Killarney, Ireland

Killarney in the County Kerry is a great town in southwestern Ireland.  It is also the second most popular tourist destination in Ireland.  Killarney is famous for Killarney National Park and the highest mountain range in all of Ireland, McGillycuddy's Reeks.  Killarney National Park is one of the UNESCO sites. 

While we were at the park, we visited Ross Castle.   Ross Castle sits on the edge of Killarney’s lower lake and has a great view of the lake, islands, and mountains around it.  The castle was built by O'Donoghue Mór in the 15th century, and legend has it that O’Donoghue sleeps in a deep slumber under the waters of Lough Leane, the largest of the three lakes in Killarney National Park, which Ross Castle sits beside.   Our view that day to the mountains you could see snow on them; there was a strong breeze and white caps on the lake.   The castle has a great view of the mountains and lake around.  We found several small doorways in this castle also.   You could walk on the lower part of the castle and around the grounds, but the interior of the castle was closed to visitors.

Our stay in Killarney was at the Killarney Towers Hotel, a great hotel in the heart of the city center.   The hotel has excellent accommodations and a great restaurant called Innisfallen.  The restaurant is decorated with pictures from the area, along with mason jars of everything you could eat that was pickled.  In the entrance to the restaurant in the bar area, there is a wall of black and white photographs of older Irish men and women; it is a great display of the town’s residents.  

The center of Killarney has many great shops, restaurants, pubs and several churches.  We found a great pub called Sheehan’s with live music and plenty of Irish beer.  We only had one night in Killarney so if you plan to go, plan on several days to explore the National Park along with all the town has to offer.