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Kerry |
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No matter from which direction the county of Kerry is approached, the great central spine of mountains draws the eye of the traveller. The relatively high mountains and narrow peninsulas conjure weather patterns which change the face of the mountains, the surface of the water and the texture of the landscape by the minute. The fretted coastline and deep bays created by the mighty Atlantic play tricks with the light and produce a magical quality which intoxicates the senses.
County Kerry is a rugged county and has Ireland’s highest mountain – Carrauntoohill 1,039m. The southern parts of the county – the Ring of Kerry – and the Dingle Peninsula are more mountainous. The northern part of the county is lower lying. The main features of County Kerry include the long bay of the Kenmare River, and Dingle Bay. This county covers just over 1800 sq. miles.
Archaeology & History
Kerry has a very strong archaeological and historical heritage and many surviving monuments can be visited. The visitor should seek permission before entering private property. Some of these monuments are National Monuments and are in the care of the State.
The first settlers in Ireland were the Mesolithic people who reached Ireland about 9,000 years ago. While the concentration of known sites is in the north east of Ireland, there is evidence of such early settlement at the western end of the Dingle Peninsula.
There are over 80 stone circles to be found in the Region; their prehistoric use is somewhat obscure, but they probably had a ritualistic purpose. It is in the south west that the majority of Ireland’s Ogham Stones are found. This was an early form of writing dating from approximately 300 AD, using lines and strokes cut into the edges of stones.
There are also many important Early Christian sites in the Region. Medieval settlement in then Region was concentrated on the eastern part of County Cork, with few County Kerry known sites.
The Dingle Peninsula alone has over 1,000 archaeological sites and guided tours are available.
Geography
County Kerry, traditionally known as the 'kingdom', is situated in the extreme south-west of Ireland. Kerry has two contrasting types of terrain - the mountainous south with the Beara, Iveragh and Dingle peninsulas, and the smaller 'plains' area that stretches as far north as the Shannon estuary. Along the coast, sandy bays alternate with cliffs and rocky headlands. You'll also see regions of outstanding scenic beauty, such as the Ring of Kerry. Why not explore this beautiful country with a rail and coach tour?
The drive from Tralee to Brandon is spectacular, and in the Brandon Art Gallery, the beauty of Kerry's scenery is captured in a collection of stunning oil paintings. From Brandon, you can walk over the Conor Pass to Dingle - or simply climb Mount Brandon to experience raw beauty at its best. However, scenery is by no means Kerry's only attraction; there are many coastal resorts with excellent angling, great cycling, superb golf courses and a wealth of ancient monuments
Rose of Tralee
Since then the festival has grown, incorporating more centres from all over the world, from Australia to Ulster, and has become firmly established on everyone’s events calendar. Television broadcaster RTE’s live coverage of the Rose Selection has been their top rating show for many years and has helped install the festival in the national psyche
The festival also takes its inspiration from the love song ‘The Rose of Tralee’, by William Mulchinock, a nineteenth century wealthy merchant who was in love with Mary O’Connor, his maid. Mary was born in Broguemaker’s Lane in Tralee and worked as a nanny in Ballyard. William first saw Mary there and fell in love with her, but because of the social differences between the two families their love affair was forbidden. Falsely accused of murder on the day he proposed to Mary, William fled to India. When he returned to Tralee some years later still yearning for Mary, he found she had died of tuberculosis. Broken hearted, William expressed his love and grief in the words of a song: ‘The Rose of Tralee’. Now in its 45th year the Festival has grown not only to celebrate the special qualities of the Rose but also to provide five days of unrivalled family fun and entertainmen
Skellig
The Skellig Islands, Skellig Michael and Small Skellig, stand aloof in the Atlantic Ocean some 12 km southwest of Valentia Island, County Kerry.
From any angle, or from any vantage point on the nearby Ring of Kerry, they are spectacular pinnacles, which have magnetised viewers throughout all history – and beyond.
These Skellig islands are world-famous, each in its own right: Skellig Michael is known throughout the world of archaeology as the site of a well-preserved monastic outpost of the Early Christian period – now designated a World Heritage Site; Small Skellig is equally renowned in matters of ornithology as the home of some 27,000 pairs of gannets – the second largest colony of such seabirds in the world.
A wisp of cloud often adorning the peaks of these pinnacles creates a volcanic impression! But there is nothing volcanic about these Skelligs rocks; they are created of the same 350–million-year-old Devonian Sandstone that runs right through the backbone of Kerry - from the county’s south-western headlands to the shores of Killarney's lakes.
Puck Fair
Kerryīs great annual binge - trading, music-making, drinking, story-telling - īPuckī is the real thing. And thatīs no surprise, because the Fair dates back longer than anyone has been able to figure out. A couple of years ago on Gathering Day (the first day of the Fair), a man in the Fishery Bar told Kerry Gems that the festival and the traditional crowning of a puck goat began as a pre-Christian festival in honour of the Celtic sun god, Lugh (and sure enough Puck Fair has always coincided with the ancient festival of Lughnasa.). The German playing the tin whistle in the corner said he didnīt believe it, because Killorglin didnīt exist before the Normans came, and his guidebook said they started the Fair in the 13th century.
