Irish State close to reaching a deal for iconic Conor Pass in Co Kerry

The Irish State is close to reaching a deal for the iconic Conor Pass in Co Kerry. 

The Conor Pass, which is one of the highest mountain passes in Ireland, is also considered one of the most scenic drives in the country and cuts through the Dingle Peninsula, connecting Dingle with Brandon and Castlegregory.

The twisting road is so narrow in places that it is only wide enough for one car and offers breathtaking views of mountains, lakes, and the valley below. 

The Conor Pass, along with 1,400 acres of surrounding land, is currently owned by an American national, who placed the land on the market for €10 million last August, approximately €7,000 per acre. 

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Conor's Pass, Dingle.

The landmark holding, which was also placed on the market in 2007, features 400 acres of forestry in addition to almost 1,000 acres for agriculture and mountain grazing. 

The Irish State was urged to buy the land and now appears close to reaching an agreement with the current owner, although it is unclear if the State will pay the €10 million asking price. 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said last year that the State was prepared to buy the site "at a reasonable price", while RTÉ reports that the State is currently acquiring land surrounding Killarney National Park for a maximum of €2,500 per acre. 

An agreement to buy the site has yet to be definitively agreed, but the Irish Times reports that all parties are working under the assumption that the land will pass into the possession of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. 

Minister for Education Norma Foley, a Kerry TD who had called on the state to purchase the land, told the Irish Times that "things were going in the right direction", adding that the signs were "very positive and promising". 

"Darragh O’Brien, the Minister for Housing, is very positively disposed to this. It would be a significant acquisition for the State and a hugely significant acquisition for Kerry and for Kerry tourism," Foley told the Irish Times. 

Meanwhile, local Fianna Fáil councilor Breandán Fitzgerald told RTÉ News that a deal appeared imminent, likening the purchase of the land to the return of Funghi the Dolphin to Dingle Bay. 

"It looks like it's going to happen," Fitzgerald told RTÉ. 

"This will be like Fungi the dolphin coming to Dingle. We will have a national park on our doorstep. We lost Fungi but we will have gained a national park."