Fieries offers a clear focus for a culture-themed stay: Saint Gertrude’s Catholic Church combines Gothic Revival architecture with a distinctive tower and a burial ground on the grounds. Two Local Link routes run through Fieries; Just Cooking is located outside the village. If you are looking for a hotel in Fieries, you can consider the church, the routes and the external cooking classes as different elements of your trip planning.
Church architecture and remembrance
Saint Gertrude’s Catholic Church was designed and built around 1860 by J.J. Mc Carthy. It is a detached Roman Catholic church in the Gothic Revival style. The building has single- and two-storey sections. The entrance is at the southwest gable end. A three-stage, single-nave tower with a square plan and hexagonal spire stands at the western corner.
Inside, two side aisles feature pointed-arch arcades supported by limestone columns. The grounds also contain a burial ground with a group of carved gravestones dating from around 1860 to 1920. Inscriptions on the central gate piers commemorate Jim Riordan as a “soldier and patriot”. In Fieries, the church, gravestones and inscriptions connect architectural history with personal remembrance; the local story therefore extends beyond the church’s Gothic Revival form.
Routes and cooking classes
Local Link route 283 runs via Currow, Currans, Kerry Airport, Farranfore, Fieries, Ballyfinnane and Farmers Bridge to Tralee. Route R8 runs from Currow via Farranfore and Fieries to Kilcummin and Killarney. Check the route and timetable before travelling.
Just Cooking is located outside Fieries in County Kerry. Its offerings include demonstration cooking classes for up to twelve people and hands-on cooking classes for up to six; tailored options are available for groups or individuals. The programme ranges from Italian, Mexican, vegetarian, Indian and Thai cooking to Irish cuisine, home baking and informal entertaining. The classes are described as relaxed and informal, and are suitable for participants of all skill levels.
Participants receive samples of all the dishes prepared, recipe folders and refreshments, as well as a complimentary lunch or dinner. Confirm the programme, group sizes and inclusions with Just Cooking before booking.
More highlights in County Kerry
If you are also including other parts of County Kerry in your trip, you can choose between cultural history and scenery. The Blasket Centre in Dunquin is a heritage centre and museum about the history of the Blasket Islands and the Irish-speaking community that lived there until the mid-20th century. Gallarus Oratory is a state-owned National Monument in the care of the Office of Public Works; access via a public OPW path is free and direct. Check the latest access information before travelling.
For scenery, County Kerry offers Killarney National Park: it covers 10,000 hectares of lakes, mountains and forests. Its three main lakes lie in a wide valley within the park. The Ring of Kerry is a scenic circular drive around the Iveragh Peninsula. County Kerry therefore offers a museum and island history, a National Monument, parkland and a scenic drive to suit a range of interests.
Discover more destinations: Glencar, Tahilla, An Ráth Mhór, Dingle, Ballybunion, Fossa, Anascaul, Glenderry.
For the wider travel overview: County Kerry.
