The importance of the National Park to the Killarney economy was outlined in great detail to members of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce last week.

Members attending last Friday’s Annual General Meeting at the Killarney Avenue Hotel were told that 1.7 million people visited Killarney National Park last year.

Chamber recently engaged the services of Repucon Consulting, a company that specialises in tourism research and economic strategies.

Counters in place at the key attractions showed that 200,000 people passed through the gates of the park at Knockreer, 106,000 visited Muckross House and 56,000 people enjoyed the traditional farms at Muckross.

In addition, 55,000 people walked Dinis and a further 50,000 climbed Cardiac Hill.

“While we acknowledge that the park is important for tourism, it is just as important for everybody that lives and works in the town of Killarney and we saw that during COVID when the park was such a release for everybody,” outgoing Chamber President, Niall Kelleher, said.

“When the Chamber advocates in relation to projects for tourism it is equally important for the town’s people. What’s good for tourism is good for the town of Killarney.”

Plans in the pipeline include an upgrade of Knockreer House and its Italian-style gardens, a review of the park’s biodiversity plan, the development of a major new car park at Muckross House and Gardens and a novel project to attract more osprey birds to the park given that the species have a link with Killarney going back generations.

The glasshouses in Muckross Gardens will be upgraded, toilets for the disabled will be built at Ross Castle, a new thatched roof will be erected on Deenagh Lodge for the first time since 2008 and a signage survey will be undertaken throughout the park.

A plan to develop a new loop from Muckross to Dinis, making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists returning along the N71, is another priority.