Relocation
Whether you're interested in moving your home or business [or both] to this beautiful corner of Ireland, the incentives to do so are many.
Living in Kenmare
The immediate attractions of Kenmare and its surrounding area are obvious. Known as the jewel in the Ring of Kerry, it's a beautiful heritage town with a pedigree of 'Tidy Towns' wins to its credit, located amidst some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe. Clean, fresh mountain air, the benefits of a small, united, rural community with no traffic pollution and empty roads - even in high season is what Kenmare has to offer. There's little or no crime, access to 12 golf courses and a wide choice of cosy pubs, restaurants, bars and hotels in which to while away time. Within 40 minutes' drive of town is Glengarriff in County Cork, which is a beautifully located village, surrounded by the Caha mountains and facing into Bantry Bay. Forty minutes' drive north of Kenmare brings you to Ireland's most famous tourist town, Killarney with its lakes, mountains, rail connection, commerce and shopping centres. The old road from Kenmare to Killarney via Moll's Gap takes you through Killarney National Park and is a journey through breath-taking scenery which visitors travel across the world to experience. Kenmare residents are lucky enough to have this beauty right on their doorstep.
Education
Kenmare and its surrounding area enjoy quality primary and secondary schools with class sizes condusive to efficient learning. The town also benefits from a very comprehensive adult education centre offering a fine range of courses and activities. It's accessible to centres offering third level education like Tralee and Cork as well.
Location
The town has a good proximity to airports and train services [Cork Airport is 1 hour 20 minutes by road. Kerry Airport is 50 minutes and Killarney train station about 40 minutes]
Lifestyle
There are good sporting facilities and amenities in the area including two 18-hole golf courses. Active musical, dramatic and choral groups thrive in the villages and towns in the vicinity as well as in Kenmare itself.
Professional
There's a broad range of professional services available including doctors, dentists, accountants, solicitors and architects.
To sum up, Kenmare offers an excellent quality of life in a cosmopolitan environment amid outstanding natural beauty. The number immigrants of different nationalities that has settled here is testament to the area's appeal and their presence enriches life.
Moving to or establishing your business in Kenmare
When it comes to commerce, Kenmare has plenty to offer the enterprising business. In addition to its spectacular, rural location which provides a rewarding and productive atmosphere in which to work, the town has all the essential systems and resources in place to support competitive commerce.
Transport
Cork city and Cork airport are just one and a quarter hours away by road and Killarney is forty minutes. Kerry airport at Farranfore is under an hour and there are constant courier deliveries in and out of Kenmare so it's well linked to other centres of commerce. There are also regular bus services that connect with these conurbations.
Broadband
There's the availability of ISDN/High speed telephone lines plus proximity to Eircom fibre optic link and full broadband facilities.
Training
As described above, Kenmare enjoys the benefit of an active Adult Education Centre where a comprehensive range of training and life-skills courses are available. Business orientated courses are offered by Skillnets and Fas has an office and representation in the Courthouse building in town.
Human Resources
At the end of every school year Pobalscoil Inbher Sceine, the town's secondary school discharges its Leaving Certificate students with impressive credentials enabling many of them them to commence 3rd level education in Dublin, Limerick, Cork or Tralee etc.
They come back home to Kerry after their university education, highly trained and ready for employment. Members of this potential workforce are available to local business but sadly soon disperse if opportunities are not forthcoming.
Financial Services
The country's two leading banks - Allied Irish and the Bank of Ireland, each has offices in Kenmare - as does the Credit Union.
KMEG - Kenmare Marketing & Events Group
KMEG is highly active in Kenmare, looking after the business interests of its members. [See KMEG button below] KMEG welcomes enquiries for any business that would like to become a KMEG member.
Wide ranging support and financial assistance programmes are offered by several agencies including Enterprise Ireland www.enterprise-ireland.com and Kerry County Council www.kerrycoco.ie.
We are very grateful to Kerry County Councils Community Support fund for supporting this Website.
