Castleisland is a busy market town in County Kerry.
The main street in the town is the second widest in Ireland, behind the famous O’Connell Street in Dublin.
Castleisland was the center of the Earls of Desmond power in Kerry, who ruled Kerry between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries.
The castle, from where the town got its name, was built in 1226 by Geoffrey Maurice, who was the Lord Justice of Ireland during the reign of King Henry III. The island was created by turning the waters of the River Maine into a moat around the castle.
The nearby Crag Cave was discovered in 1983 and is estimated to be over one million years old. One of Ireland’s oldest cave systems, stalagmites, stalactites, and pillars can be seen throughout the cave.
There are some lovely walks in the area also, including the Castleisland River walk, the Glanageenty walk, and the Kilcummin walk.
The town hosts two annual festivals, with the Kerry Drama Festival taking place each March, while the Padraig O’Keefe Traditional Music Festival is held each October.
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