 Lartigue Monorail Train |
 Listowel |
Due North from Castleisland lies the attractive town of Listowel, on
the River Feale. Listowel appears for the first time in the Plea Roll
of 1303-1304 as Lystothyl. In ecclesiastical taxation records of 1320
it appears as Lismokill, and in several other documents as Lissmoll,Lestowell,
Lystuayl and Listowhil. It first appears as "Lios Tuathail"
in the annals of the four masters of 1582.
Its main landmark is the ruined 15th century Fitzmaurice Castle,
set in its fine central square. It was the stronghold of the Fitzmaurices,
the Anglo-Norman Earls of Kerry. In its original state it would have been
similar to Bunratty Castle in Co.Clare,but all that remains today is the
fascade, which is over 15 metres in height. It was declared a national
monument in 1923.
The town is dominated by two facing neo-gothic churches,Saint Johns (Protestant)
and Saint Mary's (Catholic). Saint John's Gothic style church was deconsecrated
in 1988 and today houses a theatre, arts and heritage centre and the local
tourist office. It was built in 1819. The church has associations with
the main Anglo-Irish families of the district, including the Hewsons,Sandes,Raymonds,
Sir Arthur Vicars and the Kitcheners. Saint Mary's was built in 1829.
Additions such as the porch and spire took place in 1865/1867 and in 1910
the side aisles were added and the mosaic work in the sanctuary was completed.
In the South -West corner of the main square, built towards the end of
the 18th century, is the Listowel Arms Hotel, where many historic figures,
including Daniel O' Connell, William Makepeace Thackeray and Charles Stewart
Parnell, stayed on occasion. It is from the Hotel's upper window that
Parnell is reputed to have made his famous declaration, "no man has
the right to set a boundary to the march of a nation". During the
60s the hotel was owned for a period by the famous tenor Josef Locke.
At one time the town was a terminus for the world's first monorail system.
Called the Lartigue Railway after the Spanish Engineer who installed
it, the system ran successfully from 1888 to 1924 and linked Listowel
and Ballybunion, at present plans are afoot to rebuild this Railway system
using the original plans and to lay a mile of Monorail Track exactly as
it was, 2002 being the intended finishing time.
A Garden of Europe was started in 1995 to coincide with the commeration
of the ending of the Second World War, close to Childers Park. It consists
of a monument made from railway sleepers and chains and is dedicated to
those who died in the holocaust. It is set among gardens where thousands
of shrubs from all over Europe symbolically recall the innocent victims
of a campaign of genocide. There is a splendid bust of "Schiller"
who was the author of "The Ode To Joy" the unofficial anthem
of the European Union.
Listowel Bridge Referred to locally as the "Big Bridge"
This Bridge replaced a smaller wooden structure, which had been destroyed
by floods. Richard Griffin built the five-arched bridge over the River
Feale at a cost of £2,500 in 1829.
Childers Park: Lord Listowel granted Gurtinard Wood and a beautiful
riverside walk to the people of Listowel in 1946 for a nominal sum of
£5.Listowel Urban District Council acquired the nearby "Cows
Lawn" in the late 60s, a 30 acre field on which a number of townspeople
had pasture rights, and developed it into one of Ireland's finest municipal
parks. Today, Childers Park contains an 18-hole Pitch & Putt course,
a children's playground, two tennis courts, football pitches and a well-equipped
sports complex. Visitors are welcome.
Dandy Lodge: This cottage was built of squared limestone blocks
and much admired. The design was adapted from George Smith's "Essay
on the construction of cottages" published in Glasgow in 1835 and
appears as the Bridge Road's first house in the OS map of 1897. It was
first used as a gate lodge to the Manor-House of the agents of Lord Listowel.
In 1994 it was dismantled and relocated in the town park.
Teampaillin Ban (the little white Churchyard): outside Listowel
on the Ballybunnion Road lies a Famine Graveyard where many nameless victims
of the Irish Famine 1845-47 were interred in mass graves.
RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) Barracks - the present day Garda Barracks.
It was the scene in June 1921 of a police mutiny, when the police officers
resisted an attempt by a British Military Force, to occupy the Barracks.
The 1st force of Garda Siochana (Irish for Police) in Listowel operated
initially from 5 Upper William Street, then from Tea Lane, before finally
moving into the Barracks. Integration with the local community was aided
by teaching local boys the game of hurling.
Maid of Erin Listowel has striking shop fronts, which display a variety
of unique plasterwork. This is due mainly to the outstanding craftsmanship
of Pat McAuliffe (1846-1921). The "Maid of Erin", which can
be found on the Main Street, adjacent to the Square, is one of his most
imposing pieces. She sits serenely surrounded by the harp, the wolf Hound
and other images of romantic Ireland, which were in fashion during the
latter half of the 19th century. Other examples of his work can still
be seen on Main Street, Market Street Church Street and William Street.
Literary Traditions: Listowel is justifiably proud of its literary
traditions. Maurice Walsh, author of the Quiet Man (film starred John
Wayne and Maureen O'Hara) lived here, and the writer Bryan McMahon born
in 1909 in Listowel was headmaster of the local boy's national school.
He lectured extensively in Ireland and abroad, particularly in the U.S.A.
He has also written a number of travel books, and his best-selling autobiography,
"The Master", was published in 1992. But probably the town's
most famous son is John B Keane, born in Listowel in 1928, author of "Sive"
and "The Field", which was adapted for the screen in 1990 and
the film received an Oscar Nomination. One can drop into John Bs pub for
a pint of Guinness. John Bs name is also associated with one of the town's
best-known events, the Writer's Week held in June each year.
Carnegie Library: The site of the former Listowel Library was bought
from Mr. James McCarthy for £160 in 1928. The library was built
in 1929 and its first Librarian, Miss Patricia Gleeson, took up her duties
in 1930 at a weekly wage of £1.50 The library replaced an earlier
one, built on the Bridge Road, which was burnt down by the Black and Tans
(English forces so called because of the colour of their uniform) on March
7th 1921. Kerry County Council took over the administrative control of
the library from the Carnegie Trust in 1953. In 1955 the Library moved
to a purpose built building at Charles Street, and the Kerry Diocesan
Youth Service now operates from the Carnegie Library building.
Saint Michael's College: Was established in what was once an old
Fever Hospital. On the 16th January 1879 it opened as a school and it
absorbed some private schools of the classified tradition. In 1879/1880
the annual fee per student was £6.00.It had risen by 1952/1953 to
£10, and the year before the introduction of free post primary education
in 1967/1968 the fee was just £16.00. A sizeable extension was added
in the mid 80s to the front of the college.
Courthouse: it is an imposing building of neo-Roman style. The
republicans burnt down an earlier building constructed in 1840.
Vintage Wireless Museum: this museum's displays, range from Miniature
Gramophone to three feet high radios. Sets ranging from 1922-1960 with
such titles as "Grampian", "Pye", and "Phillips",
can be seen as well as "Magic Lanterns" and "Paris Aerials".
Church Tower: this tower dates from the early 18th century. It
rises to a height of over 9 metres and was constructed of limestone. In
1819 most of the stones were removed and reused in the construction of
Saint John's Church. The oldest part of the graveyard is situated around
the tower.
Events: The other events that galvanise the local energies are
the "Fleadh" (a feast of Irish music) held in August and the
annual Listowel Horse Racing, held in the third week of September and
the Food Fair in November.
Fishing: The local river is a favourite spot for fishermen; here
one can catch Salmon, White trout or Brown trout.
Golf: Listowel also has a nine-hole golf course.