One of Ireland’s oldest seaside resorts, Kilkee is a picturesque town protected from the wild waters of the Atlantic Ocean by the Duggerna Reef. It was once just a small fishing village before being “discovered” by tourists in the 1830s and has since established a reputation as one of Europe’s best scuba diving destinations.
Things to do in Kilkee
In the summer months, you can swim in the refreshing waters of Kilkee Bay or take a dip in the naturally enclosed rock pools of the Pollock Holes. At New Found Out, you can plunge into the water from the 13-metre-high diving boards or coincide your visit with one of the local diving competitions to see the experts in action.
Jacques Cousteau once declared that Kilkee boasted the best diving in Europe, with the area’s fascinating marine life and reef explorable with the Kilkee Dive Centre. Alternatively, you can follow the spectacular walking trail that connects Kilkee to Intrinsic Bay as it hugs the clifftops. North of Kilkee is an 18-hole golf course offering magnificent views across the Atlantic Ocean.
Kilkee makes an ideal base for visiting the Loop Head Lighthouse, which is perched atop a headland overlooking the mouth of the River Shannon. It was originally constructed with a coal-burning brazier in 1670, although the current tower dates back to 1854. Browse the interactive exhibits on display in the Lightkeeper’s Cottage before soaking up the sweeping views towards the Blasket Islands and Connemara’s Twelve Pins.
Getting around Kilkee
Kilkee is just over an hour’s drive from Limerick and 1.5 hours from Galway. Shannon Airport is one hour away and has flights to destinations across Europe and the United States. Regular buses connect to Kilkee and the town is compact enough to explore on foot.