Plan Your Entire Visit With business listings covering the whole Kenmare Bay Kenmare GUIDE Where to Stay Hotels, Guesthouses, Self- Catering Rentals & B&Bs Where to Eat All the best spots to enjoy our food-lover’s paradise What to Do Adventures abound when you use Kenmare as a base The 2015 May 2015 / Issue 06 presented by kenmare.com
33
Embed
The Kenmare GUIDEkenmare.com/KenmareGuide2015.pdf · our food-lover’s paradise What to Do Adventures abound when you use Kenmare as a base The 2015 ... highest mountains, where
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Plan Your Entire VisitWith business listings covering the whole Kenmare Bay
The greater Kenmare area, around the Kenmare Bay, is the perfect base for your exploration of the southwest of Ireland. Kenmare (also known by its Irish name of
Neidin) is a colorful heritage town that lays
on two noted Irish scenic routes, the Ring of
Kerry and the Ring of Beara.
But its so much more than that. Kenmare
is the sum of the people who live and work
here, and nowhere in the world will you fi nd
as diverse and friendly a population.
This guide should give you an overview and
a brief introduction to the wonderful place
we call home, so you can plan your trip, fi nd
your way, and enjoy your stay in the Kenmare
area.
Welcome to Kenmare, Co Kerry, Ireland
4 The Kenmare GUIDE 5
WhereTo
Stay
AroundTown
WhereTo
Eat
WhereTo
Shop
Lifein
Kenmare
WhatToDo
6 Information and More 18 Accommodation & Rest
6 Map - Kenmare Town A map to guide you through town.
8 About Kenmare All about our Heritage town and what
you should see while you’re here.
12 Wild Atlantic Way The Kenmare Bay: Take your time
while exploring, there’s a lot to see.
14 Photo Gallery A few select photos.
30 Map - Kenmare Bay A Map covering the greater Kenmare
Area.
18 Hotels & Guesthouses Kenmare has some of the best hotels
in Ireland, unique and welcoming.
20 Self-Catering Holiday Homes When you want the place all to
yourself, these houses will fi t the bill.
25 Bed & Breakfasts Ireland is famed for its hospitality, and
the B&B is the best way to see that.
30 Hostels & Camping
Simple is good, and these hostels &
campsites have you covered for a
night’s rest.
Need a Map?We have a nice pullout map in the center of
the guide, covering the Kenmare Bay. 32
About KenmareGet a feel for the town and discover all there
is to enjoy throught the year. 8
35
46
Eat, Drink & Be Merry
Activites & Attractions
42
58
Clothes, Books & More
Living Locally
42 Freshly Kenmare A mainstay of shopping in town is
the Market with lots of local goods.
44 Shopping Kenmare town is full of high quality
shops, with unique products and
styles to suit any budget.
58 Local Services Serving the day to day affairs
62 Telephone Guide A quick reference of important
numbers and places.
63 Kids Corner
35 Kenmare Food Town Some call this the food capitol of
Ireland, and not without reason.
36 Cafés & Bakeries Tasty treats, tea or coffee
38 Restaurants & Pubs The best food, & awards to prove it.
46 The Ring of Beara Discover the wildest part of Ireland.
50 Map - Ring of Beara
52 Attractions There really is something for
everyone, from art to adventures.
6 The Kenmare GUIDE 7
Shelbourne StreetH
enry
Str
eet
Main Street
New Road
Mar
ket S
treet
Bridge Street
Rock Stre
et
CARNEGIE COMMUNITY THEATRE
TOWNGREEN
TOURIST OFFICE
POLICE/GARDAI
PUBLICRESTROOMS
POST OFFICE
The Square
tttt
Killowen Road (to
Cork)
Sneem Road
Railw
ay R
oad
Pier Road
Killarney Road
Hospital Road
REENAGROSSPARK & TRAILS
KENMAREPIER
ST. PATRICK’SCHURCH
ADULTEDUCATIONCENTRE
HOLY CROSS CHURCH
KENMARESHOPPING
CENTRE
ANCIENTSTONECIRCLE
to Glengarrif / Castletow
nbere
The layout of Kenmare was designed by the original landown-ers of the whole area, and makes for a comfortable town centre. A walk around the streets can take you 10 minutes, or a few hours, depending on how many shops and restaurants you’re enticed into along the way.
Kenmare Town Map
6 The Kenmare GUIDE 7
98 The Kenmare GUIDE
Among the peaks of Ireland’s highest mountains, where the rivers and streams empty into a bay off the Atlantic, is the town of Kenmare.
