Killarney is also a town in Ontario, Canada.
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Killarney (Cill Airne, "The church of the sloes") is a town in Co. Kerry, west Ireland. The town is in a deep valley in the MacGillicuddy Reeks, Ireland's largest mountain range, at the side of one of a chain of three large lakes, part of a national park. The town is also famous for its history, as well as the cathedral it is also home to Ross Castle, Muckross Abbey and Innisfallen Island, the location of a ruined monastery.
Because of its natural and historical interest, and its close proximity to the Dingle peninsula, Skelligs and Ring of Kerry it is a popular tourist town.
The population of Killarney as at Census 2002 was 12,087.
Killarney is served by National Primary and Secondary roads as well as local routes.
National Primary Routes
N22 (North) to Tralee
N22 (South) to Cork
National Secondary Routes
N72 (West) to Killorglan
N72 (East) to Waterford
There is a train service to Tralee, Limerick, Cork and Dublin operated by Irish Rail (Iarnrod Eireann). Bus Eireann also provides bus connections to Limerick (onwards to Dublin Galway), Cork and to Kenmare & Skibbereen
Tourism is by far the largest industry in Killarney. There are more bed nights available in Killarney than in any other Irish town or city, with the exception of the capital, Dublin City.
(National Park).
(taken from killarney250.com)
From Spring 2004 to Autumn 2005 Killarney will celebrate 250 years of Irish tourism and the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the town of Killarney.
The 250 year story began with Thomas Fourth Viscount Kenmare who came of age in 1747. He had the vision to attract visitors to Killarney. He developed the town as we know it to-day. He built linen mills.
Writing in 1756 Charles Smith said "The town of Killarney is a small thriving place, being considerably improved, since the minority of the present owner, the Lord Viscount Kenmare, who hath encouraged several inhabitants to settle in it, and hath erected some houses for linen manufacturers about a mile from the town. There are already four great new roads finished to this town. The neighbourhood of the mines offers employment of several people, and will consequently, cause a considerable sum of money to be spent in it."
Richard Pococke visited Killarney in 1749 and returned in 1758. Writing from Killarney on August 31st 1758 he said "It is wonderful to see what Lord Kenmare has done in about nine years. He has made a walk around the Isle of Innisfallen ... and built a house there for company to dine in. He has built a tower and steeple in the church, market house, caused many roads to be made and some at his own expense, allotting the profits of a salmon fishery to public works; he has encouraged tenants to build three or four streets by giving them long leases; he has a variety of boats to attend all strangers, and what is more extraordinary, he has raised such a town without any manufacture."