Let Us Help
About Us
Kerry Convention Bureau is a Non-Profit Organisation dedicated to promoting Kerry in the South West of Ireland as a diverse and inspiring business events destination.
Working closely together with our members and industry partners, our objective is to engage with event planners to create awareness of what Kerry has to offer for all types of MICE events and to provide a wide range of services and practical supports which will meet the needs and requirements of meeting planners, event organisers and Kerry Ambassadors.
Kerry Convention Bureau offers a free and impartial service facilitating connections to passionate, local suppliers who are committed to working together to make your event a success.
Our region wide membership comprises of local venues, hotels, activity providers, travel companies and event organisers who have joined forces to attract international and national meetings, conferences and incentives to the area. A dedicated team of professionals at Kerry Convention Bureau are on hand to help event organisers bid for and host a successful MICE event in Kerry.
Our services and practical supports include:
Bid Support
Provide you with a professional bid document, personalised to suit the requirements of the event.
Professional, Creative and Experienced Industry Members
Referrals and introductions to our passionate and dedicated membership who can add creative flair to your event along with providing invaluable local knowledge, experience and practical solutions.
Venue and Accommodation Search
Recommend suitable venues and accommodation suppliers for the event.
Site Inspections
Coordinate a site inspection for committee members of the deciding board to visit Kerry and experience what it has to offer as a Business Tourism destination.
Business Case Development
Assist you with identifying relevant key contacts, research, programs and Government agencies which align to and may have interest in the event.
Social and Activity Programmes
Assist with the creation of an exciting and memorable social and activity programme for your attendees.
Community Engagement
Assist with ideas and inspiration to incorporate corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities into your program.
Attendee Boosting
Assist you with ideas and inspiration to boost the attendance at your event.
Marketing Materials
Provide you with marketing material and collateral to assist with the promotion of Kerry.
Event Organisation
Once the event has been confirmed, we can connect you with Professional Conference Organisers, Destination Management Companies and Event Management Companies to assist with the coordination of the event.
To view Failte Ireland’s official list of Professional Conference Organisers and Destination Management Companies, please go to IrelandInspires.
Support from Fáilte Ireland under the ‘Meet in Ireland’ Business Tourism Brand
The full support and co-operation of Fáilte Ireland (our national tourism development agency) is guaranteed. Ireland has a strong focus on attracting business tourism and is committed to providing all our visiting delegates with a uniquely Irish, professional, and innovative, world class event.
Financial Supports
Destination Supports for International Business Events
Meet in Ireland are on hand to help you deliver exceptional events every time you bring attendees to Ireland. They offer a range of tailored Destination Supports for International Association Conferences, Corporate Meetings, Incentive Programmes and Sporting events. The type of support available and the application criteria varies depending on the type of event*.
Bid Support Funding
Meet in Ireland provide support to help with the bidding process to enable you to create fantastic bid documents and presentations. In addition, support for the cost of travel, accommodation, and meals to present the bid at the preceding conference may also be offered. Bid Support Funding is available for Conferences and for International Cultural and Sporting Events.
Site Inspection Funding
Site inspections are the key to a successful bid. In partnership with Ireland’s Regional Convention Bureaux, Meet in Ireland can support costs associated with both virtual and in-person site inspections, including travel and accommodation for up to three key decision-makers visiting Ireland for a future event. This funding is available for all event types; Conferences, Meetings, Incentive Programmes and International Cultural and Sporting Events.
Programme Enhancement Funding
If you’re looking to maximise the number of international attendees at your event, Programme Enhancement Funding is available to help cover activities like welcome receptions, gala dinners, social programmes and also print costs, website costs or other activities related to organising the programme. This funding is available for all event types; Conferences, Meetings, Incentive Programmes and International Cultural and Sporting Events.
* Destination Support Funding is subject to budget availability and must comply with internal and external audit requirements. Each application is assessed on its own individual merit and is approved by Fáilte Ireland’s Meet in Ireland assessment team. Please note that funding is not secured by the applicant until a letter of offer is received and accepted.
Meet in Ireland’s destination supports can help you deliver the best possible event – for more detail, and to understand the full criteria, please get in touch. The earlier you contact us, the more assistance we can offer to assist you to access the funding.
Association Conferences
To qualify for Association Conference destination supports;
- There must be at least 100 international delegates attending the conference
- There must be a minimum 2-night stay for all international delegates
- Applications must be submitted 6 months prior to the conference start date
- The conference can be either at bid pending stage or confirmed stage at the time of application
Corporate Meetings and Incentive Programmes
To qualify for Meeting and Incentive Programme destination supports;
- There must be at least 50 international attendees or the economic value of the ground arrangements must be in excess of €75,000
- There must be a minimum 2-night stay for all international delegates
- Applications must be submitted 2 months prior to the corporate meeting or incentive trip taking place
- The corporate meeting or incentive trip must be at bid pending stage when applying for funding
International Cultural and Sporting Event Scheme
To qualify for Cultural and Sporting Event destination supports;
- There must be at least 100 international participants
- There must be a minimum 2-night stay for all international participants
- Applications must be submitted to 6 months prior to when the international event is due to take place
Please note, in some cases, additional support is offered in favour of events that take place outside of Dublin or that are held during the months of October to March. Events where participative numbers are in excess of 1,000, and where participants stay in Ireland for more than 2 nights may also be considered.
To be eligible, minimum number of International Delegates required is:
Practical Information
Each of our five destinations have comprehensive online guides available, which detail places of interest, attractions, restaurants, current events etc.
Ideal to enable delegates to plan activities pre, during and post an event in Kerry, these guides can be explored by prior to arrival or are useful reference tools once in region.
- The island is about 302 miles long and 170 miles wide and covers approximately 32,600 square miles.
