There are 32 counties on the island of Ireland (26 in the Republic, and six in Northern Ireland), four ancient provinces (Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connaught), and one kingdom, The Kingdom of Kerry. Locals will dispute that there are actually two—the Kingdom of Heaven being the other one—but remain steadfast that Kerry is, without a doubt, heaven on earth. With a gorgeous coastline wrapping around its famous “rings,” jaw-dropping roadways winding through mountain gaps, and cinematic lakes reflecting historic castles and country houses, County Kerry is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations. Queen Victoria, in fact, who visited Killarney on her third visit to Ireland in 1861, spoke glowingly of her love for Ireland in her journal entries and is credited with putting “The Kingdom” on the tourism map of Ireland. The county is also home to some of the loveliest places for afternoon tea, a ritual that serves as a symbol of friendship, pleasure, and Irish hospitality.
Great Southern Killarney
East Avenue Road, Town Center, Killarney
greatsouthernkillarney.com • +353-646-638-000
Killarney ( in Irish) is Ireland’s best-known tourist destination, and when it comes to an elegant setting for afternoon tea in the popular town, the Grand Foyer of the Great Southern is second to none. When the hotel first opened as the Railway Hotel in July 1854, the architect’s remit was to build a property “to take the visitor’s breath
