Coole Park in Gort has been repeatedly targeted by vandals and others engaged in anti-social behaviour over the past 18 months.

The South Galway nature reserve, best known for its links to literary luminary Lady Gregory, has been subjected to vandalism at least ten times since January last year.

The popular tourist attraction managed by the State-run National Parks and Wildlife Service is home to interesting Irish flora and fauna.

But NPWS records show Coole Park was subjected to vandalism on at least ten occasions between January 2024 and August of this year.

The log was obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) by transparency group Right to Know and released to the Connacht Tribune.

It outlined nine incidents of vandalism where the date was known, and a series of damage caused at Coole Park on dates unknown to NPWS.

In August of this year, the NPWS logged an incident where cobbles of the courtyard, a listed structure, were “intentionally removed and thrown around”.

On dates unknown, NPWS said stone work was damaged in the covered picnic area of the famous walled garden; there was repeated blocking of toilets to cause flooding and repeated removal of the contents of disinfectant and soap dispensers; trees were damaged to use as wood for fires and barbeques at the turlough; and safety signs including those indicating ‘no fire or BBQs’ were removed from tables and picnic areas.

Caption: Coole Park.

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