Tralee

Tralee is the county town of County Kerry in southwest Ireland, with a population of 23,691 in 2016. Its Irish name Trá Lí means "strand / beach on the River Lee".

Understand
Tralee is north of Kerry's tourist circuit so it feels like a real town; it's on the edge of the commuter belt for Limerick. It grew up at the lowest point you could cross the River Lee, and its navigable channel made it an early colony of the Normans. They embellished it in their usual way, with an abbey, a castle, and overmighty barons who fell foul of London authority. In these parts the barons were Earls of Desmond, and the last of that ilk was seen in Cork in 1583, minus his head which was on a spike on London Bridge.

Tralee in its present form was laid out in the 19th century in Georgian style. The castle had already been demolished, with Denny St built over it and the area converted to Town Park, while elegant civic buildings sprang up such as the courthouse. But it declined as a port, as vessels grew larger and the estuary silted up. The ship canal was built in fits and starts from 1832 to 1846, nicely in time to succumb in turn to silting, so the harbour moved to deeper water at Fenit Island in the 1880s.

This means that Tralee hasn't had much industry or tourist development, and has preserved the feel of a provincial market town. As the county town it has business accommodation and amenities. The Tourist Information Centre is within the Kerry Museum on Town Park, same hours.

By plane
is ten km south at Farranfore, with flights from Dublin, Luton and elsewhere. Trains stop in Farranfore, and bus 271 runs to the airport four times a day.

It's a longer drive, but you've more choice of flights into Dublin or Shannon.

By train
Trains run to Tralee every couple of hours from Mallow, taking 90 min via Killarney and Farranfore (for Kerry Airport); a few start from Cork. There's one direct train daily between Dublin Heuston and Tralee, but usually you change at Mallow, with journey time 4 hours and a walk-up single fare of €43. Change also at Mallow for Limerick, Galway and Cobh. See Irish Rail for timetables, fares and online tickets.



By bus
Dublin Coach M7 runs daily hourly from Dublin Burgh Quay and Red Cow Luas station via Limerick, Adare, Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale and Killarney, taking 3 hours 30 min to Tralee. They don't use the bus station in any of those towns; in Tralee the stop is outside Kerry Group Headquarters, near Aqua Dome south side of the town. From Dublin airport take their bus for Portlaoise, Waterford or Dundrum and change at Red Cow. Bus M7 runs 6:15AM-11:45PM; it's every 30 min but alternate buses branch north at Limerick for Bunratty and Ennis.

Bus Eireann 40 treks cross-country every hour or so, from Rosslare ferry port via Wexford, New Ross, Waterford, Dungarvan, Youghal, Cork, Macroom, Ballyvourney, Killarney, Farranfore and finally Tralee.

Bus 271 runs 3 or 4 times a day from Killarney via Farranfore, Kerry Airport and Castleisland to Tralee.

Bus 275 runs every hour or two from Dingle, taking an hour to Tralee.

By car
By road from Dublin follow M7 to Limerick then N21 through Newcastle West, reckon 3 hour 30 min.

Get around
Tralee town is compact, but you need your own wheels for outlying sights. For instance Bus 278 to Fenit only runs on Friday, with a return trip possible into town but not outward.

Enterprise Car Hire have a base in Tralee near the railway station, open M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-noon.

Taxi companies in Tralee are Dial a Taxi +353 87 981 8181 and Dimo Cabs +353 87 277 4077. You'll find them on The Mall or awaiting the trains.

See

 * Town Park by the museum is a pleasant open space, especially when the roses are in bloom.
 * Churches: St John the Evangelist on Ashe St is Church of Ireland, while St John's RC church is on Castle St. Holy Cross is the Dominican church on Princes' St.
 * The Courthouse on Ashe St still houses the courts. It was completed in 1834 in neo-classical style, and later embellished by two cannon used in the Crimean War (1854–56) and the Indian Rebellion (1857).
 * Ratass Church is a medieval ruin on R875 north side of town. Its oldest parts are 10th century, built over the Iron Age Rath Mhaighe Teas, "fort of the southern plain". In the graveyard, a 6th century Ogham stone was found incorporated into a burial vault. It's inscribed for "Sílán son of Fáithloga".
 * was the port until 1846, where many emigrants left for North America; then a canal was cut to Tralee town centre. There's a restored windmill with an exhibition on the emigration years and a model railway. The area is good for birdwatching and breezy walks along the river and canal.
 * was the port until 1846, where many emigrants left for North America; then a canal was cut to Tralee town centre. There's a restored windmill with an exhibition on the emigration years and a model railway. The area is good for birdwatching and breezy walks along the river and canal.

