Beyond the Boardroom
Where bonding feels natural
Built in 1854 as the world’s first railway hotel, Great Southern Killarney has always drawn people together from every corner of the globe. That tradition continues today. We host teams, departments and groups of all sizes who come to Killarney to build closer connections, share great ideas and do something worth remembering together.
CORPORATE
Teambuilding in the wild
If you’re looking for the perfect corporate retreat or teambuilding venue, you’ve found it. Combining award-winning hospitality inside with unrivalled natural beauty outside, the Great Southern Hotel is a spacious, multi-room destination for unique experiences, challenging activities and blow-off-steam leisure time.
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Hidden Killarney: Ireland beyond the guidebooks
We invite you to discover a side of Kerry few travellers truly experience. Wander beyond the well-trodden paths to secret lakeside trails, hidden viewpoints, fireside pubs and untamed landscapes shaped by myth, history and nature. From wild Atlantic coastlines to the quiet beauty of Killarney National Park, this is Ireland at its most authentic: rich in character, deeply atmospheric and waiting to be explored at your own pace.
The Gap of Dunloe
The Gap of Dunloe is one of Ireland’s most breathtaking journeys, where winding mountain passes, mirror-like lakes and ancient stone bridges reveal the raw beauty of Kerry at every turn. Tucked between rugged peaks and shaped by centuries of folklore, this untamed landscape feels worlds away from the everyday. Whether explored by foot, boat or traditional jaunting car, the Gap offers a slower, more immersive way to experience the wild heart of Killarney.
Wild and wonderful outdoor activities
Surrounded by six acres of mature gardens, we have unique access to a wide range of teambuilding activities. Throw axes, host traditional games, organise a scavenger hunt, or take guided tours and group rambles.
On-site events for energetic evenings
By night, our 170-year-old hotel is warmed by crackling fires and the chatter of guests, who can enjoy live music, cocktail-making classes, whiskey tasting sessions and more — all held on-site.
Bucket-list golf courses on our doorstep
Golf in Kerry is a thing of beauty, with picturesque courses and rugged challenges that include Ballybunion and Waterville close by, with Adare Manor and the Old Head in Kinsale within a couple of hours’ drive.
The gateway to Killarney National Park
Just five minutes from our iconic building lies 26,000 acres of the most extraordinary landscape your guests are ever likely to see. You could spend a lifetime exploring all the mountains, lakes, woodland and waterfalls but a few days offsite will whet the appetite too.
Stargazing in a Gold-Tiered Dark Sky Reserve
Gift your team a truly unique experience and spend time after sunset in the Kerry Dark Sky Reserve, the only one of its kind in the whole of the Northern Hemisphere. Pack a Thermos (or a drop of whiskey), a blanket and see the full majesty of the Milky Way unfold above.
Traditional jaunting tours and horse-riding trips
Relax and enjoy an ancient practice on board a jaunting car — a local horse and cart — to explore Killarney’s most historic sights to the soothing sound of clip-clopping horses and the melodic voice of your jarvey — driver — as he recounts lore of the land.
