Another unusual building of interest in Cahersiveen is the old Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks. The old barracks, now a heritage centre, was designed and constructed between 1869 and 1871.

According to various old stories the barracks was built from the plans for another British barracks in India, which got mixed up. Is this true? who knows?

Is it worth a visit? The building does not charge an entry fee however they welcome donations toward the upkeep of the building (this is entirely at the discretion of visitors).

I will leave that up to yourself, but it's worth a look from the outside.

Cahersiveen with a population of around 1200 people is one of the westernmost towns in Ireland and hence one of the westernmost towns in Europe. It has remained principally a market town down the centuries and never fully enjoyed the benefits of the tourist industry perhaps making it one of the more original towns on the Ring of Kerry.

The name Caherciveen can actually be spelt in 3 different ways, Caherciveen, Cahersiveen and Cahirciveen and we will use a mix of these throughout the website.

The town of Cahersiveen lies at the foot of Beentee Mountain, on the river Fertha and overlooks Valentia Harbour. A beautiful marina has been added to the town in recent years and if you are a boating or marine enthusiast then it’s well worth a visit.

The other main attractions in the area are the Daniel O’ Connell Memorial Church, The Old Barracks, Ballycarbery Castle, Cahergal & Leacanabuaile stone forts, all described in more detail in the Around Caherciveen menu.

Cahirciveen's most famous historic figure is undoubtedly Daniel O'Connell, who was born on 6 August 1775. His birthplace, Carahan, can be found just outside Cahersiveen to the left of the bridge as you enter the town from the Killarney side. A monument to Daniel O’Connell can be found here overlooking his birthplace. It is convenient to stop here and read the plaques as the first stop on your trip around Cahersiveen.

In the centre of Cahersiveen, you will find the Daniel O’Connell memorial church. Built between 1888 – 1902 this church is the most dominant feature/landmark in the town. It is one of the few catholic churches in the world dedicated to a layperson (Daniel O’ Connel). It is constructed of Northern Irish granite (Co. Down) and built in a combination of Gothic revivalist and medieval style architecture. The laying of a marble slab which serves as the cornerstone took place in 1888. This marble block is very special as it was a gift from Pope Leo XIII sourced from the catacombs in Rome.

Buried in the grounds of the church are the remains of Monsignor Hugh O’ Flaherty whose heroic life is captured in the famous Gregory Peck Film “The Scarlet and the Black”.

Monsignor O’Flaherty (1898 – 1963) a Cahersiveen native was a Vatican diplomat during the second world war. During his time in the Vatican O’Flaherty organised the concealment and escape of more than 5,000 people including Jews and prisoners of war from the German occupying forces without the knowledge or approval of his superiors.