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Skellig Michael, County Kerry
Photograph: Jerzy Strzelecki · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Province of Munster

County Kerry

Ciarraí

“KEER-ee” · the people of Ciar, from Ciar + raige (people of)

Known as The Kingdom. The county's Irish name is Ciarraí, the people of Ciar, and Ciar was a son of Fergus mac Róich and Medb of Connacht. It has since been claimed by the footballers.

Did you know? Monks lived on the bare sea-crag of Skellig Michael, seven miles into the Atlantic, for some 600 years — in beehive huts that stand intact today.
A fact like this for every county and every age →

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Kerry by the numbers
Munster province 156,458 people · 2022 census 4,807 km² · 5th of 32 by size County town Tralee -19% in the Famine · 293,880 people in 1841, 238,000 in 1851 (approx.) 9 baronies · 2,722 townlands 1930s folklore · the Schools' Collection ↗ 58 surnames 7 towns on the site 3,763 daily Irish speakers Highest point Carrauntoohil, 1,039 m 40 senior All-Irelands 30 notable people born here UNESCO: Sceilg Mhichíl 859 historic buildings recorded Everything on the site about Kerry ↓
Carlow Cavan Cork Donegal Dublin Clare Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan Offaly Roscommon Sligo Tipperary Waterford Westmeath Wexford Wicklow Antrim Armagh Down Fermanagh Londonderry Tyrone

Open the atlas ↗

The history of Kerry

Kerry is Ciarraí, "the people of Ciar", a tribe whose legendary founder was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich; the county's nickname is the Kingdom. In 1329 Maurice FitzGerald, first Earl of Desmond, was confirmed as lord of the county palatine of Kerry, and in the 15th century most of it was still part of the Geraldines' Desmond.

In 1580, at Dún an Óir near Smerwick on the Dingle peninsula, a papal force of about 600 Italian, Spanish and Irish soldiers was besieged and massacred. In 1588 Armada ships sheltered and some were wrecked at the Blaskets. In 1602 the O'Sullivan Beare castle at Dunboy fell, and Donal O'Sullivan Beare marched about a thousand of his people north towards Ulster in winter; very few arrived. In the 1640s the county was held for the Confederates, and Ross Castle near Killarney, in 1652, was among the last strongholds to surrender to Cromwell.

Kerry's tenant farmers lived on the potato, and the Famine hit hard: the population fell 19% between the 1841 and 1851 censuses, and emigration went on into the 1980s. The Land War of the 1870s and 1880s followed. In 1919–23 Kerry was among the counties worst affected — Tralee was besieged by the Black and Tans in November 1920, and nine men died in a shoot-out at Castleisland on the very day of the truce. In the Civil War, in March 1923, National Army soldiers killed republican prisoners in a series of reprisals, the worst at Ballyseedy near Tralee, where eight men were killed with a mine.

Drawn from the History section of the Wikipedia article on County Kerry ↗, rewritten here and adding nothing it does not say; licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. The chronology above is this site's own; where the two differ, the article is the one to check.

The land — from Wikipedia

Kerry is the fifth largest of Ireland's 32 traditional counties by area and the fifteenth largest by population. It is the second largest of Munster's six counties by area, and the fourth largest by population. It is bordered by two other counties: County Limerick to the east and County Cork to the south-east. The county town is Tralee although the Catholic diocesan seat is Killarney, which is one of Ireland's most famous tourist destinations. The Lakes of Killarney, an area of outstanding natural beauty, are located in Killarney National Park. The Reeks District is home to Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain at 1,039m. The tip of the Dingle Peninsula is the westernmost point of Ireland.

Places of interest

Kerry, with its mountains, lakes and nearly 1,000 kilometres of Atlantic coastline is among the most scenic areas in Ireland and is among the most significant tourist destinations in Ireland. Killarney is the centre of the tourism industry, which is a significant element of the economy in Kerry. The Kerry Way, Dingle Way and Beara Way are walking routes in the county. The Ring of Kerry on the Iveragh Peninsula is a popular route for tourists and cyclists. The pedestrian version is the scenic Kerry Way which follows ancient paths generally higher than that adopted by the Ring of Kerry.

