Tralee (Trá Lí) in Irish (population circa 25,000 in 2002) is the county town of County Kerry in Ireland. It is situated in the southwest corner of Ireland. The name Tralee comes from the Irish Trá Lí, or Trá Laoi, which means "strand of the Lee" (river), although some believe it comes from the Irish Trá Liath meaning "grey strand". The town is situated at the neck of the Dingle Peninsula.

History

The town was founded in the 13th century by the Anglo Normans and was a stronghold of the Earls of Desmond. A medieval castle and Domincan Friary was located in the town. The mediaeval town was burnt in 1580 in retribution for a revolt against Elizabeth I. Edward Denny was granted Tralee by Elizabeth I in 1587, subsequently Tralee was created by royal charter in 1613.

A monument commemerating the 1798 rebellion - a statue of a Pikeman by Albert Power stands in Denny Street.

Modern Tralee, was formed in the 19th Century, Denny Street a wide Georgian Street was completed in 1826 on the site of the old castle. Tralee Court house was build in 1835, designed by Sir Richard Morrison, has two monuments of two cannons commemorating Kerry men who died the Crimean war (1854-1856) and the Indian Rebellion (1857).

The Ashe Memorial Hall sits at the far end of Denny Street, dedicated to the memory of Thomas Ashe. The building built of local sandstone houses the Kerry Museum and a reconstruction of early Tralee.

Tourism

Tralee is also famous for the annual "Rose of Tralee" beauty contest for Irish women and foreign women of Irish descent.

Amenities include:

• Kerry County Museum – incorporating the theme park 'Kerry: The Kingdom',
• Siamsa Tire-Folk theatre – offering traditional music and plays in gaelic.
• Blennerville Windmill and about 2 km outside the town, Irelands largest still functioning windmill.

Transport

Tralee is served by National Primary and Secondary roads as well as local routes.

National Primary Routes:

• N22 (South) to Killarney, Cork

National Secondary Routes:

• N69 to Listowel & Limerick
• N70 to Castlemaine
• N86 to Dingle

Regional roads:

• R556 (north) to Ballybunion

There is a train service to Killarney, Limerick, Cork and Dublin operated by the national railway operator Iarnród Éireann. Bus Éireann provides bus connections to Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Cork, Killarney and to Dingle

Kerry International Airport located in Farranfore between Tralee and Killarney provides air services.

The local port for Tralee is Fenit, about 10 km west of the town on the north side of the estuary.

Education

Tralee is services at all levels: Primary Education:

• C.B.S., Clounalour

• St. Mary's, Moyderwell

• Presentation, Castle Street

• St. John's, Ashe Street

• St. John's, Balloonagh

• Holy Family, Balloonagh

Secondary:

• St. Mary's C.B.S

• Tralee Community College

• St. Mary's, Moyderwell

• St. John's, Balloonagh

• Gaelcholaiste Chiarraí, Moyderwell

• Presentation Convent, Castle Street

Third Level

• Institute of Technology, Tralee

External links

• Tralee
• Institute of Technology, Tralee
• County Kerry Atlas