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CAHERDANIEL
- (Cathair Donaill - Donal's Stone Fort)
This pretty village stands on the shore of Derrynane Bay and
is an excellent location for angling, swimming and diving.The
village got its name from the stone fort of Caher (c 600 B.C)
which is on the Kerry Way long distance walking trail to the
north of the village.
Derrynane is one of the most alluring spots in Ireland.The terrain
varies from rugged shore lines to gently rolling mountains.The
tiny harbour of Derrynane was once the haunt of pirates and
buccaneers.
For the nature lover, Derrynane is really special Derrynane
House and National Park covers an area of 320 acres and includes
some exceptional coastal scenery, a nature trail and over 1.5
km of shoreline and a beautiful beach. Derrynane House was the
home of the Great "Liberator" Daniel O'Connell, who
lived there during his political life.The house, now excellently
restored, contains a museum with an interesting collection of
The Liberator's personal possessions and period furnishings.There
is also an audiovisual presentation on his life and times. www.heritageireland.ie
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CAHERSIVEEN
- (Cathair Saidhbhin - Little Saidhbh's Stone Fort)
“The town that climbs the mountain and looks upon the sea…”
Sigerson Clifford “The Boys of Barr na Sraide Cahersiveen
is the capital town of the Iveragh peninsula.The town lies at
the foot of Beentee Mountain, on the Fertha River overlooking
Valentia Harbour. Cahersiveen is the main shopping centre for
the western end of the Ring of Kerry and is an ideal location
for exploring the rugged south west coast.
Cahersiveen has a cosmopolitan flavour, with a superb yachting
marina and harbour.The Gulf Stream waters of the Atlantic wash
through the naturally formed Valentia harbour, creating a safe
haven in all weather conditions. Cahersiveen has a reputation
for some of the best deep sea angling in Europe.
Cahersiveen is of great importance to antiquarians as it boasts
many ancient sites.Take a trip over the bridge north of town
to visit the ivy covered ruins of the 15th century Ballycarbery
Castle and the two dry stone forts, Leacanabuaile and Cahergal
which date to 800 AD. Or visit the Old Barracks Heritage Centre,
www.theoldbarracks.com
a unique building of Schloss design which was completed in 1875.
Or visit the O'Connell Memorial Church or Memorial Park.
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CASTLECOVE
Castlecove takes its name from a small harbour and an unfinished
castle.This is a small resort with fine sandy beaches nearby,
on a bay in the picturesque Kenmare River.The coast has created
natural rock pools and there are exquisite sandy coves dotted
underneath the cliffs. Nearby are the imposing ruins of Staigue
Fort, one of Ireland's finest archaeological remains.
This is probably the finest example of a stone fort in Ireland
and is about 2500 years old. It is built of stone common to
this district and is almost circular, 27 metres in diameter.
The wall almost 4 metres (13ft) thick at the base and 2 metres
(7ft) thick at the top.
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SNEEM - (An tSnaidhm
- The Knot)
Sneem village is situated on the estuary of the Ardsheelaun
River. Few villages are surrounded by the same rugged beauty
as the picturesque village of Sneem.The village boasts beautifully
manicured squares and gardens and is the winner of several National
Tidy Towns Awards. Gaily painted houses and shops surround the
beautiful landscaped greens.
The peace and tranquillity of the area makes it an ideal location
for those who wish to get away from the hustle and bustle of
city life.There are a number of unique visitor attractions in
the village, such as the Sculpture Park, the Pyramids and the
Garden of the Senses.
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THE SKELLIGS -
The Skellig Rocks - UNESCO World Heritage Site
Skellig Michael and Little Skellig can be seen at numerous viewing
points along the coast.
Skellig Michael, the larger of the two islands is the site of
the world's finest example of an early Christian monastic settlement.The
monastic complex lies 12km off the south west of Ireland on
a rocky pinnacle and dates to the 6th or 7th century.The monastery
survived for about six centuries before being abandoned in the
13th century.
The Little Skellig is one of the most important sites for nesting
birds in Ireland and Britain. It is home to thousands of gannets,
puffins, guillemots and cormorants, with more than 20,000 pairs
of gannets during the summer nesting season.
The story of the Skelligs is told at the Skellig Experience
Centre, which is located on Valentia Island (beside the bridge
which links Portmagee with Valentia Island).The centre tells
the tale of the 6th century monks and 19th century lighthouse
men that lived there and offers detailed information on the
seabirds and aquatic life from the region and an audio visual
show on Skellig Michael. www.skelligexperience.com
Boat trips to the Skelligs operate from March to October, weather
permitting.
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VALENTIA ISLAND
- (Beal Inse - The mouth of the Rivers)
Valentia is an island of unique scenic beauty, tropical vegetation,
breathtaking cliffs and magnificent seascapes.The island is
about 11km long by 3km wide and has a population of approximately
600, largely concentrated around the island's two villages of
Knightstown on the northern side and Chapeltown in the centre
of the island's farmland. Knightstown is Europe's most westerly
harbour.
The surface of the island is bold and rocky, with two prominent
features being Geokaun Mountain (268 metres) on the north and
Bray Head (180 metres) on the south, both are splendid vantage
points well worth visiting to savour the views.
There are numerous important archaeological sites, such as Ogham
stones, megalithic wedge tombs, cross slabs and holy wells,
dotted throughout the island.
Must see's in the area include Glanleam Gardens, the Slate Quarry,
and the Tetrapod Pre- Dinosaur footprints.
WATERVILLE - (An
Coirean - The Little Whirlpool)
Waterville is famous throughout the world for its superb championship
golf course, its sea trout and salmon angling and its long sandy
beaches. Waterville lies on a narrow strip of land between the
Atlantic and Lough Currane.
Waterville and its surrounding area offer a number of breathtaking
walks and places to see. Church Island on Lough Currane and
the Loher Ring Fort are two of the most notable archeological
sites in the area. The village is best known for its championship
links course - Waterville Golf Links which has hosted many celebrities
over the years. The new course - Skellig Bay - is also proving
to be very popular with visitors to the area.
For further information on the region, please visit www.corkkerry.ie
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