The picturesque town of Kenmare offers all the attractions of a lively traditional Irish town.Irish music and ballads are played most nights in the numerous bars and restaurants scattered throughout the town-perfect for enjoying a relaxed evening out.

Some of Irelands finest golf courses are in the area, including Waterville, Ballybunion and Dooks as well as two excellent local courses in Kenmare.

Kenmare isn't just for the golfer- there's also boating, walking, cycle hire, pony trekking ,trout and sea fishing, or just plain relaxing.

Kenmare is ideally situated for visiting the famous Ring of Kerry or the rugged and dramatic Beara peninsula with stunning views around every corner. With mountain passes, fishing ports, boat trips, whale watching, dolphins, seals and some of the finest angling in the country, there really is something of everybody.

For the ladies, (and men,) who like to shop, Kenmare, Killarney ,Tralee and Cork all offer the chance to buy that perfect gift.

For further information on the geology and history of the area please visit our web site: see Shaminir B&B for some glorious pictures.

KINDLY CONTRIBUTED BY: TONY FROM Shaminir B&B

The picturesque town of Kenmare was founded in 1670 and its inherent beauty and unique charm remains unchanged. Kenmare is a haven of tranquility, gourmet food, superb accommodation and breathtaking scenery in one of the most natural, unspoilt environments in Europe. Cradled in the heart of Kenmare Bay, the picturesque town of Kenmare is the perfect location from which to discover the South West of Ireland, linking the internationally famous Ring of Kerry with the rugged Ring of Beara.

Expect a friendly welcome from the locals, good food and whether it is walking on the mountains, cruising on the bay, horse riding, golfing, fishing, touring or soaking up the best of the music you will not be disappointed in Kenmare.

With its brightly coloured buildings and its stunning settings, Kenmare easily justifies its title of the ‘Jewel in the Ring of Kerry’. An historic town with much to do and see, Kenmare is perfectly situated to explore both the Iveragh and Beara Peninsulas. It will come as no surprise to discover that Kenmare is one of Ireland’s tidiest towns, winning gold medals in the competition year after year and in 2000 it was voted the tidiest town in Ireland.

The world famous Ring of Kerry follows the coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula. It is one of the most dramatic scenic drives in the country and makes a most exciting day tour. Along the 175km route are picturesque villages, and an abundance of historical landmarks, sandy coves and beaches.

The unspoiled Ring of Beara lies to the south of Kenmare. Its rugged beauty is beyond compare, traffic is minimal and it abounds with archaeological sites and spectacular views.

In the early 19th century Ireland’s primitive road network was being greatly expanded and improved. As part of this improvement a direct road from Kenmare to Bantry was proposed. The first official reference to this direct route appears in 1833.

Heading from Kenmare to Killarney on the N71 there is a breathtaking view called ‘Ladies View’. It was given its name because of the delight it gave to Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting when they visited in September 1861, and it still delights today. Torc Waterfall, part of the Owengarriff River is also on this route. The fall drops sixty feet into Muckross Lake at Friars Glen from where a lovely path winds up to the top and offers a not-to-be-missed view of Torc Mountain which gets its name from an enchanted boar that was killed there by legendary hero Fionn McCumhail.

Wild and mountainous, County Kerry has long attracted tourists in search of magnificent scenery and its dramatic landscapes and wealth of prehistoric and early Christian sites make it an unmissable destination.

The town of Killarney is a bustling tourist town and its romantic lakes are a must, the three lakes are contained within the Killarney National Park. The ever changing light and colour over the lakes is breathtaking and the area has long attracted artists and writers.

Being only a short distance away Kenmare provides a peaceful haven to which you can retire after a busy day’s sightseeing and enables you to relax in some of the town’s lively pubs and excellent restaurants.

The Kenmare Stone Circle is reported to be the biggest in the south west of Ireland. Stone circles were built during the Bronze Age for ritual and ceremonial purposes. They were often orientated on certain solar and lunar events.

Kenmare Bay has an amazing amount of rivers which flow into it. Up to 1970 salmon were found in every river and every stream in the area. Due to the quantities of salmon it became considered a poor mans fish dish of which children got very tired of eating!

Ardea Castle on the shores of Kenmare Bay was one of the O’Sullivan Bere’s Castles and controlled the entrance into the inner half of Kenmare Bay. From here wine and spirits were imported and wool was exported.

There are numerous ship wrecks in Bantry Bay, Bearhaven Harbour and the Kenmare area, the most famous being La Surveillante. In Bearhaven harbour coral reefs still grow naturally and this along with Ardgroom Harbour is an ideal spot for divers to see bright coral in a clean and natural environment.

Harvesting the bounty of the shoreline is an age-old tradition on the Beara Peninsula. Over the centuries generations of people have picked shellfish along the shore. The lunar cycle which regulates the tides greatly influences the availability of scallops, cloisins, mussels, clams, cockles, sea urchins, oysters and periwinkles. Most of these can be sampled in the restaurants of Kenmare during the seafood festival which is held in October.

The Flora and Fauna of Kerry are among the most interesting in Ireland and a paradise for the botanist. Lloyd Praeger declared it as “the area where the special features of the Irish climate and vegetation attain their most pronounced expression”. It is estimated that approximately one quarter of all rare Irish plants are to be found in Kerry. One factor is the mild Gulf Stream climate which gives moist winters and a year round growing season. Another is the variety of habitats such as coastal regions, blanket bogs, marsh lands, and mountain ranges.

Dereen Gardens, beside Kilmackilloge Harbour in Lauragh, were planted 100 years ago by the fifth Lord Landsdowne. The woodland gardens contain many azaleas and rhododendrons. The gardens are open to visitors from May to the end of September.

Kerry's fauna is fascinating. Wolves were very common here and were one of the reasons for the building of the many stone forts in the county. The last wolf in Ireland is said to have been killed in the Macgillicuddy Reeks in 1710. Red Deer and Siak Deer still roam the woods freely and Kerry Cattle, said to be the oldest breed of cattle in Europe have the distinction of being the first breed developed primarily as a milk producer.

So as you can see there are many reasons for you to come and visit our wonderful county and if there is one thing that is certain it is that you will not leave disappointed.

KINDLY CONTRIBUTED BY: Peter MallinsonSheenView B&B Kenmare

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