Welcome to HSE South West

Cork and Kerry in the South West are renowned worldwide for the spectacular scenery and friendliness of the welcome you will get there.

They form part of the Wild Atlantic Way and offer incredible opportunities to experience rural Ireland at its best. From Malin Head right down to Kinsale in the far south, explore the hidden treasures of this route. There is no end to the magnificent beaches dotted along this truly incredible stretch of coastline.

As well as historic Cork City and vibrant towns like Kinsale, Tralee, Bantry, Kenmare and Killarney, there are charming small villages, beautiful beaches, mountains and coastline, a lively arts and culture scene, and no end of opportunities for outdoor individual and family activities right on your doorstep.

One attraction that is ‘out of this world’ is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Skellig Michael, known to many fans of Star Wars, featuring in two of the blockbuster films.

Who we are

HSE South West manages and provides all public health and social care services in Cork and Kerry, serving more than 700,000 people. We provide integrated healthcare pathways which are centred on patients.

As a new Health Region, we are co-designing integrated healthcare. We want to deliver on Sláintecare commitments and our shared values of Care, Compassion, Trust and Learning.

There are 33 Primary Care Centres in the Region and specialist teams working in Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing, Social Care and Disability Services. Our valued workforce of over 20,000 people cares for our community with kindness. We want to create an exceptional experience for employees. To do this, we will develop talent, nurture leadership capability and work together to deliver safer, better healthcare.

There are a number of hospitals in the health region, and the services delivered include inpatient scheduled care, unscheduled/emergency care, maternity services, outpatient and diagnostic services. Cork University Hospital is a large university teaching hospital and is the only Level 1 Trauma centre in Ireland. For more information on the hospitals, please click here

Coming soon – our Regional Spotlight feature.

Arts and culture

There is a wealth of culture and a diverse arts scene in the South West. Irish culture plays a prominent role in everyday life and it is a major reason why so many international visitors come here to sample the authentic Irish cultural experience. Discover its sensational food scene, with countless cosy pubs and friendly cafes, and savour tasting menus in gourmet restaurants, where ingredients are sourced locally. With its location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, fish and seafood lovers know they are in for a treat.

Cork and Kerry have strong roots in music, Gaelic games and the Irish language, and have long been a showcase of culture, heritage and the arts. There is a prominent traditional music scene and Kerry is home to one of the Irish-speaking Gaeltacht areas.

Connectivity

Its landscape can make you think you are somewhere remote but the South West is well connected to the rest of Ireland. It is home to Cork International and Kerry Airports and close to Shannon International Airport, a gateway to the US. Dublin Airport is a short flight away, or three hours by car.

The area is serviced by frequent train services to Limerick, Galway and Dublin.

Local bus services connect towns and villages across the region.

Click here to register for weekly job alerts