Here you’ll fi nd all sorts of peo-ple, bustling about their business in the streets of the market town.The place is a delightful mixture of con-
trasts: Ancient monuments alongside
modern hotels, forested shorelines alongside
vaulted mountains, farmers and shop keeps
alongside musicians and artists.
Its an often used phrase, but one especially
true for Kenmare, that one day is simply not
enough time to experience everything on
offer. Here are just a few activities to whet
your appetite:
Kenmare Lace & Design CentreIn 1864 the Poor Clare nuns in Kenmare set
up a lace production centre, which is still
going strong today.
Reenagross ParkOften called Kenmare’s best kept secret, this
park has 3.2 km of walkways through woods
and along the coast of the Bay.
Golfi ngBreathtaking views and excellent facilities
will be found at any golf course you visit.
See our listings on page 48.
Kenmare Town
The award-winning town
was laid out in 1670, by
British scientist Sir William
Petty. Throughout the years
Kenmare has preserved
much of its original
identity, and grown to
offer visitors an au-
thentic fl avor of Irish
culture, cuisine, music,
shopping, scenery and
leisure.
Walking through town, you
can still see buildings from
centuries ago, and the Stone
Circle is a reminder that the
area has been settled for
many years more than that.
Recently, Kenmare has put
an emphasis on itself as a
cultural centre, with Food,
Music and Art Festivals
throughout the year. This
means that any time is a
good time to visit Kenmare.
10 The Kenmare GUIDE 11
The Stone CircleWithin the town is an an-
cient druid circle of stones,
steeped in mystery.
CyclingA range of bicycles can be
found for hire right in town
at Finnegan’s Bicycle Hire.
SwimmingFor the brave, there’s the
Bay, but for the rest of us,
the Kenmare Bay Hotel has
an excellent pool & spa.
FishingPlan a small river fi shing
excursion or to get a private
tour of Kenmare Bay,
Horse RidingThere are excellent stables
that offer horse riding les-
sons and excursions.
Sea KayakingAll manner of adventures
can be found out at Star
Outdoors, kayaking included.
Sailing the BayDaily eco-tours and seal
watching with Seafari.
Bonane Heritage ParkAncient history that you can
touch, set within the mag-
nifi cent Sheen Valley.
Go Back in TimeMolly Gallivan’s cottage and
traditional farm is a chance
to visit an Irish farm exactly
as it was over 200 years ago.
Dereen GardensLocated at Lauragh is this
magnifi cent water-side es-
tate is full of exotic vegeta-
tion and walks to inspire.
GleninchiquinThis idyllic valley is per-
fectly suited for day outings
with the entire family, with
walks and waterfalls.
The Rings of Kerry & Beara
See more on page 11.
Guided ToursThere are a number of ser-
vices available in Kenmare
to guide you through what’s
on offer. See more on page
53.
Art & Photo GalleriesThere are many artists and
photographers in the area,
and the galleries refl ect the
diversity.
The Rings of Kerry & BearaTake your pick, or choose both, there’s lots to explore.
The span of water that
is the Kenmare Bay sepa-
rates two very different
peninsulas. To the north is
the sprawling majesty of
the Iveragh Peninsula, and
to the south is the wilder-
ness of the Beara Penin-
sula. Circling both of these
landmasses are the driving
routes known as the Ring of
Kerry and the Ring of Beara.
The Ring of KerryThe Ring of Kerry is a
179km tourist trail that in-
troduces travelers to the
natural beauty of one of
Ireland’s most picturesque
counties. Stops along the
route include Killarney, Ross
Castle, Sneem, Derrynane
house, The Skellig Islands,
Killorglin, the Gap of Dunloe,
Rossbeigh beach, and lots
of other spots. When tak-
en with a good guide, Irish
meals and music, the tour
becomes absolutely unfor-
gettable.
The Ring of BearaThe Ring Of Beara,
though less well known
than the Ring Of Kerry, is no
less beautiful. If anything
the landscape it displays
is more wild and unruly in
its nature. Bounded by the
Kenmare River and Bantry
Bay the tourist trail is about
195km long. Check out our
detailed feature on page 46,
where we walk through an
average day tour of this not-
to-be-missed Peninsula. The
country is wild and the roads
are winding, but the views
are spectacular.
Kenmare, The JewelKenmare is often referred
to as the Jewel in the Ring,
and its up for debate wheth-
er that means Kerry or Beara.
From town, you can pick ei-
ther Ring, and set off for a
day’s exploration, be back in
time for dinner, and try an-
other road again tomorrow.
