Tralee

Tralee sits in the shelter of Tralee Bay, with a panaroma of sea and mountains stretching into the west. Lying in the heart of Kerry, the coast, lakes and mountains of the Kingdom are all within arm's reach. The town is the capital of the county, the hub of its affairs.

Founded by the Normans in 1216, the town has known many rebellions. One of Tralee's main attractions is Kerry County Museum with its theme park "Kerry the Kingdom". It offers three exhibitions: an audio visual show of Kerry scenery, a display of archeological finds and a time travel experience through medieval Tralee. It is well worth a visit and kids love it. Set against the backdrop of a western sky, the broad white tower and circling sails of the Blennerville windmill stand out from the landscape. The windmill has been a landmark in Tralee since 1780 and has in recent years been revived as the largest working mill in Ireland. It was built by Sir Roland Blennershasset in the 1700s.

Tralee is a vibrant town, home to the Roses, the internationally known festival of Kerry. Tralee hosts the renowned Rose of Tralee International Festival every August, with enough attractions to occupy a few pleasant days including open-air free concerts, floats featuring the Roses, the circus and street entertainment. If you are intending to visit during the Rose festival secure your accommodation well in advance to avoid disappointment.

During the rest of the year, the town of Tralee has enough attractions to occupy a few pleasant days.The town formed part of the ancient kingdom of Ciar which dated from the first century. By the 12th century, Tralee had grown to a fortified town and was the seat of the Earl of Desmond. In 1213, the Dominican Monastery was founded.

Tralee's history is explained in the Kerry County Museum. One of Tralee's main attractions is the theme park "Kerry the Kingdom". It offers three exhibitions: an audio visual show of Kerry scenery, a display of archaeological finds and a time travel experience through medieval Tralee. It is well worth a visit and children will enjoy it.

Also based in Tralee is Siamsa Tire folklore theatre. Traditional song and dance performances take place here throughout the summer.

Tralee plays host to a horse racing festival each August. The five day race meeting is held at Tralee racecourse which is 1.5 miles from the town centre. This is widely known as a fun racing festival. The main concern is to enjoy the atmosphere- if you pick a winner, even better!