Tralee
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Template:Infobox Irish Place Tralee (Irish: Trá Lí) is the county town of County Kerry, 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.Tralee is the largest town in Kerry,with a steadily growing population.The town is home to the world famous 'Rose Of Tralee Festival' which usually takes place during the last few days of August.
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History
Image:Croppy boy.jpg 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 accepted as being Ireland’s newest tourism destination and has seen some £55 million of tourism investment over the past several years. The town has developed a range of quality all weather visitor attractions. Tralee is also famous for the annual "Rose of Tralee" International Festival which is held annually in August.
Amenities include:
- Kerry County Museum – incorporating the theme park 'Kerry: The Kingdom' and an exhibit which depicts life in medieval Geraldine Tralee.
- Siamsa Tire-Folk theatre – offering traditional music and plays in Irish.
- Blennerville Windmill located about 2 km outside the town, Ireland's largest still functioning windmill.
- Tralee Aquadome - A large indoor water leisure facility with a mini-golf course,located near fels point,just off the Dan Spring road.
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. (Mhuire Na Mbraithre), Clounalour
- St. Mary's, Moyderwell
- Presentation, Castle Street
- St. John's, Ashe Street
- St. John's, Balloonagh
- Holy Family, Balloonagh
- Scoil Mhic Easmainn, Rath Ronain
- St. Ita’s and St. Joseph’s, Balloonagh (Special Needs)
- Tralee Educate Together, Killeen
Secondary:
- St. Mary's C.B.S (The Green)
- Tralee Community College, Clash
- Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk
- Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, Tobar Mhaigh Dor
- Presentation Secondary School, Castle Street
Third Level:
Hospitals
- Tralee General Hospital
- The Bon Secours Hospital (known locally as "The Bons")
- St. Annes Maternity Hospital (closed in 1974)
See also
External links
es:Tralee ga:Trá Lí it:Tralee nl:Tralee no:Tralee pl:Tralee sv:Tralee