» Irish weather is fi ckle,
but the clouds that roll
across the sky shouldn’t
stop you from having
a great day. There’s a
saying about Ireland that
goes, “If you don’t like the
weather, just wait.”
In the southwest of Ireland, all roads lead to Kenmare. It is
a serene little town, snug-
gled up against mountains,
sea and river, concise in its
layout and boundless in its
personality.
The Irish name of Neidin,
or Little Nest, is certainly
apt, given not only how
the town itself is nestled
amongst some of Ireland’s
tallest mountains, but also
given the nurturing nature
of the townspeople that run
the shops, restaurants, and
accommodation.
Using Kenmare as your base
for an exploration of the
southwest of Ireland is an
excellent choice, as you’ll
fi nd so many wildly different
scenes less than an hour’s
drive away.
NorthTo the north of town is the
road to Killarney. The steep
drive brings you through
Moll’s Gap, a pass in the
MacGillicuddy Reeks aka the
Black Stacks, and through
Killarney National Park, with
its storied Lakes.
North westHeading out of town along
the Sneem road puts you
onto the Ring of Kerry.
Here you’ll fi nd the sprawl-
ing beauty of the Iveragh
Peninsula, and lovely towns
like Sneem, Caherdaniel,
Ballinskelligs, and Valentia
Island.
SouthDue south from Ken-
mare is the Sheen
Valley, where you’ll
fi nd Bonane and the
tunnels of the Caha
Pass. Barley Lake
lies this way, on the road
to Glengarriff, Co. Cork, and
onwards to Bantry.
SouthwestThe Ring of Beara, along the
Beara Peninsula, begins as
you head southwest from
town. Along this road you’ll
fi nd some of the wildest and
varied landscapes Ireland
has to offer, and quiet vil-
lages full of beauty, like
Tuosist, Lauragh, Allihies,
Castletownbere & Dursey
Island.
EastKenmare is most often
approached from the east,
so you might think you’ve
already found all there is
that direction. But
take time to visit
Kilgarvan village
and the views as you
enter Kerry for the
fi rst time.
ABOVE
Killmackalogue Harbour with
the Iveragh Peninsula behind
it. The Kenmare Bay fi lls the
space between two vastly dif-
ferent landscapes.
RIGHT IMAGES
Looking north from Kenmare
to Killarney, the moun-
tains grow in the distance.
Southwards, along the Beara
Peninsula, you can see the
mussel farming in the Bay.
“As I leave behind NéidínIt’s like purple splashed on green
My soul is strangely fedTh rough the winding hills ahead”
MARY BLACK
12 The Kenmare GUIDE 13
Wild Atlantic Way: The Kenmare BayBeauty and adventure in every direction
Gallery Kenmare Town
HENRY STREET, KENMARE
SHEEN FALLS REENAGROSS REENAGROSS PARK
THE THREE MUSICIANSTHE SQUARE, KENMAREKENMARE BRIDGE
The Kenmare Bay is 30 miles long, 12 miles wide at its mouth and narrowing gradually as it bisects and separates the Beara and Iveragh peninsulas and their mountain ranges. Due to its shape it is sometimes called the Kenmare River, but its tides fl uctuate drasti-cally throughout the day.
To Moll’s Gap & Killarney
To Kilgarvan & Cork
To Glengariff & Bantry
To Lauragh, the Healy Pass & Ring
of Beara
To Caherdaniel & Ring of Kerry
35
aboutfood
Have you been craving a gourmet dining expe-rience? You’ll fi nd that and more in Kenmare
Kenmare is famed for its res-
taurants, indeed several have
won awards for their cuisine,
atmosphere and chefs. A walk
through the streets of town will
bring you by all types of food,
all sourced from local produce
and meats.
For the food enthusiast, Ken-
mare is a dream come true, with
Michelen star chefs, a weekly
farmer’s market, and even a
world-famous somolier’s wine
shop. If you’re hungry, you’re in
the right place!
Kenmare Food Town
“Cooking is like love - it should be entered into with abandon or
not at all.”HARRIET VAN HORNE
Good food is something to cel-
ebrate, as the citizens of Kenmare
do each year with a stunning
parade.
Being so close to the sea,
it is only natural that
Kenmare would have an
abundace of fresh seafood
at its disposal.
