Kilgarvan Motor Museum

About the museum

The Kilgarvan Motor Museum is a private collection of vintage and classic cars run by the Mitchell family at Slaheny, near the village of Kilgarvan. The founder, John Mitchell, moved to Ireland from Cornwall as a child in the 1950s, worked as a mechanic and has been collecting and restoring cars as a hobby since the mid-1970s; the museum developed from that collection in the following decade.

The cars on display include models such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Alvis, Austin, Beetle and Austin-Healey, together with a large collection of automobilia. The family keeps the vehicles unroped so that visitors can look into them, see the interiors and, on request, have the engines explained. Many cars are still used for rallies and shows during the year, which gives them a lived-in character.

The museum sits on some of the best-known driving roads in Ireland, close to the Ring of Kerry, the Ring of Beara, Moll's Gap and the Healy Pass. Visitors can have coffee or tea in the museum or the garden, browse the shop for motoring books and souvenirs, and walk through woodland gardens with native trees. The family has also published a small book on the collection and two memoirs.

Highlights

• Vintage and classic cars that are not roped off
• Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Alvis, Austin and Austin-Healey models
• Large collection of automobilia
• Café, motoring book shop and woodland garden walks
• Located close to the Ring of Kerry and the Healy Pass

Permanent exhibition

• The Mitchell Collection of vintage and classic cars – A private collection of vintage and classic vehicles, including Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Alvis and Austin cars, with a large number of motoring items.

Operated by

Mitchell family

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

The museum is at Slaheny Bridge near Kilgarvan, close to the Wild Atlantic Way, the Ring of Kerry, the Ring of Beara, Moll's Gap and the Healy Pass.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Tea and coffee are served inside the museum or in the garden. The shop sells souvenirs, motoring books and magazines. Woodland garden walkways are open to visitors.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit