The Best Flea Markets and Thrift Stores in County Kerry, Ireland
There are many wonderful things about visiting Ireland, but the old days of a fairly cheap tourist destination no longer hold: for most, price is not a draw of the Emerald Isle. In one of the more costly corners of Europe, though, there are plenty of places that go out of their way to buck that trend. If you’re skipping from bunkhouse to hostel and scrimping on tours, or simply feel like exploring the ample second-hand offerings in charity shops or alluring markets, you’ll find plenty to check out. Here are the best that Kerry, in Ireland’s southwest corner, has to offer…
St Vincent De Paul’s, Killarney
A ubiquitous Irish charity (they also have a store in Tralee, as well as dozens of others across the country), St Vincent De Paul’s is an organisation heavily linked with the Catholic church and remains Ireland’s largest charity. The money goes towards both campaigning and directly assisting with poverty in various guises, while the shops themselves have also become important outlets for those tight on money to clothe and entertain themselves. That’s not to say they’re not broadly popular, however. While there are some restrictions on what the stores take in (based on size, or potential liability risks from second-hand electronics, for example), you can pretty much buy whatever anyone’s chosen to drop off here. Typically, that means a whole lot of rummaging.
Tesco Car Park, Beech Road, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, +353 646637467
1. Kerry Auction Rooms, Killarney
Market
Sera Husky and Animal Rescue Charity Shop, Tralee
This non-profit raises money to assist abandoned huskies and other animals facing difficulties (from goats to iguanas), and uses its charity store as a way to bring in the necessary cash. Sometimes cluttered, it’s a great place to forage through, often home to sets of local crockery that tell their own stories, dresses, books, and furniture. They have regular coffee mornings, including animal introductions, so if you’re just visiting Ireland, be careful not to come away with a new chinchilla or kitten. Closed on Sundays.
2. Listowel Farmer’s Market
Market
3. Oxfam Tralee
Shop, Store
4. Tralee Car Boot Sale
Car boot sales are a very typical thing in Ireland, with households driving their car to fields or carparks on the weekend to sell unwanted clearout items, typically on the cheap. While you’ll find a lot of the typical stuff (such as toys and clothes that have been outgrown, albums that were in the charts 10 years ago, and battered furniture), there are invariably stories of great finds at these places. People have occasionally bought masterpieces, for example. This sale runs early on Sundays only, between 7 am and 2 pm.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.