DISCOVER KILLARNEY

Killarney is home to St. Mary's Cathedral, Ross Castle, Muckross Abbey, Torc Waterfall and Gap of Dunloe. The town was awarded the "Best Kept Town" award for 2007 in a cross-border competition jointly organised by the Department of the Environment and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council.

Owing to its natural heritage, history and proximity to the Dingle Peninsula, Skellig Michael island and its location on the Ring of Kerry, Killarney is a popular tourist destination.


TOURISM IN KILLARNEY

Tourism is by far the largest industry in Killarney. With the exception of Dublin, there are more hotel beds in Killarney than in any other Irish town or city. The tourist population is increasingly diverse however a significant proportion of tourists originate from the USA, Ireland, the UK, Germany and other European countries.

Killarney's tourism history goes back at least to the mid 1700s, when Thomas, fourth Viscount Kenmare, began to attract visitors and new residents to the town. The date of 1747 was used in recent 250-year celebrations to honour the history of Killarney tourism.

A visit by Queen Victoria in 1861 gave the town international exposure, which it has enjoyed ever since. In the Summer months, Killarney is busy with tourists perusing the town's numerous shops and tourist attractions. Many shops are tourist oriented with many gift shops around the town. The town centre also offers a wide range of hotels, pubs and restaurants to cater for every requirement. Killarney is also famous for its jaunting cars (horse drawn carts) operated by local jarvies. Tourists can avail of jaunting car rides and a guided tour of the town's attractions offered by the jarvies.

Killarney SummerFest is a highlight of the year in the town, featuring outdoor and indoor concerts from major Irish and international acts. Previous acts include Snow Patrol, The Cranberries, Bryan Adams, The Corrs, Westlife, Tom Jones, Kris Kristofferson and David Gray. SummerFest 2007 saw Pink headline the festival, supported by Director. Other events in this year's SummerFest included a Fringe Festival, performances of the Broadway musical FAME, parades, workshops, charity events including a Pink Tie Ball, a busking competition and a hot air balloon meet.


ATTRACTIONS OF KILLARNEY

• Lakes of Killarney
• Killarney National Park
• Muckross House
• The Black Valley
• Aghadoe
• Ross Castle - this square medieval tower was built by the O'Donoghues on the shores of Lough Lein in the 15th century. Now restored, the castle houses a collection of 16th and 17th century oak furniture. Ross Castle is the departure point for boat tours on Lough Lein.

NIGHTLIFE IN KILLARNEY

Killarney is a popular destination for partygoers. Killarney's nightspots are often busy seven days a week during the summer months, when the population of the town and the surrounding area increases significantly. The places most commonly visited are Mustang Sallys, McSorleys, Scruffys, Scotts, Charlie Foleys, Jades Bar New Street, The Grand Hotel and The Granary.


CAR RALLYING

For many years, Killarney was the destination of the Circuit of Ireland Rally, which was held every year over the Easter holiday weekend. Nowadays, on the first weekend of May each year, the town plays host to the International Rally of the Lakes. The rally brings spectators in their thousands to watch the top tarmac rally crews do battle over the classic stages of the southwest.


GAELIC FOOTBALL

Killarney has three Gaelic football teams: Dr. Crokes, Killarney Legion and Spa. The rural hinterland has a large number of Gaelic football teams, such as Kilcummin, Fossa, Firies, Glenflesk and Gneeveguilla. All these teams compete in the Kerry County league and the East Kerry Championship (O'Donoghue Cup) and league.


ROWING

There are six active rowing clubs in the town, who share a common history in Ireland's oldest surviving regatta, the Killarney Regatta, which is held annually on the first or second Sunday in July. The six clubs are Commercial RC (Killarney), Flesk Valley RC, Fossa RC, Muckross RC, St. Brendan's RC and Workmen RC. The style of rowing seen at the regatta is traditional, fixed seat rowing in wide, wooden 6 person boats. Since the eighties, a number of the clubs have moved toward coastal type rowing and modern 'slide' or Olympic style rowing.

Muckross Rowing Club is the richest of the clubs, having developed into a full time 'sliding' club with 24 National Championships (since 1996) at various levels from Junior to Senior. A number of members of the club have also been selected to row for Ireland and have competed successfully at the Home International Regatta, Coupe de la Jeunesse, World Rowing Championships and Olympic Games.

COUNTY KERRY HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION

IRELAND TOURS, TRAVEL & ACTIVITIES