For more listings, and updates throughout the year, visit us online at http://kenmare.com/Dining/
For more listings, and updates throughout the year, visit us online at http://kenmare.com/Shopping/
46 The Kenmare GUIDE 47
The Ring of Beara Ireland’s Most Spectacular Drive
An ancient valley, a modern paradiseTaking its travellers through the scenic vistas of the Healy Pass, The Wild Atlantic Way, the Sheen Valley, and the authentic towns of the Beara Peninsula, The Ring of Beara is a glimpse into Ireland at its most wild.
The driving route itself is a mere 137 kilometres, and can be driven in two hours if you’ve a mind to, but every mile has something to offer, with diversions and side roads and hidden gems all over.
Kenmare holds a unique spot on the Ring of Beara, being a link between the Beara Peninsula and the Iveragh Peninsula to the north, famed for its Ring of Kerry. To whet your appetite for adventure, we’ve
put together a sample day out on the Ring of Beara:
KenmareStart the morning with some traditional Irish scones at one of Ken-
mare’s many cafes. Explore Reenagross Park and the Kenmare Bay,
with its marine life, kayaking, swimming and sailing. Then start your
drive over the suspension bridge and onto the Beara Peninsula.
TuosistThere’s a lot to see in this small area. Stop off at the Uragh Stone Cir-
cle, see the horsetail waterfalls at Gleninchaquin, or do some fi shing
out on the Cloonee Lakes (requires a license, available in Kenmare).
After that, you can take the coast road to Kilmacalogue Harbour, and
stop for a bowl of seafood chowder and maybe a pint.
LauraghGlanmore Lake is one of the mot stunning picturesque spots in ire-
land. Make sure you take some pictures. Then resume your journey to
see the famous Healy Pass, a spectacular winding route to the south
side of Beara.
Ardgroom & EyeriesAfter coming down from the top of the Healy Pass drive towards Ardg-
room, a traditional village steeped in history. Chat to local artists and
craftspeople and drive towards Eyeries.
In one of the most pristine corners of Europe, least touched by the hand of man, immersed in myth and mystery, there is a road discovered by few tourists:
46 The Kenmare GUIDE
48 The Kenmare GUIDE 49
Allihies & Dursey IslandThe road here shrinks and twists until you’re at the very edge of the
Peninsula and you come upon the charming village of Allihies. Visit
the old Copper Mines, take some time to enjoy their amazing sandy
beach, or detour towards Dursey Island, where you can take the
Cable Car to explore.
CastletownbereThis area was home to the O’Sullivan Bere clan. Here you will fi nd
the ruins of Dunboy castle and other historical sites as well as the
fi shing town of Castletownberehaven. If you have the time, ferries
run over to the hillwalker’s paradise of Bere Island.
Adrigole & GlengarriffThe glens around the village of Adrigole and the town of Glengarriff
are a stunning natural haven. You can take a short ferry across to
the botanical gardens at Garnish Island, with 15 hectares of plants
and architecture to explore.
The Sheen ValleyThere’s just one stop left, but its worth it. Head north over the spec-
tacular Caha Pass, through tunnels hand-carved in the days before
heavy machinery.
Stop for some music, dancing, theatre and food at Molly Gallivan’s
or visit the Bonane Heritage Park, and learn more about the ancient
history of the area, before following the Sheen river down to the
Kenmare Bay and back to Kenmare town, where you can enjoy a
fantastic dinner at one of our award-winning restaurants, or some
music at our authentic irish pubs.
Its been a long day, and even with that, you’re certain to have missed quite a bit of what The Ring of Beara has to offer. Maybe a second day trip is in order?
Find out more at http://ringofbeara.com
50 The Kenmare GUIDE
The Ring of BearaBeara Peninsula Map
EYERIES
THE HEALY PASS
ALLIHIES
ARDGROOM
KENMARE
ADRIGOLE
BONANE
DURSEY ISLAND
CASTLETOWNBERE
BERE ISLAND
GLENGARRIFF
TUOSIST
LAURAGH
The Ring of Beara is a driving route around the Beara Peninsula, in the southwest of Ireland. Lesser known to visitors than the Ring of Kerry to the north, the Ring of Beara is nonetheless fi lled with vistas and activites worthy of many days of exploring. Popular attractions include hillwalking, fi shing, kayaking, gastronomic tours, art galleries and more.
For more listings, and updates throughout the year, visit us online at http://kenmare.com/attractions/
52 The Kenmare GUIDE
Between the galleries, golfi ng, fi shing, walking, horseback riding, and cycling, you’re bound to fi nd a perfect day.
We just have it all!We just have it all!We just have it all!We just have it all!Kenmare Shopping Centre, Railway Road, Kenmare Co. Kerry, T: 064 - 66 79 880