In addition, FAS - the Irish Training Authority, offers training support schemes and job filling assistance www.fas.ie
Some interesting links to help you gather more information about the region and supportive organisations within it are:
Kerry County Council www.kerrycoco.ie
Kerry Entrepreneur www.kerryentrepreneur.com
Tom Crean Centre www.creancentre.com
IDA and County Enterprise Board
Kenmare Chamber of Commerce and Tourism can facilitate meetings with representatives of IDA and the County Enterprise Board to progress and support newly established business in the town.
Growth
Although it has lost none of its 'market town' charm, the town of Kenmare is changing and growing. It now features three business parks/industrial estates and a brand new shopping mall with supermarket, doctors' surgeries and several satellite retail outlets accessible from the central concourse. A wide range of business property is available to rent or purchase both within the town centre and on its periphery. This means that the premises and opportunities are available in which any conceivable industry can excel.
Auctioneers and Premises
For the sale and rental of both domestic and commercial property you should contact any of the town's auctioneers and estate agents which are listed below.
Michael and Eleanor Connor Scarteen 064 66 41263 MORE INFO
Sherry Fitzgerald Daly Kenmare 064 66 41213 MORE INFO
A Guide to Kenmare
The beautiful town of Kenmare is a small tranquil country town, famous for its gourmet food and superb accommodation set amidst breath-taking scenery in one of the most unspoilt, natural environments in Europe.
It's located at the head of beautiful Kenmare Bay which stretches 50 kilometres from Kenmare out to the Atlantic Ocean. The name is an anglicised version of Ceann Mara which translates into 'head of the sea' in English. The original Irish name for the town is 'Neidin' meaning ' little nest ' because the town 'nestles' amongst the surrounding mountains which are such a striking feature of the landscape.
Its protected position and proximity to the Gulf Stream mean that the climate which Kenmare enjoys is mild and of course, since we're talking 'Ireland' here..damp. It's unusual to experience extremely low winter temperatures - ice and snow etc., but spring and summer temperatures can be high.
The town itself has a population of around 1,800 (in 2009) and retains the 'village' feel that it's had since it was established as Ireland's first 'planned' town back in 1670. The historical, cultural and environmental significance of the place was officially recognised by Bord Failte [the then tourist board of Ireland] in the early 1990s when it was designated a 'Heritage Town'.
Kenmare town has a unique identity of vibrant coloured, characterful buildings and its inhabitants' pride and concern for the immediate environment has twice resulted in Kenmare winning the 'Tidy Towns' competition - in 2000 and 2008. This is an annual, national event and Kenmare was also a runner-up in 2003. The 'Tidy Towns' awards are accolades of which the locals are justifiably proud.
The town of Kenmare is ideally situated on two famous tourist trails – The Ring of Kerry and The Ring of Beara. The Ring of Kerry is known all over the world and follows the spectacular coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula. It's one of the most dramatic scenic drives in Ireland and makes a most enjoyable day tour. Along the 175 kilometre route are picturesque towns and villages, like Sneem, Caherdaniel and Cahirciveen, an abundance of historical landmarks, sandy coves and beautiful beaches.
Just south of Kenmare is the unspoilt and less commercialised Ring of Beara. This is less well-known than The Ring of Kerry but no less impressive. Its rugged beauty is beyond compare, traffic is minimal and there's a wealth of archaeological sites and spectacular views waiting to be discovered.
To the north of Kenmare is the Killarney National Park – 10,000 hectares of woodland, magical mountain scenery and of course the infamous Lakes of Killarney. These, you'll encounter from above, as you travel the Kenmare/Killarney Road and the staggering beauty of it all will take your breath away.
Not only is Kenmare a unique and desirable tourist destination in its own right with its rural beauty, style and service, but it's a perfectly-positioned base from which to experience everything that the south west of Ireland has to offer. Whether it's walking, cruising on the bay, fishing, golfing, touring or just 'chilling' that interests you, come and do all those things and more here in Kenmare. You won't be disappointed.