| Q. | Where is the nearest shop? |
| A. | Brendan O'Leary's in Castlecove is 1.5k (5 minutes drive away). Brendan is open from 9am-8pm, Monday to Saturday and 9.30-6.30 on Sundays. He is well stocked with basic provisions. There are good food shops in Sneem (15k east) and Waterville (15k west), larger ones in Kenmare and Caherciveen, each 45 minutes drive away and 2 very large supermarkets (Tesco), just over an hour's drive away in Killarney.
There are a few gifts/clothes shops in Sneem and Waterville but Kenmare is renowned for its excellent shopping facilities and a very good street market on Wednesdays. |
| Q. | Where is the nearest pub? |
| A. | There is a small, very traditional Irish pub in Castlecove 1.5k, known as the "Black Shop", however, there are 2 excellent pubs in Caherdaniel, about 4k west –"Freddies" and "The Blind Piper" which is especially recommended for its excellent selection of home-cooked food. There are many other pubs and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, you will find a current list of these, with sample menus, on your arrival. |
| Q. | Is there any public transport in the area? |
| A. | No, the nearest train station is in Killarney, over an hours drive away. In the summer there are occasional buses from Cork and Killarney to Kenmare, but you really do need to hire a car, readily available from all airports, to enjoy this scenic but fairly remote area and its many attractions. There are however, local taxis and minibuses to take you anywhere – to and from local pubs/restaurants or indeed on sightseeing day trips all around the Ring of Kerry. Their rates are quite reasonable, for example a taxi from Kerry airport is around €90, one from Cork is about €120, and one from Sannon would be approximately €150. Katherine Casey will give you all the details on arrival or will book any transport in advance if necessary. |
| Q. | Where is the nearest bank? |
| A. | There are branches of Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank in Kenmare and Caherciveen – both 45 minutes drive from Westcove. Most shops, pubs, restaurants and petrol stations accept Visa/Mastercard, although not always American Express. It is advisable to have a reasonable amount of Euros with you in cash, as although there are ATMs (cash machines) situated in Waterville and Sneem – 20 minutes drive away, they all have a maximum withdrawal limit of only €120 per day... a visitor once wrote in our Guest Book,"Do advise your tenants that in Kerry Cash is King"! |
| Q. | What internet provision is available? |
| A. | Wifi is now available in all the properties. The standard download speeds are 2MB download and 0.4MBs upload which are included in the rental costs for all the Westcove properties.
If somebody wishes to have an increase on this rate then we can provide it.
The cost would be €7 per MB per week
For example the cost of 3MBs download would be €21 per week
The cost of 6MBs download would be €42 per week
The Maximum download in the Westcove area would be up to 7MBs download at the moment. (The upload is generally a 10th of the download)
This can be organised by means of a phone call to Traolach (pronounced Treelog!!) +353 (0)87-2208736 or email ( tsweeney@gmail.com ). Please specify dates and in which property/ properties you would like the increased bandwidth.
You will find all the relevant passwords in the 'House Notes' on arrival.
The additional cost can be paid for in cash, via Katherine, on arrival.
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| Q. | Can you recommend a good tour guide for the area? |
| A. | Yes. See our FAQ.
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| Q. | Where is a good place to buy wine and spirits? |
| A. | We are lucky to have one of Ireland's most highly regarded wine suppliers based in Kenmare, offering a range of wines to suit all budgets. V G Wines offer free delivery on orders of a case or more.
With regard to spirits, prices in Ireland are quite high so we suggest you bring your own if possible. |
| Q. | Do you have any special advice for visitors from the US? |
| A. | Yes. (please click here.) |
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