Statues, Stones and Views at Waterville

Waterville packs a good deal of sightseeing into a small area. The village has two statues and a cable-station exhibition, the hills behind it hold ancient stone monuments, and the coast road has viewpoints over Ballinskelligs Bay. Most of the stops are outdoors and free. This guide sorts them by how far you need to go.

In the village

The promenade statues. A bronze Charlie Chaplin stands on the seafront. The comedian and his family first holidayed here in 1959 and returned for more than ten years. The sculptor was Alan Ryan Hall. A statue of Mick O’Dwyer was unveiled on the promenade in 2017. He managed Kerry to eight All-Ireland titles, came from Waterville, and died in April 2025 aged 88, with his funeral held in the village.

Cable-station history. The Commercial Cable Company opened its station in 1884, and Waterville became its European hub. The station received an IEEE Milestone in 2000. The first transatlantic cable of 1866 came ashore at Valentia, not at Waterville. Tech Amergin Community Arts and Education Centre hosts The Story of Waterville Cable Station, and the centre also runs exhibitions and workshops.

Local museums and crafts. Tech Bhride is a museum on Lake Road, and St Michael’s Church has a visitor centre. The Waterville Heritage Gallery is at the craft market. Fermoyle Pottery lies between Ballinskelligs and Waterville, so check its days before driving out.

Within a short walk or drive

Eightercua. About 1.5 km south-south-east of the village stands a megalithic tomb beside a four-stone alignment.

Loher Stone Fort. This 9th-century cashel sits on the Kerry Way and on the Hogs Head Route. You reach it on foot, so wear boots.

Church Island. An early monastic site on Lough Currane, reachable only by boat. Lakelands hires boats and runs trips to the island.

Viewpoints and the coast

  • Coomakista viewpoint on the N70 is a roadside stop.
  • The Skelligs viewpoint near Ballinskelligs has a telescope and a small parking bend. Stop only if it is safe.
  • Ballinskelligs Castle, a 16th-century McCarthy Mor tower house, stands on a spit of land. It is free to visit but the sea is wearing it away, so keep to firm ground. Ballinskelligs Priory, an Augustinian foundation, stands nearby.
  • Geokaun Mountain and Fogher Cliffs on Valentia Island are open round the clock for €8 a car or €4 a walker.

Skellig Michael from a distance

The UNESCO monastic island of Skellig Michael lies 11.5 km offshore and can be seen from the Skelligs viewpoint and from cruise boats. Landings need an OPW-permitted boat from Portmagee, Valentia, Ballinskelligs or Derrynane. The island is closed to visitors for 2026 and reopens in 2027.

Tips

  • Park in marked spaces only. The N70 is a busy main road.
  • A clear morning can turn wet by afternoon, so take a layer.
  • The local tourism site keeps a list of things to see.

Read more: walking tours around Waterville passes several of these stops, and attraction tours covers the paid ones. A wider route is in the Ireland three day itinerary .

The Waterville tourism site lists local sights, and Geokaun gives its fees. Guided outings are searchable on GetYourGuide .