Town of Dunquin
While the West Kerry Gaeltacht has a spiritual capital, then Dunquin is that metropolis. This little village has been mecca to students of the Irish language for a century and more, and has become in recent times faithful custodian of the Blasket heritage. There remains controversy regarding the Blasket connection. The huge interpretative centre faced strong opposition initially when it was opened in 1993 but was welcomed by the islanders and has since prospered. All the aspects of the Blaskets is celebrated here, including remarkable and ongoing connection with Springfield, Massachusetts, the town to which so many of the islanders emigrated. Among the many spirits that roam around Dunquin are those of Spanish sailors; the ill-starred Armada lost two ships. A monument in the village recalls those who perished here.
Cloghane is a place of attraction to hill walkers. It situates at the base of Mount Brandon, facing the beautiful Brandon Bay. It is home to the yearly Irish Festival of Lughnasa. This festival, organised between Brandon and Cloghane villages, brings visitors globally to experience the old Irish tradition of celebrating the Lughnasa.
This is a former market-town, situated on the harbour of Castlemaine, on the south-west coast of Ireland. It was named after a castle erected on the bridge over the River Maine by Mac Carthy More and the Earl of Desmond as a defense to the River Maine crossing. It was the responsibility of each new coming chief to protect it; but when the Earl received possession of it from MacCarthy, he refused to admit McCarthy, and kept entire possession of the castle, which remained in his family under the reign of Elizabeth. Castlemaine is on the north side of the river Maine and lies south-east of the Slieve Mish range of mountains. River Maine flows into the harbour of Castlemaine, the castle stood over it and projected very much on the east side; and the buttresses of the arch by which it was supported are still there, and you can still see the stone socket on which the pivot of the castle gate used to turn.
This was once the impregnable Kerry headquaters of the Earls of Desmond: the North Kerry was ruled from here. Today, strong farming markets and good commercial activity gives a new life to Castleisland although it is only scant ruins of what was once a formidable powerbase. The Crag Castle nearby is fast becoming the great showcave of Ireland. On the North and West lie the Glanruddery mountains and the Stacks respectively. Castleisland is an important road crossing in this Vale of Tralee, and the Kerry’s county airport at Farranfore is just near by. There are daily flights connecting Kerry with Britain and the major Irish cities
Overlooking Valentia Harbour, it lies at the foot of Bentee. The Carhan House here is where Daniel “The Liberator” O’Connell (1775 - 1847) was born, and he won Catholic representation in Parliament in 1829. It was in his memory that the O’Connell’s Church was built in 1888 and this is the only church in Ireland the patron of which is a lay-person. Also the Ballycarbery Castle that is indeed the remnants of an older castle once held by O’Connell’s ancestors too situates here. The 10 ft thick stone fort, Cahergall Fort in Cahirciveen is clearly visible on the mountain slope. Also there lies the Leacanabuaile Fort that is a carefully restored stone ring fort with occupation dating from the sixth to eighth centuary. Cuas Crom Beach is a place of attraction for swimming.