Tralee: Things to Do & Places to Visit • Go-to-Ireland.com

Banna Strand

In Tralee, don't miss this pretty beach. A place to take a breath of fresh air, walk barefoot at low tide and swim in summer!

Irish mills

The Blennerville Windmill

A windmill still in operation that's well worth a visit!

Golf Clubs

Tralee Golf Club

Want to experience the joys of a real Irish golf green? Head for Tralee: this is the address for you!

Museums in Ireland

Kerry County Museum

Once inhabited, Dalkey Island boasts numerous remains, including ruined dwellings, a church and a defensive Martello tower.

Irish forest parks

Ballyseedy Woods

A lovely Tralee forest, ideal for a stroll among the trees, for total rejuvenation away from civilization!

Tralee

Tralee (Trá Lí in Irish Gaelic) is a small town in County Kerry in the Republic of Ireland. It is located at the beginning of the Dingle Peninsula, making it an ideal base while exploring the surroundings! Don’t miss its museums, golf green, and its magnificent windmill, one of the largest in all of Ireland!

History of Tralee

Tralee, a medieval Irish town

The origins of Tralee date back more precisely to the 13th century, during the Norman Invasions. They built a medieval town then controlled by the Earl of Desmond. They constructed a castle there and established a Dominican order.
In 1580, the town was burned in response to the Desmond family’s rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I. Tralee was then granted to Edward Denny in 1587 by the Queen of England. He undertook major reconstruction works in the town.

However, the current appearance of Tralee dates from the early 19th century. Most streets and avenues now feature a typically Georgian style. The site of the old medieval castle was eventually demolished to create a large avenue in 1826, known as Denny Street. At one end stands the Ashe Memorial Hall, dedicated to the memory of Thomas Ashe, an Irish Volunteer who participated in the 1916 Easter Rising.

A town marked by the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War

Throughout its history, Tralee was not spared the troubled times of the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. The Black and Tans reportedly besieged the town in 1920 in response to murders carried out by the IRA. The siege deprived Tralee of food for over a week, and many houses were burned.

Despite the British army’s withdrawal, Tralee then became the scene of a bloody guerrilla war that lasted until 1923. Today, Tralee is the largest town in County Kerry. Its thriving economy has made it a dynamic, human-scale town. It retains the warmth and Irish charm for which it is so appreciated.