Listowel population : 4,823
The town is sometimes described as the "Literary Capital of Ireland", and a number of internationally known playwrights and authors have lived there, including Bryan MacMahon and John B. Keane. Of Listowel, the latter wrote:
"Beautiful Listowel, serenaded night and day by the gentle waters of the River Feale.
Listowel where it is easier to write than not to write,
Where first love never dies, and the tall streets hide the loveliness,
The heartbreak and the moods, great and small,
Of all the gentle souls of a great and good community.
Sweet, incomparable hometown that shaped and made me."
written by John B. Keane
"Beautiful Listowel, serenaded night and day by the gentle waters of the River Feale.
Listowel where it is easier to write than not to write,
Where first love never dies, and the tall streets hide the loveliness,
The heartbreak and the moods, great and small,
Of all the gentle souls of a great and good community.
Sweet, incomparable hometown that shaped and made me."
written by John B. Keane
Location
Listowel is on the N69 Limerick - Foynes - Tralee road. Bus Éireann provides daily services to Tralee, Cork, and Limerick. The nearest railway station is Tralee. Listowel used to have its own railway station on a broad gauge line between Tralee and Limerick city, however this was closed to passengers in 1963, freight in 1978 and finally abandoned and lifted in 1988. The station building has been preserved as a private residence.
Listowel is located at the head of the North Kerry limestone plain. Positioned in the very heart of North Kerry, on the River Feale, its hinterland is an area of mainly dairy agricultural use. The barony of Iraghticonnor is to the north, with the barony of Clanmaurice to the south.
Listowel has a long history dating back to 1303 where it first appears in the Plea Roll. Fortress to the Fitzmaurice family the town developed around Listowel Castle, and its magnificent Square is one of its many distinguishing features.
In July 2000, Listowel was officially designated as one of Ireland's 26 "Heritage Towns" - in part because of modern environmental and renewal works, but also because of its architectural heritage and "historic importance".
As you walk around the Square you will see a number of buildings of historical and architectural significance. Listowel Castle dating back to the 12th century, was built as a fortress by the Anglo Norman Earls of Kerry. It ceased to be a significant defence in 1559. All that remains of this national monument is a fine twin tower façade. Dúchas, The Heritage Service undertook conservation work on the Castle which made it accessible to the public.
Listowel is located at the head of the North Kerry limestone plain. Positioned in the very heart of North Kerry, on the River Feale, its hinterland is an area of mainly dairy agricultural use. The barony of Iraghticonnor is to the north, with the barony of Clanmaurice to the south.
Listowel has a long history dating back to 1303 where it first appears in the Plea Roll. Fortress to the Fitzmaurice family the town developed around Listowel Castle, and its magnificent Square is one of its many distinguishing features.
In July 2000, Listowel was officially designated as one of Ireland's 26 "Heritage Towns" - in part because of modern environmental and renewal works, but also because of its architectural heritage and "historic importance".
As you walk around the Square you will see a number of buildings of historical and architectural significance. Listowel Castle dating back to the 12th century, was built as a fortress by the Anglo Norman Earls of Kerry. It ceased to be a significant defence in 1559. All that remains of this national monument is a fine twin tower façade. Dúchas, The Heritage Service undertook conservation work on the Castle which made it accessible to the public.
History
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, built in 1829, is situated in the corner of the Square, and renovation work over the years included the addition of the spire and porch in 1865 and the side aisles in 1910. According to local folklore, Lord Listowel prevailed upon the clergy to ring the Angelus bell at 7.00 p.m. so that he could get an extra hours work from his men.
St. John’s Theatre & Arts Centre is the centre-piece of Listowel’s magnificent Square. Located in a Church of Ireland Gothic style church, the Centre features an annual programme of performances including theatre, music & dance, exhibitions, educational programmes and annual summer school. In 1814 the site for this church was presented to the community by Lord Listowel. A Cork architect, named Payne designed it and it was used by the faithful of North Kerry as a place of worship from 1819 until its de-consecration in 1988.
Old Church Tower: This imposing, 9 metre height, tower was once attached to the church from which Church Street gets its name. In 1819 most of the old church was demolished and the stones used to build the new church, St. John's in the Square. The old tower now covered in ivy, is all that remains of the old Church of Ireland Church.
St. John’s Theatre & Arts Centre is the centre-piece of Listowel’s magnificent Square. Located in a Church of Ireland Gothic style church, the Centre features an annual programme of performances including theatre, music & dance, exhibitions, educational programmes and annual summer school. In 1814 the site for this church was presented to the community by Lord Listowel. A Cork architect, named Payne designed it and it was used by the faithful of North Kerry as a place of worship from 1819 until its de-consecration in 1988.
Old Church Tower: This imposing, 9 metre height, tower was once attached to the church from which Church Street gets its name. In 1819 most of the old church was demolished and the stones used to build the new church, St. John's in the Square. The old tower now covered in ivy, is all that remains of the old Church of Ireland Church.
Listowel Castle: Listowel’s long history dates back to 1303 where it first appears in the Plea Roll. Fortress to the Fitzmaurice family, the town developed around Listowel Castle and its significant Square. The last bastion against Queen Elizabeth I in the Desmond campaign, Listowel Castle was built in the 15th century and was the last fortress of the Geraldines to be subdued. It fell after 28 days siege to Sir Charles Wilmot on 5 November 1600, who had the castle's garrison executed in the following days.
The castle became the property of the Hare family, the holders of the title of Earl of Listowel, after reverting away from the Fitzmaurices, Knights of Kerry. It is now a national monument.
Today, the remnants of the castle include two of its four towers, which are joined by a heavy curtain wall, and the unusual feature of an arch below the battlements. Archaeological excavations and records of the castle reveal that it was originally of similar form to Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare. In 2005, restoration works were commenced by the Board of Public Works. The stonework has been cleaned by a team of craftsmen, while the upper section, which had become particularly distressed with the passing of time, has been restored and rendered waterproof. An external staircase, in keeping with the architecture of the structure has been erected to enable the public to access the upper stories.
One of the best examples of Anglo-Norman architecture in Kerry, the castle has now been restored by the Office of Public Works to some of its former glory. The castle is open to the public for Free tours on a daily basis.
The Seanchaí Literary Centre, which is adjacently located in a Georgian town house, is intended to help visitors learn more about the castle’s history.
Another smaller castle at Woodford, Listowel, was built in the post-1600 period by the Knight of Kerry.
Famine Graveyard: Listowel seems to have been badly affected by the famine, as commemorated by a communal grave on the outskirts of the town
St Michael's College : Founded in 1879 by the Catholic bishop of Kerry to provide education for boys in North Kerry. Its original school population of about 70 was multi-denominational, including the son of the local Protestant clergyman, alongside the sons of evicted tenants. It was originally to be located in The Square in Listowel. This building was inadequate and when the present building, which was built before 1845 as a fever hospital, became vacant it was bought for the college.
St Patricks Hall: There was an active Temperance Society in Listowel at the end of the nineteenth century, this committee were anxious to have a meeting place and after some protracted negotiations with Lord Listowel's agent they were facilitated with a site where the present hall now stands. The builder was Mr Michael Costello of Church Street. When built, the hall became the focus for much Parish activity. Restoration work was completed in 2002. A full history of the hall can be viewed here.
Listowel Arms Hotel: Nestled in the South West corner of The Square, is a building with many historical connections. Daniel O'Connell, Thackery, and Parnell stayed there on occasion and local folklore has it that it was from an upper window of this hotel that "the uncrowned king of Ireland" made his famous declaration : "No man has a right to set a boundary to the march of a nation." In more recent times the premises was owned for a while by the tenor Josef Locke. Click here to view their website.
Carrigafoyle Castle, Ballylongford: Located 9 miles north of Listowel just outside the village of Ballylongford, in the channel between the mainland and Carrig Island. It's name in Irish means "rock of the chasm". The present Castle was built by Chieftain Conor Liath O'Connor Kerry in 1490. It measures sixty feet by thirty, and it's walls are eight feet thick and 95 feet in height. There were six stories, with two floors resting on stone arches, now much damaged. It had forty small windows on the three remaining sides, all formed of cut limestone. There is a spiral stone stairway of a hundred steps leading to the top of the Castle where one can view the surrounding countryside and ocean for miles. The castle was the residence of the O'Connor Kerry chieftains after 1200 AD when the Normans invaded and dispossessed them of their lands in Kerry. In 1490 Conor O'Connor and his Julianna Fitzgerald built the current castle. IN 1580 Queen Elizabeth's forces during the Desmond Rebellions attacked the Castle, and a barrage of cannon fire created the breach seen today. Elizabeth's forces took the Castle and the residents were massacred. Between 1600 and 1602, Chieftain John O'Connor was able to take possession of the Castle again, but in 1649 the Cromwellian army captured the Castle and put an end to the O'Connor Kerry as a ruling class. In 1666 the Castle and the O'Connor Kerry estates were forfeited and bestowed by Act of Settlement on Trinity College. The Castle has been under the control of the Office of Public Works (now Duchas) since 1923.
Rattoo Round Tower, Ballyduff: This is the last remaining complete round tower in Kerry and was constructed in the 12th century. Standing at 92 feet, it is not as high as others but it is one of the finest in Ireland. Internally it consisted of six floors and the top storey has windows facing the cardinal points. This marks the existence of substantial monastery in Gaelic times. Some hundreds of yards east of the Tower there are ruins of a fine 15th century priory church and Augustinian Abbey. The monastery was destroyed by the Irish in 1600 on the approach of the English under Wilmot. Early in the 17th century it was held by Anthony Staughton in whose family it remained until the War of Independence, when the ancestral home was the first to be destroyed in Kerry during the troubles of 1920.
Gardens & Parks
The Garden of Europe: Listowel's hidden treasure, the Garden of Europe is located in the Childers Park and contains more than 2,500 trees and shrubs from all European countries. It also contains Ireland's only public monument to the memory of the millions who died in the Holocaust. Winner of the 2000 Tidy Towns National Landscapes Award, the Garden of Europe is a place of beauty and peace where one may relax amid representative shrubbery from any European countries.
Childers Park: In 1946 Lord Listowel granted Gurtinard Wood and a beautiful walk to the people of Listowel for a nominal sum of £5.00. In the late 1960's Listowel Urban District Council acquired the nearby 'Cows Lawn', a 30 acre field on which a number of townspeople had pasture rights, and developed it into one of Ireland's finest municipal parks. Today, Childers Park contains and 18 hole Pitch and Putt course, a children's playground, two tennis courts, football pitches and a well equipped sports complex. All visitors are welcome.
Vintage Wireless Museum: A privately owned and lovingly maintained collection of old wireless sets and broadcasting memorabilia is to be found in Cherrytree Drive. Collected over many years and beautifully restored, the exhibits include miniature gramaphones, magic lanterns and Paris aerials.
North Kerry Museum, Ballyduff: Situated at Knoppogue, the ancestral home of the great American silent screen star Mary Pickford, the North Kerry Museum houses a multitude of exhibits dating back centuries and brings you on a journey through time from the Mesolithic and Bronze Age through the Christian Era and Viking Times right up to the last century of landlords and landwars. The Museum provides guided tours, a shop selling local literature and souvenirs as well as car and coach parking. The Museum also houses the Kerry Environmental Recognition Centre which provides information on wild flowers, local and migrant bird life, the seashore and the mammals in the surrounding countryside. The Centre is intended as an area of research for those doing field study and those wishing to become better acquainted with the natural environment and its needs for protection.
Walks
There are two walking trails around the town. The Riverside Path (4 km) takes you along the River Feale and traverses many distinctive features of the town including Listowel Bridge, the Dandy Lodge, Childers Town Park and The Garden of Europe.
The Old Railway Trail (11 km) commences at the old railway station, on the Ballybunion road, and takes the walker into the countryside through wild bogland where turf cutting takes place.
Monuments
Nano Nagle. She is our own lady with the lamp. Padraig Tarrant, a brilliant Kerry born sculptor, who now lives in New York with strong connections to Listowel and to the Presentation Order designed this sculpture which was cut and erected by local stonemason Jimmy O'Shea This beautiful black marble tribute to the work of all the sisters in Listowel adds to the growing collection of public art in Listowel. It stands outside St. Mary's church overlooking The Square.
Here you can read a brief description of The work of the Presentation sisters in Listowel.
The bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy, unveiled the monument to mark the contribution of the Presentation nuns to the town of Listowel, over 160 years. The sculpture was unveiled in the town square, opposite St Mary’s Church, at a ceremony attended by Presentation nuns and the mayor of Kerry, Cllr Pat Leahy. The project was initiated by North and East Kerry Development and the North Kerry Literary Trust.
The Presentation nuns established their first community in Listowel in 1844, following an initiative nine years beforehand by the then bishop of Kerry, Dr Egan and Parish Priest, Fr Darby O’Mahony, who set about establishing a convent. Though it took almost a decade for the bishop’s plan for a community of nuns in Listowel to come true, the nuns promptly opened a national school and convent provided 30,000 breakfasts to starving children in the area when the Great Famine struck three years after it opened. Indeed, it was said that the nuns were so selfless in helping the destitute that some of them died themselves from overwork and under-nourishment.
In the 1850s, a purpose-built primary school was set up by the community largely thanks to sponsorship from local landlord Lord Listowel. In 1952, the Presentation community opened a secondary school, which was subsequently expanded in 1985.
However, three years ago, when the lack of vocations had shrunk the community to six sisters, the order was forced to close its convent in Listowel and rationalise its presence in Kerry. The schools continue of course, and though the town no longer has a convent, one Presentation sister works voluntarily in the parish and a second works in the order’s primary school.
The Ringfort and Waves: This Monument in the Square represents Listowel (Irish: Lios Tuathail, meaning "Tuathal's ringfort") ,and the waves the River Feale, on which Listowel is situated.
John B. Keanes statue off the square in Listowel: Listowel’s mayor Anthony Curtin declared emphatically, ”He put us on the map,”as the statue of John B. was unveiled June 2nd 2007, cast in bronze by sculptors Seamus and James Connolly, of Kilbaha, who had done the Richard Harris sculpture in Kilkee. The plaque below the statue reads 'John B Keane Playwright and Author 1928 - 2002'.
Sculpture of John B Keane in the Garden of Europe, officially unveiled by oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker in 2008. Sculptor: Padraig Tarrant.
The castle became the property of the Hare family, the holders of the title of Earl of Listowel, after reverting away from the Fitzmaurices, Knights of Kerry. It is now a national monument.
Today, the remnants of the castle include two of its four towers, which are joined by a heavy curtain wall, and the unusual feature of an arch below the battlements. Archaeological excavations and records of the castle reveal that it was originally of similar form to Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare. In 2005, restoration works were commenced by the Board of Public Works. The stonework has been cleaned by a team of craftsmen, while the upper section, which had become particularly distressed with the passing of time, has been restored and rendered waterproof. An external staircase, in keeping with the architecture of the structure has been erected to enable the public to access the upper stories.
One of the best examples of Anglo-Norman architecture in Kerry, the castle has now been restored by the Office of Public Works to some of its former glory. The castle is open to the public for Free tours on a daily basis.
The Seanchaí Literary Centre, which is adjacently located in a Georgian town house, is intended to help visitors learn more about the castle’s history.
Another smaller castle at Woodford, Listowel, was built in the post-1600 period by the Knight of Kerry.
Famine Graveyard: Listowel seems to have been badly affected by the famine, as commemorated by a communal grave on the outskirts of the town
St Michael's College : Founded in 1879 by the Catholic bishop of Kerry to provide education for boys in North Kerry. Its original school population of about 70 was multi-denominational, including the son of the local Protestant clergyman, alongside the sons of evicted tenants. It was originally to be located in The Square in Listowel. This building was inadequate and when the present building, which was built before 1845 as a fever hospital, became vacant it was bought for the college.
St Patricks Hall: There was an active Temperance Society in Listowel at the end of the nineteenth century, this committee were anxious to have a meeting place and after some protracted negotiations with Lord Listowel's agent they were facilitated with a site where the present hall now stands. The builder was Mr Michael Costello of Church Street. When built, the hall became the focus for much Parish activity. Restoration work was completed in 2002. A full history of the hall can be viewed here.
Listowel Arms Hotel: Nestled in the South West corner of The Square, is a building with many historical connections. Daniel O'Connell, Thackery, and Parnell stayed there on occasion and local folklore has it that it was from an upper window of this hotel that "the uncrowned king of Ireland" made his famous declaration : "No man has a right to set a boundary to the march of a nation." In more recent times the premises was owned for a while by the tenor Josef Locke. Click here to view their website.
Carrigafoyle Castle, Ballylongford: Located 9 miles north of Listowel just outside the village of Ballylongford, in the channel between the mainland and Carrig Island. It's name in Irish means "rock of the chasm". The present Castle was built by Chieftain Conor Liath O'Connor Kerry in 1490. It measures sixty feet by thirty, and it's walls are eight feet thick and 95 feet in height. There were six stories, with two floors resting on stone arches, now much damaged. It had forty small windows on the three remaining sides, all formed of cut limestone. There is a spiral stone stairway of a hundred steps leading to the top of the Castle where one can view the surrounding countryside and ocean for miles. The castle was the residence of the O'Connor Kerry chieftains after 1200 AD when the Normans invaded and dispossessed them of their lands in Kerry. In 1490 Conor O'Connor and his Julianna Fitzgerald built the current castle. IN 1580 Queen Elizabeth's forces during the Desmond Rebellions attacked the Castle, and a barrage of cannon fire created the breach seen today. Elizabeth's forces took the Castle and the residents were massacred. Between 1600 and 1602, Chieftain John O'Connor was able to take possession of the Castle again, but in 1649 the Cromwellian army captured the Castle and put an end to the O'Connor Kerry as a ruling class. In 1666 the Castle and the O'Connor Kerry estates were forfeited and bestowed by Act of Settlement on Trinity College. The Castle has been under the control of the Office of Public Works (now Duchas) since 1923.
Rattoo Round Tower, Ballyduff: This is the last remaining complete round tower in Kerry and was constructed in the 12th century. Standing at 92 feet, it is not as high as others but it is one of the finest in Ireland. Internally it consisted of six floors and the top storey has windows facing the cardinal points. This marks the existence of substantial monastery in Gaelic times. Some hundreds of yards east of the Tower there are ruins of a fine 15th century priory church and Augustinian Abbey. The monastery was destroyed by the Irish in 1600 on the approach of the English under Wilmot. Early in the 17th century it was held by Anthony Staughton in whose family it remained until the War of Independence, when the ancestral home was the first to be destroyed in Kerry during the troubles of 1920.
Gardens & Parks
The Garden of Europe: Listowel's hidden treasure, the Garden of Europe is located in the Childers Park and contains more than 2,500 trees and shrubs from all European countries. It also contains Ireland's only public monument to the memory of the millions who died in the Holocaust. Winner of the 2000 Tidy Towns National Landscapes Award, the Garden of Europe is a place of beauty and peace where one may relax amid representative shrubbery from any European countries.
Childers Park: In 1946 Lord Listowel granted Gurtinard Wood and a beautiful walk to the people of Listowel for a nominal sum of £5.00. In the late 1960's Listowel Urban District Council acquired the nearby 'Cows Lawn', a 30 acre field on which a number of townspeople had pasture rights, and developed it into one of Ireland's finest municipal parks. Today, Childers Park contains and 18 hole Pitch and Putt course, a children's playground, two tennis courts, football pitches and a well equipped sports complex. All visitors are welcome.
Vintage Wireless Museum: A privately owned and lovingly maintained collection of old wireless sets and broadcasting memorabilia is to be found in Cherrytree Drive. Collected over many years and beautifully restored, the exhibits include miniature gramaphones, magic lanterns and Paris aerials.
North Kerry Museum, Ballyduff: Situated at Knoppogue, the ancestral home of the great American silent screen star Mary Pickford, the North Kerry Museum houses a multitude of exhibits dating back centuries and brings you on a journey through time from the Mesolithic and Bronze Age through the Christian Era and Viking Times right up to the last century of landlords and landwars. The Museum provides guided tours, a shop selling local literature and souvenirs as well as car and coach parking. The Museum also houses the Kerry Environmental Recognition Centre which provides information on wild flowers, local and migrant bird life, the seashore and the mammals in the surrounding countryside. The Centre is intended as an area of research for those doing field study and those wishing to become better acquainted with the natural environment and its needs for protection.
