Visitor Information
The Killarney Tourist Office is at the Discover Ireland Centre, Beech Road, Killarney (www.killarney.ie; 064/663-1633). It's open October to May Monday to Saturday 9:15am to 5:15pm, June and September daily 9am to 6pm, and July to August daily 9am to 8pm. During low season, the office occasionally closes for lunch from 1 to 2pm. It offers many helpful booklets, including the Tourist Trail walking-tour guide and the Killarney Area Guide, with maps.
Useful local publications include Where: Killarney, a quarterly magazine distributed free at hotels and guesthouses. It is packed with current information on tours, activities, events, and entertainment.
Town Layout
Killarney may be the most important town in the region, but this is Ireland, so this “metropolis” is much smaller than you’d expect, with a full-time population of only about 14,000. Of course this number can swell considerably at the height of tourist season—and it feels like it. The town is laid out around one central thoroughfare, Main Street, which confusingly changes its name to High Street at the northern end. The principal cross streets are New Street and Plunkett Street (which becomes College Street). The Deenagh River edges the western side of town and East Avenue Road edges the eastern side. The busiest section of town is at the southern tip of Main Street, where it curves to meet East Avenue Road, then curves again to head south to the Muckross road and the entrance to Killarney National Park.
There is a limited local bus service, but the best and fastest way to get around is almost always on foot. (Those with mobility problems might find it easier to call a taxi than look for a bus—nowhere is all that far from anywhere else in this town, so fares are low). A signposted Tourist Trail visits all the highlights; it takes less than 2 hours to complete. Pick up a booklet outlining the trail’s sights at the tourist office.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
