[2][3] Continuing westwards from Glengarriff into County Kerry, the route passes Kenmare and terminates at Killarney.

[4][5] The road is mostly single carriageway, with wider sections towards the Cork end of the route.

[citation needed] As of the early 21st century, there were plans to construct a dual carriageway along the section of roadway between the existing 1970s dual carriageway and the N40 South Ring Road in Cork.

[citation needed] Other features of this improvement scheme replaced old sections of the road between Cork City and Ballinhassig, with the old sections now forming parts of the local road network.

Another mid-1990s improvement was completed between Innishannon and Bandon, where the road was widened and hard-shoulders were added.

[citation needed] The N71 terminates at a roundabout with the N72 which travels westwards to Kilorglin and eastwards to Mallow and Dungarvan in County Waterford.