- The Republic occupies 26 counties and the capital is Dublin
- The Republic is a constitutional democracy and a member of the European Union
- Northern Ireland is part of the UK and its capital is Belfast
Ireland has a population of approx. five million, with more than one million living in Dublin. The island of Ireland enjoys a rich diversity of ethnic groups and cultures. It also has a young demographic with over half the population under 30 years old.
English is the everyday language spoken in Ireland. There are a number of Gaeltacht areas, Irish speaking regions, where the residents would predominantly be speaking Irish. This is very much encouraged by the government.
Directions and sign posts are displayed in both English and Irish throughout Ireland.
The island of Ireland uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
The climate in Kerry can be described as mild for much of the year. It is influenced by the relatively warm waters of the Gulf Stream and by the prevailing southwestern winds from the Atlantic. As a result, it doesn’t have the extreme temperatures that other countries at similar latitude would have. The average temperature is a mild 10°C. Not too hot and not too cold; you’ll find our climate just right
In Ireland, everyone talks about the weather! Irish weather can be unpredictable, so we like to discuss it…a lot. Known as the Emerald Isle, we keep our countryside so green with rain throughout the year, so it is important to plan and pack accordingly. However, while the weather can be changeable; it’s rarely extreme.
Spring and Summer
In spring (February to April), the average highest temperatures range from 8 to 12°C, with April considered particularly pleasant. In summer (May to July), the averages for highest temperatures are between 18 and 20°C.
The warmest months, July and August, get about 18 hours of daylight and it gets dark only after 11pm.
Autumn and Winter
In autumn, (August to October) highest temperatures range from 9-18°C. September is considered a mild, temperate month.
Winter air temperatures inland normally reach 8°C, while the coldest months are January and February. The temperature drops below freezing intermittently, and apart from a few freak cold snaps, snow is scarce.
KERRY – AVERAGE TEMPERATURES | ||||||||||||
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Min (°C) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
Max (°C) | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
Min (°F) | 41 | 41 | 41 | 43 | 46 | 52 | 55 | 55 | 52 | 48 | 45 | 41 |
Max (°F) | 50 | 50 | 52 | 55 | 59 | 63 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 57 | 54 | 50 |
The only official currency accepted and recognised within the Republic of Ireland is Euro. Foreign Exchange facilities are widely available at local banks with the post office also offering dollar and sterling exchange. Banks generally have an opening time of 10:00 – 16:00 with a slightly later opening time in most banks on Wednesdays
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted throughout the country. American Express is accepted in some places but not all. Credit cards can be used for purchases and to withdraw cash from ATMs (although this usually is accompanied by a fee). You can also withdraw cash from ATMs with your Mastercard or Visa debit card. Fees will still be charged but at a lower rate to credit cards. Ireland uses a “chip and pin” system for debit and credit card transactions. Most retailers will accept swipe cards but please note this is not always guaranteed.
- 240 volts AC
- For overseas visitors (except UK) a plug adaptor will be needed to use small appliances for Irish flat three-pin/round two-pin sockets. Adapters available at airport or local electrical retailers
- The international dialling code for Ireland is 00 353
- Only mobile phones with GSM subscriptions and a roaming agreement will work on the island of Ireland
- For emergency services, please call 999 or 112 and you will be prompted as to which services you require
Free Wi-Fi services are available in most hotels, cafes, bar and restaurants. It is also available on most Irish long-distance trains and buses.
These services operate in a similar way to elsewhere in the world, some are free of charge whereas others require a credit card payment or a voucher.
A valid passport is the only form of Identification that will be accepted from visitors travelling from all countries to Ireland. Ireland’s passport and visa requirements vary for different nationalities so please check with your local Irish embassy or consulate as to what will be required for your delegates.
General information can be found by visiting www.inis.gov.ie
There are no vaccinations required to visit Ireland. Ireland has great healthcare and there are plenty of pharmacies in Ireland. These are a good first stop for travellers seeking medical advice or a local referral.
- Monday-Saturday: 9am-6pm
- Thursday and Friday: late-night shopping in most malls/shopping centres
- Sunday: many shops are open 12pm-6pm
- Duty-free shopping is available at all the international airports
- Tax refunds are available for non-EU residents; check in store for further information before purchasing
To qualify for a VAT (value added tax) refund you must be a non-European Union visitor to Ireland. Look for the ‘Tax Free Shopping’ sign in the windows of participating shops. You must complete a valid tax refund document obtained from the retailer and present the tax refund document and goods to Customs on departure from the European Union. A customs officer will check the goods and validate the tax refund document. You can receive your refund on the spot at some airports, otherwise you should mail the validated tax refund document back to the shop and a refund will be issued. VAT is charged on almost everything, but remember, refunds only apply to goods being taken out of the country, not services.
Smoking is prohibited in public areas within the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; this includes all bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Although hotel bedrooms may be exempt from the ban, it is applied to all other areas within hotels.
Become a Member
Kerry Convention Bureau welcomes new members and industry partners who are interested in working with us to attract international meetings, incentives, conferences and events to Kerry.
Member benefits include:
- Promotion of your business tourism product offering to international event planners in response to all relevant enquiries
- Receiving qualified leads and RFP’s and support to convert potential opportunities to confirmed business
- Promotion of your business tourism product offering;
- at international trade and networking events including IMEX and IBTM
- in business tourism news | marketing collateral | ezines etc
- via Kerry Convention Bureau social media channels
- Opportunity to feature in business tourism familiarisation programs and on client specific site inspections
- Invitations to local, national and international business tourism events promoted and supported by Meet in Ireland
- Invitation to monthly members update which provides details on all the activities being undertaken by KCB and Meet in Ireland as well as providing opportunity network with fellow suppliers and industry peers
Request for Proposal
