Killarney 1-Hour Jaunting Car Horse and Carriage Tour

Killarney town and the jaunting car tradition

Killarney has welcomed visitors since the 18th century, when travellers first came to admire its lakes and mountains, and the jaunting car has been part of that story for generations. The jaunting car is a light, open horse-drawn carriage on which passengers traditionally sit sideways, facing the scenery, while the jarvey sits up front and tells the tales. Many jarveys belong to families who have worked the same roads for decades.

Your ride begins at the jaunting car stand in Killarney town centre, a few steps from the main shopping streets and hotels. Each carriage takes a single party, so you set off at your own pace with your family or friends. Feel free to ask your jarvey anything, from the name of the horse to the best place for dinner: local knowledge is part of the experience.

Killarney National Park parkland

Killarney National Park was the first national park in Ireland, created in 1932 when the great Muckross estate was given to the nation, and it has since grown to more than 10,000 hectares of lakes, mountains, woods and meadows. It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and shelters the only native herd of red deer in the country. The parkland next to the town is gentle, with old trees, open fields and glimpses of the mountains beyond.

The jaunting car follows park paths closed to private cars, so the only sounds are the hooves and the birds. This is a relaxed way to see a corner of the park if you have limited time or prefer not to walk far. In spring the trees are bright green, while autumn brings golden colours and, from September, the sound of red deer stags calling in the woods.

St Mary's Cathedral

The tall spire of St Mary's Cathedral rises above the western edge of Killarney and is visible from much of the parkland. The cathedral is a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture, built in grey limestone from the 1840s. Work stopped during the Great Famine, when the unfinished building served as a shelter and hospital for the sick, and the church was finally consecrated in 1855; the spire was completed in the early 20th century.

On the jaunting car ride you see the cathedral framed by trees and lawns, a classic view of the town. The interior, with its stained glass and soaring nave, is open to visitors outside service times and is worth a short visit before or after your ride, as it lies a few minutes' walk from the town centre.

Ross Castle on Lough Leane

The highlight of the ride is Ross Castle, a 15th-century tower house built by a local Gaelic ruling family on the shore of Lough Leane, the largest of the Lakes of Killarney. It was one of the last strongholds in Munster to surrender to the English parliamentary army in 1652, and a local legend says it could only fall when a ship sailed on the lake. Today it is restored and opens for guided visits in the main season.

The carriage brings you to the castle, where you can take photos of its stone walls, the lake and the mountains behind. Ross Castle entry is not included in this jaunting car tour, so if you wish to see inside, plan a separate visit; from the castle pier you can also join a boat cruise on the lake to complete your day in the park.