Tralee
From Freepedia
| Tralee Trá Lí
{{|{{{3}}}}}}|Irish_town_crest|Image:Traleecrest.gif}} Vis Unita Fortior "United Strength is Stronger" | |
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| Map | |
| Town population: | 20,375 (2002) |
| Rural population: | 1,369 (2002) |
| Elevation: | 37 m |
| County: | Kerry |
| Province: | Munster |
Contents |
History
Image:Tralee courthouse.jpg Image:Ashe memorial hall.jpg The town was founded in the 13th century by Anglo-Normans and was a stronghold of the Earls of Desmond. A medieval castle and Dominican order Friary were located in the town. The mediaeval town was burnt in 1580 in retribution for a revolt against Elizabeth I. Tralee was granted to Edward Denny by Elizabeth I in 1587 and recognised by royal charter in 1613.
A monument commemerating the 1798 rebellion - a statue of a Pikeman by Albert Power - stands in Denny Street.
The modern layout of Tralee was created in the 19th Century. Denny Street, a wide Georgian street was completed in 1826 on the site of the old castle.
Tralee courthouse was designed by Sir Richard Morrison and built in 1835. It has a monument of two cannons commemorating those Kerrymen who died in the Crimean war (1854-1856) and the Indian Rebellion (1857).
The Ashe Memorial Hall sits at one end of Denny Street, dedicated to the memory of Thomas Ashe. The building is built of local sandstone and 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 Irish.
- Blennerville Windmill and about 2 km outside the town, Ireland's largest still functioning windmill.
Transport
Tralee is served by National Primary and Secondary roads as well as local routes.
National Primary Routes:
National Secondary Routes:
- N69 to Listowel, Foynes and Limerick
- N70 to Killorglin, Ring of Kerry on Iveragh Peninsula, Kenmare
- 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
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 (The Green)
- Tralee Community College
- Mercy Mounthawk
- Gaelcholaiste Chiarraí, Moyderwell
- Presentation Convent, Castle Street
Third Level:
See also
