State to buy Devenish lands at Dowth
The state is set to buy the former Devinish lands at Dowth, which had been advertised for sale for €10million.
The land is an internationally recognised research farm, set within the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is believed the sale is progressing but has not yet concluded. The Department of Heritage and Local Government have not confirmed the sale.
Minister Darragh O’Brien visited the site last June, following representations from Minister Thomas Byrne.
The land at Dowth is a significant estate of approximately 223 Hectares (552 acres) including two country houses (Dowth Hall and Netterville Manor) and an extensive demesne laid out along the River Boyne and valley in County Meath.
Cllr Wayne Harding said he was delighted this was happening.
"To have the state purchase the estate, is a real commitment to education, agriculture and the architecture and archaeology of Bru na Boinne. It is also testament to the government's commitment to the area."
The land is rich in natural heritage and has been actively managed by its current owners to preserve the biodiversity of the property. It is home to many native species as well as designated lands in the form of Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
A recent biodiversity survey of the lands reported 54 species of birds, five of which are of high conservation concern, including a population of red-listed and highly threatened native Grey Partridge, which is supported by a captive breeding programme on site. Eleven species of butterfly, eight species of bat and seven species of bee have been recorded here. Foxes, badger, rabbits, hares, shrews and red deer are also present.
The cultural heritage of Dowth spans a wide time-frame, from early prehistory, through the medieval period, up to the 18th and 19th century and right up to the modern era. It features Neolithic monuments built over a period of 4,000-6,000 years ago by Ireland’s first farming communities. In 2017, the remains of a large passage tomb, which was more than 5000 years old, was discovered under Dowth Hall.
Cllr Wayne Harding said great research has already been carried out on the lands on protecting water quality in our rivers, and the facility could be used for ongoing research into climate change.
"There has been ongoing research on Devinish farmland, where it has been proven that the planting of certain species of grass swards greatly enhancing the filtration effect on run off water from lands reaching our water courses. This in turn would greatly enhance the water quality of our rivers".
"I am delighted this has happened. It will cement the previous passionate investment by Owen Brennan and his team. I believe the work carried out on lands at Devenish will form an important part of how we adapt and change both how we produce our food and treat out landscape.
"There had always been reference made to the fact that the lands around the world heritage site would be part of a state park and now some have come on the public market," he said.