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:
Transport
Tralee is served by National Primary and Secondary roads as well as local routes.
National Primary Routes:
National Secondary Routes:
Regional roads:
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:
- Presentation, Castle Street
Secondary:
- Gaelcholaiste Chiarraí, Moyderwell
- Presentation Convent, Castle Street
Third Level
External links
