Welcome to Kerry & Cork!
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About Kerry & Cork
County Kerry (Irish: Contae Chiarraí) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and forms part of the province of Munster. Kerry contains two of the three highest mountains in Ireland, Carrauntoohil, part of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks range and Mount Brandon, part of the Slieve Mish range.The far west point of Ireland is Dunmore Head on the Dingle Peninsula.
The Lakes of Killarney are a big draw for tourists with their incredible beauty. They consist of three lakes all within the Killarney National Park – Lough Leane, Muckross Lake also known as the Middle Lake and Upper Lake as situated near Killarney. Just off Kerry’s coast are a number of Islands , including the Blasket Islands, Valentia Island and the Skelligs. Skellig Michael is a World Heritage Site, famous for the medieval monastery that sits atop hundreds of steps.
The town of Killarney is filled with colorful shops, restaurants, and pubs loud with traditional music. The town is close to Kerry’s two famed loop drives: the larger Ring of Kerry skirts the mountainous Iveragh Peninsula. The more compact Dingle Peninsula is like a condensed version of it with ancient prehistoric ring forts and beehive huts, Christian sites, sandy beaches, and beautiful views of the nearby islands. There is so much to do in this area. There is a thriving craft brewery movement as well as amazing quality restaurants. You can grab a horse-drawn carriage for a part of the ring or take a kayak in the lakes among the mountains. You can even visit a farm for a sheep herding demonstration and adopt a lamb if you like! You will find out more as you scroll down. Check out the local site to discover Kery. Don’t forget that County Kerry’s Irish motto, “Comhar, Cabhair, Cairdeas,” translates to “Cooperation, Help, and Friendship.” You will see that on display when you visit.
Cork (/kɔːrk/; Irish: Corcaigh, is home of the largest city in Ireland, and located in the south-west of Ireland.
The city center is an island positioned between two channels of the River Lee and Cork Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Many people come to County Cork to see the Blarney Castle. Others come for the amazing food and newer craft breweries of Cork, and many others come to see the town of Cobh, the last port of the Titanic before its devastating end.
A special thank you to Its Just JP for this breathtaking video of Kerry and its mountain and coastline. Also, check out the links below for the official travel sites for Killarney & Cork.
Area Planning Guide
Maps & Other Resources
wildatlanticwayonline.com is the best place to find maps and important landmarks as you plan your itinerary. For Kerry click HERE to open the interactive map. You will have access to the many activities to help plan your excursion.
Eat Play & Stay
For some of our top recommendations and off-the-beaten-path suggestions, check out the slider below. We have vetted these based on past stays or future bucket list goals. There are many other choices that fit each style and taste, so be sure to click the additional links below to narrow down options on things to do, and where to eat & stay.
Feel free to click on the slider or the icon at the top right to stop the slide and the arrow to continue.
Major Colgan's is located in the heart of Killarney National Park. With a great sense of history and superb food it is the perfect venue for dining in Killarney. Enjoy live entertainment with musicians and dancers on selected nights. The pub is named after one of Ireland's unsung heroes, Major PJ Colgan who fought for Ireland's independence and bought The Muckross Hotel (where the pub is located) in the 1940's.
The Ring of Kerry is a scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula in southwest Ireland’s County Kerry. Its 179km-long, circular route takes in rugged coastal landscapes and rural seaside villages. Skellig Michael, a rocky island with an abandoned 7th-century Christian monastery, is a major destination point, with several boats from Portmagee making the 12km crossing during the warmer months
The Lake House is a gorgeous oasis just a short way out of Killarney. It is a little more than others but not too expensive so check out the rates to decide if you can fit this into your itineary.The Lake Hotel has been welcoming guests since 1820 and Queen Victoria stayed there in 1861. Wander down its ancient pathways to the ruins of the 12th-century McCarthy Mor Castle. The views are absolutely incredible. The review are terrific too. Click on the link to find more and Explore More for the hotel site. Also check out their video by clicking the image to your left.
This incredible guest house sits on Kells Bay away from the business of Killarney. It is about 1 hour away, so do keep that in mind. If you want peace and quiet and to experience the Dingle Penninsula, we suggest this accomodation. Click on the title to learn about it or Explore More for other options on the Dingle Penninula. We suggest a guest house or bed and breakfast for that interaction with the locals.
