Overview

The Great Southern Killarney is the town's most renowned historic hotel, having opened in 1854 and welcomed visitors continuously ever since. It holds a unique place as Killarney's Premier Historic Hotel and has been a landmark in Irish hospitality for over 170 years.

After the grand opening of the first railway line from Dublin to Killarney, the Great Southern and Western Railway Company wanted to build a "Grand Hotel" outside of Dublin, and ultimately chose Killarney as the location for their magnificent project. The hotel sits on its own 6 acres of private gardens right in the center of town, adjacent to the railway station.

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What You'll See

The hotel now has 177 guest rooms and suites in a variety of accommodation options, including luxurious guestrooms, one- and two-bedroom suites with dressing rooms and lounges, self-catering holiday homes, and two Victorian cottage apartments.

Rooms sit either in the original Victorian building with its high ceilings and tall windows, or in the Garden Wing, where chic guestrooms offer contemporary accents and style. Dining centres on The Garden Room and Killarney Wine Rooms, with Brownes Bar offering a cosy and relaxing setting for a light snack, drinks, or whiskey from the hotel's collection of over 100 of the world's finest whiskies. The hotel's leisure facilities include a 15-metre swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gymnasium, and two outdoor tennis courts.

Visitor Essentials

Complimentary parking and free Wi-Fi are available throughout the hotel. The hotel is a 7-minute walk to Killarney town center. The hotel operates its own Health Club and Beauty Rooms offering a full range of treatments.

Tips

The hotel's location adjacent to the railway station makes it particularly useful for those arriving by train - step off at Killarney station and you are essentially at the hotel. Afternoon tea in the Grand Foyer or Brownes Bar is a worthwhile experience even for non-residents.

For those interested in the hotel's history, upgrading to a Historic Collection Suite in the original Victorian wing gives a fuller sense of the hotel's 170-year story. The 6 acres of private gardens are a quiet retreat right in the middle of a busy tourist town - useful for a morning stroll before heading out to the national park or the Ring of Kerry.