Killarney is one of Ireland’s most beautiful heritage and tourist spots, famed in song and story.
Here are ten facts about Killarney, described as ‘Heaven’s reflex,’ by local poets:
Killarney's meaning
Killarney means 'Church of the Blackthorn,’ and nobody is quite sure why!
Tidy Town
Killarney at Christmas.
Immaculately kept, Killarney has won various awards since 2005 in Ireland's National Tidy Town Competition. In 2022, the town took home a Gold Award.
Royal visit
Muckross House and Gardens.
Killarney was first made popular by Queen Victoria who visited Killarney in 1861 staying at Muckross House. The local newspaper described her stay at the Muckross mansion thus: "An entire section of the mansion has been set apart for the royal family so that all their apartments communicate without the necessity of passing into the corridors to be used by other occupants of the house. The Queen will live here in privacy, and from the windows of her rooms, she can walk into delightful grounds, which will be kept private during her stay at Muckross.
"In her sitting room - which, like all the others, is a splendid apartment furnished richly and tastefully, there is a series of views of the Lakes of Killarney, painted by Mrs. Herbert. They are works of the highest artistic excellence."
Musically inspiring
Killarney is included in many popular songs, most famously "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra" which Bing Crosby sang in "Going My Way" in 1944.
"Christmas in Killarney" is another perennial favorite from the music hall era.
A good night's sleep
With the exception of Dublin, there are more hotel beds in Killarney than in any other town or city in Ireland.
Famous folk
Actor Micheal Fassbender is the most famous local resident. Though born in Germany, he moved to Killarney as a young child with his parents who took up work there running a restaurant.
The lakes of Killarney, in County Kerry.
Horseplay
There was once a major dispute over jaunting car drivers refusing to have their horses wear diapers to stop dung on the streets. Eventually, the jarveys gave in after ongoing protests.
Jaunting cart in Killarney National Park.
Up high
Carrauntoohil.
Ireland’s highest mountain Carrauntoohil 3,400 feet is nearby ringing the majestic lakes of Killarney. Some say it would be even higher if it wasn’t set in a depression.
Sporting prowess
One of Ireland’s greatest Gaelic footballers is Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper, a native of the town and former captain of the Kerry football team, the winningest county in GAA football.
A new dawn
Ireland’s first talking film "The Dawn," was filmed, scripted, and acted out in Killarney and based on a War of Independence story. When the film was screened for its 75th anniversary, hundreds had to be turned away.
* Originally published in 2016, updated in 2025.
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