Landscapes of County Kerry

The Old Road

The old road from Killarney to Tralee took a very straight course, as the two pictures above – taken of different sections – show. Steep rises and falls were not an issue then. When wheeled traffic became common in the 18th century, it became essential to avoid very steep rises (below).

One of the stipulations for the ‘new’ (18th c.) road was that there should be no inclines greater than 6%. The result was a very winding road which is presently being straightened and widened to suit the needs of modern traffic.