Fun and games in Mother Nature’s own playground

It was billed, appropriately, as a Call of the Wild gathering and it certainly had the desired impact.

The autumn celebration was organised for Killarney National Park on Saturday and Sunday last and people of all ages flocked to take in the magic and colour of the season considered the highlight of the nature calendar.

Fun in the rain: Alice Pyne (left), Evie Doolan, Ollie Pyne and Jessie Doolan, enjoying the children’s autumn scavenger hunt at Knockreer.
Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan

The action packed programme, both indoors and outdoors, was hosted by the conservation rangers with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, led by District Conservation Officer, Danny O’Keeffe.

The park encompasses 10,000 hectares of diverse ecology, ancient oak and yew woodlands – the most extensive covering of native forest of international importance – the Lakes of Killarney, the monastic sixth century Innisfallen Island, Muckross House and Killarney House and Gardens.

Not surprisingly then, the month of October is considered the most amazing time to observe the deer activity during the annual rutting season in Mother Nature’s very own playground.

The audible bellows and tribal behaviour is fascinating and the rich colours of the season, the clear crisp air of the mornings and shadows of evening light made the park so spectacular.

Armed for the elements: Rain and wind didn’t deter enjoyment of the dawn watch at Knockreer for, from left, Loreto O’Leary, Martin Ashe, Creag Power, Tara Monaghan and Lynn Cooney

To celebrate this wonder and designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a number of events took place at the weekend, including the inaugural Paudie O’Leary Lecture in memory of the the head conservation ranger at Killarney National Park who passed away, unexpectedly, in August 2012.

Paudie’s knowledge of and love for the park was unrivalled and his legacy is insurmountable and, in his memory, Divisional Manager of Killarney National Park, Eamonn Meskell, delivered the lecture in the Killarney House auditorium.

Other events planned for the Call of the Wild initiative included a dawn watch, children’s autumn watch events at the Killarney National Park Education Centre at Knockreer House and a dramatic a night watch.

There was also an informal discussion of the work of NPWS conservation rangers chaired by Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell at Muckross Schoolhouse, Muckross Traditional Farms.

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