The Lakes of Killarney (Loch Léin)

Three beautiful lakes ringed by mountains and ancient woodland at the heart of Killarney National Park.

The Lakes of Killarney, the largest of which is Loch Léin (Lough Leane, 'the lake of learning'), lie among mountains and ancient oak woods in County Kerry. Together with the surrounding MacGillycuddy's Reeks, they form the heart of Killarney National Park, the oldest national park in Ireland.

The lakes are dotted with islands, including Innisfallen, where monks kept a famous medieval chronicle, the Annals of Innisfallen.

At a glance

• Three lakes at the heart of Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry.
• The largest is Loch Léin, 'the lake of learning'.
• Ringed by the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and ancient oak woodland.
• Innisfallen island was home to the medieval Annals of Innisfallen.

In County Kerry

The Lakes of Killarney is in County Kerry, Ciarraí in Irish, which means “the people of Ciar (a son of Fergus)”.

More in Kerry

• Carrauntoohil (Corrán Tuathail): The highest mountain in Ireland, standing at 1,038.6 meters.
• Corca Dhuibhne (Dingle Peninsula) (Corca Dhuibhne): The Dingle Peninsula Gaeltacht, a Munster-Irish heartland rich in early Christian sites and Ogham stones.
• Skellig Michael (Sceilg Mhichíl): A jagged island monastery off the Kerry coast, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a modern film location.

Other places of this kind

• Lough Neagh (Loch nEathach): The largest freshwater lake in Ireland and the British Isles.
• Lough Erne (Loch Éirne): A vast island-studded lake system in County Fermanagh, dotted with early Christian sites.
• Lough Gur (Loch Gair): A horseshoe lake in County Limerick surrounded by one of Ireland's richest ancient landscapes.
• Lough Ree (Loch Rí): A great lake on the River Shannon, dotted with islands and bordering three counties.
• Strangford Lough (Loch Cuan): A vast sea lough of tidal islands and rich wildlife.
• Lough Corrib (Loch Coirib): The Republic's largest lake, dividing Galway city from Connemara.

The Irish name

The Irish form of The Lakes of Killarney is Loch Léin. You can hear it spoken, and take apart names like it, in the Placename Explorer. The authoritative record for any Irish place-name is logainm.ie.