These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Kerry
- 1st Place: Tralee – The thriving administrative and commercial capital of Kerry, rich in history and culture. Its central attraction is the Rose of Tralee International Festival and the associated Festival Dome. Visitors can explore Kerry County Museum, which features a magnificent medieval experience, or take a ride on the Blennerville Windmill and steam railway. Tralee is the start of the famous Dingle Way walking route and serves as a fantastic hub for exploring the Dingle Peninsula and the wider Kingdom of Kerry.
- 2nd Place: Killarney – The vibrant tourist capital of Kerry and the gateway to the magnificent Killarney National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The town is a bustling centre of activity, but its true attractions lie just outside: the iconic Lakes of Killarney, Muckross House and Gardens, Torc Waterfall, and the Gap of Dunloe. Traditional music pubs, horse-drawn jaunting cars, and a wide array of amenities make it a world-famous destination for experiencing natural beauty and Irish culture.
- 3rd Place: Kenmare – Consistently one of Ireland’s tidiest and most attractive towns, Kenmare is a colourful, planned heritage town nestled between the Ring of Kerry and the Ring of Beara. With its distinctive stone-circle heritage site, elegant streets of painted shops and galleries, and reputation as a culinary hotspot, it is a perfect base. Visitors are surrounded by majestic mountains and seascapes, with easy access to Killarney National Park and the serene Kenmare Bay.
The 2025 Irish Restaurant Award winners for county Kerry
- Overall: Mulcahy’s, Kenmare
- Café: LUNA
- Casual Dining: O’Carroll’s Cove
- Chef: Sean Roche of Doyle’s Seafood Restaurant
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Lagom Restaurant
- Customer Service: Kingstons Bar & Townhouse
- Employee Excellence Award: Donal Harte of Ballygarry Estate Hotel
- Gastro Pub: . M. Reidy’s
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: Landline at Park Hotel Kenmare
- Innovator: Solas Tapas & Wine
- Local Food Hero: Karen Coakley, Kenmare Foodie
- Newcomer: Willow Café
- Pub: An Siopa Dubh
- Restaurant Manager: Cathriona Fitzgerald of Nutterjack Bar & Restaurant
- Sustainable Practices: Ballygarry Estate Hotel
- Use of Social Media: Danú at the Brehon
- Wine Experience: The Falls Restaurant at Sheen Falls Lodge
- World Cuisine: Tango Street Food
Awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Restaurant awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Kerry:
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets– Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
Kerry is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, with the Ring of Kerry offering scenic drives past lakes and coastal cliffs. Killarney National Park features the serene Lakes of Killarney and historic Muckross House, while Dingle’s coastal trails and dolphin-watching opportunities add natural allure. Accessible by seasonal ferry, the Skellig Islands’ ancient monastic ruins make Kerry a compelling choice for outdoor adventure and history. Kerry is Ireland’s fifth largest county by size (4,701 square km) and 15th largest by population (156,458). Population peaked at 293,880 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 112,785 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Kerry is Ireland’s fourth most visited tourist county with around 877,000 international visitors per year.
Link to 2024 award winners in Kerry.
2025 Irish Restaurant awards by county:
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