Further out

 * is a picturesque harbour 10 km west of Tralee, which until the 19th century was a major port. In 1588 the Spanish Armada sloop Nuestra Señora del Socorro surrendered here, unable to limp home. The crew were all put to death - a rattled London government had given local sheriffs strict instructions.
 * Fenit Island is reached by walking or driving across the sand bar north of Fenit village. It's populated, with a ruined castle, and it's claimed that St Brendan the Navigator (484-577) was born here.
 * is a village 10 km northwest of Tralee with the ruin of a 12th-century cathedral and two other small churches, open Apr-Sep daily. 500 m east is the ruin of the 13th-century Franciscan friary.
 * is a long beach with sandhills 12 km northwest of Tralee. This is where Roger Casement and two others were captured in April 1916, having been put ashore from a U-boat. Germany had sent arms to support a republican uprising, but the arms ship was captured by the Royal Navy, and scuttled off Cobh. Casement had also been involved in recruiting Irishmen within Germany (such as POWs) to fight against Britain, and he was hanged for treason.
 * Akeragh is another long sandy strip north of Banna.
 * is the headland south of the Shannon estuary, with Ballyheigue the main settlement.
 * has been described as "not so much a town as a street between two fields". The island was created when a moat was built around the castle, of which only a crumbling tower remains. The main attraction is Crag Cave 2 km northeast, almost 4 km long, of which you tour 350 m.

Do

 * What's on? For local events listen to Radio Kerry on 96.2 - 97.6 FM, or read The Kerryman, Kerry's Eye or Tralee Advertiser. Tralee Outlook folded in 2019.
 * Cinema: Omniplex is next to Aqua Dome.
 * Theatre: Siamsa Tire is west side of Town Park by the museum.
 * Theatre: Siamsa Tire is west side of Town Park by the museum.
 * Gaelic games: Kerry GAA the county team usually play their home football games in Killarney, but for hurling they use Austin Stack Park (capacity 12,000), 200 m east of the railway station.
 * Tralee Racecourse occasionally hosts point-to-points but no longer has a regular race calendar. It's at Ballybeggan, 2 km northeast of town.
 * Dingle Way is a 176-km hiking trail that begins in Tralee, circles the Dingle peninsula and returns. The whole circuit takes 8 days but you can easily do short sections. The first stage leaves Tralee along the ship canal towpath to Blennerville. It climbs a lane onto a path on the flanks of Slieve Mish, 1 km south of N86, and follows the flank to the coastal village of Camp. That's 18 km, for the next stage see Annascaul. The final day is much the same in reverse.
 * Tralee Garden Festival is mid-June.
 * Rose of Tralee Festival is an old-style beauty contest in August.
 * National Circus Festival is in November on Town Park.
 * National Circus Festival is in November on Town Park.

Buy

 * Town centre has plenty of shops, with Garvey's SuperValu on Rock St open daily 8AM-10PM.
 * Manor West is the retail park 1 km west beyond University Hospital. Tesco is open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-10PM.
 * Landers Outdoor World is a big store for outdoor clothing, footwear, camping, water sports and fishing tackle. They're next to Aldi on Manor West, and open M-Sa 9AM-6PM.

Drink

 * "Tralee Trembles?" - "Not any more he doesn't." - Brendan Behan, The Scarperer
 * Tralee Trembles is the hapless tool of a prison escape; Behan's own prison career was almost as inglorious.


 * Others include Kirby's Brogue, O'Sullivan's, Paddy Mac's, The Pikeman (within Grand Hotel), Blasket Bar, Hennessey's and Ballymac.
 * Others include Kirby's Brogue, O'Sullivan's, Paddy Mac's, The Pikeman (within Grand Hotel), Blasket Bar, Hennessey's and Ballymac.
 * Others include Kirby's Brogue, O'Sullivan's, Paddy Mac's, The Pikeman (within Grand Hotel), Blasket Bar, Hennessey's and Ballymac.
 * Others include Kirby's Brogue, O'Sullivan's, Paddy Mac's, The Pikeman (within Grand Hotel), Blasket Bar, Hennessey's and Ballymac.
 * Others include Kirby's Brogue, O'Sullivan's, Paddy Mac's, The Pikeman (within Grand Hotel), Blasket Bar, Hennessey's and Ballymac.

Sleep

 * B&Bs are along Oakpark Rd towards Listowel.
 * B&Bs are along Oakpark Rd towards Listowel.

Connect
As of Aug 2021, Tralee has 5G with Eir and Vodafone, and 4G with Three.

Go next

 * Listowel is the main settlement in the north of Kerry. Follow the coast then take the Shannon Ferry to continue the Wild Atlantic Way in County Clare.
 * West is the Dingle peninsula, dotted with prehistoric sites, and with boats to the Blasket islands.
 * Southwest takes you via Killorglin onto the Ring of Kerry coastal itinerary, eventually circling back to Killarney.