What's in store at this year’s Wander Wild festival in Killarney

The Wander Wild Festival allows participants to immerse themselves both mentally and physically in the beauty of Killarney, writes Deirdre McArdle

Sat, 08 Mar, 2025 - 02:00

Deirdre McArdle

The thing about Killarney, and what makes it the incredibly popular tourist destination it is — over 1 million tourists visit the town each year — is that it lies right in a national park, an area of spectacular beauty that takes your breath away.

The team behind Wander Wild, Ireland’s Great Outdoors Festival, has harnessed that beauty, from the rugged mountain peaks of MacGillycuddy’s Reeks to the serene lakes dotted throughout the park, to create a festival that focuses on nature and all its wonder.

On a visit to Killarney to find out about the Wander Wild festival, we were treated to a taster of what people can expect when they book any of the activities taking place from April 4-6 this year. Throughout the weekend, we met several members of the Wander Wild committee, all volunteers who are united by their love of Killarney and its surroundings. You’d be hard-pushed to find a more passionate group of people.

Brave souls enjoying the Wander Wild Sunrise Dip.

We stayed in the luxurious Killarney Plaza, with its glorious beds that were the talk of our group. Somewhat reluctantly we had to leave those beds early on Saturday morning for an early morning hike up Torc Mountain. We travelled the short distance to Torc by bus with some festival volunteers, enjoying the scenery on the way. The hike itself is manageable, even for a novice hiker like me. The path up the mountain is made easier by steps fashioned from rocks and wooden boardwalks to cover the marshier sections. And once we reached the summit, well, they weren’t lying when they said the views would be spectacular. They were, every which way we looked.

And then it was time to return to earth, where we met the bus again to bring us to Ross Castle, where we were catching a boat to the ancient island of Innisfallen. At the castle coffee shop, we stocked up on delicious hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows before boarding our boat. During the 15-minute trip to the island we were regaled with stories by Dux who runs the Gap of Dunloe Traditional Boat Tours and whose family has been ferrying people on the lakes for generations. With his infectious laugh and zest for life, Dux was a highlight of the weekend.

Jen Healy leads a mindfulness session in the forest of Torc Mountain

We reached Innisfallen Island with its ruined monastery and were welcomed ashore by Kevin Tarrant playing some traditional Irish music. As we tucked into an al fresco lunch supplied by Luna, together with some warm apple cider from Pig’s Lane, Kevin gave us a rundown on the island’s fascinating history. After lunch we wandered the island, not forgetting to ‘ground’ ourselves by taking off our shoes and socks and standing on the island’s and – as legend tells it – Ireland’s most ‘grounding piece of land’. Back on the boat, and Dux took us the long way around the island for a view of Ireland’s largest native oak woodlands.

Next on our itinerary was a yoga session in the beautiful grounds of Killarney House. This was a real treat and the wonderful scenery only added to the relaxing hour of yoga guided by Kelly Ann McSweeney. Most of the wellness activities during April’s festival take place in the idyllic setting of Killarney House, a unique privilege. The wellness events will include yoga, sound baths and somatic healing sessions.

The Seanoíche at J M Reidy’s, Main Street, Killarney, as part of the Wander Wild Festival in Killarney.

Feeling thoroughly bone weary and deeply relaxed at the same time, we returned to the hotel for a couple of hours rest before heading off for pre-dinner drinks in Pig’s Lane, a cool, underground cocktail bar. These were no run-of-the-mill cocktails either, pushing the boundaries on flavour pairings and presentation. Then it was onwards to the cosy dining room at the Arbutus Lodge Hotel, where an open fire and a hearty welcome awaited us. Dinner hit all the right notes of comforting, tasty and moreish.

We rounded off the evening with a fireside chat in the Arbutus sitting room, a new addition to the 2024 festival, which proved immensely popular. In 2025, the fireside chats will be back featuring local adventurers and regular people talking about extraordinary things they’ve done.

Finally, after a packed day, our beds in the Killarney Plaza were calling, so we headed back for another peaceful night’s sleep.

Emma West leading the Vinyasa Yoga at Anam Cultural Centre

On the Sunday we took a trip to Muckross Creamery for the Cow to Cone tour (a new addition to this year’s festival). It was a treat in more ways than one. We met John and Catherine Fleming and their children, who took us around their dairy farm, bringing us through the process from the cows to the milking parlour to the ice cream factory. We were then led into the original farm cottage, that’s been thoughtfully renovated, for an ice cream tasting, followed by a full-size cone of the most gloriously, creamy ice cream I’ve ever had. And then we bade farewell to the Flemings and their little piece of Killarney and headed back to the town for our goodbyes.

And so our weekend came to an end. From hikes to boat rides, yoga to ice cream, we got a real taste of what’s in store for attendees at this year’s Wander Wild festival. With over 100 events to choose from there really is something for everyone — from full-on adventure to more sedate pursuits, a family-friendly schedule to simply taking in the beauty of this place. I’m already making notes of all the events I’ll be booking into for my return to Killarney in April.

At a time where we’re all working, rushing, consuming and burning out, the Wander Wild festival is an opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, both physically and mentally, and to slow right down, valuing what’s all around you.