The National Park has been measuring rainfall for 80 years - records began in 1943 - when the Park was known as the Bourne Vincent Memorial Park. 

In that year it recorded 63 and a half inches of rain, (63 I/2 inches) handwritten results were sent to the Meteorological Station in Dublin.
Every morning at 9.00am dedicated staff , 365 days a year, would measure the rainfall, at the weather station.

Gerry Murphy is the Horticultural Supervisor, at National Parks and Wildlife Service, Killarney National Park, took over the task when the late Bill Carson retired in 2000.

Automation of Muckross weather station began in 2019 with data transmitted directly to Met Eireann.

Using the old method of gathering water from the funnel together with the automated system, Gerry has been keeping records both manually and by computer.

The wettest year in Muckross was recorded in 2015 with a total of 87 and three quarter inches of rainfall.

The driest year recorded in Muckross was in 1971, with a total of 48 and a quarter inches.

The total for last year at Muckross on December, 31 2023 was a total of 75 Inches of rainfall.

Over the years there were substations at St. Finan’s Hospital - which was always drier, the highest levels were recorded on Mangerton Mountain and Muckross Peninsula, which has its own microclimate with the proximity of the mountains and lakes, making it much wetter.