Listowel is a famous town located on the banks of the river Feale in North Kerry. This historic town has been the market centre for the north of the county for centuries and is still a lively shopping town with numerous shops, pubs and restaurants. This is a very well maintained town which has been the recipient of many Tidy Towns awards in recent years.
It is the centre of the food processing of Kerry Group which has been the main employer in the area for decades.
Click on the images for more views of Listowel
What’s in Listowel?
The River Feale which flows through the town is a popular trout and salmon angling river.
Sport
- The town has a nice 9-hole pitch and putt golf course
- A beautiful Park on the banks of The Feale
- GAA Club – Listowel Emmetts
- Listowel Rugby Club
- Fishing: The River Feale is considered to be one of the best Salmon and Sea Trout Rivers
- Fitness at Listowel Community Centre
- Horse Racing – Famous Harvest Festival in September
St. Johns Theatre
Located in the centre of The Square in a former Church of Ireland Church this lovely theatre is a centre for drama, music, comedy, art exhibitions and more.
St. John’s Theatre
Festivals
Listowel Races
The Harvest Festival in September is the last horse racing festival of the year in Ireland. It is a mixture of Flat and National Hunt racing which goes on for 7 days and the great prize money on offer attracts some of the best horses from Ireland and some from abroad. This festival has been in existence since the 1850s and it attracts huge crowds to the town.
The most famous race is The Kerry National, a Steeplechase which attracts some of the best National Hunt horses frome home and abroad.
As well as the horse racing, the nights are very lively with pubs and restaurants packed with revellers enjoying the ‘craic’.
Writers Week
Listowel Writers Week, an annual festival held at the end of May or beginning of June each year, celebrates the lives of the numerous writers who were born in the area. It is attended by many current literary celebrities and it awards prizes to writers in various categories.
Writers Week is one of the biggest and most important Literary Festivals in Ireland.
Revival Music Festival
Revival Music Festival Takes place in The Square in August. Big names in rock and folk in this street music festival. For more details see https://www.revivalfestival.ie/
International Storytelling Festival
Music, Song, Dance, Folklore, Literature, Storytelling and more in September.
kerrywritersmuseum.com/storytelling-festival/
Food Fair
One of Ireland’s longest running festivals each year recognises the Best Emerging Artisan Food Producers, Food Writers, Food Innovators, and Food Heros. Artisan Farmers Market, Food Trail, cookery demonstrations, street food and lots more tasty treats.
http://www.listowelfoodfair.ie/
Other Attractions
Listowel Castle, Kerry Writers Museum, Lartigue Monorail Railway
Eat And Drink
Restaurants: Allo’s Restaurant, Bar & Bistro, The Horseshoe Bar & Restaurant, Gapo’s Restaurant, Lizzy’s Little Kitchen
Pubs: John B Keanes, Christys Bar (the Well) , Mike The Pies, Behan’s Horseshoe Pub, The Shebeen, Tankers
Listowel Accommodation on The Map
There is only one hotel in the town. There are a number of good B&Bs and self catering units in the vicinity.
Hotels: Listowel Arms Hotel
Bed and Breakfast: Behan’s, Carriglea, Palmgrove B&B, Racecourse View, 29 The Square
Self Catering: The Small House, 39 Woodview, 2 Bed Cottage, An Ghaise Bheag
How Far
Tralee: 26 km, Ballybunion: 15 km, Killarney: 59 km, Limerick: 75 km, Dublin: 268 km
Check other places in Kerry