Read the full article ↗ · Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Clans & surnames of Kerry
Breen Ó Braoin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Braon, 'sadness' or 'sorrow'” Brosnan Ó Brosnacháin Gaelic sept · “of Brosna — the river and village in Kerry” Buckley Ó Buachalla Gaelic sept · “descendant of Buachaill, 'the herdsman'” Cahill Ó Cathail Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cathal — cath, 'battle', with either 'rule' or 'great'” Canty Ó an Cháinte Gaelic learned family · “descendant of the satirist, from cáinteach” Carmody Ó Cearmada Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cearmaid — a very ancient personal name” Crean Ó Carráin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Carrán — from carra, a spear” Cremin Ó Cruimín Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cruimín, a diminutive of crom, ‘bent’” Cronin Ó Cróinín Gaelic sept · “descendant of Crónín, 'little dark-yellow one'” Culloty Ó Codlata Gaelic sept · “descendant of Codladh, 'sleep'” Curran Ó Corráin Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Corrán” Curtin Mac Cairteáin Gaelic sept · “a softened form of Mac Cartáin” Deegan Ó Duibhginn Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Dubhcheann, ‘black head’” Díaz — (Spanish name; Diaz in English) Spanish — the New Irish · “'son of Diego' — a patronymic from the Visigothic period; El Cid himself was Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, son of Diego” Dowling Ó Dúnlaing Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dúnlang” Downey Ó Duibheanaigh / Ó Maoldomhnaigh Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Duibheanach — or, for the second sept, 'devotee of the church'” Fitzgerald Mac Gearailt Norman dynasty · “fitz Gerald — son of Gerald (of Windsor)” Foley Ó Foghladha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Foghlaidh — 'the plunderer'” Galvin Ó Gealbháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gealbhán, 'bright-white'” Greaney Ó Gráinne Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gráinne — a woman's name” Griffin Ó Gríobhtha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gríobhtha, 'griffin-like'” Hanafin Ó hAinbhtheáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ainbhtheán, a diminutive of Ainbhioth” Harnett Ó hAirtnéada Gaelic sept · “descendant of Airtnéada, 'battle-bear' or 'battle-stone' — a meaning Woulfe reconstructs rather than finds written” Horgan Ó hArgáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Anradhán, 'warrior, champion'” Kelleher Ó Céileachair Gaelic sept · “descendant of Céileachar, 'companion-loving'” Kirby Ó Ciarmhaic Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ciarmhac, 'dark son'” Kissane Ó Casáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Casán — from cas, curly” Lalor Ó Leathlobhair Gaelic sept · “descendant of Leathlobhar” Langan Ó Longáin Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Longán, a diminutive of long, ‘tall’” Leahy Ó Laochdha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Laochdha, 'heroic'” Linehan Ó Luingeacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Longachán” Lyons Ó Laighin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Laighean, 'lance, spear'” McCarthy Mac Cárthaigh Gaelic dynasty · “son of Cárthach, 'loving'” Moriarty Ó Muircheartaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Muircheartach, 'skilled navigator' — from muir, the sea” Moynihan Ó Muimhneacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of the Munsterman” Mulvihill Ó Maoilmhichil Gaelic sept · “descendant of the servant of St Michael” O'Connell Ó Conaill Gaelic sept · “descendant of Conall — a name built from 'hound' and 'valour'” O'Connor Ó Conchobhair Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Conchobhar, 'lover of hounds'” O'Donoghue Ó Donnchadha Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Donnchadh” O'Gara Ó Gadhra Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gadhra, perhaps from gadhar, ‘a mastiff’” O'Mahony Ó Mathghamhna Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Mathghamhain, 'bear'” O'Rahilly Ó Raithile Gaelic sept · “descendant of Raithile” O'Shea Ó Séaghdha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Séaghdha, 'hawk-like, stately'” O'Sullivan Ó Súilleabháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Súildubhán, 'dark-eyed one'” Quinlan Ó Caoindealbháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Caoindealbhán, 'gracefully shaped'” Quirke Ó Cuirce Gaelic sept · “descendant of Corc, ‘heart’” Reidy Ó Riada Gaelic sept · “descendant of Riada, ‘tamed, trained’” Rice Rís Norman-Welsh · “from Welsh Rhys” Riordan Ó Ríoghbhardáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ríoghbhardán, 'royal little bard'” Scanlon Ó Scannláin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Scannlán — from scannal, 'contention' or 'strife'” Shanahan Ó Seanacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Seanachán, 'the old, wise one'” Sheehan Ó Síodhacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Síodhach, 'the peaceful'” Sheehy Mac Síthigh Scots-gallowglass · “son of Sítheach, 'the peaceful' — or 'the otherworldly'” Shine Ó Seighin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Seighin, 'wild ox'” Stack Stac Norman-English · “uncertain — perhaps 'haystack-built'” Sugrue Ó Siocfhradha Gaelic-Norse · “descendant of Siocfhraidh — the Norse Sigefrith, 'victory-peace'” Sweeney Mac Suibhne Scots-gallowglass · “son of Suibhne, 'well-going'” Twomey Ó Tuama Gaelic sept · “descendant of Tuaim — 'burial mound'”

Tap a name for its full page — story, homeland map and neighbours. Or see all surnames from County Kerry, with the other counties each name is tied to.

Towns, saints and legends of Kerry

Towns. Tralee Trá Lí (26,079, 2022), Killarney Cill Airne (14,412, 2022), Listowel Lios Tuathail (4,794, 2022), Kenmare Neidín (2,566, 2022), Castleisland Oileán Ciarraí (2,536, 2022), Killorglin Cill Orglan (2,163, 2022), Dingle An Daingean. What every town name means →

Saints. St Brendan the Navigator (16 May).

Legends set here. Slieve Mish — the Milesian landing · Lough Leane — O'Donoghue's return. On the atlas →

First names that belong here. Mairéad, Eibhlín, Breandán, Cárthach, Tomás, Muiris, Piaras, Gobnait, Finghin, Cróchán.

Irish in Kerry today

At the 2022 census, 62,877 people in Kerry said they could speak Irish. 3,763 speak it every day outside school, and 4,302 weekly.

