Minister announces new partnership with Enniscoe House during Mayo visit
A NEW partnership agreement with Enniscoe House in Mayo will see the establishment of a new nature reserve on the site and a programme of joint management between the owners, the Kellet family, and National Parks and Wildlife Service to provide for the conservation, education and enhancement of the estate.
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, made the announcement on a visit to Mayo.
Enniscoe Estate is a special place for nature. It borders Lough Conn, a Special Area of Conservation, where Atlantic salmon, freshwater pearl mussel, otter and white-clawed crayfish are the qualifying interest for a potential nature reserve designation. It’s also designated a Special Protection Area under the birds directive, where breeding Common Scoter, Common Gulls and overwintering White-fronted Geese are present. In addition, Lough Conn is a legally-protected Wildfowl Sanctuary under the Wildlife Acts. The rare Irish Red Squirrel was recorded in the woodlands in 2019.
The Kellet family take a long view of the management of the estate, with the family having lived there over 14 generations since the 17th century.
Minister Noonan acknowledged the commitment and dedication of the family towards managing their lands for nature, heritage and community: “I’m deeply impressed by what I’ve seen here at Enniscoe House – the Kellet family’s love and care for one of the great houses of the west over generations is inspiring. The efforts they have made to protect the cultural integrity of the buildings, the work done to develop a sustainable rural enterprise, and the ongoing initiatives to protect and enhance biodiversity on the site are all to be commended.
“I thank the Kellet family for their foresight in collaborating with the National Parks and Wildlife Service at Enniscoe. These partnerships will deliver benefits to communities, nature and our built and cultural heritage.”
Susan Kellet commented: “I am delighted to have entered into this partnership with National Parks and Wildlife Service and Minister Noonan. It seems an excellent match between the work of NPWS and my own ambitions to preserve and enhance this unique corner of Mayo.
“Enniscoe House and Estate has been in the ownership of my family since the 17th century. While the estate is now only a fraction of its original size the essential core remains. The present house dates from the 1790s, a plain exterior concealing an elegant Georgian interior.
“I have been running Enniscoe House and estate for over 30 years and my son is now taking over much of the work. He joins me in thanking the minister, and the staff of NPWS, for the opportunity to create this relationship between a private owner of an historic house and estate and the department. We look forward to many fruitful years of working together.”
Minister Noonan’s visit to Mayo also included a tour of Ireland’s third largest national park, Wild Nephin. Here, he launched a new looped walk, which was funded under Rural Regeneration Development Fund of the Department of Rural and Community Development and Stimulus Funding from his department.
Opening the trail, Minister Noonan said: “I wish to commend the exceptional work of National Parks and Wildlife Service in developing this beautiful walk despite the challenges of the past year. Our network of national parks are more important now than ever for the mental and physical health and wellbeing for communities, for climate action and for the protection and restoration of biodiversity.
“This new looped walk greatly enhances accessibility of the national park and creates yet another opportunity for everyone to enjoy one of the most beautiful and remote parts of Ireland.”