In Ireland it is not unusual to find a castle hotel. Some do not get great reviews and are expensive but not Ballyseed. The reviews are incredible and you will find that it can be less than $200 per night. It is not far at all from Kilarney (about 30 minutes) for the many activities available, but you will truly enjoy this royal experience. Click the title to learn about the castle or Click More for other options near Killarney. You may want to stay closer to the Ring of Kerry in Killarney but do keep in mind, it can be crowded and pricey in the area, so a little research ahead of time will help.
For the most comprehensive travel guides out there, click Trip Savvy and Culture Trip below! These travel sites hire local writers and expert travelers to share the most relevant articles and best tips in the industry! Branding belongs to each respecitve company.
Get Your Guide Options
explore
Kerry
Local Spotlight ~ Kerry
Discover Kerry
This local site offers so much information on the amazing things to do and quaint AirBNBs, along with others.
Best of Kerry Ireland
This site takes you to some of the best restaurants and tips for things to do in Kerry. It is narrowed down by town and area to help as you are planning.
50 Reasons
Ring of Kerry
Caitlin and Joe, from 50 Reasons Travel Podcast, share some great insight on the Ring of Kerry. Visit their website for more information.
Off the Beaten Path
Kayaking in Killarney
Kayak Across Ireland’s Famous Lakes Of Killarney, Exploring Hidden Inlets & Islands. Spend a relaxing morning or afternoon exploring the deep sparkling Lakes of Killarney by kayak, with an expert guide. Beginning at 15th century Ross Castle, paddle into Lough Lein, discovering wooded islands, limestone caves, and local history.
Jaunting Car
The Tangney Family would like to welcome you to the South West of Ireland and the picturesque town of Killarney, home to Ireland’s highest mountain range, the magnificent MacGillycuddy Reeks, the breath-taking Lakes of Killarney and the world-renowned scenery of the Killarney National Park. You will step back in time by experiencing Ireland’s most traditional mode of transport with a Jaunting Car Tour/ horse and carriage to view Killarney’s most loved beauty hotspots.
Kissane Sheep Farm
The Farm is situated between Kenmare & Killarney National Park in County Kerry. The famous panorama of Moll’s Gap is in the middle of the land, overlooking and the farm and its sheep and lambs. Come and visit the Farm and see Sheep Dog Demonstrations & in the summer, the Sheep Shearing Demonstration.
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Skellig Michael
Off the Beaten Path ~ Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael
Star Wars Connetion
This video gives a history of the island and shares the scenes based on the Star Wars film.The best time to visit is summer when the boats are able to reach the island. It is not possible to visit off-season due to the high seas. Only 12 people are permitted to visit per day. Click Explore More for information about Slellig Michael on Ireland.com or visit https://skelligexperience.com to buy tickets directly.
Skellig Micheal
Michael McDonagh, an Archeologist, describes the importance of Skellig Michael and its incredible serene beauty. He provides insight on the preservations that are taking place to keep it standing. You can click Explore More to find out about tickets to the island which can only be reached by boat.
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Cork
Local Spotlight ~ Cork
Discover Cork
Discover Ireland Cork shows you in a few minutes the many amazing things to do in Cork. Whether that is to visit the city with its name, some of the best food in the country, and newer breweries popping up through the county. You can also visit Cobh, the last European port before the fated Titanic where this is an incredible museum. And no trip to County Cork would be complete without a trip to the Blarney Castle.
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle and Gardens is a popular stop for tourists. It is good to go early and get tickets ahead of time. It is a quick stop but decide whether it is worth adding to your itineary. We decided to skip and head to Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny but we are hoping next time we can make the journey there. The story goes that if you kiss the rock, you will have the gift of eloquent speech. Not sure if they mentioned that you have to lean back and kiss the rock upside down!
Town of Cobh
Rick Steves shares a short video on the town of Cobh which is not far from the town of Cork. It’s mainly known for the last stop. the Titanic before meeting its fate in the Atlantic. There is a poignant museum to honor the victims. The food served in the towns of Cobh and Cork is some of the best in the county. They give a new twist to traditional dishes. Also, the newer breweries are gaining a lot of attention and giving traditional companies like Smithwicks and Guinness a run for their money.
Virtual Driving Tour ~ Ring of Kerry
by Free Tours by Foot
