Islands in County Kerry
Not only is Ireland an island all by itself, we have our own set of smaller Irish Islands too. Visiting Kerry will give you unrivalled access to some of the most stunning islands of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Make friends with whales and dolphins, gaze out over the crashing ocean, or stargaze under Ireland’s darkest skies. There’s no better place to relax.
On day trips to our Islands, you will more than likely find peace, tranquillity, serene nature, and wildlife at your disposal. We are lucky to have so many islands still so close to nature and not yet overdeveloped like many islands around the world, as well as having access to many of them.
Great Blasket Island, Dingle, County Kerry.
Just a short boat ride from the Dingle Peninsula, lie the deserted Blasket Islands. This island not only has incredible nature, but the history is phenomenal. The last of the island’s inhabitants left in 1953 but reminders of the fascinating lives of the local farmers and fishermen remain. With a little digging and some help from the Great Blasket Centre, a museum and interpretive centre located in the Gaeltacht village of Dunquin, you’ll uncover a celebrated and historically rich literary history. In fact, the islanders published many books during the 1920s and 1940s that are considered classics today.
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Valentia Island, County Kerry.
Joined to the mainland by bridge, traces of 350 million-year-old wildlife are found on one of the largest islands off the south west coast of Kerry, Valentia Island. Nowadays a plethora of living flora and fauna make this beautiful island their home. The island is full of contrasts. The western side is dominated by the barren, dramatic cliffs of Bray Head which command spectacular views of the coastline, while the mild effect of the Gulf Stream results in Valentia’s balmy climate and lush, colourful vegetation. This island is home to 665 people
Skellig Michael, County Kerry.
Jutting out of the ocean, the dramatic beauty of Skellig Michael – a 6th century monastic settlement and UNESCO World Heritage Site- becomes clear. The site can be reached by climbing over five hundred steps of the old stone stairway Accessible only by boat, Skellig Michael and its sister island, Little Skellig, are lashed by the elements and inhabited almost solely by seabirds (in fact, the islands support some of the largest collections of manx sheerwaters and puffins in the world), and it has been aptly described by playwright Bernard Shaw as “a part of our dream world”; maybe that’s why it was chosen as a filming location for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Innisfallen island, Killarney, County Kerry.
This small Island can be seen in the distance from Ross Castle out beyond the entrance to the bay. A monastery was founded on Innisfallen in the 7th century and it became a seat of learning and it is said that King Brian Boru studied there. On the island are the remains of the extensive 12th century Augustinian priory and a small 11th -12th century Romanesque church. The annals of Innisfallen, a major source of early Irish history and now stored in the Bodleian Library in Oxford were written there. Boat trips to the island operate from the Ross Castle area from Ross and Reen piers.
