Gardaí and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) are investigating the cause of fires which severely damaged parts of the Wild Nephin National Park, in Co Mayo, at the weekend.
The NPWS said the Claggan Boardwalk was destroyed by the fire, which appeared to have been started on Friday night.
The 2km boardwalk leads into the Wild Nephin National Park and has attracted thousands of visitors annually since it opened in 2017. Boardwalks in national parks allow visitors to walk in a wild environment without overly affecting it.
The NPWS said that following the destruction of the Claggan Boardwalk, the trail will remain closed until further notice.
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A separate fire at the forest at Letterkeen was also burning on Monday. It is understood that it started in the early hours of the morning. Several campers were evacuated overnight for their safety.
Minister of State for Nature Christopher O’Sullivan said wildfires also have a devastating impact on nature, communities and national parks and reserves.
“Wildlife may die from heat and smoke, habitats and food sources may be destroyed and vegetation severely impacted. The impact can be irreparable and have long term negative consequences,” he said.
Most of the fires appear to have been set after dark, with gardaí investigating whether they were started deliberately.
NPWS director general Niall Ó Donnchú said anyone who engages in this “reckless, senseless behaviour should carefully consider the consequences of their actions and will be subject to the full rigour of the law”.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister Andrew Muir said people who are maliciously starting wildfires are risking being charged with manslaughter.
Firefighters in Northern Ireland are braced for further wildfires, having already tackled almost 150 blazes in three days. Commanders at the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) have said the majority of the fires were started deliberately.
Mr Muir visited the Mourne Mountains in Co Down on Monday evening to see the extent of the damage caused by recent fires.
He said he has a “clear message to the people of Northern Ireland” that “if you know who is deliberately setting these malicious fires you must report it to the police”.
“You are causing a catastrophic impact to our environment but also you are putting lives and people’s homes and farms at risk,” he said.
Mr Muir said people who who maliciously start wildfires “could end up being charged with manslaughter”.
The NIFRS said on Monday evening it was continuing to deal with “multiple wildfires burning across Northern Ireland”.
Six fire appliances and 33 firefighters are tackling a 1.5km fire front in the Bloody Bridge area of the Mournes.
In the nearby Slievenaman Road area, six fire appliances and 30 firefighters are tackling a 1km blaze.
Six appliances and 33 firefighters are at the scene of a wildfire in the Sawel Mountain area of Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, and 22 firefighters are continuing to deal with a blaze in the Carncullagh Road area of Dervock, Co Antrim.
The 146 wildfires responded to from Friday to Sunday included a huge blaze in the Hilltown area near the Mourne Mountains in Co Down, which fire commanders described as one of the most significant they have had to deal with for years.
A major incident was declared as firefighters tried to contain the fire.
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) in the Republic has urged people “to act responsibly in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist”.
IFA farm forestry chairman Pádraig Stapleton said “prevention is the best defence against forest fires. During this fire danger notice, it is advised not to have barbecues in open spaces, including disposable barbecues. Dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire and do not throw rubbish away illegally.” -Additional reporting PA
