County Kerry
Dingle
Kenmare
Killarney
Ring of Kerry
Tralee
Killarney
The town of Killarney is nationally and internationally renowned as the undisputed centre of tourism in the southwest of Ireland. While its wild beauty and glorious scenery have for centuries established it firmly in the affections of all who have visited, Killarney is also a thriving commercial town offering an abundance of attractions and entertainment.
Over seventy pubs line the streets of the town while a vast array of restaurants and accommodation ensure that every imaginable taste can be catered for. The popularity of the town is not a modern-day phenomenon as it has welcomed visitors for over 200 years.
Killarney’s many attractions include:
Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park was Ireland's first and is now its largest national park. The park covers over 25,000 acres (10,000 hectares) of mountain, garden, park, woodland, waterway, and moorland. It has an unusual and varied ecology as a result of its geology and the climatic influence of the Gulf Stream. The red, mountainous sandstone uplands support large areas of blanket bog, and the remoteness and relative inaccessibility of some of these areas helps the continued survival of Ireland's only remaining wild herd of native Red Deer.
Lakes of Killarney
Situated in the National Park, the world-famous Lakes of Killarney comprises three individual lakes: Lough Leane, measuring some five miles long and with over 30 small islands, is the largest; Muckross Lake lies in the middle; while the Upper Lake is peppered with magical islands, each filled with a pleasing variety of trees and shrubbery. The well-preserved remains of Inisfallen Abbey, a monastic settlement which was founded in the 7th century and remained inhabited until well into the 14th century, can be seen on an island in Lough Leane.
Ladies View
Located on the Ring of Kerry, Ladies View is one of the finest panoramic viewing points of the entire Killarney valley. The viewing point derived its name when Queen Victoria and her lady companions stopped here to admire the view during a visit to the area in 1861.
Ross Castle
Ross Castle may be considered a typical example of the stronghold of an Irish Chieftain during the Middle Ages. The date of its foundation is uncertain but it was probably built in the late 15th century by one of the O'Donoghue Ross chieftains. It was surrounded by a fortified bawn, its curtain walls defended by circular flanking towers, two of which remain. Much of the bawn was removed by the time the Barrack building was added on the south side of the castle, sometime in the middle of the 18th century. The castle contains 16th and 17th century furniture.
Muckross Abbey
Occupied by the Franciscans in 1448, Muckross Abbey was suppressed during penal times. The surviving ruins include a 15th century nave, a magnificent window, a belfry tower and south transept. The striking cloisters, which have 22 arches set about an open court, are rendered more dramatic by a giant yew tree reputedly dating from the abbey’s beginning over 500 years ago.
Muckross Gardens
Location and botanical collection make this one of the greatest gardens in the world. Many tender and exotic trees and shrubs flourish in the mild climate and sheltered location of Muckross Gardens. Attractive features include a fine collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, an outstanding rock garden on a natural rock outcrop and beautiful tree fringed lawns. There is a great collection of dwarf and slow-growing conifers, prostrate shrubs and climbers and alpine perennials.
Gap of Dunloe
For over 200 years. visitors to Killarney have been taking 'The Gap Tour'. Without doubt, it is a 'classic' in every sense. The Gap is a magnificent, glaciated valley with high cliffs, ribbon-like waterfalls, and stunning vistas, and a day-long tour includes embarking on a boat ride at the edge of an ancient castle, traversing the waters of three lakes to land at a romantic cottage, followed by a 6-mile overland trip by foot, pony, or jaunting car. The Gap of Dunloe is one of Kerry’s most beautiful and spectacular mountain valleys.