Kilfinane, Co. Limerick, Ireland

HearSay

A unique setting for a unique festival

Kilfinane is a beautiful village situated high up in the Ballyhoura Mountains situated 44Km south of Limerick City and 70Km North of Cork City.

Kilfinane is a picturesque village with an interesting history and distinctive character right at the heart of Ballyhoura Country - a mecca for nature lovers, adventure sports enthusiasts and history buffs! Kilfinane is surround by an ancient landscape of green pastures, unspoilt woodlands, teeming bogs and breathtaking mountains.

The Ballyhoura region has become a hugely popular destination for adventure sports enthusiasts who are drawn to the area by some of Europe's finest hill-walking and biking trails, horse trekking, and kayaking.

Kilfinane, the home of the HearSay Festival, is the highest village in Co. Limerick, in the southwest region of Ireland.

In recent years Kilfinane has become known as a mountain biking hub with the largest trail network in Ireland located just 3 miles from the village. The Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails have over 100 Kilometres of custom built tracks.

Within a few kilometres of Kilfinane are the medieval town of Kilmallock, the Bronze Age settlement and stone circles of Lough Gur, and the lovely villages of Ardpartrick and Ballyorgan.

[See also HearSay19 Essentials for all the practical information you need on local transport, accomodation, services etc ]

The village's pubs share an old world charm and host regular music sessions, while the rich farmland of the Golden Vale has led to the area becoming a centre of artisan food production

From the Palatine Rock to its ancient Motte, from sporting pride in its All-Ireland winning hurling team, to the monthly rambling house and crossroads dancing in Ballinvreena, Kilfinane has a story around every corner.

For HearSay in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019 Kilfinane opened it's doors with sessions taking place in hair salons, private houses, businesses, schools, and community buildings and other unique venues.

How to get to Kilfinane

The two nearest Airports are Cork and Shannon (just outside Limerick City) botharound 60 minutes drive. Dublin Airport is 2.5 hours drive (220km)

The closest Rail stations are Charleville 18Km, and Limerick Junction 28Km both on the main Cork-Dublin line.

Bus Eireann runs two buses per day to/from Limerick City.

Coming by road, from the East (Dublin direction) or South (Cork) it is recommended to turn off the M8 Motorway at Mitchelstown (20 minutes south). From the West (Kerry) or North (Limerick/Galway) come via Kilmallock on the R512 road.

[Note: Kilfinane is sometimes misspelled Kilfinnane or Kilfinanne]