Welcome to Kenmare — the knot in the Ring of Kerry.
A village of two squares, a stone bridge and some of the friendliest pubs in the south-west. Here's where the locals would point you.
All attractions
Kenmare Stone Circle
A Bronze Age ring of 15 stones around a central boulder dolmen, a few minutes' walk from the town square.
Reenagross Woodland Park
Woodland and shoreline paths on a peninsula at the edge of town, with about 3 km of trails.
Old Kenmare Road
A 16 km stretch of the Kerry Way over the mountains from Kenmare to Torc Waterfall in Killarney National Park.
Gleninchaquin Park
A glacial valley on the Beara Peninsula with a high waterfall, lakes and family walks.
Moll's Gap
A mountain pass on the Ring of Kerry road to Killarney, around 10 minutes' drive from town.
Kenmare Lace
The needlepoint lace tradition started by the Poor Clare sisters in the 1860s.
Holy Cross Church
The town's Catholic church, consecrated in 1864, with stained glass and an 1865 organ.
A planned heritage town
Kenmare's streets were laid out by Sir William Petty in the 17th century, giving it its distinctive triangular plan.
Boat trips on Kenmare Bay
Cruises and kayak trips from the pier to see seals, seabirds and, after dark, bioluminescence.
Cycling from Kenmare
Road loops into the mountains and gentler rides along the bay.
Derreen Garden
A woodland garden on the Beara coast at Lauragh, famous for its tree ferns and rhododendrons.
Bonane Heritage Park
Prehistoric and early Christian sites on a short trail outside town, including a stone circle and ring fort.
Uragh Stone Circle
A small stone circle in a dramatic lakeside valley on the Beara Peninsula.
Garinish Island (day trip)
The Italianate island garden in Glengarriff harbour, about 40 minutes south over the Caha Mountains.
Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve
Some of the darkest skies in Europe, on the Iveragh Peninsula west of town.
Kenmare Farmers' Market
Local food, produce and crafts on The Square every Wednesday.
Kenmare Halloween Howl
A week of Halloween events in late October, ending with a parade through the town.
Design Kenmare
A three-day November festival of talks on architecture, interiors, fashion, graphics and photography.
Kenmare Fair (Pattern Day)
The traditional fair day on 15 August, one of the busiest days of the year in town.
Kenmare Lace Festival
A festival celebrating the town's lace-making heritage, usually held every two years.