Killarney, Ireland

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Killarney, Ireland – where to stay, what to see, and what to do for a quick trip through the Gate to the Ring of Kerry and Killarney National Park.

Backyard view at killarney holiday village, county kerry


For our first stop in Ireland, we headed south west – to Killarney, in County Kerry.

Killarney is gorgeous, wild, and wonderful – luscious green everywhere, dramatic mountains, lochs, curvy roads, and lots of wild animals.

We picked Killarney’s Holiday Villages to stay in – for our group of 7 it was the most comfortable and economical choice – and the perfect base for touring Killarney and Killarney National Park.

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The Holiday Villages are just south of town, making them a quieter option which we really appreciated. No loud partiers or post-pub antics.

The Holiday Villages are a perfect touring base for groups – our four bedroom house could have slept 10, and gave us a nice spacious start to the trip.

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There is a full kitchen, a washer/dryer, a backyard with patio chairs and room for kids to run – and it’s within walking distance to a few hotels and bars (though Killarney’s main town is a bit of a hike, which is honestly quite nice since there is much less noise, and we liked a more rural feel.)

The house was PERFECT for us – comfy, big, and the best setup for a family touring together!

And right across the street was the Lake Hotel, who hosts a lovely walkway to a largely destroyed castle nestled right upon the Loch.

It is a simple walk to the castle from Killarney Holiday Village – and gives a perfect view of the mountains and the loch. The view constantly changes as the clouds move across the lake.

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We loved all the wildflowers spotting the sides of the Loch – there is nothing prettier than Irish wildflowers!

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The castle walk is super easy to do – it is gentle, paved, and has lots of handrails for safety – making it perfect for young kids.

This was the perfect way to ease into our trip and get over jetlag with the kids – my only regret is we stayed in Killarney such a short amount of time! Next time in Ireland, we will try for more time in Killarney, for sure!

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About Courtney

Courtney loves to share great wine, good food, and loves to explore far flung places- all while masting an everyday elegant and easy style at lifestyle blog Sweet C’s Designs. Sweet C's devoted to finding the best food and drinks you'll want to make or find, around the world!

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