Walks
There are two walking trails around the town. The Riverside Path (4 km) takes you along the River Feale and traverses many distinctive features of the town including Listowel Bridge, the Dandy Lodge, Childers Town Park and The Garden of Europe.
The Old Railway Trail (11 km) commences at the old railway station, on the Ballybunion road, and takes the walker into the countryside through wild bogland where turf cutting takes place.
Monuments
Nano Nagle. She is our own lady with the lamp. Padraig Tarrant, a brilliant Kerry born sculptor, who now lives in New York with strong connections to Listowel and to the Presentation Order designed this sculpture which was cut and erected by local stonemason Jimmy O'Shea This beautiful black marble tribute to the work of all the sisters in Listowel adds to the growing collection of public art in Listowel. It stands outside St. Mary's church overlooking The Square.
Here you can read a brief description of The work of the Presentation sisters in Listowel.
The bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy, unveiled the monument to mark the contribution of the Presentation nuns to the town of Listowel, over 160 years. The sculpture was unveiled in the town square, opposite St Mary’s Church, at a ceremony attended by Presentation nuns and the mayor of Kerry, Cllr Pat Leahy. The project was initiated by North and East Kerry Development and the North Kerry Literary Trust.
The Presentation nuns established their first community in Listowel in 1844, following an initiative nine years beforehand by the then bishop of Kerry, Dr Egan and Parish Priest, Fr Darby O’Mahony, who set about establishing a convent. Though it took almost a decade for the bishop’s plan for a community of nuns in Listowel to come true, the nuns promptly opened a national school and convent provided 30,000 breakfasts to starving children in the area when the Great Famine struck three years after it opened. Indeed, it was said that the nuns were so selfless in helping the destitute that some of them died themselves from overwork and under-nourishment.
In the 1850s, a purpose-built primary school was set up by the community largely thanks to sponsorship from local landlord Lord Listowel. In 1952, the Presentation community opened a secondary school, which was subsequently expanded in 1985.
However, three years ago, when the lack of vocations had shrunk the community to six sisters, the order was forced to close its convent in Listowel and rationalise its presence in Kerry. The schools continue of course, and though the town no longer has a convent, one Presentation sister works voluntarily in the parish and a second works in the order’s primary school.
The Ringfort and Waves: This Monument in the Square represents Listowel (Irish: Lios Tuathail, meaning "Tuathal's ringfort") ,and the waves the River Feale, on which Listowel is situated.
John B. Keanes statue off the square in Listowel: Listowel’s mayor Anthony Curtin declared emphatically, ”He put us on the map,”as the statue of John B. was unveiled June 2nd 2007, cast in bronze by sculptors Seamus and James Connolly, of Kilbaha, who had done the Richard Harris sculpture in Kilkee. The plaque below the statue reads 'John B Keane Playwright and Author 1928 - 2002'.
Sculpture of John B Keane in the Garden of Europe, officially unveiled by oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker in 2008. Sculptor: Padraig Tarrant.
Architecture
Listowel Bridge: Listowel displays a broad range of architectural features, including the notable five arch bridge traversing the River Feale at the entrance to the Town, which dates back to 1829. According to local tradition, the bridge (referred to locally as the "Big Bridge") replaced a smaller wooden structure, which had been destroyed in floods.
The Dandy Lodge: This is nineteenth century cottage, now carefully reconstructed in the Town Park. It appears, in its original location, as the first house in the Bridge Road in the Ordinance Survey map of 1897. It was the a gate lodge to the manor of the agents of Lord Listowel.
Works of Pat McAuliffe: Local plasterer and builder Pat McAuliffe (1846–1921) used stucco or external plaster to decorate the façades of townhouses and shops in the town and surrounding area. A native of Listowel, McAuliffe created a number of unique plasterwork works, including the noted "The Maid of Erin", which depicts a Romantic image of Mother Ireland surrounded by a harp, a wolfhound and other symbols of Ireland.
The Maid was at the centre of a controversy in 1999 when a new owner decided to "cover her dignity" and painted a dress on her famous bosom. A debate ensued and he was persuaded to return her to her original semi-nude state. The works of Pat McAuliffe can be download in PDF format from the link below..
Listowel Bridge: Listowel displays a broad range of architectural features, including the notable five arch bridge traversing the River Feale at the entrance to the Town, which dates back to 1829. According to local tradition, the bridge (referred to locally as the "Big Bridge") replaced a smaller wooden structure, which had been destroyed in floods.
The Dandy Lodge: This is nineteenth century cottage, now carefully reconstructed in the Town Park. It appears, in its original location, as the first house in the Bridge Road in the Ordinance Survey map of 1897. It was the a gate lodge to the manor of the agents of Lord Listowel.
Works of Pat McAuliffe: Local plasterer and builder Pat McAuliffe (1846–1921) used stucco or external plaster to decorate the façades of townhouses and shops in the town and surrounding area. A native of Listowel, McAuliffe created a number of unique plasterwork works, including the noted "The Maid of Erin", which depicts a Romantic image of Mother Ireland surrounded by a harp, a wolfhound and other symbols of Ireland.
The Maid was at the centre of a controversy in 1999 when a new owner decided to "cover her dignity" and painted a dress on her famous bosom. A debate ensued and he was persuaded to return her to her original semi-nude state. The works of Pat McAuliffe can be download in PDF format from the link below..
Lartigue Monorailway
A unique part played by Listowel in Irish railway history is that of having hosted the world's first monorail operation. The Listowel and Ballybunion Railway was built to the Lartigue system, with a double-engined steam locomotive straddling an elevated rail. It connected the town with Ballybunion. Coaches, with a compartment on either side of the rail, had to be kept balanced. If a cow was being brought to market, two calves would be sent also, to balance it on the other side. The calves would then be returned, one on either side of the rail. In 2003, a 1000m long replica of the original monorailway was opened.
A Lartigue Story
To catch the Lartigue between Listowel & Ballybunion, one did not have to go to the nearest station as the train would stop anywhere on request. About two miles from Listowel the line passed close to a thatched cottage from which the lady of the house – Mamie – often took the train to town. One day when the train was passing the house Mamie was outside tackling her little donkey to his cart. The driver of the LARTIGUE – Jackie Riedy haled her : “Aren’t you coming with us today Mamie”? to which she replied : “Yerra no Jackie, I’m in a bit of a hurry today”!
This does not necessarily mean that the donkey would travel faster than the train but probably to the fact that when her business in Listowel was completed that she would have to wait for the next train to Ballybunion.
Listowel Mutiny: Listowel was the site of a famous mutiny which occurred during the Irish War of Independence. On 17 June 1920, member of the Royal Irish Constabulary at Listowel police station refused to obey the commanding officer's orders that they be relocated to police outposts outside of the town. The Black and Tans had occupied the town barracks, forcing the redeployment, something which was both dangerous and hopeless in the face of huge local hostility to the men in question. Police commissioner Colonel Smythe wished that the RIC constables would operate with the army in countering the IRA's fight for freedom in the more rural areas. He suggested while negotiating with the constables that they would be given the power to shoot any suspect on sight. Led by Constable Jeremiah Mee, they refused, both from a point of personal safety and possibly also from a sense of sympathy with their country men struggling against the British forces. The officers were discharged after the mutiny. The episode has come down to be known as the Listowel mutiny.
