Christmas in Kenmare is the perfect time to celebrate home

KENMARE is a place well accustomed to being in high demand for most of the year due to its status as one of Kerry’s most sought after tourist destinations. But this is a town that speaks for itself in terms of its own beauty and endeavour.

But telling you this is a case of telling you what you already know and more to the point is the fact Christmas is a wonderful time of year when the locals seem to have Kenmare all to themselves before the onset of another busy season - a time when Kenmare’s diaspora from far and near return to their roots to spend time with family and friends while relaxing and drawing on the countless memories of the people and places they grew up in.

Christmas is a time of year, whether we like it or not, that demands we give ourselves over to nostalgia and sentiment; a time when Kenmare will come to a standstill, but not a stop, as its bars, restaurants, shops and surrounding recreational areas become the sole preserve of those with Christmas in their heads and home in their hearts. There’s much to do in Kenmare at Christmas as the town puts on its best display of life in a small Irish town, churning out its own exclusive atmosphere from Christmas lights, the crib, decorations in shop windows and homes, all conspiring to add the sort of uplifting ceremony that no matter how good or bad a year it’s been, everything feels just right. That’s the spirit of Christmas.

Kenmare at any time of year is special, but Kenmare at Christmas is a celebration of all things local and sacred in a fast changing world. So be sure to spend time in the local bars, enjoy an evening meal or two in one of its many restaurants; spend in the local shops for special gifts; spend time with friends, old and new. But whatever you do, spend time relaxing at home in Kenmare this Christmas for soon the town must be handed back to the thousands of tourists set to make it their destination in 2020. Christmas is a time for brief respite and relaxation. So keep Christmas local by keeping it in Kenmare.