar bith eile in Éirinn nó b'fheidir fiú ámhain san Eoraip. Caitheann an rua phoc an samhradh ar shléibhte Dhoire Bheatha agus tagann siad anuas sa gheimhreadh. Ná heanacha is coitianta a fheictear sa pháirc nó an riobhóg mhóna, caislín dearg, siskins, cearcfhraoigh, fiach dubh, treecreepers, ceanndeargán, ceolaire coille agus ó ám go hám deoranta coimhthíoch agus meirliúin. D'imigh an iolar fíréan in éag 100 blian ó shoin. An tsamhradh seo feiceann muid an iolar fíréan ag teacht arais go Pháirc Gleann Bheatha. Ar chuid de na hainmhithe allta i nGleann Bheatha tá broic, madraí rua, giorraithe agus éasogaí. Is aontach an radharc nuair a thagann na bláthanna aláinn ródaidéandrain faoi bhláth ag tús an tsamhraidh gach bliain. Tá Páirc Naisiúnta Gleann Bheatha agus an chaisleán fóscailte gach seachtain ó mhí Aibreáin go Meán Fómhair agus ó Deardaoin go Dé Sathairn gach Deireadh Fómhair. Cuir glaoch ar an Pháirc ag (+353) 74 9137090 nó r-phost . © |
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