Blennerville Windmill & visitor centre

Attractions

The Kerry Model Railway

The model of the Tralee Dingle narrow-gauge is exhibited at the complex with other model railways. There are also artefacts and more items.

Working Windmill

The only power it needs is the wind! Once there is a breeze, the windmill sails are turning. Visitors can get up close and appreciate the scale and complexity of the machinery and can climb to the top of the windmill.

Emigration Display

Blennerville was the main port of emigration from County Kerry during the Great Famine (1845-1848) and was, during those years, the home port of the famous emigrant barque “Jeanie Johnston”. The visitor centre houses a fascinating display on Irish emigration including models of the infamous coffin ships.

Vintage Equipment Display

View the exhibition – an eclectic collection of 19^th and early 20^th Century equipment in general use at the time in agriculture, trade, transport and the home.

About Blennerville Windmill

Blennerville Windmill stands as the dominant landmark in Tralee Bay – where the town of Tralee meets the Dingle Peninsula. It was authentically restored to full working order in the 1980s. It is the only windmill along Ireland’s Atlantic Way and is the largest working windmill in Ireland.

A visit to Blennerville Windmill Centre will involve viewing a short video presentation on the history of the windmill and Blennerville as an emigration port during the Great Famine in the mid-1800s. There will be time to browse in the exhibition on emigration and the JEANIE JOHNSTON famine ship, followed by a guided tour of the Windmill. Children particularly like to see how flour is made by turning the ancient quorn stone. The final leg of the tour is a visit to the KERRY MODEL RAILWAY which is always of interest to children and the young at heart! We also have an interesting display of vintage farm and home equipment…… one to bring back memories of past times. Feel free to spend time browsing in our gift shop.

Blennerville is an ideal spot for birdwatchers. Watch the local population of Herons, Egrets, and the many migrating species, from the Bird Watching platform and telescope overlooking “Slí na nÉan” – “The Way of the Birds”.