Earl of Listowel: The title of Earl of Listowel is associated with the Hare family. The current incumbent Lord Listowel is Francis Michael Hare, one of the 92 hereditary peers elected to the British House of Lords.
Holders of the title have included the fifth Earl, who was a Labour politician and notably served as the last Secretary of State for India and Burma. Another member of the family was the Conservative politician John Hare, 1st Viscount Blakenham. He was the third son of the fourth Earl.
Listowel Races:
Each September thousands travel to Listowel for the annual week long horse racing festival, one of the premier events in Ireland’s sporting calendar. The meeting is run on the Island Course located on the opposite side of the River Feale from the Town. The Harvest Festival of Ireland is run in conjunction with the September race meeting and hosts the All Ireland Wren Boys Competition. Both festivals have been part of Listowel’s folk tradition since 1858.
The origin of Listowel races can be traced back to an annual gathering at Ballyeigh, Ballybunion, about nine miles from Listowel. This event, which dates to the early nineteenth century, consisted of a variety of games, horse-racing and a pre-arranged faction fight which concluded the event. Due in no small part to the disturbances surrounding these faction fights, the meeting at Ballyeigh was suspended and racing transferred to Listowel, where the first meeting took place in 1858. The racecourse is located beside the River Feale-for one of the three entrances to the course you must walk across a bridge across the river. The racecourse is called "the island" by the locals due to this fact.
It is now the joint longest racing festival in Ireland, at 7 days in duration the same as the Galway races and second in attendances only to that great event. It is the last major racing festival of the Summer and the last one before Christmas so the crowds make the most of the festivities. Traditionally it was a meeting where farmers Ireland came to spend/gamble the money they made from the harvest but it has since grown into something much larger and more wideranging than that and everybody and anybody now attends with a warm Kerry welcome guaranteed to all.
The Listowel track consists of a 1-mile, 2 furlong mile oval left-handed track with National Hunt fences and hurdles. The hurdle course is adjustable after each day's racing to give new ground. The track has been extended over the last number of years to allow extra race permutations and to enable the Festival Meeting in September to extend to seven days. The Listowel Racecourse is located adjacent to the town and is within easy walking distance of the town centre.
A unique part played by Listowel in Irish railway history is that of having hosted the world's first monorail operation. The Listowel and Ballybunion Railway was built to the Lartigue system, with a double-engined steam locomotive straddling an elevated rail. It connected the town with Ballybunion. Coaches, with a compartment on either side of the rail, had to be kept balanced. If a cow was being brought to market, two calves would be sent also, to balance it on the other side. The calves would then be returned, one on either side of the rail. In 2003, a 1000m long replica of the original monorailway was opened.
A Lartigue Story
To catch the Lartigue between Listowel & Ballybunion, one did not have to go to the nearest station as the train would stop anywhere on request. About two miles from Listowel the line passed close to a thatched cottage from which the lady of the house – Mamie – often took the train to town. One day when the train was passing the house Mamie was outside tackling her little donkey to his cart. The driver of the LARTIGUE – Jackie Riedy haled her : “Aren’t you coming with us today Mamie”? to which she replied : “Yerra no Jackie, I’m in a bit of a hurry today”!
This does not necessarily mean that the donkey would travel faster than the train but probably to the fact that when her business in Listowel was completed that she would have to wait for the next train to Ballybunion.
Listowel Mutiny: Listowel was the site of a famous mutiny which occurred during the Irish War of Independence. On 17 June 1920, member of the Royal Irish Constabulary at Listowel police station refused to obey the commanding officer's orders that they be relocated to police outposts outside of the town. The Black and Tans had occupied the town barracks, forcing the redeployment, something which was both dangerous and hopeless in the face of huge local hostility to the men in question. Police commissioner Colonel Smythe wished that the RIC constables would operate with the army in countering the IRA's fight for freedom in the more rural areas. He suggested while negotiating with the constables that they would be given the power to shoot any suspect on sight. Led by Constable Jeremiah Mee, they refused, both from a point of personal safety and possibly also from a sense of sympathy with their country men struggling against the British forces. The officers were discharged after the mutiny. The episode has come down to be known as the Listowel mutiny.
Earl of Listowel: The title of Earl of Listowel is associated with the Hare family. The current incumbent Lord Listowel is Francis Michael Hare, one of the 92 hereditary peers elected to the British House of Lords.
Holders of the title have included the fifth Earl, who was a Labour politician and notably served as the last Secretary of State for India and Burma. Another member of the family was the Conservative politician John Hare, 1st Viscount Blakenham. He was the third son of the fourth Earl.
Listowel Races:
Each September thousands travel to Listowel for the annual week long horse racing festival, one of the premier events in Ireland’s sporting calendar. The meeting is run on the Island Course located on the opposite side of the River Feale from the Town. The Harvest Festival of Ireland is run in conjunction with the September race meeting and hosts the All Ireland Wren Boys Competition. Both festivals have been part of Listowel’s folk tradition since 1858.
The origin of Listowel races can be traced back to an annual gathering at Ballyeigh, Ballybunion, about nine miles from Listowel. This event, which dates to the early nineteenth century, consisted of a variety of games, horse-racing and a pre-arranged faction fight which concluded the event. Due in no small part to the disturbances surrounding these faction fights, the meeting at Ballyeigh was suspended and racing transferred to Listowel, where the first meeting took place in 1858. The racecourse is located beside the River Feale-for one of the three entrances to the course you must walk across a bridge across the river. The racecourse is called "the island" by the locals due to this fact.
It is now the joint longest racing festival in Ireland, at 7 days in duration the same as the Galway races and second in attendances only to that great event. It is the last major racing festival of the Summer and the last one before Christmas so the crowds make the most of the festivities. Traditionally it was a meeting where farmers Ireland came to spend/gamble the money they made from the harvest but it has since grown into something much larger and more wideranging than that and everybody and anybody now attends with a warm Kerry welcome guaranteed to all.
The Listowel track consists of a 1-mile, 2 furlong mile oval left-handed track with National Hunt fences and hurdles. The hurdle course is adjustable after each day's racing to give new ground. The track has been extended over the last number of years to allow extra race permutations and to enable the Festival Meeting in September to extend to seven days. The Listowel Racecourse is located adjacent to the town and is within easy walking distance of the town centre.
