Listowel
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The Literary and Cultural Capital of Ireland

Nestled in the northern half of the County of Kerry, along the beautiful coastal N69 route, known the world over for lush green countryside and peaceful meandering rivers, is located the lively market town of Listowel, situated on the banks of the River Feale. Described as the Literary Capital of Ireland, Listowel, and indeed North Kerry has produced an abundance of world famous writers, giving it a uniqueness not to be found in any other part of Ireland. This is reflected in the writings of the late Dr. John B. Keane, one of it's most famous sons :

Beautiful Listowel, serenaded night and day by the gentle waters of the River Feale.
Listowel where it is easier to write than not to write,
Where first love never dies, and the tall streets hide the loveliness,
the heartbreak and the moods, great and small,
of all the gentle souls of a great and good community.
Sweet, incomparable hometown that shaped and made me.

Listowel has a long history dating back to 1303 where it first 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.

Listowel Castle - Located adjacent to the Seanchaí Centre in The Square, this 12th century Castle overlooking The Square was built as a fortress by the Anglo Norman Earls of Kerry, the Fitzmaurices. It ceased to be a significant defence in 1559. Two architectural features are worthy of not - there is the unusual two turrets joined, a feature shared with Bunratty Castle in County Clare. The other, that of the sculptured head is thought, by some, to represent an ape rather than a person. Credence can be given to this if one believes the legend relating to Maurice's second cousin, Tomás an Ápa, father of the first Earl of Desmond. The story goes that after the Battle of Callan in 1261 Tomás was cared for by an ape who was a household pet.

And there are other legends - and the protruding stone with its sculpted head holds the secret. The Fitzmaurice family began what was to be a long association with Listowel Castle at the end of the 13th Century. 'Tho' the principal family seats were at Ardfert and Lixnaw, Listowel was of tremendous strategic importance to them, since they were constantly feuding both with the neighbours, the Desmonds and the O' Neills, but also with the Crown Forces. Since Listowel Castle was built on the North bank of the River Feale, where the river could be forded, it provided a stronghold to control the movements of visiting would-be marauders across the Anglo-Irish neighbours - the English Crown ignored them all, happy to accept only nominal allegiance. But the end came on the 5th November, 1600, when, after centuries of turmoil, the Castle fell to an English force under the command of Sir Charles Wilmot after a 28 day siege.

So, the Castle fell and a village began. It later grew into a town - Listowel. All that remains of this national monument is a fine façade, which originally was the guards and servants quarters. Listowel Castle is now owned by Dúchas - The Heritage Service and guided tours will be available in 2004.