Cultural and Heritage sites around Killarney
The Killarney Valley is steeped in culture, history and heritage with ancient sites, ruins and still functioning buildings covering the Celtic pre-Christian, early Christian and Medieval eras. From bronze age copper mines, burial mounds, ring forts, monastic settlements and castles, to great country houses, Killarney and the surrounding region has an abundance of locations of immense interest.
Key sites around Killarney
Ross Island Copper Mines:
Copper Mines dating back to the Bronze Age.
Aghadoe (1027):
Remains of Church & Round Tower.
Inisfallen (11th Century):
Remains of Hiberno-Romanesque Church located on Inisfallen Island.
Ross Castle (15th Century):
Magnificently restored castle at Ross Road, Killarney (Guided Tours).
Muckross Abbey (1448):
Remains of Abbey founded by the Observantine Fransiscans.
Presentation Convent (1793):
Killarney convent dating back to the beginning of the Nineteenth Century.
St. Mary’s Cathedral (1842):
Killarney’s Neo-Gothic Cathedral, designed by Pugin (Roman Catholic).
Franciscan Friary (1860):
Killarney Franciscan church was opened in 1867, and the Friary in 1879 (Roman Catholic).
St. Mary’s Church (1870’s):
Built in 1870 in English Gothic style (Church of Ireland).
Muckross House & Gardens (1843):
Old Victorian Mansion with National Park Visitor Centre & Guided Tours.
Muckross Traditional Farms (1930’s):
A step back in time to 1930’s Ireland.
Why not visit…
Muckross House & Gardens
- Experience this 19th century Victorian mansion set close to the shores of Muckross Lake in the stunning Killarney National Park.
- Enjoy a guided tour of Muckross House
- Explore the picturesque surrounding gardens, which include the famous Sunken, Rock, and Stream Gardens
- Enjoy a jaunting car tour around the grounds
- Explore the nearby Muckross Abbey and Torc Waterfall
- Remember, parking at Muckross as well as entrance to the National Park are free
Muckross Traditional Farms
- Relive the past at Muckross Traditional Farms, complete with three working farms from Kerry of the 1930’s.
- Meet the bean an ti’s (woman of the house) and watch the farmers as they work in the fields.
- Children will just love the various farm animals, woodland playground and picnic area.
- Enjoy a free trip around the farms on the Muckross Coach.
Other Heritage Sites around Killarney
Muckross Abbey
The Franciscan friary of Irrelagh was founded for the Observatine Franciscans c.1448 by Daniel McCarthy Mor. Now known as Muckross Abbey, it is missing the roof but apart from that the abbey is in a superb state of preservation.
Inisfallen Island
The enchanting Island of Inisfallen is situated on Lough Leane, approximately 1.5km from the shore at Ross Castle. The ruins of Inisfallen Abbey occupy the island today and feature as one of the most remarkable archaeological remains from the early Christian period in Killarney National Park.
