Killarney vs Kenmare
 

We have two or three nights to spend in the Killarney/Kenmare area. What are the pros and cons of each town. I know Kenmare is smaller but "too small"? We will be touring during the day. Is Killarney too "touristy"? I'm play Goldilocks - we need the town that is "just right" Thanks for any opinions.

I've always stayed in Killarney. Touristy? Yes, but it is larger, more restaurants, more shopping, etc.

I've never stayed in Kenmare but have driven thru it several times. It is a very charming town for a night or two, but I liked Killarney because of the variety. ((b))

I have stayed in both places. What are you doing during your time there? That will probably determine where you want to stay. What does a "just right" town mean to you? What do you need in a town?

If I had never been to either one I quess I would pick Killarney. As Budman states there is more to do, Gap of Dunloe, National Park etc. I was in Killarney and Kenmare last month and I don't think Killarney can be described as a town, it is definitley a small city with lots of construction and traffic. Kenmare wasnt much better. There is also a lot of road construction in the Mts as they try to widen the road. I quess thats progress but I miss the narrow roads full of sheep. Have fun

We used Kenmare as our base a few years ago and fell in love with it. Caveat: we are small town people--generally, the smaller the place the better we like it.

Killarney Nat. Park is easily reachable from Kenmare (about half an hour if I remember correctly). And accessibility to the Beara Peninsula is a big plus for Kenmare.

we have chosen Kenmare twice and it is one of our favorite stays...great b&b's within walking distance of everything...great dining, pubs, music, shopping. can walk to the stone circle in town.

great day trips to killarney national park (the drive thru moll's gap past ladies' view is wonderful) then visit muckross and ross castle, could take faster route back.

one day you could take a trip to garnish island and explore the beara pen. ...must do healy pass.

these are among my favorite scenic drives in Ireland

could also do rest of ROK

Killarney in the off season if you want some night life, otherwise there is plenty to do in and around Kenmare. I would stay in Knemare in the off season too, but that's me. I like quiet and out of the way. Kenmare is loaded with plenty of good dining choices and pubs so you won't be at a loss for an evening entertainment.

Bill

rfbk50 asked this question on 8-03-06. We requested more info on the same day so as to help. It is now 8-10-03 and rfbk50 has not deigned to give us more info. Am I the only one who finds this rude? I will certainly not waste my time any more on this question.

Gee Irish Eyes, I'm so sorry to have put you off. I want to visit either the Ring of Kerry or the Dingle Penninsula. I really wanted to get the opinions of people who have visited either city. We don't want a structured trip and are not big on nightlife. We like good restaurants. (By the way, I have been tied up with doctors because my 83 yr. old mother had an abnormal mammogram and I do have to go to work. Does that give me a pass on not replying quick enough)

we stayed in Killarney, but drove through Kenmare. Kenmare looked like a more charming town to me. But I really liked the convenience of Killarney. There was so much to do and see right there. Its only about 30-40 minutes driving between the two, but in a 2 week trip we did SO much driving, I was glad to be closer to the daily activities some of the time.

Killarney is 'touristy' in the sense that there are tons of hotels and b&bs. The town was full of tourists, and also the things tourists like...shops, restaurants. There were good shops and cheezy ones, good restaurants and bad. Does this make it 'too touristy'? not for me.

Also, driving the Beara Peninsula is really beautiful, and more convenient to Kenmare. Ring of Kerry was too long of a days drive for me.

I've stayed 5 nights in Killarney and 7 nights in Kenmare. I like Kenmare more because it is a smaller town, easy to get to Beara and other sights. Also it is easy to get to Killarney Park from Kenmare. If I had to grade them, I'd give Kenmare a 10 and Killarney a 5. I did stay in one of Killarney's 5 star hotels right in town and a guesthouse in Kenmare. So accommodations had nothing to do with it. I guess I like smaller, friendlier places. If I could I'd love to be anyplace in Ireland, you can't go wrong. Good Luck.

Consider Kinsale instead of Kenmare or Killarney. Kenmare is too small, Killarney too touristy (unless you have a thing for tour buses) and Kinsale is just right.

You can do the Beara Peninsula easily from there also.

Larry J

I was under the impression that Kenmare would be bigger than Kinsale. Reading this last post, I guess I am wrong.

You are not wrong, Kinsale is much smaller that Kenmare and Killarney. It is a lovely little village with great food and Pubs and a nice little harbour.

Kinsale is another region all together and should not be included in this discussion. Yes, it is lovely, but should be left for another trip. Kenmare for Beara and Killarney for Dingle, choose one and run with it.

To Johnod,

Population of Kenmare is 1366
Population of Kinsale is 2751

Much more to see and do in Kinsale also.

http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/..._over_1000.txt

Larry J

There is soooo much to do in and around Kenmare. Sure, if you go to Ireland for the night life perhaps not, but Kenmare is a wonderful jumping off point for the RoK, Killarney National Park, Gap of Dunloe, Don't forget a ride through the middle of the Ring, Beara Peninsula can be good for a couple days of touring with a wide variety of scenery and megalithic sites dotting the peninsula, Sheepshead and Mizen just a bit further away, Gougane Barra .... I'm just warming up. Sure, Kinsale is nice, but to imply that you might not be able to find enough to do in and around Kenmare .... I beg to differ.

There are plenty of good restaurants in Kenmare despite it's small size which is what makes it a great place to stay. Small and yet well equipped.

Bill

We followed Bill's advice on our last trip, stayed in Kenmare, did the Beara and the Mizen peninsula. Loved it! I like Killarney but the best of Ireland for me is the small towns.

Just returned and stayed in both towns. We really didn't care for Killarney. Kenmare was nice. But we prefer the smaller, quaint, and quiet places. Just a bit of advice: Check out the places you stay carefully. The pictures on the websites make most look like they're located on the water or in a quiet and scenic part of town. That was not always the case. Our favorite place (and the one where the website pictures were accurate) was Dualla house in Cashel. We enjoyed all the accommodations very much, but that was something we both noticed.
Enjoy!
Carrie

We will be celebrating our 47th anniversary next week in Kenmare. We'd like to have dinner that night in a nice local restaurant (good food, not much bar noise). Any recommendations?