Sightseeing in Waterville and Ballinskelligs

Waterville has a compact set of sights in and around the village: two statues on the promenade, a cable-station exhibition, ancient stone monuments and viewpoints over Ballinskelligs Bay. Most are free and outdoors.

The seafront promenade

A bronze statue of Charlie Chaplin stands on the promenade. The Chaplin family first holidayed in Waterville in 1959 and returned for more than ten years. The sculptor was Alan Ryan Hall. Nearby is a statue of Mick O’Dwyer, the Waterville man who managed Kerry to eight All-Ireland titles. It was unveiled in 2017. He died in April 2025 aged 88, and his funeral was held in Waterville.

Cable-station history

The Commercial Cable Company opened its station here in 1884, and Waterville became its European hub. The station earned an IEEE Milestone in 2000. The first transatlantic cable of 1866 landed at Valentia, not Waterville. The Tech Amergin Community Arts and Education Centre has an exhibition called The Story of Waterville Cable Station. Tech Bhride, a museum on Lake Road, and the Waterville Heritage Gallery at the craft market add more local history. St Michael’s Church has a visitor centre.

Ancient sites

  • Eightercua: a megalithic tomb and a four-stone alignment about 1.5 km south-south-east of the village.
  • Loher Stone Fort: a 9th-century cashel on the Kerry Way and the Hogs Head Route. It is reached on foot.
  • Church Island: an early monastic site on Lough Currane. It is reachable by boat only, and Lakelands runs boat trips there.

Viewpoints

  • Coomakista viewpoint on the N70.
  • Skelligs telescope viewpoint near Ballinskelligs, with a small parking bend. Stop only if it is safe to do so.
  • Geokaun Mountain and Fogher Cliffs on Valentia Island is open every day, at any hour. Fees are €8 for a car and €4 for a walker.

Ballinskelligs Castle and Priory

Ballinskelligs Castle is a 16th-century McCarthy Mor tower house on a spit of land. It is free to see, but the coast is eroding it, so keep to safe ground. The Augustinian priory stands at the other end of the beach.

Crafts and local shops

Fermoyle Pottery sits between Ballinskelligs and Waterville, and the craft market in the village has the Heritage Gallery. Check opening days before driving out.

Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael, the UNESCO monastic island 11.5 km offshore, can be seen from the Skelligs viewpoint and from cruise boats. Landings need a permit-holding boat from Portmagee, Valentia, Ballinskelligs or Derrynane. The island is closed for 2026 and reopens in 2027.

Tips

  • Park only in marked spaces. The N70 is a busy main road.
  • Weather moves fast, so a clear morning can turn to rain by afternoon.
  • Loher Stone Fort is reached by a walking path, so wear boots.

Read more: walking tours around Waterville describes trails that pass several of these sights.

Visit Waterville Tourism for the local list of things to see, read the Geokaun fee page before driving to Valentia, and look up guided sightseeing on GetYourGuide .