killarney national park (), near the town of killarney, county kerry, was the first national park in ireland, created when muckross estate was donated to the irish free state in 1932. the park has since been substantially expanded and encompasses over 102.89 km (25,425 acres) of diverse ecology, including the lakes of killarney, oak and yew woodlands of international importance, and mountain peaks. it has the only red deer herd on mainland ireland and the most extensive covering of native forest remaining in ireland. the park is of high ecological value because of the quality, diversity, and extensiveness of many of its habitats and the wide variety of species that they accommodate, some of which are rare. the park was designated a unesco biosphere reserve in 1981. the park forms part of a special area of conservation.