Monasteries
Abbeydorney Cistercian Abbey: Eight miles from Listowel lies the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey of Kyrie Eleison. The Abbey was founded in 1154, only 12 years after the Cistercians first came to Ireland. Christian O Connairche, the first abbot of Millifont and later papal legate at the synod of Kells in 1152 and the synod of Cashel of 1171-2 died here in 1186. The Cistercian community were soon in decline and in the visitation of 1227, the abbot of O Dorney was, with four other abbots, deposed. Later the community came under the influence, if not control of the Fitzmaurice family. In 1576 the abbey was granted to the earl of Desmond. It was effectively suppressed after the Desmond wars and in 1589 it was given to John Champion of Dingle. He sold in 1599 for £100 and two years later it was bought for £130 by one of the Crosbies. The great enemy of Strafford, Sir Piers Crosbie sold the lands, with others, to his cousin David Crosbie of Ardfert in 1638 to finance his defence of a libel suit brought against him by Strafford. The Cistercians did not die out completely for a considerable time. In 1633 there were only one or two Cistercians in the county, but after that they disappear from history.
Lislaughtin Abbey, Ballylongford: Lislaughtin Abbey is located approximately one mile north of Ballylongford Village, and is a Franciscan Friary founded in 1475 by John O'Connor Kerry. The Friars were of the strict Oservantine rule. The Friary is believed to have been built on the site of an earlier church dedicated to St. Lachtin of Muskerry who died in 622 AD. Up to recently St. Lachtin was held in great regard and locals swore by the "hand of St. Lachtin". This relic which is housed in the National Museum, dates from the 10th century. Up to the late 16th century the Friary was one of the more important religious institutions in Kerry, so much so that a chapter of the Order was held there in 1507. After the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII it is evident that there were still monks at Lislaughtin. In 1580 the Abbey was besieged by the Elizabethan forces and three friars who had not fled were clubbed to death before the high alter. The Friars returned to the Abbey in 1629 before the Cromwellian wars brought this part of it's history to an end. Lislaughtin consists of a long house divided into choir and nave - the collapsed square tower was over the choir arch. The nave has two doorways providing access to the interior. The choir is lit by a fine East window divided into four lights by stone mullions, which is surrounded by bar tracery. The south wall of the choir it slit by three windows all divided by stone mullions - the windows are all pointed and of cut limestone. Recessed in the south wall is a triple sedilla, stone seats for the priests and ministers. The two storey building which held the refectory and dormitory was reached from the church by a door in the north wall. This building was lit by 30 windows. To the north east of this building is a structure which was probably the garderrobe (toilet).
Abbeydorney Cistercian Abbey: Eight miles from Listowel lies the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey of Kyrie Eleison. The Abbey was founded in 1154, only 12 years after the Cistercians first came to Ireland. Christian O Connairche, the first abbot of Millifont and later papal legate at the synod of Kells in 1152 and the synod of Cashel of 1171-2 died here in 1186. The Cistercian community were soon in decline and in the visitation of 1227, the abbot of O Dorney was, with four other abbots, deposed. Later the community came under the influence, if not control of the Fitzmaurice family. In 1576 the abbey was granted to the earl of Desmond. It was effectively suppressed after the Desmond wars and in 1589 it was given to John Champion of Dingle. He sold in 1599 for £100 and two years later it was bought for £130 by one of the Crosbies. The great enemy of Strafford, Sir Piers Crosbie sold the lands, with others, to his cousin David Crosbie of Ardfert in 1638 to finance his defence of a libel suit brought against him by Strafford. The Cistercians did not die out completely for a considerable time. In 1633 there were only one or two Cistercians in the county, but after that they disappear from history.
Lislaughtin Abbey, Ballylongford: Lislaughtin Abbey is located approximately one mile north of Ballylongford Village, and is a Franciscan Friary founded in 1475 by John O'Connor Kerry. The Friars were of the strict Oservantine rule. The Friary is believed to have been built on the site of an earlier church dedicated to St. Lachtin of Muskerry who died in 622 AD. Up to recently St. Lachtin was held in great regard and locals swore by the "hand of St. Lachtin". This relic which is housed in the National Museum, dates from the 10th century. Up to the late 16th century the Friary was one of the more important religious institutions in Kerry, so much so that a chapter of the Order was held there in 1507. After the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII it is evident that there were still monks at Lislaughtin. In 1580 the Abbey was besieged by the Elizabethan forces and three friars who had not fled were clubbed to death before the high alter. The Friars returned to the Abbey in 1629 before the Cromwellian wars brought this part of it's history to an end. Lislaughtin consists of a long house divided into choir and nave - the collapsed square tower was over the choir arch. The nave has two doorways providing access to the interior. The choir is lit by a fine East window divided into four lights by stone mullions, which is surrounded by bar tracery. The south wall of the choir it slit by three windows all divided by stone mullions - the windows are all pointed and of cut limestone. Recessed in the south wall is a triple sedilla, stone seats for the priests and ministers. The two storey building which held the refectory and dormitory was reached from the church by a door in the north wall. This building was lit by 30 windows. To the north east of this building is a structure which was probably the garderrobe (toilet).
Listowel Writers' Week
Listowel is also the home of Ireland's biggest literary festival. Since its inception in 1970 Listowel Writers’ Week has been recognised as the primary event in Ireland’s literary calendar. North Kerry is the birthplace of many of Ireland’s most prominent writers past and present including Dr. John B Keane, Dr Bryan Mac Mahon, Professor Brendan Kennelly, Seamus Wilmot, Gabriel Fitzmaurice, George Fitzmaurice, Maurice Walsh and Robert Leslie Boland. The Writers’ Week Festival was established to celebrate those writers and to provide an opportunity for Irish Writers in general to develop their talents and meet new audiences.
The concept of the Literary Workshop was first introduced at Writers’ Week in 1971 by Bryan MacMahon. Since then our Literary Workshops continue to be the most popular in the country. Prominent Irish writers have shared their skills in poetry, fiction, theatre, screen, crime and more recently workshops in song writing, comic writing and storytelling have been added.
Competitions were introduced, together with a series of literary awards, which have given valuable recognition to new writers over the last number of years. In that time many eminent Irish and international literary figures have gathered in Listowel at the annual festival to celebrate the work of new and established writers.
The event takes place in a unique atmosphere of learning and celebration which gives new and established writers an opportunity to discuss their work before a national and international audience.
Under the leadership of its President Colm Tóibín, together with literary advisors Professor Brendan Kennelly, Seamus Hosey, Lawrence Block, and Michael Collins, Writers’ Week provides a wide ranging programme of literary events including lectures, readings, workshops, book launches, seminars, theatre, literary and historical tours, art exhibitions, music and dance.
Listowel is also the home of Ireland's biggest literary festival. Since its inception in 1970 Listowel Writers’ Week has been recognised as the primary event in Ireland’s literary calendar. North Kerry is the birthplace of many of Ireland’s most prominent writers past and present including Dr. John B Keane, Dr Bryan Mac Mahon, Professor Brendan Kennelly, Seamus Wilmot, Gabriel Fitzmaurice, George Fitzmaurice, Maurice Walsh and Robert Leslie Boland. The Writers’ Week Festival was established to celebrate those writers and to provide an opportunity for Irish Writers in general to develop their talents and meet new audiences.
