Often, when people travel to Kerry to attend a wedding, they want to combine the celebration with experiencing some of the great history and heritage for which the county is so renowned.
The Skellig Islands - Valentia
The Skellig Islands, Skellig Michael and Small Skellig, stand majestically in the Atlantic Ocean some 12 kilometres south west of Valentia Island which is just off the Kerry coast.
From any angle or vantage point on the nearby Ring of Kerry, the Skelligs are spectacular pinnacles which have mesmerised visitors and locals alike throughout history. The islands are world famous - each in its own right. Skellig Michael is known in the archaeological world as the site of a well-preserved monastic settlement from the early Christian period - now designated a World Heriage Site. Small Skellig is equally revered by ornitholigists as home to 27,000 pairs of gannets - the second largest colony of such seabirds in the world.
The Beehive Huts - Dingle
The hillside along the Slea Head drive in the townland of Fahan is littered with Clochans, or Beehive huts. At one stage there were over 400 of these drystone, corbelled huts surviving, prompting one 19th century expert to refer to the area as the 'city of Fahan'. These structures are generally believed to have been habitation units and may be found singly or in groups within stone fort complexes. The Fahan huts may well date from the 12th century when the incoming Normans forced the Irish inhabitants away from the fertile land and out to the periphery of the peninsula.
Blasket Islands - Dingle
The Great Blasket Island, the most westerly point in Europe, is the largest of a group of islands located 5 kilometres off the tip of the Dingle peninsula, 13 kilometres west of Dingle town. In the past few years, a number of houses on the islands have been restored and amenities provided for visitors.
There are six main islands, plus some rocky islets and sea stacks. The Great Blasket, separated from the mainland by the Blasket Sound, rises to 292 metres above sea level. Inishtooskert, Inishnabro, Inishvickillane and Tearaght also rise steeply from the sea in contrast with the remaining island, Beginish which is small and low-lying - its green plateau used as a source of fodder for livestock.
Crag Cave - Castleisland
Crag Cave was discovered in 1983 and is thought to be over a million years old. It's a wonderland of stalagmites and stalactites and a popular all-weather attraction located just outside Castleisland town. Crag Cave is one of the largest cave systems in Ireland with a total surveyed length of 3.81 kilometres or 12,510 feet. The development of the present showcase was undertaken from 1987 to 1989 by a local family with the assistance of speleologists and caving engineers. Further development work between Crag Cave and lower Crag Cave is expected to increase its length to almost 4 kilometres. Currently 350 metres of 'showcave' is open to the public.
Kenmare and Bonane
This Kerry town is Ireland's first 'planned town' and was established in 1665 on the Lansdowne Estate. It was designated a 'Heritage Town' by Bord Failte in 1991 - one of 30 towns in the country chosen for their unique historic character and a link to Ireland's historic past. Kenmare has a stone circle very close to the centre, which is thought to be the largest in Munster and a Heritage Trail, details of which can be found at the tourist office.
Just about 15 minutes' drive from Kenmare heading towards Glenngarriff in Co. Cork, is Bonane Heritage Park which is a large and well laid-out park, full of historically significant treasures and a Stone Circle linked to an ancient solar calendar system.
Bonane Heritage Park is set amidst beautiful mountain scenery, is well designed and informative which is why it won Ireland's national 'Pride of Place' competition in November 2008.
Ross Castle - Killarney
Ross Castle is located at the edge of Lough Leane in Killarney National Park. It's a typical example of a stronghold of an Irish chieftan during the Middle Ages. The exact date of its foundation is unclear but it was probably built in the late 15th century by one of the O'Donoghue Ross chieftans.
Visitors can take a boat trip from the lake shore at Ross Castle out on to the Killarney Lakes to experience Kerry's breath-taking scenery from a slightly different angle.
Blennerville Steam Train - Tralee
Part of the famous Tralee to Dingle Light Railway [1891 - 1953], this section was recently restored and now passengers can experience the thrill of travelling by steam train again.
The 3 kilometre journey starts from the special railway station at Ballyard and takes passengers to Tralee and back.
