from the 18th century the land in today's park were divided between two great estates, the herberts of muckross and the brownes (earls of kenmare). during the 17th and 18th centuries the woods were extensively utilised for local industries including charcoal production, cooperage and tanning. pressure on the woods intensified in the later part of the 18th century. the biggest cause of oakwood destruction in killarney in the 18th century was the production of charcoal to fire smelters used in the local iron industry. approximately 25 tons of oak was needed to produce one ton of cast iron. in 1780 young famously described derrycunihy wood as "a great sweep of mountain, covered partly in wood, hanging in a very noble manner, but part cut down, much of it mangled, and the rest inhabited by coopers, boat-builders, carpenters and turners..."