Plan

Things to Do & See

Welcome

Listowel, Co.Kerry

Listowel is a town famous for stories, and our story begins as a Celtic settlement, Lios Tuathal. The first written record of the town Listowel dates back to 1303 where it appears in the Plea Roll. Fortress to the Fitzmaurice family the town developed around Listowel Castle and its magnificent market Square, one of its many distinguishing features.

PLAN

Local Activities

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

Listowel Castle

The present Castle was probably built in the 15th century by the Fitzmaurices. The castle stands on an elevation on a steep bank, overlooking the River Feale. 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 battlement. Guided tours are available from mid-May to September

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Kingdom of Kerry Greenway

This 16-kilometre off-road trail runs along the old railway line from Abbeyfeale to Listowel and can be enjoyed by cyclists, walkers, runners, families and wheelchair users alike. Joining the 40km long Limerick Greenway at Abbeyfeale, you will traverse woodlands, farmland and riverside terrain on route to the beautiful heritage town of Listowel.

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St. John’s Theatre & Arts Centre

A former Chruch of Ireland Gothic style church located in the centre of the Town Square, St. John’s Theatre and Arts Centre hosts a year-round programme of theatre, films, music, song and dance plus visual art exhibitions featuring national and international artists.

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The Garden Of Europe

This 16-kilometre off-road trail runs along the old railway line from Abbeyfeale to Listowel and can be enjoyed by cyclists, walkers, runners, families and wheelchair users alike. Joining the 40km long Limerick Greenway at Abbeyfeale, you will traverse woodlands, farmland and riverside terrain on route to the beautiful heritage town of Listowel.

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The Lartigue Monorail & Museum

The Lartigue Monorail system operated from Listowel to Ballybunion. It was invented by French man Charles Lartigue. Passengers and freight had to be equally distributed on either side. The only one of its kind worldwide, the Monorail operated from ran from 1888 until 1924. Today you can take a trip on the replica train and learn about its history at the Lartigue Monorail & Museum.

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Walking Trails

The ‘Sive’ Walk (named after John B. Keane’s first play) – A 9 kilometre walk following the disused railway line through wild bogland.

The River Walk – A 2.5 kilometre walk along the banks of the River Feale, through ‘The Garden of Europe’ and Listowel Town Park.

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ABOUT

Ireland’s Wild
Atlantic Way

Have you ever dreamed of embarking on a journey of discovery, to hidden places and secret worlds where all kinds of enchantments lie waiting for you? Well now you can, by visiting Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way – the wildest, most captivating, coastal driving route in the world. Tucked away in little villages and towns that snuggle into the coastline are delightful cafes and restaurants, where you can indulge in your passion for good food and great wine. Maybe you will hear a few words of Irish spoken along the way in Ireland’s Gaeltacht (Irish speaking regions) or reignite your passion for life while surfing on magnificent waves in Ballybunion.

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Dark Spalsh

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Where to Stay

Where to stay in and around Listowel, Co. Kerry.

Listowel Arms Hotel
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North County House B&B
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Aras Mhuire B&B
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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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