Killarney

Killarney or Cill Airne as it is known in Irish, means The Church of the Sloe. It is a town located on the famous Ring of Kerry in the South West of Ireland in County Kerry and its population is around 12,000. Killarney has a strong religious and educational history, the town was a church foundation from the 5th or 6th century, house settlement began around 1500. Sites of interest in the town reflect this as there are many old churches with stunning architecture.

Many of Killarney's buildings date back to the days of the landlord several hundred years ago. The town now bustles with activity with many shops selling traditional goods. Traditional farming methods can also be seen at several farms around Killarney.

During the day, you can enjoy yourself in Killarney by taking a walk in the bustling streets or sit in one of the many café's and watch the world go by. Whatever you decide, Killarney must be visited when traveling through Ireland.

At night the town is alive with diners and people enjoying the quietness of the streets. Restaurants are of a very high standard and diners will not be disappointed. There is a wide variety of pubs available in the town, ranging from traditional pubs where you might find turf fires to modern pubs. One thing all the pubs have in common is Guinness.

Killarney is one of the main game fishing centers in the south west of Ireland. There are four large lakes in Killarney providing excellent fishing opportunities as well as the many rivers and small lakes in the mountains. The main types of fish to be caught are wild brown trout and artificially stocked rainbow trout.

The Killarney National Park is the largest national park in Ireland. It has spectacular areas to visit and consists of lakes, mountains, woodlands, rivers, waterfalls, islands and many more spectacular features. There is also an abundance of wildlife to be seen such as wild deer, badgers, foxes, rabbits and a wide variety of birds. Within the Killarney National Park are the famous MacGillycuddy Reeks, the stunning Lakes of Killarney, Torc Waterfall and the Muckross Demense. The Park also has several famous walking routes such as the following.

Old Boathouse Trail

As you walk the road from Muckross House to Torc waterfall you encounter a fine specimen Cypress on your right hand side. Following the path beside this tree you will see two old boathouses on the shores of the Muckross lake where boats can be hired in the summer season. This is the first stop on the Old Boathouse walk. Continuing along the path will take you through Rhododendron Arches to a viewing point overlooking Dundag bay. On either side are native Yew trees which are quite common in Killarney and seem to grow on every outcrop of limestone . The next section takes the walker to the cliff overlooking the middle lake ( Dundag point). This provides a spectacular viewing point over Muckross lake and an excellent vantage point for viewing Torc mountain. On your way along the track to the sandy shores of Goleen you will pass a grove of Arbutus. Goleen shore is mixture of caves, sand and pebbles and in Summer is the local swimming point. Further along the shore and past some majestic pines you will find the exit back to the main road.

Arthur Young Nature Trail

This walk is about 7.5 kms long and takes 2.5 hours at a leisurely pace. A shorter version of about 4.5 kms also exists. More than half of this walk is along a surfaced road through the Killarney National Park which is free of motorised traffic but which abounds with horse drawn carts and cyclists during the height of the Killarney tourist season. This walk begins near Muckross House and follows a route along Muckross Peninsula between Lough Leane and Muckross Lake.

Mossy Woods Nature Trail

This trail is located in one of the most scenic areas of the Killarney National Park, from which some magnificent panoramic view of Torc and Mangerton Mountains and the McGuillicuddys Reeks can be enjoyed. It starts almost directly in front of Muckross House and takes roughly 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace. This trail will take the walker through oak and yew woodland with the the Muckross lake just on the left hand side for the first half of the walk.

Ross Island

Ross Island is a peninsula south of Killarney town which juts into Lough Leane. A combination of a road and pathways circumnavigates Ross Island. These begin along a surfaced road close to Ross Castle. There are some spectacular views of Lough Leane and Tomies mountain. Mainly a walk through deciduous woodland with continually changing vistas of mountains and lakes. Wide variety of native flora and unusual shoreline formations. The early part of the walk passes the ruins of Ross Cottage. Take a look through the narrow windows/slits to see a mature sycamore tree growing on the top of a wall. Further along the path and on the shore of Lough Leane are the copper mines - these are reputed to be the oldest copper mines in North Western Europe. This location gives a good view of the eastern side of Lough Leane, and the two large islands off the shore are the Rough and the Cow Islands. Further along the road you reach the headland called Governor's Rock which has a great panoramic view. Further along the track is the Library point which give a great view of Innisfallen Island, O'Donoghues Prison and a tiny tree covered island appropriately called the Mouse Island.

The Gap of Dunloe

The Gap of Dunloe is a rugged mountain pass on the eastern side of the Kerry's MacGillycuddy's Reeks close to Killarney Town. It is famous for it's rugged scenery, unspoilt landscape and corrie lakes. Walking is the best way to see the Gap of Dunloe, leaving your car at Kate Kearneys Cottage. This is a long walk which will takes nearly a full day to complete. It begins alongside Kate Kearneys Cottage and takes the walker through some rugged mountain scenery of a mountain gap. Alternatively, it you have neither the time nor the energy to walk you can hire either a pony or a jaunting car to travel the route. (These ponies and horses are at the opposite end of the scale to the kind seen in horse racing - so don't expect too much) There are fantastic vistas of rocky overhanging mountains and deep and mystic mountain lakes. The route carries the walker through the Gap into the Black Valley. From there route leads to the Upper Lake and and the Queens Cottage - which is a fantastic walk on its own - offering great views of the Upper Lake and the surrounding woodland. From here Killarney town is a further 12km and it is not recommended to walk this as you will have already walked 14km and much of the road to Killarney has reasonably heavy traffic and there is not much of a footpath. Best to arrange to be picked up close to the Queens Cottage or else use a mobile phone to call a taxi or a friend.