Derrynane House

About the museum

Derrynane House was the home of the O'Connell family for generations and is best known as the childhood home of Daniel O'Connell, the lawyer and politician known as the Liberator, who campaigned successfully for Catholic emancipation. He grew up here and came back almost every summer for the rest of his life. The house stands at the southern tip of the Iveragh Peninsula in a landscape of dunes, woodland and shoreline.

The oldest surviving parts are the two-storey south wing facing the sea and the library wing, both added by O'Connell in 1825. A chapel modelled on the ruined abbey chapel on nearby Abbey Island followed in 1844. The oldest section of the house had to be taken down in the 1960s for safety reasons during restoration, and the house was opened to the public as a museum in 1967.

Today it is run by the Office of Public Works and sits within Derrynane National Historic Park, which covers more than 120 hectares. The rooms display many relics of O'Connell's life, among them the triumphal chariot presented to him by the citizens of Dublin in 1844 and the bed in which he died in 1847.

Highlights

• Family home of Daniel O'Connell, the Liberator
• Triumphal chariot given by the citizens of Dublin in 1844
• The bed in which O'Connell died in 1847
• Derrynane National Historic Park with walking and bike trails
• Café on site

Permanent exhibition

• Daniel O'Connell's home and relics – The house displays many relics of O'Connell's life, including the triumphal chariot presented to him by the citizens of Dublin in 1844 and the bed in which he died in 1847.

Founded

1967

Operated by

Office of Public Works

Admission & discounts

Prices for 2026. OPW Heritage Card holders have unlimited access to OPW sites, as stated on heritageireland.ie. Online booking is offered on the Heritage Ireland page.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair accessible, with a lift and an accessible toilet. Walkways are uneven, and only assistance dogs are allowed. A downloadable social guide helps first-time visitors, families and people with developmental or learning disabilities to prepare.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

Baby-changing facilities are available. The social guide helps families prepare for their visit.

Getting there & parking

Located 3.5 km from Caherdaniel, off the N70 Ring of Kerry.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Wi-Fi

Café on site. Wi-Fi is listed among the facilities on the Heritage Ireland page; no details on conditions are given. Card payments accepted; toilets available.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit