Derrynane House and Parklands has been revealed as the most visited historical site in Kerry in 2023.
That’s according to the Office of Public Works which has released its national visitor figures.
Over 324,000 people visited Derrynane in 2023, a 12% decrease on the previous year, when over 355,000 visited the Liberator’s birth place.
Ross Castle was second on the list of most visited sites in Kerry with over 116,000 people visiting the 15th-century tower house in Killarney last year.
The OPW’s 2023 data shows a significant increase in visitors to the Ionad on Bhlascaoid/Blasket Island visiting centre with over 68,000 visitors, compared to 43,000 in 2022 and 11,000 in 2021.
The Blasket Islands themselves showed a loss in visitors with fewer than 6,000 (5,905) visitors last year compared to 12,000 in 2022.
Other OPW sites in the county saw an increase in visitors including Gallarus Castle, Scelig Mhichíl and Ardfert Cathedral.
Listowel Castle which was closed in 2021 saw over 12,000 visitors pass through its site in 2023.
Site: 2021 2022 2023
Derrynane House and Parklards 355,622 288,267 324,065
Ross Castle 5,267 86,324 116,587
Ionad an Bhlascaoid 11,067 43,348 68,605
Gallarus Castle 34,077 19,591 49,800
Scelig Mhichíl 12,105 14,197 15,916
Listowel Castle closed 8,847 12,468
Ardfert Cathedral 8,594 9,526 12,398
Bhlascaoid Mhóir 8,137 12,000 5,905
