Caherciveen...

Cahersiveen located on the Ring of Kerry is the principal town of the Iveragh Peninsula. It overlooks the attractive Valentia Habour. There is no scarcity of restaurants and cafes in the town and as for shopping there are antiques, crafts, galleries, gift, jewellery and pottery shops. As far as accommodation is concerned, there is a selection of B&Bs and self-catering cottages to choose from. On your tour take in the lively traditional music scene. Traditional set dancing is also popular and goes on throughout the year in a number of locations. Fair days are still held on the streets where people from the surrounding countryside come to socialise and to shop in the stalls that are erected for the day.

The town has its own marina which is a centre for watersports and sailing. Sailing lessons and boat hire are available from the Marina.

Cahersiveen is the birthplace of Daniel O'Connell known as the liberator of Ireland. The 19th century O'Connell Memorial Church named after Daniel O'Connell is the only church in Ireland named after a lay person and well worth a visit.

The tourist office is located in the Cahersiveen Community Centre it is open during the tourist season. Tourist and visitor information also available at the Old Barracks Heritage Centre in Bridge Street.

 

 

Caherciveen has a wide range of quality accommodation to suit all budgets, ranging from hotels and bed & breakfasts to hostels and self catering accommodation. Caherciveen has a nice variety of pubs which are well worth a visit on a warm summers evening or a cold winters one!.

For diners there are a selection of restaurants

Walking is a great way to see the surrounding countryside. Beentee Looped Walk is a marked walkway. Guided walks normally take place on the last Saturday of every month, your guide will take you around the local places of beauty giving information of birds, wildlife, flora and local history. The beautiful Kerry Way Walk runs through the town. Cnoc na Tobar (Hill of the Wells) is accessed by following the Pilgrims' Path to the summit of this 2,267 ft mountain and enjoy panoramic views of the Iveragh Peninsula, the Skellig Rocks and the Dingle Peninsula.

Cahersiveen is reputed as one of Europe's premier angling destinations, taking in both sea and freshwater angling. The town is host to various sea angling festivals each year. There are several fishing boat operators to be found in and around Cahersiveen who will cater to your every fishing need. There is a fishing tackle supplier in the town. There is also fishing available off Valentia Island.

There are several outdoor activity operators in the area providing horse riding, rock climbing, hill walking, canoeing, kayaking, mountaineering, team building and orienteering. Ballycarbery castle is well worth a visit, located just a mile or two outside Cahersiveen a quarter mile from the ring forts of Leacanabuail and Cahergal. The ruins are very photographic. Set on top of a small hill and with one side covered in ivy it really is a gem. Taking a walk around Kells Bay House and Gardens is a lovely way to spend an afternoon or Kells Sheep Centre have sheepdog demonstrations.

Festivals in the town include; Cahersiveen's Annual Celtic Festival of Music and the Arts every August holiday weekend, Cahersiveen Horse and Pony Races held mid August and nearby Portmagee's Annual Set Dancing and Ceili May Weekend. A three day festival of set dancing and traditional ceili. The Annual Sea Shanty Festival is held at the end of September in aid of the RNLI Lifeboats is great fun and a great cause. And as with all towns across Ireland St. Patricks Day celebrates all that is Irish.

Caherciveen is a great place to base yourself in Kerry to tour the islands off the Iveragh Peninsula. Valentia Island can be accessed by the Maurice O'Neill Memorial Bridge at Portmagee on the Iveragh peninsula. A ferry leaves from Reenard Point, Cahersiveen which is a five-minute crossing, sailing from 1 April to 1 October. The Skellig Islands is just a short journey away and the most well preserved ancient Christian monastic settlement in Europe. Boats leave every day during the season from nearby Ballinskelligs Pier, or from Caherdaniel, Portmagee, Cahersiveen and Valentia Island.