Listowel offers several ways to explore culture and history: Norman architecture, literature, theatre and music, as well as railway history. You can choose different focuses for your stay—from the castle and Writers’ Week Festival to a short ride on the monorail.
Greenway and castle: two distinctive local landmarks
The Kingdom of Kerry Greenway starts in Listowel and runs for 16 kilometres to the border of County Limerick. If you include the route in your travel plans, you have a clearly identified starting point and a stated distance. Listowel Castle offers a different way to discover the area: it is considered one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Kerry. The castle stands on high ground above the site of a strategic ford, overlooking the River Feale. Here, architecture and landscape form part of a shared historic setting.
Literature, theatre and architecture
Listowel’s annual Writers’ Week Festival is Ireland’s oldest literary festival. It attracts authors, poets, playwrights and readers from around the world. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the event dates in advance; specific dates and programmes may change.
St John’s Theatre and Arts Centre is housed in a converted neo-Gothic church in the centre of Listowel’s Georgian Square. Its ongoing programme includes theatre, films, music, singing, dance and visual art exhibitions; literature and musical theatre are also on offer. Performances and events may change, so if you have a particular cultural interest, it is worth checking the current programme before your visit.
An architectural tour of Listowel introduces other local features: Jostle Stones, Wicket Doors, three-part coach arches and octagonal church towers. The tour therefore goes beyond a single building, drawing attention to different forms of town architecture.
Tours, participation and railway history
At Listowel Castle, experienced OPW guides offer free tours to all visitors. As tour arrangements may change, check how they are currently organised before your visit. At the Kerry Writers Museum, the “Windows of Wonder” tour features costumed performers: visitors can perform alongside the guides and play a bodhrán. This gives you two different guided cultural experiences to choose from—a castle tour and a format with audience participation.
The Lartigue Monorail and Museum combines a short monorail ride with an insight into its technology, including its ingenious switching system. A film about the original Lartigue railway is shown in the museum; there are also models, memorabilia and material about the Lartigue and mainline railways. You can combine the ride with a closer look at railway history.
The Garden of Europe is home to Ireland’s only public monument commemorating those murdered in the Holocaust, as well as all victims of injustice and oppression. This site adds a distinct and solemn note to Listowel’s cultural themes.
Discover more destinations: Ballyduff, Fybagh, Tuosist, Ballyheige, Lauragh, Killorglin, Aughrim, Anascaul
For the main travel overview: County Kerry.