The concept of the Literary Workshop was first introduced at Writers’ Week in 1971 by Bryan MacMahon. Since then our Literary Workshops continue to be the most popular in the country. Prominent Irish writers have shared their skills in poetry, fiction, theatre, screen, crime and more recently workshops in song writing, comic writing and storytelling have been added.
Competitions were introduced, together with a series of literary awards, which have given valuable recognition to new writers over the last number of years. In that time many eminent Irish and international literary figures have gathered in Listowel at the annual festival to celebrate the work of new and established writers.
The event takes place in a unique atmosphere of learning and celebration which gives new and established writers an opportunity to discuss their work before a national and international audience.
Under the leadership of its President Colm Tóibín, together with literary advisors Professor Brendan Kennelly, Seamus Hosey, Lawrence Block, and Michael Collins, Writers’ Week provides a wide ranging programme of literary events including lectures, readings, workshops, book launches, seminars, theatre, literary and historical tours, art exhibitions, music and dance.
Listowel Food Fair:
The Listowel food Fair has been running annually from 1995 to the present day. The festival is geared towards the promotion of local artisan food products. The festival attracts celebrity chefs, nutritionists and artisan food entrpreneurs. The festival will take place from 21st-24th of November this year.
The Listowel food Fair has been running annually from 1995 to the present day. The festival is geared towards the promotion of local artisan food products. The festival attracts celebrity chefs, nutritionists and artisan food entrpreneurs. The festival will take place from 21st-24th of November this year.
Industries
Kerry Co-Op
In 1973 Ireland joined the European Economic Community (EEC) and this accelerated the merger of many small dairies in Ireland so as to be able to compete with the larger milk companies in the existing EEC. Kerry followed suit and with an injection of capital from milk suppliers in the County it acquired the State owned milk processing company and its creameries, together with its 42.5% stake in the private NKMP company for a consideration of €1.5 million. Furthermore, six of the eight independent Co-ops, which held the other 42.5%, were acquired and accordingly the private company became a subsidiary of the newly formed Kerry Co-operative Creameries Ltd (Kerry Co-op) which began trading in January 1974. Thus Kerry started out as the smallest of Ireland's six major agricultural Co-operatives in 1974, with sales in that year of €29 million.
In the period from 1974 to 1979, Kerry expanded its milk business in a similar fashion to other dairy Co-ops but did so on a consistently profitable basis, which of course was not always typical of the traditional dairy Co-op sector. EEC entry had brought better milk prices, increased milk volumes and improved farm incomes in Ireland. Kerry Co-op grew organically simply by taking the milk that came its way, processing it and meeting all other farmer requirements in terms of inputs and on-farm services. Its milk supply increased from 67 million gallons in 1974 to 87 million gallons in 1978. The new Co-op acquired the independent Killarney, Limerick, Mariewasere and Ballinahina Dairies (Cork) which later became part of Kerry’s Dawn Dairies structure with the addition of Galway and Moate Dairies.
However in 1979 everything changed for Kerry Co-op when the county was chosen as a pilot area for a bovine disease eradication scheme. Allied to this, milk production was further depressed due to wet summer weather in 1979 and in 1980, which meant that Kerry lost almost 20% of its milk supply. This was highly significant in that it happened at a time when the Co-op was in the course of completing a €18 million capital expenditure programme at the NKMP plant in Listowel.
Kerry Group
Kerry Group today is a leader in global food ingredients and flavours markets, and a leading branded consumer foods processing and marketing organisation in selected EU markets.
The Group has grown organically and through a series of strategic acquisitions in its relatively short history, from the commissioning of its first dairy and ingredients plant in Listowel, Ireland in 1972, and has achieved sustained profitable growth with current annualised sales in excess of €4.5 billion.
Headquartered in Tralee, Ireland, the Group employs approximately 22,000 people throughout its manufacturing, sales and technical centres across Europe, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Asian Markets.
Kerry supplies over 10,000 food, food ingredients and flavour products to customers in more than 140 countries worldwide. The Group has manufacturing facilities in 19 different countries and international sales offices in 20 other countries across the globe.
Launched as a public company in 1986, Kerry Group plc is listed on the Dublin and London Stock Markets and has a current market capitalisation of approximately €3.5 billion. in 2012 kerry group revenue was 5.8 billion.
Kerry Co-Op
In 1973 Ireland joined the European Economic Community (EEC) and this accelerated the merger of many small dairies in Ireland so as to be able to compete with the larger milk companies in the existing EEC. Kerry followed suit and with an injection of capital from milk suppliers in the County it acquired the State owned milk processing company and its creameries, together with its 42.5% stake in the private NKMP company for a consideration of €1.5 million. Furthermore, six of the eight independent Co-ops, which held the other 42.5%, were acquired and accordingly the private company became a subsidiary of the newly formed Kerry Co-operative Creameries Ltd (Kerry Co-op) which began trading in January 1974. Thus Kerry started out as the smallest of Ireland's six major agricultural Co-operatives in 1974, with sales in that year of €29 million.
In the period from 1974 to 1979, Kerry expanded its milk business in a similar fashion to other dairy Co-ops but did so on a consistently profitable basis, which of course was not always typical of the traditional dairy Co-op sector. EEC entry had brought better milk prices, increased milk volumes and improved farm incomes in Ireland. Kerry Co-op grew organically simply by taking the milk that came its way, processing it and meeting all other farmer requirements in terms of inputs and on-farm services. Its milk supply increased from 67 million gallons in 1974 to 87 million gallons in 1978. The new Co-op acquired the independent Killarney, Limerick, Mariewasere and Ballinahina Dairies (Cork) which later became part of Kerry’s Dawn Dairies structure with the addition of Galway and Moate Dairies.
However in 1979 everything changed for Kerry Co-op when the county was chosen as a pilot area for a bovine disease eradication scheme. Allied to this, milk production was further depressed due to wet summer weather in 1979 and in 1980, which meant that Kerry lost almost 20% of its milk supply. This was highly significant in that it happened at a time when the Co-op was in the course of completing a €18 million capital expenditure programme at the NKMP plant in Listowel.
Kerry Group
Kerry Group today is a leader in global food ingredients and flavours markets, and a leading branded consumer foods processing and marketing organisation in selected EU markets.
The Group has grown organically and through a series of strategic acquisitions in its relatively short history, from the commissioning of its first dairy and ingredients plant in Listowel, Ireland in 1972, and has achieved sustained profitable growth with current annualised sales in excess of €4.5 billion.
Headquartered in Tralee, Ireland, the Group employs approximately 22,000 people throughout its manufacturing, sales and technical centres across Europe, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Asian Markets.
Kerry supplies over 10,000 food, food ingredients and flavour products to customers in more than 140 countries worldwide. The Group has manufacturing facilities in 19 different countries and international sales offices in 20 other countries across the globe.
