County KerryBy Jessica Tracey

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 populationof around 145,500 people.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Famous Faces

• Wolfe Tone Daniel O’Connell