KERRY, a county of Ireland in the province of Munster, bounded west by the Atlantic ocean, north by the estuary of the Shannon, which separates it from Clare, east by Limerick and Cork, and south-east by Cork. The area is 1,159,356 ac., or 1,811 sq.m., the county being the fifth of the Irish counties in extent. Pop. (1926) 150,865.
On the north and east are Carboniferous shales and sandstones, reaching unproductive coal-measures east of Listowel and on the Glanruddery mountains. The Carboniferous limestone fringes these beds and is cut off by the sea at Knockaneen bay, Tralee and Castlemaine. In the south-west, Hercynian trend lines are well marked. Dingle bay, Kenmare river, Bantry bay and Dunmanus bay are narrow steep-sided inlets occupying synclinal troughs of Carboniferous limestone between ribs of Old Red Sandstone. Mag gillicuddy's Reeks reach a height of 3,414 f t. in Carntual (Car rantuohill) ; in the Dingle promontory Brandon mountain attains a height of 3,127 ft. Formerly the mountains were well wooded with fir, birch and yew, which were, however, extensively used as fuel for iron-smelting. Constant pasturage of cattle prevents the growth of young trees. There is extensive evidence of glaciation. The principal rivers are the Blackwater, which, rising in the Dunkerran mountains, forms for a few miles the boundary line between Kerry and Cork, and then passes to the latter county; the Ruaughty, which falls into the head of the Kenmare river ; the Inny and Ferta, which flow westward, the one into Ballinskellig bay and the other into Valencia harbour; the Flesk, which flows northward through the lower lake of Killarney, after which it takes the name of Laune, and flows north-westward to Dingle bay; the Caragh which rises in the mountains of Dunkerran and after form ing several lakes falls into Castlemaine harbour ; the Maine, which flows from Castle island and south-westward to the sea at Castle maine harbour, receiving the northern Flesk, which rises in the mountains that divide Cork from Kerry; and the Feale, Gale and Brick, the junction of which forms the Cashin, a short tidal river which flows into the estuary of the Shannon. The principal lakes,
other than the lakes of Killarney (q.v.), are Lough Currane (Waterville lake) near Ballinskellig, and Lough Caragh near Castlemaine harbour.
Ciar, with his tribe, the Ciarraidhe, is stated to have inhabited about the beginning of the Christian era the territory lying between Tralee and the Shannon. That portion lying south of the Maine was at a later period included in the kingdom of Desmond (q.v.). Kerry suffered frequently from invasions of the Danes in the 9th and loth centuries, until they were finally overthrown at the battle of Clontarf in 1014. In 1172 Dermot MacCarthy king of Cork and Desmond, submitted to Henry II. on certain conditions, but was nevertheless gradually compelled to retire within the limits of Kerry, which is one of the areas generally considered to have been made shire ground by King John. In I579-1580 Spaniards landed at Limerick harbour, near Dingle, and erected a fortress, which was destroyed by the English in 1580. In 1652 a rebellion in Kerry was completely subdued, and a large number of estates were confiscated. There are remains of a round tower at Aghadoe, near Killarney, and another, one of the most perfect specimens in Ireland, 92 ft. high, at Rattoe, near Ballybunion. On a hill to the north of Kenmare river is Staigue Fort. There are several stone cells in the principal Skellig island, and former monastic remains have been swept away by the sea. The principal groups of sepul chral stones are those on the Tomie mountains, a stone fort at Cahersiveen, a stone circle with cromlech in the parish of Tuosist, and inscribed stones near Dingle. Notable monastic ruins are those of Innisfallen, founded by St. Finian, a disciple of St. Columba, and the remains of Muckross Abbey, founded by the Franciscans.