Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Daily trains connect Killarney to Dublin, Cork and a multitude of cities throughout Ireland. Second only to Dublin for its tourist appeal, Killarney is a bustling town situated in County Kerry in southwest Ireland. A quick walk from town brings travelers to the lush Killarney National Forest, where they can spend a day hiking the trails to Torc Waterfall, Torc Mountain and MacGillycuddy's Reeks. The ambitious 10-day "Kerry Way" is a walking tour that spans the Iveragh Peninsula and deposits hikers and walkers in small Irish villages and towns along the way.
For vacationers wanting to skip the vigorous exercise, bus and coach tours of the Ring of Kerry are available daily out of the Killarney tourism office and can range from three-hour tours to full-day eight-hour adventures. For best results, stay an extra day and visit picturesque Dingle on the neighboring peninsula.
Kilkenny is considered the last true medieval city in Ireland, and its small and charming streets offer travelers a glimpse into Ireland's rich heritage of folk arts and crafts. Dotted with pubs, bed and breakfasts and traditional restaurants serving the carnivorous Full Irish Breakfast, Kilkenny sits only a few hours from the Irish capital of Dublin and packs a number of cultural activities. There's the historic 12th century Norman Castle occupying much of the downtown area; the local-history museum housing the blunderbuss (small rifle) of one of Ireland's most infamous brigands; and day tours of the city's large arts and crafts districts. Often overlooked and quick to love, Kilkenny rounds out any culture seeker's Irish itinerary.
Easily one of Ireland's most artistic and vibrant cities, Galway sits opposite from Dublin on the far west end of the island. Relatively small with a population of only 72,000, as of the 2006 census, Galway is home to a variety of sporting, music and arts events such as the famed Galway Arts Festival in July, the Galway Races in August, the Galway Film Fleadh, the Pride Festival and the notable Galway International Oyster Festival. Visitors staying in Galway's eclectic downtown can enrich their stays with day trips to the beautiful Connemara Mountains, the Burren limestone fields, the majestic Cliffs of Moher and, perhaps most impressive, the ancient and wind-torn ruins of the Aran Islands. While the city is a good distance from Dublin, the smooth and efficient Iarnrod Eireann completes the trip in less than three hours.