Renowned for its beauty, famed for the splendour of its scenery, Killarney is one of the world’s best-loved tourist spots. Killarney (Cill Airne - The Church of Sloes) became a magnificent town about 1750 when the local magnate, Lord Kenmare, developed the tourist business and four major roads were built to the outside world. The area still bears the marks of a group of houses huddled outside the demesne walls. The present population is about 9,000 and the main economic base is tourism.

Situated in the south-western corner of Ireland, with its three famous lakes reflecting the ever changing skies above the great mountain ranges, Killarney has been the inspiration of poets and painters for many centuries, and now it is also a thriving commercial and tourist centre.

It is the ideal playground for the sporting enthusiast - you can fish, swim, golf, play tennis, horse ride, walk, or climb a mountain. For those who are interested in history and archaeology there are many outstanding items of interest to be seen. There are also a number of visitor attractions in the area.

Rising to the west of the Killarney valley are the peaks of MacGillicuddy’s Reeks. These mountains beloved of the climber, including Carrauntuohill 3414 feet (1,040 metres), the highest peak in Ireland.