Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has expressed interest in purchasing the iconic Conor Pass. The mountain pass, located in the southwest of Ireland and currently privately owned by Irish-American septuagenarian Michael Noonan, has been put up for sale this week.
The Prime Minister has already stated that he is not willing to pay the asking price of 10 million euros for the piece of land. However, he would be interested in purchasing it at a “reasonable price” and designating it as a national park.
The land, covering a small area of approximately 6 square kilometers, includes four lakes, a waterfall, and sections of old forest. The narrow road winding through the pass is popular among cyclists and motorcyclists.
Owner Noonan has been acquiring parcels of land for a quarter of a century as an investment for his retirement. He has expressed that he does not want the land to be divided now and that it should remain accessible to residents and visitors under a new owner.
More than fifteen years ago, in 2007, Noonan was once close to selling the pass. However, when the financial crisis hit, particularly hard in Ireland, he withdrew the offer.