19 primary schools here teach entirely through Irish (2025/26, 1,780 pupils), and 3 secondary schools.

Kerry's Gaeltacht had 9,036 people in 2022, 2,131 of them daily Irish speakers. The Gaeltacht in numbers →

CSO, Census 2022, table SAP2022T3T2CTY. Every county compared →

The top of Kerry

Carrauntoohil (Corrán Tuathail), 1,039 metres, in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks.

National parks: Killarney (1932), Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara (2024). All the national parks →

Wrecks on its coast: SM U-68 (1916), MV Ranga (1982). Shipwrecks of Ireland →

Rivers and loughs: River Shannon, River Blackwater, River Laune, River Feale, Lough Leane.

MountainViews, via Wikipedia. Every county's highest point → · Rivers and loughs →

Kerry in the All-Ireland

Hurling: 1 senior title (1891).
Football: 39 senior titles (1903, 1904, 1909, 1913, 1914, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1946, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1962, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2022, 2025); 25 finals lost.

Every county's All-Ireland titles →

Born in Kerry

From Wikidata: people whose recorded birthplace is in the county, who have a Wikipedia article and are no longer living, with dates shown only where the article confirms them, ordered by how many languages Wikipedia covers them in. Traditional birthplaces of early saints are as Wikidata records them. Dates are left off where the sources disagree.

People in Kerry, census by census

Kerry had 293,880 people in 1841 and has 156,458 now (-47%). Its peak was 293,880 in 1841; its low point 112,772 in 1971, -62% of 1841. It has never regained the population it had before the Famine.

1821183118411851186118711881189119011911192619361946195119561961196619711979198119861991199620022006201120162022
216,185263,126293,880238,254201,800196,586201,039179,136165,726159,691149,171139,834133,893126,644122,072116,458112,785112,772120,356122,770124,159121,894126,130132,527139,835145,502147,707155,258

Census returns as tabulated in the county's Wikipedia article. All 32 counties, 1821 to today →

Hidden Kerry — the places the buses miss
  • Dunloe Ogham Stones
    Eight ogham stones in a circle by the road to the Gap — Ireland's earliest writing, notches on the edge of the stone naming forgotten chiefs.
  • Kilmalkedar
    A 12th-century church with an 'alphabet stone', an ogham stone pierced with a hole for sealing oaths, and a sundial — 1,400 years of Dingle history in one field.
  • Skellig Michael
    Six beehive cells on a crag eight miles out in the Atlantic, home to monks for 600 years — reached by 618 steps no health-and-safety inspector has ever approved.
  • Rattoo round tower
    A perfect 11th-century round tower — with a sheela-na-gig carved inside a window: a bold female figure on a holy building, 900 years old and still shocking.
  • Great Blasket Island
    An island of storytellers that produced three classic memoirs in Irish, evacuated in 1953 when the last young man died and no one could row for the doctor.
  • Ross Island copper mines
    Among the earliest copper mines in north-west Europe, worked from 2400 BC by Beaker-culture miners with fire and stone hammers — beside Killarney's tourist lake.
  • Gallarus Oratory
    A dry-stone church shaped like an upturned boat, watertight after (probably) 1,200 years — not a single stone has moved.
On the ground in Kerry

Every pin is placed by its documented coordinates. All the monuments of Ireland →

Everything on the site about County Kerry

The county

History

Monuments and heritage

Coast and country

People and culture

Quick answers
What is the Irish name for County Kerry?

Ciarraí. Kerry is one of the 6 counties of Munster (Cúige Mumhan).

Who ruled County Kerry in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Desmond (MacCarthy); by 1450, Earldom of Desmond (FitzGerald). The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Kerry?

Names historically associated with Kerry include Breen, Brosnan, Buckley, Cahill, Canty, Carmody, Crean, Cremin, among others.

What does Ciarraí mean?

Ciarraí, said “KEER-ee”, means the people of Ciar — from Ciar + raige (people of). The Cíarraige were the dominant early people of the region. Ciar means dark or dark-haired.

What is the population of County Kerry?

156,458 at the 2022 census, against 293,880 in 1841, before the Famine.

What is the county town of Kerry?

Tralee. County Kerry covers about 4,807 km², which makes it the 5th largest of the 32 counties.

Who are famous people from County Kerry?

Among the best-known people born in Kerry are Horatio Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, Brendan the Navigator, Daniel O'Connell, Richard Cantillon, Thomas Crean, Edward Barrett. The full list, with their birthplaces, is on this page.

What did the Famine do to County Kerry?

The census counted 293,880 people in Kerry in 1841 and 238,000 in 1851 (the 1851 figure is approximate): a change of -19% in ten years, through death and emigration.

Sources for this page

A clean copy for school projects or the family file; collapsed sections print in full.

The chronology of who held the county is this site's own reading of the standard histories onto today's county borders, and says so where the fit is rough. Quoted passages are marked and licensed. Spotted an error? Say so — corrections are credited.

Trace your ancestors in Kerry

Free, from the holding institutions. How to begin: the six-step guide → · Spotted an error on this page? Suggest a correction.