Derrycunnihy Wood
{{Short description|Woodland and nature reserve in County Kerry, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Derrycunnihy Wood
| photo = Killarney National Park - View to northeast off N71 - geograph.org.uk - 1632921.jpg
| photo_width = 200
| photo_caption = View to northeast off N71
| map = Ireland
| map_width = 200
| map_caption = Location of Derrycunnihy Wood in Ireland
| map_alt =
| label = Derrycunnihy Wood
| label_position =
| relief =
| mark =
| coords = {{coord|51.972|N|9.593|W|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| type = National
| location = County Kerry
| area = {{convert|336|acre|2}}
| created =
| founder =
| operator = Coillte
| status = Open all year
| website =
}}
Derrycunnihy Wood is a national nature reserve of approximately {{convert|336|acre|km2}} located in County Kerry, Ireland. It is managed by Coillte.
Features
Derrycunnihy Wood, also known as Derrycunihy Wood, was legally protected as a national nature reserve by the Irish government in 1989.{{cite web |title=S.I. No. 111/1989 - Nature Reserve (Derrycunihy Wood) Recognition Order, 1989. |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1989/si/111/made/en/print |website=electronic Irish Statute Book |accessdate=17 September 2020 |language=en}} The reserve is owned by Coillte.{{cite web |title=Derrycunnihy Wood Nature Reserve |url=https://www.npws.ie/nature-reserves/kerry/derrycunnihy-wood-nature-reserve |website=National Parks & Wildlife Service |accessdate=17 September 2020}}
The name Derrycunnihy means "wood of the rabbits", despite a lack of rabbits in the area today.{{cite journal |last1=Turner |first1=John S. |last2=Watt |first2=A. S. |title=The Oakwoods (Quercetum Sessiliflorae) of Killarney, Ireland |journal=Journal of Ecology |date=1939 |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=202–233 |doi=10.2307/2256307 |jstor=2256307 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2256307 |accessdate=17 September 2020 |issn=0022-0477}} The reserve is located in Killarney National Park. It is believed to be one of the oldest and most natural native sessile oak woods in Ireland{{cite web |title=SITE SYNOPSIS: KILLARNEY NATIONAL PARK SPA |url=https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/protected-sites/synopsis/SY004038.pdf |website=National Parks & Wildlife Service |accessdate=17 September 2020}}{{cite web |title=Management Plan for Killarney National Park 2005-2009 |url=https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/KNPMP.pdf |website=National Parks & Wildlife Service |accessdate=17 September 2020}} and the country's best example of a damp-climate oceanic wood with dense mosses and ferns. The reserve also contains lake shore and areas of bog. Two species of deer graze in the reserve, native red deer graze in winter on the open hills, and the Japanese sika deer which were introduced in the 18th century graze the woodland all year round, which results in areas of grass like lawn and a brown line under which all leaves and twigs have been eaten.{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Mal |title=Wood, bog and mountain |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/wood-bog-and-mountain-1.940059 |accessdate=17 September 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=20 September 2008 |language=en}}