Launched as a public company in 1986, Kerry Group plc is listed on the Dublin and London Stock Markets and has a current market capitalisation of approximately €3.5 billion. in 2012 kerry group revenue was 5.8 billion.
Education
Listowel is serviced by many primary, post-primary and post-leaving certificate education facilities. Children between five and twelve are facilitated by Presentation Primary School for girls, Scoil Realta na Maidne, for boys, and Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail, which is a mixed school. The town has two Catholic, secondary schools, Presentation Secondary School, Listowel and St. Michael's College. The town is also served by Listowel Community College, a mixed post-primary and post-leaving certificate school and an Adult Literacy Centre. The town hosts Learning Initiative of North Kerry.
The local boys' national school is situated at the top of Church Street, beside the old church tower. It has had many famous teachers and many famous pupils. Its best known head master was Bryan McMahon. Bryan achieved national and international fame as a dramatist, short story writer, novelist, balladeer and lecturer. The story of his long and productive life is best told by himself in his autobiography, "The Master".
Listowel is serviced by many primary, post-primary and post-leaving certificate education facilities. Children between five and twelve are facilitated by Presentation Primary School for girls, Scoil Realta na Maidne, for boys, and Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail, which is a mixed school. The town has two Catholic, secondary schools, Presentation Secondary School, Listowel and St. Michael's College. The town is also served by Listowel Community College, a mixed post-primary and post-leaving certificate school and an Adult Literacy Centre. The town hosts Learning Initiative of North Kerry.
The local boys' national school is situated at the top of Church Street, beside the old church tower. It has had many famous teachers and many famous pupils. Its best known head master was Bryan McMahon. Bryan achieved national and international fame as a dramatist, short story writer, novelist, balladeer and lecturer. The story of his long and productive life is best told by himself in his autobiography, "The Master".
Entertainment & Activities
Summer in Listowel offers a feast of activities & entertainment beginning in May with the town’s world famous Literary Festival, Writers’ Week. This four day festival brings together the cream of Irish & International literary talent offering workshops, readings & lectures on a vast array of topics. For the non-literary visitor Writers’ Week offers a extensive programme of cultural activities including theatre, film, art exhibitions, historical tours, pub trails and children’s entertainment.
St. John’s Theatre & Arts Centre is the centre-piece of Listowel’s magnificent Square. Located in a Church of Ireland Gothic style church, the Centre features an annual programme of performances including theatre, music & dance, exhibitions, educational programmes and annual summer school.
Pub Theatre entertainment can be found in some of Listowel’s finest hostelries during July & August. Tuesday & Thursday nights the place to be is John B. Keane’s Bar featuring the inimitable Billy Keane presenting is distinctive one-man comedy show & Lartigue Theatre Company presenting the works of the great playwright including the famous “Letters” series – Letters of a Matchmaker, Letters of a Successful T.D.
Monday & Wednesday nights the ‘Melting Pot Players’ presents the best of local and other writers with a mixed bag performance including music, song & dance at Lynch’s Bar, The Square & The Mermaids Bar. Shows commence at 9.30 pm and admission is free!!!
If traditional Irish music is your pleasure, ‘Seisiún’ at the Seanchaí Literary & Cultural Centre every Thursday nights is not to be missed. This show features a blend of traditional Irish music, song, dance & storytelling performed by local world class musicians. Show commences at 9 pm sharp. Traditional music can also be heard throughout the week in some of the many pubs including ‘The Harp & Lion’ and ‘The Pure Drop’ both on Church Street.
The Listowel Heritage Trail leaves the Square at 6 pm each evening during July and August.
A Tour Guide will bring you to the many historical sites of the town and explain the history attached. A Visitors Guide is available.
Other acitivities include a visit to the Kerry Writers’ Museum in the Seanchaí Centre, a drive on the Lartigue Monorailway, radio-controlled model car racing, horse riding, fishing, golfing, crossroads dancing in Finuge, fine dining in Listowel’s top quality restaurants and daily showings in Listowel’s modern three theatre cinema complex.
Each September thousands travel to Listowel for the annual week long horse racing festival, one of the premier events in Ireland’s sporting calendar. The meeting is run on the Island Course located on the opposite side of the River Feale from the Town. The Harvest Festival of Ireland is run in conjunction with the September race meeting and hosts the All Ireland Wren Boys Competition. Both festivals have been part of Listowel’s folk tradition since 1858.
Summer in Listowel offers a feast of activities & entertainment beginning in May with the town’s world famous Literary Festival, Writers’ Week. This four day festival brings together the cream of Irish & International literary talent offering workshops, readings & lectures on a vast array of topics. For the non-literary visitor Writers’ Week offers a extensive programme of cultural activities including theatre, film, art exhibitions, historical tours, pub trails and children’s entertainment.
St. John’s Theatre & Arts Centre is the centre-piece of Listowel’s magnificent Square. Located in a Church of Ireland Gothic style church, the Centre features an annual programme of performances including theatre, music & dance, exhibitions, educational programmes and annual summer school.
Pub Theatre entertainment can be found in some of Listowel’s finest hostelries during July & August. Tuesday & Thursday nights the place to be is John B. Keane’s Bar featuring the inimitable Billy Keane presenting is distinctive one-man comedy show & Lartigue Theatre Company presenting the works of the great playwright including the famous “Letters” series – Letters of a Matchmaker, Letters of a Successful T.D.
Monday & Wednesday nights the ‘Melting Pot Players’ presents the best of local and other writers with a mixed bag performance including music, song & dance at Lynch’s Bar, The Square & The Mermaids Bar. Shows commence at 9.30 pm and admission is free!!!
If traditional Irish music is your pleasure, ‘Seisiún’ at the Seanchaí Literary & Cultural Centre every Thursday nights is not to be missed. This show features a blend of traditional Irish music, song, dance & storytelling performed by local world class musicians. Show commences at 9 pm sharp. Traditional music can also be heard throughout the week in some of the many pubs including ‘The Harp & Lion’ and ‘The Pure Drop’ both on Church Street.
The Listowel Heritage Trail leaves the Square at 6 pm each evening during July and August.
A Tour Guide will bring you to the many historical sites of the town and explain the history attached. A Visitors Guide is available.
Other acitivities include a visit to the Kerry Writers’ Museum in the Seanchaí Centre, a drive on the Lartigue Monorailway, radio-controlled model car racing, horse riding, fishing, golfing, crossroads dancing in Finuge, fine dining in Listowel’s top quality restaurants and daily showings in Listowel’s modern three theatre cinema complex.
Each September thousands travel to Listowel for the annual week long horse racing festival, one of the premier events in Ireland’s sporting calendar. The meeting is run on the Island Course located on the opposite side of the River Feale from the Town. The Harvest Festival of Ireland is run in conjunction with the September race meeting and hosts the All Ireland Wren Boys Competition. Both festivals have been part of Listowel’s folk tradition since 1858.
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