Visiting Sneem, County Kerry

The colourful village of Sneem might be small, but it's worth a visit when you find yourself in County Kerry. Located on the Iveragh penisula, it lies on the estuary of the river Sneem.

With its brightly painted houses, Sneem was voted Overall tidy Towns winner in 1987 and one of Ireland's Top 10 tourism towns, and it isn't hard to see why.
We had the pleasure to walk through the town on a sunny morning in July and meet some characters as colourful as the houses. Mickey Joe Burns is one of those stores where you have to pop into ... From the brilliant chats and stories to the old Raleigh bicycle on the wall, it is the place to be when you want to experience Irish culture.
Also, when you find yourself in Sneem and you want to experience the area at a slower pace, M.Burns rents out bicycles as well.

A bit further down the road is D O'Shea's (website)  which has been a public house for half a century. Finding D O'Shea's is easy, with its bright pink colour, it can be spotted from far away. Whether you are calling in D O'Shea's for a quiet pint or to enjoy a traditional music session, it's the perfect spot to spend a summer afternoon or evening. 

Another must do is a walk along the Sneem Sculpture Trail where you find a selection of statues and monuments dotted throughout the village. Starting at the South Square Fair Green, you will stroll passed "The Way the Fairies Went", also known as the Pyramids, the "Peaceful Panda" from China and many other monuments

After our early morning stroll, we had worked up an appetite and decided to get a snack. Across the road from D'OShea's is Kelly's bakery, a family owned bakery, delicatessen and coffee shop where you can enjoy some of the freshly baked produce, local artisan cheeses, ice cream,.... all in the comfort of the cosy interior or on one of the outside tables.

We opted for the homemade sausage rolls followed by delicious apple tarts all rinsed down with fresh coffee and hot chocolate for the boys. 

Before we said goodbye to Sneem, we visited the Charles de Gaulle monument which is located in the corner of the North Square.
When the president of France resigned his presidency in 1969, he sought peace and quietness in Sneem where he stayed in Heron's Cove. 
​So whenever you are passing through Sneem, take the time to stop and discover this little gem.