About Us
Ballycroy National Park was established in November 1998, it is Ireland’s sixth National Park and is located on the Western seaboard in northwest Mayo. It comprises of 11,000 hectares of Atlantic blanket bog and mountainous terrain, covering a vast uninhabited and unspoilt wilderness dominated by the Nephin Beg mountain range. Between Nephin Beg and Slieve Carr, at 721 metres above sea level, the highest mountain in the range, lie the Scardaun Loughs. To the west of the mountains is the Owenduff bog. This is one of the last intact active blanket bog systems in Ireland and Western Europe and is an important scientific and scenic feature of the National Park.
The Park also protects a variety of other important habitats and species. These include alpine heath, upland grassland, heath and lakes and river catchments. Greenland White-fronted geese, Golden Plover, Red Grouse and Otters are just some of the important fauna found within the Park. The National Park is itself part of the Owenduff/Nephin Complex Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA). These European designations are part of the Natura 2000 Network, which protect rare and important habitats and species under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.
Visitor Centre
As of Monday 20th July 2009 the National Park Visitor Centre opened it doors to the public.
It is located in the village of Ballycroy on the N59 road between Mulranny and Bangor.
The Visitor Centre Opening Hours For October are from 10 am - 5.30 pm and admission is FREE.
The Centre will be CLOSED on the days listed below in October:
Monday & Tuesday 5th & 6th
Monday & Tuesday 12th & 13th
Monday & Tuesday 19th & 20th
Tuesday & Wednesday 27th & 28th
Saturday 31st
Newsletters
A newsletter is issued quarterly and distributed through local schools, shops and post offices and posted to people who request to be placed on our mailing list. The newsletter is a great way for NPWS to communicate with people about the goings on in the National Park and the Owenduff/Nephin area. If you would like to be included on our next mailing list please contact the Lagduff Office with your details on 098- 499 96.
Newsletter_No1 (November 2007, PDF 1034 KB)
Newsletter_No2 (February 2008, PDF 269 KB)
Newsletter_No3 (June 2008, PDF 428 KB)
Newsletter_No4 (October 2008, PDF 423 KB)
Newsletter No5 (Febuary 2009, PDF 645 KB)
Newsletter_No6 (July 2009, PDF 555KB)
Park Mangement
Ballycroy National Park is managed by the National Parks & Wildlife Service of the department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government.
For more Information contact:
The Park Manager,
Ballycroy National Park,
Environment, Heritage & Local
Government,
Lagduff More,
Ballycroy,
Westport,
Co. Mayo.
Tel: 098 499 96
Fax: 098 490 17