More than 600,000 people visited OPW sites in Kerry last year (2024).
That’s according to figures from the Office of Public Works, which manages heritage sites across the country.
The figures show that the number of people who visited Kerry’s eight OPW managed sites increased by over 43% in three years.
Nationally, more than 13.8 million people visited OPW sites during the year.
610,960 people visited Office of Public Works monuments and properties in the Kingdom in 2024.
The figures show the most popular OPW attraction in the county was the home of the liberator, Daniel O’Connell.
Over 285,000 (285,800) visitors passed through the doors of Derrynane House in Caherdaniel, which is drop of 11% on the previous year.
Ross Castle in Killarney was the second most visited OPW managed site in the county and in the top 10 of ticketed attractions nationally.
More than 143,000 (143,016) people visited the site, an over 22% increase on the year before.
North of 91,000 tourists set sights on the Blaskets, with over 86,000 (86,166) visiting Ionad an Bhlascaoid, which includes the Blasket Island Visitor Centre and the viewing point; while almost 5,500 (5,439) more set foot on An Bhlascaoid Mhóir.
54,200 people visited Gallarus Castle and Oratory in West Kerry, an 8% jump in a year.
UNESCO world heritage site, Skellig Michael/Sceilg Mhichíl, saw more than 15,000 (15,762) visitors, a slight decrease on the previous year.
Listowel Castle welcomed over 9,000 sightseers in 2024, while almost 11,500 (11,491) people passed through the doors of Ardfert Cathedral in the year.
