I only know what I heard, I only heard what was said and a lot of what was said was made up to pass the night away! So put a sod on the fire, give an apple to the child and pour a drink for the storyteller.
Eamon Kelly, SeanchaÃ
This September, the heritage town of Listowel will once again be alive with laughter, music, and the magic of the spoken word as Kerry Writers’ Museum proudly presents the 8th annual Listowel International Storytelling Festival from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th September 2026.
As the evenings grow longer and the air turns crisp with the promise of autumn, we gather once again under the spell of a tradition as old as time: the telling of stories. Inspired by the enduring tradition of the Irish Rambling House – where neighbours gathered to share stories, songs, and laughter – Listowel International Storytelling Festival is a unique celebration of storytelling, poetry, music and song, blending local heritage with international voices for an unforgettable cultural experience in the heart of Listowel.
This year’s festival is especially significant as Kerry Writers’ Museum celebrates its 25th anniversary. The 2026 festival theme is ‘Past Voices, Future Stories’. A major highlight of the weekend will be a special tribute to the legendary Kerry seanchaà Éamon Kelly, marking the 25th anniversary of his passing and celebrating his remarkable contribution to Irish storytelling and theatre.
Our 2026 festival programme will be available soon, but in the meantime take a look back at our 2025 Festival Programme.
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