Things to do in Listowel
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Listowel Golf Course
Listowel Golf Course, on the banks of the River Feale, is about 2km west of the centre off the N69 to Tarbert. You can also walk through Childers Park and the 'Garden of Europe' to get there.
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Writers’ Exhibition
Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre, with its audiovisual Writers’ Exhibition, is an absolute gem that gives due prominence to Listowel’s heritage of literary observers of Irish life. Rooms are devoted to local greats such as John B Keane and Bryan MacMahon, with simple, haunting tableaux narrating their lives and recordings of them reading their work. There is a cafe and a performance space where events are sometimes staged.
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Listowel Castle
Behind the Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre, this 12th-century castle was once the stronghold of the Fitzmaurices, the Anglo-Norman lords of Kerry. It was the last castle in Ireland to succumb to the Elizabethan attacks during the Desmond revolt. What remains of the castle has been thoroughly restored.
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Lartigue Monorailway
Designed by Frenchman Charles Lartigue, this unique survivor of Victorian railway engineering operated between the town and Ballybunion on the coast. Although it no longer travels as far as Ballybunion, the renovated section of line is short (less than a kilometre) but fascinating, with manual turntables at either end for swinging the train around.
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Garden of Europe
In Childers Park is the Garden of Europe, opened in 1995. Its 12 sections represent the 12 members of the EU of the day. There is a fine bust of the poet Schiller and, strikingly, Ireland’s only public monument to those who died in the Holocaust, and to all victims of injustice.
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Woulfe’s Horseshoe Bar
Enjoy the cosiness of the downstairs bar or the upstairs restaurant at this long-established place, which features window gnomes. The menu offers a full range of pub standards including an array of daily roasts.
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John B Keane
Once run by the late writer himself, this small, unassuming bar is swathed in Keane memorabilia.
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Jim Halpin Fishing Supplies
The River Feale provides many opportunities for angling year round. For licences and information contact Jim Halpin Fishing Supplies, which also sells angling equipment.
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walks
The tourist office has leaflets on walks such as the 3.5km river walk and the 10km Sive walk, which takes in John B Keane Rd, a disused railway track and a bog.
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St Mary's Church
Built in 1829 in the neo-Gothic style, this church has some lovely mosaic work over the altar and a vaulted roof with timber beams.
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Mai Fitz's
A pleasant, small pub serving chowder, breaded mushrooms and the like. After 15:00, solider dishes like Dingle Bay scampi are available.
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Blue Umbrella Gallery
An arts and crafts cooperative opposite the large Archangel gallery. There are changing exhibitions and lots of work for sale.
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The Grape & Grain
Music can be found at the weekends at this refurbished Listowel institution, a good place for a pint and a bite.
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Grape & Grain
A stylish, burgundy-coloured place for lunch or a coffee with sandwiches, salads, hot specials and cakes.
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Farmers Market
Listowel’s farmers market is held on the Square as markets have been for centuries.
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St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre
This centre hosts art exhibitions as well as drama, music and dance events.
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Ó Hannán's Book Shop
Ó Hannán's Book Shop is opposite where William St joins Main St.
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Woulfe’s Bookshop
A good place for works by local literary luminaries.
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Writers Bar
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Georgian Restaurant
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Woulfe's Horseshoe Bar
The food (daily roasts, battered fish et al) is nothing to write home about, nor is the service. Still, this pub just off the Square is a cosy spot for a pint.
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Walking
The tourist office has leaflets on walks such as the 3.5km river walk and the 10km Sive walk, which takes in John B Keane Rd, a disused railway track and a bog.
reviewed
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St John's Theatre & Arts Centre
Located in a former church and now hosting art exhibitions as well as drama, music and dance events.
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Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre
The audiovisual Writers' Exhibition at this gem of a cultural centre gives due prominence to Listowel's heritage of literary observers of Irish life. Rooms are devoted to local greats such as John B Keane and Bryan MacMahon, with simple, haunting tableaux narrating their lives and recordings of them reading their work. There is a cafe and a performance space where events are sometimes staged.
Keane is remembered with a statue on the opposite side of the square, in which he seems to be hailing a cab. He wrote with wry humour about subjects ranging from Limerick's beggars to the perils of giving up porter as a New Year's resolution.
On Church St, opposite the police station,…
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Grape & Grain
In addition to coffee and cake, perennial cafe fare at this stylish, burgundy- and green-coloured place includes big salads served with garlic bread and sandwiches with salad, nachos and dip.
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