Why Kenmare Is The Perfect Irish Town

Kenmare is probably my favorite Irish town.

Why?

What makes it so wonderful?

And where the hell is it?

 

Location

Kenmare is located in County Kerry south of Killarney National Park — and that damn tacky touristy town of the same name.

The park is gorgeous and worthwhile. The town is to be avoided at all cost (my opinion).

Anyway…

So if you look at the map you can see that Kenmare makes a great base for exploring Killarney National Park and the surrounding mountains. It makes a fabulous place to start your Ring of Kerry drive — or end it.

And it makes a perfect spot to make the Beara Peninsula drive.

So Kenmare has the perfect location for exploring some of Kerry’s gems.

Not to mention that it sits on the water and has more mountains to the south — the Caha Mountains — which are more in County Cork.

 

Sizeable town

I love little villages like Dunfanaghy up in Donegal or Schull in Cork.

But they’re pretty small — more villages than towns which is fine when I want a quieter place.

Kenmare is a bit larger and has more to it.

So if want more options — restaurants, shops, markets — then a town the size of Kenmare is perfect.

 

Places to stay in Kenmare

There are loads of accommodation in Kenmare — hotels, guesthouses, B&B’s and even rooms above some of the pubs right in town.

And you’ll find all budgets catered to as well.

I stayed in Abbey Court this last time and it’s a fabulous B&B on the edge of town (still within walking distance with a nice sidewalk to walk on).

Rockcrest is another B&B I’ve had clients stay in with happy results.

I love that there are many options and in different places around town.

 

So many pubs, so little time

This was my third trip to Kenmare and I don’t think I realized just how many pubs there are here. It’s a bit mad but I love it!

There is a pub for everyone.

Some are more frequented by locals and some are more inhabited by the tourists.

And some are a bit nicer and some are more typical of a good old Irish pub.

One of my favorites is the Coachmans. It tends to draw in more locals.

But I also like PF McCarthy’s and Foley’s.

It seems that every other store front is a pub.

 

Music

And with all those pubs does come music.

There’s a fantastic music scene in Kenmare with music many nights of the week starting in spring and through autumn.

I’ve heard some talented musicians in this town.

And this guy below?

I saw him in 2010 with my parents and again on this trip.

Now he has a reputation for being a bit conceited. But he is outstanding!

 

Sports

There is a golf course right in town if golf is your thing. And there are a few more nearby.

The Kenmare harbor provides some boating opportunities.

Both the Kerry Way and the Beara Way — long distance walking trails — come through here.

I saw cyclists galore around.

Killarney National Park and its surroundings offer loads of hiking, angling and lake kayaking.

The Caha Mountains — just to the south — also offer great cycling and hiking.

It’s a wonderful base for exploring the great outdoors of Kerry and a bit of northern Cork.

 

Keeping it real

I think for me what is so special about Kenmare is that it feels more real and more authentic than some other towns in Ireland.

The locals are hanging out with the tourists.

And while there are tourists in Kenmare, there aren’t typically hoards of them — especially at night.

There aren’t tons of souvenir shops or other kitchy places.

You see more everyday stores that remind you that you’re in a real Irish town.

And for me this is the best thing about Kenmare.