Famed for its annual Rose of Tralee International Festival, Tralee is the seat of County Kerry in south-west Ireland. It lies where the River Lee meets the Atlantic Ocean and serves as a gateway for exploring the centuries-old castles and beaches of the Dingle Peninsula.
Things to do in Tralee
Delve into the local history at the Kerry County Museum, which occupies the magnificent Ashe Memorial Hall in the heart of town. It houses a recreation of medieval Tralee and archaeological findings from the period, including an early medieval brooch. Also not to miss is a pair of duelling pistols once used by “The Liberator”, Daniel O’Connell.
If you want to experience traditional Irish music, head to the National Folk Theatre of Ireland, Siamsa Tire, which is located within Tralee Town Park. It was established in the 1970s to preserve and promote Irish folk culture through music, dance and theatrical performances. Siamsa Tire also hosts changing art exhibitions throughout the year.
At the mouth of the River Lee stands the Blennerville Windmill. At just over 20 metres in height and with wings spanning more than 18 metres, it is Ireland’s largest functioning windmill. It was built in 1800 at the request of Sir Rowland Blennerhassett to mill grain for export to Great Britain. Guided tours are available to learn more about the mill’s operation and there’s a visitor centre with audio-visual exhibits and a model railway.
Getting around Tralee
Tralee is just over an hour’s drive from Limerick and 1.5 hours from Shannon Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and the United States. Regular trains connect from Mallow and Cork Kent to the Tralee railway station and buses travel throughout the town. The centre of Tralee is compact enough to explore on foot.