Situated amongst the sublime scenery of Killarney National Park, the town of Killarney also boasts a rich history, and is one of Ireland's most popular tourist destinations. Much of the town's history was closely associated with religious settlements. One of the earliest in the region, the monastery on nearby Inisfallen Island, was founded in the 7th century and increased the town's population. Killarney soon became a focus for Christianity for much of the surrounding region, and many more churches were built in the vicinity.