County Kerry

County Kerry (from the Irish, Contae Chiarraí) is something of an oddity. Having the unique geographical distinction of bordering on only two other counties, and positioned towards the Atlantic Ocean, it receives warm, flowing winds from the Gulf Stream, which usually tails the eastern coast of the United States. As a result, a variety of subtropical plants are known to flourish here. The surrounding mountainous area means that Kerry also receives the highest annual rainfall in Ireland. Two of the three highest mountains in Ireland, Carrauntoohil and Mount Brandon, loom over Tralee Bay (to the north) and Dingle Bay (to the south) as part of the Slieve Mish mountain range.

Dunmore Head at Dingle Peninsula is the westernmost point of Ireland. The infamous Siege of Smerwick, in which 600 Spanish and Italian soldiers, sequestered at tip of the peninsula, were forced to surrender to the British Army, occurred here in 1580. Led by the famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh (who introduced tobacco and the potato to Britain), the soldiers were executed en masse and their severed heads buried in a field known as Gort na gCeann, which for obvious reasons means “Field of the Heads.”

The mysterious, 13th century Parkavonear Castle (the history of the castle has gone unrecorded and forgotten), also known as The Bishop’s Chair, can be found in Killarney. The minuscule Innisfallen Island, one of three in Lough Leane, contains within its 21 acres the ruins of a 7th century monastery, a 12th century Augustinian priory and a 12th century Romanesque church (accessible by boat from Ross Castle). Torc Waterfall and Mountain are found along the Muckross Lake Loop, which travels around Muckross Lake.

The Troubles, which occurred primarily in Northern Ireland, traces its significant history to its origins in Kerry. The Anglo-Irish Treaty, which gave 26 of the counties of Ireland back to the Irish with the stipulation that Northern Ireland would belong to the United Kingdom, was met with resistance in Kerry and resulted in a sub- internal conflict between the IRA and the Irish Army, who had formerly allied against the RIC and the British Army. Not unlike County Mayo, however, Kerry is sufficiently isolated from the rest of Ireland to have successfully withstood the onslaught of foreign invaders and has managed to uphold many cultural traditions. The Gaeltacht region is home to thousands of native Irish language speakers and Irish traditional music and dance feature heavily in pubs and festivals all over the county.

Unmissable Attractions County Kerry

1. Ross Castle (Opening Times: Monday to Friday from 9.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. in summer) Adults €4.00 / Senior citizens and groups €3.00 / Children and students €2.00 / Family €10.00

2. Muckross House (Opening Times: Monday to Sunday from 9.00 a.m. – 7.00 p.m. in summer / Monday – Sunday from 9.00 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. in winter) Prices: Adult €7.00 / Senior citizens and groups €5.50 / Children and students €3.00 / Family €7.50

3. Muckross Traditional Farms (Opening times vary from month to month, but generally the farms are open Monday to Sunday from 1.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.) Prices: Adult €7.50 / Senior citizens and groups €6.00 / Children and students €4.00 /Family €22.00

4. Kerry Bog Village Museum (Opening Times: Monday to Sunday from 9.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.) Prices: Adults €6.00 / Children €4.00 / Senior citizens and students €5.00

5. Derrynane House and National Park (Opening times vary from month to month, but generally the house is open from 1.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.) Prices: Adult €2.75 / Children and students €1.25 / Senior citizens and groups €2.00 / Family €7.00

6. Fungie the Dolphin Boat Tours (Opening Times: The boat leaves at regular intervals throughout the day) Prices: Adults €16.00 / Children (under 12) €8.00

7. Dingle Oceanworld (Opening Times: Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. / Monday to Sunday from 10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. in July and August) Prices: Adults €13.00 / Children €7.50 / Senior citizens and students €9.50 / Family (2 adults and 2 children) €32.00

8. Gallarus Castle (Opening Times: Monday – Friday from 10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. from 31st May – 29th August)

9. Listowel Castle (Opening Times: Wednesday – Sunday from 9.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. in summer)

10. Killarney National Park (Opening Times: Opening Times vary from month to month, but generally the park is open Monday – Sunday from 8.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.)

11. Siopa Cill Rialaig (Opening Times: Monday – Sunday from 11.00a.m. – 6.00 p.m. in summer / Wednesday – Sunday from 11.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. in winter)

12. The mysterious, 13th century Parkavonear Castle (the history of the castle has gone unrecorded and forgotten), also known as The Bishop’s Chair can be found in Killarney

13. The minuscule Innisfallen Island, one of three in Lough Leane, contains within its 21 acres the ruins of a 7th century monastery, a 12th century Augustinian priory and a 12th century Romanesque church. Accessible by boat (from Ross Castle)

14. Torc Waterfall and Mountain are found along the Muckross Lake Loop, which travels around Muckross Lake.

SOUTH-EAST REGION
County Wexford
County Waterford
County Kilkenny
County Carlow

SOUTH-WEST REGION
Cork City
County Cork
County Kerry
Limerick City

WEST REGION
County Clare
The Aran Islands
County Galway
County Mayo
County Sligo
County Roscommon

THE MIDLANDS
County Laois
County Longford
County Leitrim
County Offaly
County Tipperary
County Westmeath