County Kerry is located in southwest Ireland. It has a population of around 145,500 people and is known for its wet climate and mountainous terrain. Some key places in County Kerry include the town of Tralee, the Torc Waterfall near Killarney, Muckross House and Gardens in Killarney, and Ross Castle on Lough Leane. The county is also home to the tallest mountain in Ireland, Carrauntoohil, which is part of the Macgillycuddy Reeks mountain range.

1. County Kerry
By Jessica Tracey

2. Where is County Kerry?
• County Kerry, or Contae Chiarraí, can be found in the south west of
Ireland, in Munster.
• It is the 5th largest county in Ireland.
• It is surrounded by counties Limerick and Cork.
• The Atlantic Ocean borders the majority of its south west region.
• It has a total population
of around 145,500 people.

3. Terrific Tralee
• Tralee is the County Town of Kerry.
• The name Tralee originates from the Irish “Trá Lí” meaning
“Strand of the River Lee”.
• Every August the Rose of Tralee International Festival is held
here.
• The town’s population is around 24,000 people.
• The town is almost 800 years old!
• The Kerry County Museum is situated in Tralee.

4. Wishy-Washy Weather
• The weather in Kerry is much wetter than the
weather in more Eastern counties. This is due to
relief rainfall caused by the North Atlantic
Current and its mountainous plains.
• Although it is rainy, the North Atlantic current
means that temperatures are milder in Kerry, so
subtropical plants such as the strawberry plant
and tree ferns thrive.
Relief Rainfall

5. Wonderful Waterfalls
• Kerry is home to Torc Waterfall in Killarney. A river known as
“The Devil’s Punch Bowl” flows down the mountains to form
Torc Waterfall. The waterfall is approximately 20m high.
• It is situated near Muckross House, on the edge of Killarney
Town.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YIOHQNGJtI
Torc Waterfall Muckross House

6. Muckross House & Gardens
• Designed and built by Scotsman, William Burn in 1843.
• 65 rooms and built in Tudor Style.
• Situated in Killarney.
• Close to the shore of Killarney Lakes
• The Gardens were planted for Queen Victoria’s visit in 1861,
and the owners continued the gardening tradition after she
Queen Victoria left.

7. Ross Castle
• Built in the 15th Century by O'Donoghue Mór.
• Ross Castle was the last stronghold in Munster to hold out
against Cromwell.
• Copper was mined close by the castle on “Ross Island” 4,000
years ago.
• The castle sits by Lough Leane, the lower lake of Killarney.

8. Magnificent Mountains
• County Kerry is a very mountainous area, and
the Macgillycuddy Reeks are no exception. The
mountains stretch over 19km and the tallest of
all of them, and the tallest in Ireland is
Carrauntoohil. It is 1,038m tall.
• The smallest of the mountains is Knockbrack,
and it is only 425m tall.
• The mountains are part of the Armorican
Highlands and are of glacial-carved sandstone.

9. Famous Faces
• Wolfe Tone Daniel O’Connell