THE COMMUNITIES

Ireland, Iveragh highlighted	Kerry Geopark, Ring of Kerry in red

SNEEM

The word Sneem comes from the celtic "Snaidhm", which means "knot" or "twist". This comes from it's snaky river.

Sneem is situated on the northern shore of the Kenmare Bay, at the estuary of the Sneem River, flowing out into the bay. The beauty and hospitality of the town has attracted many visitors, including George Bernard Shaw, Charles de Gaulle and queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Sneem is subjected to an exotic climate, much due to the Gulf Stream which flows right into the bay. High and low tides give the river a sense of life and movement. For the hillwalker there is the Kerry Way, windling along old roads right into the rural and mountainous south Kerry.

The peace and quiet of the area makes it an ideal location for those who wish to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and it is an ideal holiday centre, with roads going in all directions to Kenmare, Killarney and Waterville. Sneem is also a previous winner of the Fáilte Ireland National Tidy Towns Competition and Co-operation Ireland Community Awards.

CASTLECOVE

Castlecove takes it's name from a small harbour and an unfinished castle. The story says that a seventeenth century wife in her husbands absence started building it from envy of her neighbours castle at Ballycarnahan. When her husband came home again, he forbade further work on the castle and that's why it's unfinished.

The village of Castlecove is situated at the estuary of the Staigue River. On the coast one can find the White Strand, an excellent example of natures beauty. Nearby are the ruins of the Staigue fort, which was built several thousand years ago. The fort shows an excellent worksmanship.

This is a small resort with fine sandy beaches nearby, on a bay in the picturesque Kenmare River.

CAHERDANIEL

This pretty village stands on the shore of Derrynane Bay where Kenmare Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. This makes Caherdaniel an excellent location for angling, swimming and diving. Those interested in yachting, watersurfing or waterskiing will find themselves at home in the nearby Derrynane and Westcove.

The Kerry way goes right through this village so hillwalkers have the choice of taking three different routes. Either the west route around the Farraniaragh Mountain towards Waterville, north over Eagles hill towards Cahersiveen or east towards Castlecove and Sneem, winding through hills and valleys, always in view of the temperate Kenmare river.

This area is abundant with historical and archaeological sites such as standing stones, souterrains, church ruins and an ogham stone. The most important site in the area is the Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connel, who introduced democracy in Ireland. The house is a National Monument and open to visitors.

KNIGHTSTOWN

Knightstown is a peaceful harbour town, nestling on the east of Valentia Island and connected to the mainland by ferry in summer. There is a Heritage Centre in the village to help you find the many treasures of the island.

These treasures include the 380-million-year-old fossilised Tetrapod tracks, a concentration of Megalithic and early Church remains, the Valentia Slate Quarry and the sub-tropical Glanleam Gardens.

In the southwest of the island is the Skellig Islands Experience interpretive centre. Trips to the Skellig Islands can be arranged here or in neighbouring Portmagee.