Killarney
Photos taken in 2011
Killarney
Killarney (Irish: Cill Airne, meaning "church of sloes") is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St. Mary's Cathedral, Ross Castle, Muckross House and Abbey, Lakes of Killarney, Torc Waterfall and the Gap of Dunloe.
Killarney was awarded the prestigious "Best Kept Town" award in 2007 in a
cross-border competition jointly organised by the Department of the Environment
and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council. Owing to its natural heritage, history
and proximity to the Dingle Peninsula, Skellig Michael island and its location
on the Ring of Kerry, Killarney is a popular tourist destination.
Tourism is by far the largest industry in Killarney. With the exception of Dublin, there are more hotel beds in Killarney than in any other Irish town or city. The tourist population is increasingly diverse however a significant proportion of tourists originate from the US, Ireland, the UK, Germany and other European countries.
Killarney's tourism history goes back at least to the mid 18th century, when
Thomas, fourth Viscount Kenmare, began to attract visitors and new residents to
the town. The date of 1747 was used in recent 250-year celebrations to honor the
history of Killarney tourism. A visit by Queen Victoria in 1861 gave the town
international exposure, which it has enjoyed ever since. In the Summer months,
Killarney is busy with tourists perusing the town's numerous shops and tourist
attractions. Many shops are tourist oriented with many gift shops around the
town. The town centre also offers a wide range of hotels, pubs and restaurants
to cater for every requirement.
Text from Wikipedia
St Mary's Cathedral
