Things to do in Northern Kerry
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Listowel Golf Course
Listowel Golf Course, on the banks of the River Feale, is about 2km west of the centre off the N69 to Tarbert. You can also walk through Childers Park and the 'Garden of Europe' to get there.
reviewed
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Writers’ Exhibition
Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre, with its audiovisual Writers’ Exhibition, is an absolute gem that gives due prominence to Listowel’s heritage of literary observers of Irish life. Rooms are devoted to local greats such as John B Keane and Bryan MacMahon, with simple, haunting tableaux narrating their lives and recordings of them reading their work. There is a cafe and a performance space where events are sometimes staged.
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Kerry County Museum
An absolute treat, Kerry's county museum has excellent interpretive displays on Irish historical events and trends, with an emphasis on County Kerry. The Medieval Experience re-creates life (smells and all) in Tralee in 1450. Check out the deranged nights, a vision of horror right out of Monty Python. Children will love strolling the medieval streets and there's a commentary in various languages. The Tom Crean Room celebrates the local hero, an early-20th-century explorer who accompanied both Scott and Shackleton on epic Antarctic expeditions. It's housed in the neoclassical Ashe Memorial Hall.
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Genting Thai
It's the real deal here at this little bistro. The menu is actually Thai (without a lot of interloping Chinese dishes) and is both perfectly spiced and often spicy: if your tongue's deadened by Irish cooking, you'll love the many dishes rated with three chillies on the menu.
reviewed
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Visitor Centre
The modern visitor centre at Blennerville houses an exhibition on grain-milling, and on the thousands of emigrants who boarded ‘coffin ships’ from what was then Kerry’s largest embarkation point. There’s also a database of the Irish émigrés who flocked to America. Admission includes a 30-minute guided tour of the windmill.
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Listowel Castle
Behind the Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre, this 12th-century castle was once the stronghold of the Fitzmaurices, the Anglo-Norman lords of Kerry. It was the last castle in Ireland to succumb to the Elizabethan attacks during the Desmond revolt. What remains of the castle has been thoroughly restored.
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Restaurant David Norris
Norris' modern façade is uninspiring, but inside the décor is stylish and the menu exciting. Starters such as crisp-fried calamari are terrific. The emphasis is on steaks and shanks, but vegetarians and fish fanciers have delicious options too. A four-course early bird special is available until 19:00 Monday to Friday.
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Siamsa Tíre
Siamsa Tíre, the National Folk Theatre of Ireland, re-creates dynamic aspects of Gaelic culture through song, dance, drama and mime. There are several shows a week from May to September at 8.30pm. Winter shows range from dance to drama and mainstream musicals.
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Lartigue Monorailway
Designed by Frenchman Charles Lartigue, this unique survivor of Victorian railway engineering operated between the town and Ballybunion on the coast. Although it no longer travels as far as Ballybunion, the renovated section of line is short (less than a kilometre) but fascinating, with manual turntables at either end for swinging the train around.
reviewed
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Garden of Europe
In Childers Park is the Garden of Europe, opened in 1995. Its 12 sections represent the 12 members of the EU of the day. There is a fine bust of the poet Schiller and, strikingly, Ireland’s only public monument to those who died in the Holocaust, and to all victims of injustice.
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Harty's Lounge Bar
Despite its svelte appearance, this modernised Tralee institution serves no-nonsense nosh, but with tagliatelle joining beef and Guinness stew on the menu. It was the birthplace of the Rose of Tralee festival in 1959.
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Woulfe’s Horseshoe Bar
Enjoy the cosiness of the downstairs bar or the upstairs restaurant at this long-established place, which features window gnomes. The menu offers a full range of pub standards including an array of daily roasts.
reviewed
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Medieval Experience
The Medieval Experience, is an enjoyable multimedia presentation re-creating life (smells and all) in Tralee in 1450. Children love strolling the medieval streets and there's a commentary in various languages.
reviewed
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Chopin's Cafe
Irish-as-it-gets specialities at this cute little red box of a cafe include bacon and cabbage with white sauce and baked cod with tartare sauce, plus homemade beef burgers laced with onions, while international options range from frittatas to lasagnes.
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Denny Lane Cafe
Entered via a narrow lane, this modern cafe is great for snacks like loaded potato skins or warm brie salad, as well as more filling meals such as pan-friend sirloin steaks.
reviewed
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Dingle Peninsula Walk
8 days (Tralee)
Experience on foot the history and natural beauty of Ireland's Dingle Peninsula.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,190 -
Dingle Peninsula Guided Walk
8 days (Tralee)
Experience on foot the history and natural beauty of Ireland's Dingle Peninsula.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,690 -
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Finnegan's Cellar Restaurant
In a low-beamed Georgian cellar with candles on the intimate tables, Finnegan's serves reasonably priced, traditional meat and fish dishes given a twist by unusual sauces, herbs and dressings.
reviewed
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John B Keane
Once run by the late writer himself, this small, unassuming bar is swathed in Keane memorabilia.
reviewed
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windmill
Blennerville used to be the chief port of Tralee, though it has long since silted up. A 19th-century flour windmill has been restored and is the largest working mill in Ireland and Britain.
reviewed
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Jim Halpin Fishing Supplies
The River Feale provides many opportunities for angling year round. For licences and information contact Jim Halpin Fishing Supplies, which also sells angling equipment.
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Mozart's
Not content with composing Don Giovanni, he's inspired a bistro in Tralee. Mozart's is great for a daytime bite, serving burritos and baps, focaccias and croissants.
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walks
The tourist office has leaflets on walks such as the 3.5km river walk and the 10km Sive walk, which takes in John B Keane Rd, a disused railway track and a bog.
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St Mary's Church
Built in 1829 in the neo-Gothic style, this church has some lovely mosaic work over the altar and a vaulted roof with timber beams.
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Samhlaiocht
The local arts group Samhlaiocht stages exhibitions and special events such as the Kerry Film Festival in early November.
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