Kenmare...

Kenmare is a great place to base yourself to tour Kerry. It is located where the Ring of Kerry and Beara Peninsula meet and is also close to the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Mangerton Mountains and Caha Mountains. This good sized town is very picturesque winning the tidy towns competition in the past. The town is noted for its food and pubs, it boasts a great range of restaurants and traditional pubs. There is no lack of choice when it comes to accommodation in Kenmare, choose from hotels, B&Bs, self-catering, a hostel or caravan and camping parks.

Kenmare was traditionally a market town, today a fair is still held in the town on the 15th of August each year. Kenmare is somewhat of a food capital and it celebrates this with The Kenmare Food Carnival each summer. You can sample 5 star dinning to great food from local producers in a fun carnival style atmosphere. There are also walking festivals in April and May.

Locally known as The Shruberries or Druids Circle, Kenmare has one of largest stone circles in the south west of Ireland. With evidence of occupation in the area going back to the Bronze Age, the circle consists of 15 standing stones with a large boulder dolmen in the middle. The Heritage Park at Bonane has a 2000 metres of gravelled walkway which passes along side a number of ancient monuments each having it's own interpretive board and story to tell. It showcases over 5,000 years of occupation.

Kenmare is a haven of creativity. The convent of the Poor Clare Sisters set up a lace working industry in 1864, which became famous for its quality. At Kenmare Lace Center you can watch as traditional lace being made, there is a lot of skill involved and you can purchase a memento of your visit. At the Anam Cre Arts Centre you can make pottery or watch pottery being made. A number of well known artists live in the area and you can see their work in art galleries in the town. You can also get a piece of unique locally hand crafted jewellery, or design your own piece of jewellery from the expert jeweller in the town.

 

 

Kenmare has a wide range of quality accommodation to suit all budgets, ranging from hotels and bed & breakfasts to hostels and self catering accommodation. Kenmare 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

The tourist office in Kenmare in the square, open during the tourist season it has a great amount of information on Kenmare and the local area.

There are plenty of out-door activities to choose from in Kenmare. The two local golf courses; Kenmare Golf Club and Ring of Kerry Golf Club run several small competitions during the summer. There is also a pitch and putt course 2 miles outside the town. Kenmare has its own walking club holding walking events throughout the year as well as detailing local walks which are in abundance and well signposted. Rinn na Gcros Park and Dereen Gardens at Lauragh make wonderful walks.Faungorth Activity Centre is fun for all the family.

The bay is particularly good for diving with instruction and equipment available locally. For lovers of the sea there is also sea cruises, kayaking, raft building, canoeing, peddle and power boating. At Kissane Working Sheep Farm you can watch sheepdog and shearing demonstrations and have a go at shearing yourself. The area is great for horse riding with magnificent views to take in while you ride. There are 3 salmon rivers and at least 5 lakes stocked with trout, with information, permits and fishing equipment available locally. For something unique why not try mud surfing.

For rainy day activities there is Kilgarvan Motor Museum or pamper yourself at one of the hotel spa's.