Tralee (Irish: Trá Lí) is a beautiful town in County Kerry with one of the best climates in Ireland. The witty and honest population is about 25,000
Understand
Get in
By plane
1 Kerry Airport 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
Iarnrod Eireann trains run to Tralee every couple of hours from Mallow, taking 90 mins 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. Change also at Mallow for Limerick, Galway and Cobh. To and from central Dublin, get a ticket for city centre not Heuston, as this includes the connecting tram fare and saves a couple of euros over separate tickets.
2 Casement railway & bus station is 750 m northeast of Tralee town centre.
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 06:15-23:45; 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
By foot
Tralee is very accessible by foot as the town centre is small.
By car
If you plan on using Tralee as a base to see the county and surrounding towns and villages a car is the best option.
By taxi
Tralee is well serviced by local taxi companies. There is a taxi rank in the town centre on The Mall.
See
- 1 Kerry County Museum, Ashe Memorial Park, Denny St V92 CXE3, ☏ 353 66 712 7777. Tu-Sa 09:30-17:00. The engaging "Medieval Experience" winds through a reconstruction of a 15th century town. There are also exhibitions on Roger Casement, and on Antarctic explorer Tom Crean (1877-1938), a survivor of Scott's 1911-13 expedition, and one of the six who sailed a small boat to South Georgia to bring help to Shackleton's marooned expedition. Plus temporary exhibitions. Adult €6, child free.
- The Town Park. Especially when the roses are in bloom. Interesting and labelled trees and a clean play area for small children. Closed at night - at irregular hours.
- St. John's Church of Ireland, Ashe St (by town park).
- Dominican Church, Princes' St.
- Court House, Ashe St. With two cannons from The Crimean War visible outside.
- 2 Blennerville 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
- 3 Fenit 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.
- 4 Ardfert is a village 10 km northwest of Tralee with the ruin of a 12th century cathedral and two other small churches, open April-Sept daily. 500 m east is the ruin of the 13th century Franciscan friary.
- 5 Banna Strand 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.
- 6 Kerry Head is the headland south of the Shannon estuary, with Ballyheigue the main settlement.
- 7 Castleisland
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
- Aqua Dome, Ballyard Rd (off Dingle Rd).
- Tralee Bay Wetlands eco-tourism (located near to the Aqua Dome on the Ballyard road), 066 7126700. A nice place to walk and has a playground for children (free). The Wetlands Centre has a cafe and offers a wetland tour by solar powered river boat. Also has a viewing tower, paddle and row boat hire. €6 adult / €4 child / senior citizen €5 / student €5 / family ticket €20
- Tralee Racecourse occasionally hosts point-to-points but no longer has a regular race calendar. It's at Ballybeggan, 2 km northeast of town.
Buy
- Town Centre has plenty shops
- Manor Shopping Centre, Killarney Rd.
Eat
- Chopin’s Cafe & Restaurant, 8 Ashe St, ☏ 353 66 711 7539, ✉[email protected]. M-Sa 08:00-18:00. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and cakes. Small terrace. €9-20.
- Mozart's Tapas, 7 Ashe St, ☏ 353 66 712 7977. M-Sa 09:00-18:00. Good for breakfast, lunch and light bites.
- La Scala, The Square V92 H603, ☏ 353 66 712 2477. This Italian restaurant gets mostly good reviews.
- The Roast House, 3 Denny St, ☏ 353 66 718 1011. M-Sa 09:00-17:00. Possibly the best coffee in town, the owner roasts his own coffee beans in-house. Good food selection, including the pulled pork sandwich. €8 sandwich, €12 mains, €3 coffee.
- Yummy Cafe-Market, Dominic St (Just off town square), ☏ 353 66 711 9019. M-Sa 09:00-18:00. Nice cafe for breakfast & lunch with free play area for kids. Popular with families.
- Finnegan's, 17 Denny St V92 FF6F, ☏ 353 87 624 1837. Daily 17:00-22:00. Quality trad food in a low-beamed cellar.
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 farcical.
- Roundy's Bar, 5 Broguemaker's Lane (facing Ashe Hotel). Th 10:00-23:00, F Sa 10:00-00:30, Su 12:00-23:00. A delightful, cosy little pub with music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.
- An Cearnóg bar, 7 Dominick St (off The Square), ☏ 353 66 712 1908. M-Th 10:30-23:30, F Sa 10:30-00:30, Su 12:00-23:30. Small cosy pub with excellent bar staff. Serves free snacks on Fridays at 18:00, but no bar food. Music most weekends and some weeknights.
- Seán Óg's, 41 Bridge St, ☏ 353 66 712 8822. Daily 12:00-00:00. Buzzing pub, also has rooms.
- Baily's Corner, 30 Lower Castle St V92 N9FT, ☏ 353 66 712 6230. Lively pub does good food and has trad music.
Sleep
- Castle Hostel is at 27 Upper Castle St.
- Woodlands Caravan & Camping Park, Dan Spring Road V92 RW89 (follow lane across river bridge), ☏ 353 66 712 1235, ✉[email protected]. Open March-Oct, a long-established friendly well-run site, a short walk to town. Tent or caravan with 2 adults €33.
- Several small B&Bs along Oakpark Rd towards Listowel.
- Ashe Hotel on Maine St is comfy and well-run, but there's often noise from the pubs in the street.
- Manor West Hotel, Killarney Rd V92 YC59 (by retail park 2 km east of town centre), ☏ 353 66 719 4500. Modern efficient hotel on retail park, with pool and gym. B&B double €100.
- Meadowlands Hotel, Oakpark Rd V92 DC83 (1 km northeast of town centre), ☏ 353 66 718 0444. Comfy modern hotel in a quiet area on road towards Listowel. B&B double €100.
- Brandon Hotel, Prince's Quay V92 PVK6, ☏ 353 66 712 3333. Modern hotel in town centre, good for business meetings with meeting hall, spa, pool and parking. B&B double €100.
- Grand Hotel, 31 Denny St V92 NDT8, ☏ 353 66 7121499. Cosy town centre hotel. Showing its age but gets good reviews for comfort, food and service. B&B double €100.
- Imperial Hotel, 27 Denny St V92 PK76 (next to Grand Hotel), ☏ 353 66 712 7755. Comfy central hotel with good dining, but no lift to upper floors. Parking is a tight squeeze.
- Rose Hotel, Dan Spring Road, Cloon Beg, Tralee V92 HKA4 (N86 on riverside), ☏ 353 66 719 9100. Friendly well-run place on south edge of town. B&B double €130.
- 1 Ballyroe Heights, Ardfert Rd, Ballyroe V92 HT91 (R551, 4 km NW of town centre), ☏ 353 66 712 6796. Friendly modern hotel with good food. B&B double €95.
- 2 Ballygarry House Hotel, Killarney Rd V92 W279 (Jcn N21 & N22, 4 km east of town centre), ☏ 353 66 712 3322. Modern hotel, well furnished and comfy, with spa. Off east bypass, handy for motorists. B&B double €140.
Connect
As of April 2021, Tralee has 5G with Eir and 4G with Three and Vodafone.