About Killarney
With a population of around 14,000 people, no one is going to mistake Kilalrney for a bustling metropolis. Instead, what it offers is a chance to experience the more natural side of Ireland. As a stop along the iconic Ring of Kerry scenic drive, Killarney is a town that gets more than its fair share of visitors despite its small size.
Killarney is located on the shores of Lough Leane, in the southwest of Ireland. Surrounded by mountains, lakes, glens, and only a short drive from the ocean, Killarney has long been known as one of Ireland's most beautiful towns.
The first recorded settlement at Killarney dates back to the year 640 when a monastery was founded on Innisfallen Island in what is now Killarney National Park. The monks wrote the Annals of Innisfallen here, an important historical document recording Ireland's early history. Soon, the present location of Killarney became the site of another monastery, and then a castle. The town grew up around these institutions.
Killarney has been a tourist destination since the 18th century. The arrival of the railway in 1853 and a visit from Queen Victoria in 1861 cemented the town's reputation as a great place for a vacation. Killarney began to grow faster as the tourism industry took off, and many of the town's most iconic buildings date back to this period.
Today, tourism is Killarney's main industry, and this small town has more hotel rooms than any other Irish town besides Dublin. Killarney is where Ireland goes to take a break, and it's popular with visitors from around the world.