More about Killarney

One of my favourite places to go for lunch in Killarney is the Killarney Park Hotel. It's a little upmarket, but still down-home friendly. Alternatively the
Great Southern Hotel. For more budget tastes, there are a few hotel chains, e.g. Clarion, or the Killarney Royal. There are some other great hotels, but I can't quite remember all their names right at the minute, but heres how to find some.

Actually, for a town of population of 9000-ish, there are a great many places to go in Killarney. The bars are jammed with tourists and Irish people alike during the summer. There's live traditional music in a number of different venues (please shop around from pub to pub for the correct atmosphere and music- That's what we do in Ireland ourselves. It's just normal practise to find a pub to match our tastes. The whole point of the pub is fun and atmosphere - the beer comes second for most people!) .

Here are some images and photos.


Once you've found the right place, find a place in the crowd and settle down, listen to the music, taste the Guinness and chat to the friendly locals. Getting them chatting can be quite interesting, most are well travelled, and will ask about your country.

In Killarney also there are some capuccino cafe's, tourist stores, woolly sweater stores. You can get nice guesthouse (and Bed and Breakfast) accommodation there also - but be warned- what appears to be one of the main local tourist offices is privatised to a local company, who may set you up with a B&B a mile out of town.

In Ireland, B&B's are generally good quality, happy family homes, who have these extra rooms which are let out for visitors. You don't actually 'share' the house with the family, though - you just probably meet the Mom who shows the room, and you meet her at breakfast next morning. and that's it. Most are very clean and tidy, although small, but would have a TV, hairdryer, and usually Tea, Coffee facilities. A big proportion of B&B is from return business - i.e. Mrs Murphy was so nice to ya the last time, you come back next year! Hopefully that will be your experience too.

But then again, you're on vacation, so why not go for a classy hotel.

If you want to avoid tourist traps, then do an alternative tour of Ireland. In that case, you'd need to specifically search for it. - I might put some info on that up here at a later date. Some of the moviestars - being more arty and all of that - hide out in secluded cottages in mystical glens or by magic lakes.