Tours

Our Tour Experience

Tours

Discover the Stories

Why has North Kerry produced so many great writers? The answer from one of its most famous sons, John B. Keane, is that it’s probably easier to write in this part of the world than not to do so. Discover the answer yourself in a tour of our museum where you will be immersed in the words of John B. Keane (The Field), Bryan MacMahon (The Windows of Wonder), Brendan Kennelly (The Man Made of Rain), Maurice Walsh (The Quiet Man) and George Fitzmaurice (The Magic Glasses). Experience the uniquely designed themed installations in each writer’s room and view original artefacts and materials of the writers which forms part of the Museum’s collection.

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EXPLORE

Our Tour Types

Self Guided Tour

Tour Duration – 1.5 hours

Join local Seanchaí or storyteller Bryan Murphy in a specially recorded audio tour taking you on a journey through the stories of our writers. There will be mystery, there will be murder, there will be magic, there will be love, there will be comedy and then there will be more magic. Bryan has plenty of stories in his hat.

Self-guided tours are available daily on demand.

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Windows of Wonder Guided Tour

Tour Duration – 2 hours (can be adapted to suit the time available to your group)

Min. Group of 10

Tours of the Museum are now brought to life by costumed characters in our ‘Windows of Wonder Experience’, a performance based guided tour. Learn about the lives of the writers and experience performances of their stories, poetry and songs by our actor guides. You are also invited to beat the bodhrán (traditional goat skin drum) and perform with the guides. The tour must be booked at least two days in advance of your visit. Please contact us for group admission rates.

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Our Tour Experience

From here in Listowel, explore the Wild Atlantic Way, The Shannon Estuary Way and all that County Kerry has to offer.

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Writers’ Rooms

Listowel Rambling House revives the old Irish tradition of long ago where people come together to be entertained by songs, recitations, stories, and dance’

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Listowel Through The Ages

In this interactive exhibition you will be taken on a journey deep into the landscape, history and folklore. Come and explore your past!

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Púca Story Trail

Follow our museum mascot Púca the Hare and discover interactive stories specifically designed to engage our younger visitors.

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Kerry’s Amateur Drama Heritage

County Kerry boasts a rich tradition of amateur drama, beginning careers on the local stage.

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Coming Soon

Celtic Illumination Exhibition

Celtic illumination is characterised by decoration strongly influenced by metalwork, the use of interlacing, and the importance assigned to calligraphy. The work is composed of beautifully written text flanked with intricate borders alongside interlaced Celtic knot work patterns.

Michael O’Connor has been described as the ‘finest’ artist of Celtic Illumination of the twentieth century as his work was simply finer and better executed than anyone who had gone before or perhaps since. Born and raised in the townhouse that is now Kerry Writers’ Museum, O’Connor’s work was presented to visiting dignitaries including President John F. Kennedy on his visit to Ireland in 1963. View some of the finest pieces of his work including St. Patrick’s Breastplate in an exhibition soon to open in our museum.

VISIT

Gallery

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REVIEWS

What people are saying about us

  • Popped in here to escape the rain and get a cup of tea and cake. Very reasonable prices and great service. Then noticed the little hare jumping around on the wall when I used the toilets! Looked very intriguing and prompted us all to buy tickets to the museum. Wow! So worth it as the exhibits and the way it was presented was lovely, really unusual. So informative and so different to other museums. Really good value for money and a real highlight to the town.

    Great Service (Trip Advisor Review)

    – March, 2023

  • Most impressive is how ingrained in both The Creative & local communities The Seanchaí is, from the workshops, coffee mornings & plain old drop ins, To Book launches, poetry recitals, projects & engagements with the local schools. The Seanchaí is a much loved and universally treasured cultural icon. By the inhabitants of Listowel, most of Co. Kerry and West Limerick.

    Mark Ollerhead (Google Review)

    – March, 2023

  • We had requested the 30-minute tour, but happily lingered for an hour longer than we had planned. As we exited, we looked at each other and laughed out loud at our good fortune. We could have so easily missed this experience that left us feeling moved, intrigued and a bit more educated about the Kerry writers. In our delight, we failed to tip our guide but I will be going to your donations page to make a modest pledge in gratitude for our host whose name we did not record to memory.

    Jane Braswell (Google Review)

    – March, 2023

  • Our visit to the Kerry Writers Museum was a very memorable experience from beginning to end. Cara, who was working at the centre that day, was very welcoming and most helpful. The exhibition of the Kerry writers was imaginative and most engaging. The seanchai relating the background stories each writer was magic! A wonderful experience all round.

    Cara (Google Review)

    – May, 2021

  • This museum has been developed with great care and meticulous attention to detail. The audio elements are matched perfectly to the installations which are beautifully presented. The option to activate the audio guides in each room without resorting to the use of handheld devices worked very well. This is a must see/hear for anyone with an interest in Irish writing. There is also a little coffee shop and gifts on sale.

    Beautifully Curated (Trip Advisor Review)

    – July, 2019

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