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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.

John B. Keane

Nestled in the northern half of the County of Kerry is located the traditional lively market town of Listowel, situated on the banks of the River Feale. 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.

Described as the 'Literary Capital of Ireland', Listowel has produced an abundance of world famous writers including John B. Keane and Bryan MacMahon, giving it a uniqueness not to be found in any other part of Ireland. Listowel is home to Writers' Week, the annual Literary Festival held in June, the famous Listowel Horse-Racing Festival held in September and Listowel Food Fair held in November.

 
One of only 26 designated Heritage Towns in Ireland, Listowel displays a myriad of wonderful architectural features, including the magnificent five arch bridge traversing the River Feale at the entrance to the Town, which dates back to 1829. According to local tradition, the bridge replaced a smaller wooden structure, which had been destroyed in floods.  The bridge is usually referred to locally at the ‘Big Bridge’ and is considered one of the finest examples of bridge building in County Kerry.

Travelling through Listowel the distinctive craftwork on many shopfronts is clearly visible, from ‘The Maid of Erin’ in The Square to ‘The Harp & Lion’ in Church Street.  These were the work of master craftsman Pat McAuliffe (1846-1921) who left an indelible mark on his native Listowel through his unique plasterwork designs.

Listowel is a hub of art and culture with St. John's Theatre and Arts Centre hosting a broad programme of theatrical events throughout the year. The three drama groups based in the Town also present pub theatre in the many hostelries throughout Listowel during the summer period.

The Garden of Europe, Listowel's - hidden treasure, is located in the Town Park and contains more than 2,500 trees and shrubs from all European countries. It also contains Ireland's only public monument to the memory of the millions who died in the Holocaust