DK Travel : Dublin : Places of interest

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Killarney

On the doorstep of the Ring of Kerry, with a clutch of excellent hotels and old-fashioned ponies and traps, it’s not surprising that this attractive town becomes inundated with visitors in summer. The shops and restaurants are worth the visit, let alone the surrounding scenery.
Killybegs

An exciting place to be when the boats come in, Killybegs is one of the busiest fishing ports in the country. As the trawlers unload their catches gulls squawk over the water in an attempt to claim a discarded morsel.
Kilmacduagh

An astonishing set of monastic ruins survives here. The original church established in AD 610 was enlarged over the centuries and replaced by a cathedral in the 14th century, though keeping many features of the older buildings, including a 10th-century door. Around it are a number of other intriguing 13th- and 14th-century ecclesiastical buildings. There’s also a Leaning Tower.
Kilmainham Gaol and Hospital

At the far west of the city, these two institutions could not be more different. The forbidding Kilmainham Gaol, with its grim history, was restored and opened as a museum in the 1960s; in contrast, the former hospital is a fine and beautiful building, restored in the 1980s and now home to the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
Kilrush and Loop Head Drive

While Kilrush itself is unremarkable, it makes a good base for exploring the furthest reaches of southwest County Clare. Especially worthwhile is a drive out to remote Loop Head. For an insight into local history, particularly the hardships of the region under English rule, visit the Kilrush Heritage Centre.
Kinsale

The fact that Kinsale has its own gourmet food festival gives some idea of the calibre of restaurants and cafés here. It is probably the most prosperous and sophisticated fishing village in the country and, being only 15 km (9 miles) from Cork, attracts locals and tourists in droves. The pretty harbour is the focal point and most of the activity centres on this area and the backstreets around it.
Kinvarra

The little road around Galway Bay passes through a score of villages that are breathtaking in their prettiness and grandiose location. The most charming is Kinvarra, with its fishing harbour and pier cottages. It’s the setting for a traditional music festival in May, and a fishing-boat gathering in August.
Kylemore Abbey

The extraordinarily over-elaborate mock Gothic castle, built as a private house in 1868 for millionaire Mitchell Henry, has been a Benedictine convent since the 1920s. Although a religious community, it is also run as a commercial tourist attraction. The house and walled gardens are delightful, and the location magnificent, next to Kylemore Lough and with views towards the Twelve Bens.
Lakes of Killarney

The three lakes in this region, Upper, Middle (Muckross) and Lower (Lough Leane), are linked by the Long Range River and are all incorporated into the stunning 100-sq km (40-sq mile) Killarney National Park. Flanked by mountains, and with a varied landscape of woodland, heather and peat bogs, the area offers a range of beautiful walks and drives.

Upper Lake, Killarney
Lambert Puppet Theatre

Classic pantomime fun; performances range from fairy tales for toddlers to Yeats for older kids.