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Killarney National Park and Glacier National Park in Montana, USA have today (Monday) been officially paired in an agreement which will last five years. Signed earlier today in a virtual ceremony which has established Glacier National Park and Killarney National Park as “Sister Parks”, the arrangement furthers international cooperation between the two countries and facilitates collaboration related to the management of both cherished, protected places. The new "Sister Park" relationship joins more than three dozen that exist between US national parks and national parks and protected areas in other countries.

Killarney National Park is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) while Glacier National Park is managed by the US National Park Service. Both have common issues including heavy visitation, controlling exotic and invasive species, outreach with local communities, ecological monitoring, and partnership agreements. The Parks will share best practices through the exchange of technical and professional knowledge, data, technology, training, and possible site visits.

“I am delighted that my Department – through the National Parks and Wildlife Service – is entering into a Sister Parks arrangement with US National Park Service by developing best practices and establishing closer links between Killarney National Park and Glacier National Park, Montana. In doing so we will enrich the experience and capacity of the personnel of both Parks through exchanges of staff and best practices,” Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien said.

“The collaborative nature of this partnership provides an excellent opportunity to exchange lessons learned related to recreation, preservation and resource management,” Shawn Benge, Deputy Director of the National Park Service, exercising the authority of the Director added. “We are excited about the possibilities to work together and learn from each other.”

Minister of State for Heritage at the Department Malcolm Noonan added that "from today, both Killarney National Park and Glacier National Park will aim to capitalise on the significant networking knowledge and sharing opportunities this agreement supports. Given the natural and cultural resources protected and presented by both organisations, as well as our respective mandates, it is my hope that we use our arrangement as a joint and thus stronger voice to highlight the challenges not only in these two parks but across our nations."

“As the world’s first international peace park with Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, Glacier National Park has a proud history of working with partners beyond our borders to exchange best practices and to learn from one another,” said Jeff Mow, Glacier National Park Superintendent. “We look forward to adding to our history and collaborating with Killarney National Park.”