The museum is based in the Ashe Memorial Hall, formerly also known as the Urban Council Chambers[1] in the centre of Tralee.

The aim of the museum is to collect, record, preserve and display the material heritage of County Kerry.

[3] The site they selected had formed part of the estate of Henry Clements-Finnerty which incorporated the ruins of a 17th century castle built for the Denny family.

The central section of five bays, which was slightly projected forward, featured a doorway with a rectangular fanlight flanked by a moulded surround and brackets supporting an entablature.

[11] In the early years the museum focused on exhibited Kerry's archaeological treasures as part of its "medieval experience".