Building Renovations
We have just completed renovation works on our museum building, removing the existing plaster on the gable wall of the Georgian house and reinstating the plaster to match the front elevation in a traditional lime mortar. The work undertaken by Mid West Lime Limited, was funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Cultural Capital Scheme.
The house was built in 1820 by local solicitor John Fitzgerald, the land agent for Lord Listowel, for his daughter Elizabeth. Among its many occupants over the years included Dr. Ulysses Fitzmaurice, uncle to the playwright George Fitzmaurice and who was said to have christened it ‘The Castle House’. In October 1885 the house was bought by Francis Creagh, solicitor, father of Bertha Beatty (nee Creagh) author of ‘Kerry Memories’.
Its longest resident was a Dr. Michael O’Connor who purchased it from Francis Creagh and ran his surgery from the house up until the mid-20th century. During the War of Independence Dr. O’Connor was interned for 13 months, and the house was taken over by the British military for its ideal vantage point overlooking Listowel Square.
