Tralee sits in the shelter of Tralee Bay, with a panaroma of sea and mountains
stretching into the west. Lying in the heart of Kerry, the coast, lakes and mountains
of the Kingdom are all within arm's reach.The town is the capital of the county,
the hub of its affairs. Founded by the Normans in 1216, the town has known many
rebellions. One of Tralee's main attractions is Kerry County Museum with its theme
park "Kerry the Kingdom". It offers three exhibitions: an audio visual show of
Kerry scenery, a display of archeological finds and a time travel experience through
medieval Tralee. It is well worth a visit and kids love it. Set against the backdrop
of a western sky, the broad white tower and circling sails of the Blennerville
windmill stand out from the landscape. The windmill has been a landmark in Tralee
since 1780 and has in recent years been revived as the largest working mill in
Ireland. It was built by Sir Roland Blennershasset in the 1700s.
Tralee is a vibrant town, home to the Roses, the internationally known festival
of Kerry. Tralee hosts the renowned Rose of Tralee International Festival every
August, with enough attractions to occupy a few pleasant days including open-air
free concerts, floats featuring the Roses, the circus and street entertainment.
If you are intending to visit during the Rose festival secure your accommodation
well in advance to avoid disappointment.
During the rest of the year, the town of Tralee has enough attractions to occupy
a few pleasant days.The town formed part of the ancient kingdom of Ciar which
dated from the first century. By the 12th century, Tralee had grown to a fortified
town and was the seat of the Earl of Desmond. In 1213, the Dominican Monastery
was founded.
Tralee's history is explained in the Kerry County Museum. One of Tralee's main
attractions is the theme park "Kerry the Kingdom". It offers three exhibitions:
an audio visual show of Kerry scenery, a display of archaeological finds and a
time travel experience through medieval Tralee. It is well worth a visit and children
will enjoy it.
Also based in Tralee is Siamsa Tire folklore theatre. Traditional song and
dance performances take place here throughout the summer.
Tralee plays host to a horse racing festival each August. The five day race
meeting is held at Tralee racecourse which is 1.5 miles from the town centre.
This is widely known as a fun racing festival. The main concern is to enjoy the
atmosphere- if you pick a winner, even better!
