With a population of 23,693, Tralee is considered the 14th biggest town in Ireland. Internationally known for its Rose of Tralee Festival, Tralee has much more to offer for anyone considering relocation to the most picturesque county in Ireland.
1. Cost of Living
The cost of rental properties in the Tralee area are considerably lower than those in bigger towns such Cork and Limerick. The rental market within the town of Tralee and surrounding areas is not only very competitive with a wide variety of housing and apartments to consider, but the market is also very affordable for either an individual or a family deciding to relocate. The average cost of rent across all properties in the Tralee area is in and around the €540 mark. The average cost of rent across South County Dublin in Quarter 1 was €1,466 and a 1 bed apartment ranges from an average of €942 in North County Dublin to €1170 in South County Dublin, which is basically three time the cost of renting a 1 bed apartment in Tralee, Co.Kerry according to daft.ie
2. Career Opportunities
As a town Tralee has much more to offer than cheaper housing prices. Large multinational companies have decided to base themselves in Tralee. This opens up a variety of opportunities and creates a demand for young, hungry, aspiring professionals. An example of some leading companies based in Tralee include Freeflow, Aspengrove Solutions, JRI America and of course Kerry Group. Tralee hosts an array of companies from from various different sectors such as technology, financial, medical, manufacturing and hospitality. The perfect destination to kick start your career and begin the next chapter of your life.
3. Education
There are many schools in Tralee at both primary and secondary level with high levels of academic achievement. Catering to all needs Tralee hosts same sex schools as well as mixed schools. Many students that attend second level education in Tralee progress on to third level education as a result of the high quality system put in place for students. With regards to third level education the Institute of Technology Tralee is at your doorstep. The college consists of two campuses, a north and south campus. Institute of Technology Tralee holds a fantastic reputation with courses in business, computing and humanities. It is also renowned for its school of technology, engineering and mathematics. The college boasts a great staff to student ratio ensuring that each student receives one to one attention if necessary. They pride themselves on the diversity of their college with both Irish and international students from over 140 countries.
4. Culture
Other than the renowned Rose of Tralee festival there are many cultural attractions in Tralee such as the Blennerville windmill, the Kerry County Museum and Siamsa Tire just to name a few. The Blennerville Windmill is Ireland’s largest working windmill. In the Visitor Centre you will find an audio-visual presentation as well as an exhibition gallery, craft shop and restaurant. It also includes an emigration display and a bird watching area. The award winning Kerry County Museum and Medieval Experience is a ‘must see’. The museum explores the history and archaeology of Kerry and Ireland over 7,000 years. You can travel back in time to the Medieval Ages and stroll through the recreated streets and houses of Tralee in 1450. Siamsa Tire, the National Folk Theatre of Ireland perform a choice of four superb shows six nights a week during peak summer months. It also hosts concerts, opera and other theatrical events and international exhibitions in the round gallery. One of Tralee’s newest attractions – the Tralee Bay Wetlands is an activity and nature centre. Facilities include a man-made lake with pedal boats and canoes, 2.2km of walks and cycleways, a visitor centre, safari boat rides, 20m high viewing tower and a nature zone focusing on the Tralee Bay ecosystem. For the younger demographic there is a variety of all weather attractions such as the Aqua Dome Waterworld, a children’s play area, Bowling and and eight screen cinema. Tralee is also considered a great shopping town with a variety of pubs and restaurants. There really is something for all ages in the busy town.
5. Sporting Opportunities
Being the main county town in Kerry, Gaelic football is huge, as you can imagine. Club football is a major element of life in Tralee with the most successful and famous club being Austin Stacks, with a reputation for producing football legends such as Mikey Sheehy, Ger Power, John O’Keeffe & Kieran Donaghy. There is also a large tennis club in Tralee along with an excellent mountaineering club. If golf is your sport of choice, the Arnold Palmer designed Tralee Golf Club, offers golfers a unique golfing experience. You are also only a half hour drive away from the world famous, Ballybunnion golf club where you can play one of its courses for as little as €55 off season.
Tralee really has it all. A great location for the young professional looking to relocate to the beautiful South West or a practical location to raise a family with brilliant opportunities at your door step. Situated in the heart of County Kerry along the Wild Atlantic Way, Tralee is an ideal base that allows you to explore sandy beaches, the coastal towns of North Kerry, Killarney, The Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry.