Aptly known as Heaven’s Reflex, Killarney is without a doubt
the tourist capital of the Kingdom of Kerry and one of the most popular
and beautiful destinations in Ireland. World famous for its golf courses,
national park and lakes, Killarney is also rich in historic houses,
castles and monuments. The town itself is a lively hub of activity,
lying adjacent to the boundary of the National Park and its name comes
from the Gaelic term "Cill Airne", meaning "church
of the sloe", the original site of which is thought to be the
location of the present day St. Mary’s Church of Ireland. The
spectacular scenery of the area has been the basis of a tourism industry
that has been operating for over 200 years but it was the visit of
Queen Victoria in 1861 that saw the start of large-scale tourism in
the Killarney area.
The attractions in and around Killarney are plentiful, while it is
also a great base from which to explore the rest of the county of
Kerry. Probably the most famous thing about Killarney is of course
the Lakes of Killarney, which so often provide the stunning backdrop
for many great sights. Central to Killarney National Park, the three
lakes are known as the Upper Lake, Muckross Lake (Middle Lake) and
Lough Leane (Lower Lake). The lakes are joined at the "Meeting
of the Waters", a popular area from where the Old Weir Bridge,
thought to be over 400 years old, can be seen. The Upper Lake, though
the smallest, is set in the most spectacular location in the heart
of the rugged mountain scenery of the Upper Killarney Valley and Black
Valley area. Muckross Lake is the deepest of the three lakes, with
a maximum depth of 250 feet, while Lough Leane is by far the largest,
measuring approximately 19 square km.
The Killarney National Park itself of course is a uniquely special
place and is a major attraction. It was Ireland’s first National
Park and came into being when the Muckross Estate (the core of the
present day Park) was presented to the Nation in 1932. The National
Park comprises over 25,000 acres (40 square miles) of mountains, woodland,
waterways and gardens and is home to Ireland’s only surviving
wild herd of native Red Deer. Significant areas of woodland cover
much of the park, while the lakes, with their high population of brown
trout and salmon, are a haven for the fisherman. In addition to the
high density of mammal and fish life, the Park also boasts a wealth
of bird life, including the Greenland White Fronted Geese, which spend
the winter months in the area.
Muckross House
Human history has also left an indelible mark
on the Killarney area. The remains of Inishfallen Abbey, a monastic
settlement founded in the 7th century, still exist on an island in
Lough Leane, while Muckross Abbey, founded in the 15th century is
also worth a visit. Central to the National Park of course is Muckross
House, Gardens and Traditional Farms. The house is a magnificent Victorian
mansion and one of Ireland’s leading stately homes, while the
magnificently kept gardens benefit from the natural setting of the
mountains and Lakes of Killarney. The very interesting part at Muckross
however, is the Traditional Farms, an outdoor representation of rural
life in Kerry in the 1930’s, which consists of three working
farms, labourer’s cottage, blacksmith’s forge, carpenter’s
workshop and well.
Killarney is also a great base from which to explore
the world-renowned Ring of Kerry, which offers some of the most stunning
scenery imaginable. One of the amazing sights you’ll come across
is Ladies View, a celebrated panorama of Killarney’s famous Lakes,
and so called as it was much admired by Queen Victoria’s ladies
in waiting when they visited the area in 1861. Visitors should also
be sure to make the pilgrimage to view Torc Waterfall, where the Owengariff
River cascades through the wooded Friar’s Glen into the Muckross
Lake. Ross Castle, a 15th century structure built by the O’Donoghue
Ross Chieftains, is also well worth a look. Boasting an interesting
history, the castle is now restored and houses a fine collection of
16th and 17th century oak furniture.
Ring of Kerry Scenery
Other attractions and places to visit include
the picturesque Gap of Dunloe; the Kerry Bog Village Museum in Glenbeigh,
which sheds light on the rural lifestyles of the early 1800’s;
the Kerry Woolen Mills, which gives a delightful insight into the
manufacture of wool in Kerry up to the present day; and Derrynane
House, the ancestral home of "The Liberator", Daniel O’Connell.
