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Town in County Kerry, Ireland
Photo: Graham Horn, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Killarney is a town in County Kerry in southwest Ireland. In 2022 it had a resident population of 14,000 but in summer they're outnumbered by tourists, because this is one of the most scenic areas of Ireland, firmly on the tourist circuit for over 150 years. Its lakes command great views of Ireland's highest mountains, and the landscape is protected as Killarney National Park. It's the usual starting point for the Ring of Kerry, the 214-km circuit along the coast of Iveragh Peninsula.
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This now hosts the park visitor centre. It was originally a grand 18th-century chateau but proved serially combustible, so eventually the owners gave up and decamped to the stables, converting them into the present house.
A well-preserved 15th-century tower house on the lake shore. The owners were ousted after the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and it became a barracks until the 19th century, so it was kept repaired. Visit by guided tour.
The first monastery was founded in the 6th century, but the ruins you see now are of the Franciscan friary of 1448. (Actually not an abbey, where monks live in seclusion: friars preached in their locality.) It was smashed up on several occasions before Dissolution and a final scourging by Cromwell. The ruin is roofless but extensive; a striking central courtyard has a yew tree and cloisters. The graveyard remains in use.
Grand mansion built in 1843 in Tudor style, and embellished for Queen Victoria's visit of 1861. Two sideshows have outgrown the original attraction: "Muckross Traditional Farms" are an outdoor museum of farm life in Kerry in the 1930s, with demonstration of country crafts and cutesy animals for children to pet. There's also a large clothing and pottery retail outlet.
This hosts both flat-racing and National Hunt (jumps) May to Oct. The racetrack surrounds Ross golf course, 1 km southwest of town centre.
Excellent old-style pub-restaurant with trad Irish fare.
Laid-back restaurant with international cuisine.
Irish cooking with a continental twist.
Atmospheric place with trad dishes including boxty, potato pancakes.
Small, slick family-friendly restaurant with trad fare.
The best pub is there when you need it and this one at the north end of the Gap is perfect after a hard day's hike.
Steakhouse and bar with rooms on the main road into County Cork.
Atmospheric pub since 1891, with wooden interior, log fires in winter, variety of clientele, live music varies from trad to rock.
Great night out in Killarney with live music every night in the bar, and disco in the nightclub every night. They also have rooms.
With a large beer garden, live music in summer. Trad music occasionally in The Snug.
Chic modern place with a huge range of whiskey.
A trad pub.
Friendly helpful hostel and cafe, with dorms and private rooms.
Spacious central hostel, free parking. Friendly, knowledgeable staff can help with local trips.
Well-run site on south edge of town, open May-Sep.
Clean, friendly site on main road 6 km west of town, open mid Mar - Oct.
Welcoming B&B in a quiet part of town.
Simple, central mid-range hotel with lively bar.
Charming Deco-style hotel established in 1926, very central. Buckley's Bar has live music.
Comfy central place run by Killarney Park (below). Residents have free access to the main hotel's facilities.
Good mid-price hotel in town centre, dog-friendly.
Comfy, friendly B&B west of the lough, great views. Open Apr-Oct.
This elegant 1854 building gets great reviews for comfort and service. With health club and landscaped garden. Free parking.
Plush central hotel with pool and spa, top reviews for comfort and service.
Upmarket hotel and spa, gets great reviews. With restaurants, private banqueting facilities and a penthouse.
Upscale resort hotel west of lough, the hotel is modern with the 13th century castle in its grounds.
Splendid resort hotel and spa on the shores of Loch Lein, with golf course and conference centre.
Upscale manor house built in 1877 at the south edge of town, with 48 rooms in three wings all with lifts. Manor House is the original block, others are Garden Wing and Coach House (the only rooms with a/c). Assistance dogs only.
Attractive edge-of-town hotel with fine dining and spa. Assistance dogs only. Free parking. They also have self-catering Flesk Apartments.
Spa hotel near the friary. Good but not great reviews.
A large indoor mall.
You might prefer to fly into Dublin Airport, which has a much greater range of flights and onward transport, or into Shannon two hours drive away.
Read in the guideTown is compact, but you need horsepower or wheels for Killarney National Park - a bike works well.
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