Visitor Attractions, Festivals, Golf Courses and Amenities near Killarney County Kerry

Visitor Attractions around Killarney, County Kerry

Home | Local Area | Reservations

Killarney Visitor Attractions

Coolwood Wildlife Park

Coolwood is a 50 acre complex, with a 10 acres Wildlife Park and 40 acres of Wildlife Sanctuary. With an easily supervised Childrens Playground and a delightful Coffee Shop. The Park is ideally appointed for School Tours, family outings and corporate day trips. The Wildlife Sanctuary is heavily wooded and is a stronghold of the red squirrel, sparrow hawks, dippers and the more common native wildlife species. It is an ideal place to take the family for a visit with a childrens playground and wonderful picnic areas with some spectacular views. The Wildlife Park inhabitants are many and varied, many being a long way from home but all enjoying the pleasant surroundings in this thoughtfully managed facility. Here you can meet many animal favourites including monkeys, lemurs, meerkats, raccoons, prairie dogs, agouties, artic foxes, maras, llama, alpacas, mountjac deer, pygmy goats. Large bird of prey collection. Pets corner, reptiles, fancy fowl, pigeons. Wonderful rabbittery with many loveable pet inmates. Waterfowl collection of carolina and mandarin duck, black swans and geese etc.

Kennedy's Pet Farm

Located in Glenfesk near Killarney, Kennedy's Pet Farm was set up in 1991 by Noreen and Diarmuid Kennedy. Today, its a thriving family business that continues to grow and prosper on an annual basis. The pet farm has proved to be a great attraction for both young and old. A great advantage is the all weather facilities, so come rain or shine the Kennedy family can offer you an exciting day out. New arrivals on the farm is a regular occurrence and there's always a happy mother waiting to show off her new babies! So if you fancy cuddling, feeding or just admiring the large varieties of animals -deer, pigs, piglets, horses, calves, sheep and lambs, goats and kids, donkeys, pot bellied pigs, rabbits, duck and ducklings, geese and goslings and "Prince" the peacock - then Kennedy Pet Farm is a must for any visitor to Kerry.

Killarney National Park

The National Park comprises of 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of beautiful lake and mountain scenery. The Park is famous for its' native natural habitats and species including oakholly woods, yew woods and red deer. The National Park Visitor Centre (located at Muckross House) and the Information Point at Torc Waterfall provide information on all aspects of the park. Access for visitors with disabilities to The Visitor Centre. The Education Centre, located at Knockreer House, provides a range of courses related to nature conservation and the ecology of The National Park for school children, students and other groups.

Muckross Friary

This Franciscan Friary was founded in the 15th century and is in a remarkable state of preservation. The tower was added after the church was built and is the only Franciscan tower in Ireland which is as wide as the church. The cloister and its associated buildings are complete and an old yew tree stands in the centre. The monks were finally driven out by the Cromwellians in 1652.

Muckross House

Within Killarney National Park is Muckross House, a magnificent Victorian mansion and one of Ireland's leading stately homes. The elegantly furnished rooms portray the lifestyles of the landed gentry, while downstairs in the basement one can experience the working conditions of the servants employed in the House. The Gardens at Muckross House are renowned world-wide for their beauty. In particular they are noted for their fine collections of azaleas and rhododendrons, an extensive water garden, and an outstanding rock garden hewn out of natural limestone. Muckross House is also home to a number of skilled craft workers who can be viewed using traditional skills in the crafts of weaving, bookbinding and pottery in the adjacent walled garden centre. Access for visitors with disabilities, including platform lifts and elevators.

Muckross Traditional Farms

Muckross Traditional Farms preserves in real life the farming traditions of rural Ireland in the past. Three separate working farms, with a range of farm animals including traditional Kerry cows and farm machinery will help you relive the past. Muckross Traditional Farms takes you back to a time before the advent of electricity when all work was carried out using traditional methods. Meet and chat with the farmers and their wives as they go about their daily work in the houses, on the land, and with the animals. A complimentary vintage coach operates around the Traditional Farms for the benefit of elderly and physically challenged visitors. Full access for visitors with disabilities.

Ross Castle

This Castle may be considered a typical example of the stronghold of an Irish Chieftain during the Middle Ages. The date of its foundation is uncertain but it was probably built in the late 15th century by one of the O'Donoghue Ross chieftains. It is surrounded by a fortified bawn, its curtain walls defended by circular flanking towers, two of which remain. Much of the bawn was removed by the time the Barrack building was added on the south side of the castle sometime in the middle of the 18th century. The castle contains 16th and 17th century oak furniture. Access for people with disabilities to the ground floor only by prior arrangement.

Killarney Festivals

Killarney SummerFest

Killarney Summerfest is bustling with a myriad of activities for all the family. The Festival programme offers a fantastic range of outdoor activities set amongst the breathtaking Lakes, Hills, Valleys and Mountains of Killarney. An abundance of childrens activities throughout the day await with dozens of Arts and Creativity Work shops and fun summercamps. In the Evening families will throng the Town Centre as the streets of Killarney come to life like never before as some of the worlds leading street performers, puppeteers, comedians and magicians entertain all the family.