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Co. Kerry
Description
It was pouring down rain the first time we came to
Listowel. We were racing west from
County Limerick, trying to outrun rains that had pelted our spirits and given a
vapid gloom to our surroundings.
Listowel welcomed us with open arms - it was a haven of culture. We bunkered down in the Seanchai exhibition,
toured 12th century Listowel Castle, and by the end of it, felt some
renewal.
North Kerry is a great nest of Irish writers, with Listowel
at the heart of it. In this gorgeous
corner of Kerry, John B. Keane, Brendan Kennelly, Gabriel Fitzmaurice, Maurice
Walsh, and Bryan McMahon grew to be some of Ireland's legendary writers. Learn all about their writings and their
lives at Seanchai, Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre. Located inside a restored, 19th
century Georgian house, this is a great exhibition - I highly recommend it
(Tel: +353 (0)68 22212, www.kerrywritersmuseum.com).
Listowel is also a good hub to all the surrounding
points. The rivers and shoreline of
North Kerry have spectacular fishing and bird watching. Kerry's premier seaside resort is
Ballybunnion - with a world-class golf course.
Ballyheigue Bay has a gorgeous sandy beach. Carrigafoyle Castle, just outside Ballylong
ford, was built in 1490, and overlooks the Shannon estuary. Rattoo tower is an
interesting architectural wonder, on the edge of huge fields - think
Rupulzel.
There are lots of festivals happening -- a Summer Festival
in Ballyheigue every July, and a Bachelor Festival in Ballybunnion in
June. Dating back to an early 19th
century gathering near Ballybunnion, the Listowel Races are now a major
horseracing event in the summertime & early fall.
But the big bash of the year is the 37-year old Literary
Festival in Listowel. Listowel is the
center of a huge literary community in North Clare. Do a literary pub-crawl: maybe you'll be
inspired to pen something yourself.
What to See and Do
The North Kerry Way is a 48-kilometre walk through rural
North Kerry. The booklet can be
purchased through the Tourist Information Office in Listowel.
Opening in 1888, the unique Lartigue Monorail ran from
Listowel to Ballybunnion. Service
continued until 1924.
Visit the ruins of Ardfert Cathedral and Friary, just
southwest of Listowel.
Where to Eat and
Drink
Lots of pubs and restaurants in the town.
Where to Sleep
Many options for accommodations - B&B, hotels, and a
hostel. Check with the Tourist
Information Office.
How to get there
By car:
From Limerick, take the N69 coastal highway west.
From Tralee, take the N69 highway north.
By bus:
See www.buseireann.ie
website for all current travel details and restrictions.
When to go
From April to October, when the days are longer and the sun
comes out. Bachelor Festival in
Ballybunnion in June. Listowel Writers
Week in May. Summer Festival in Ballyheigue
every July. Dan P. Andy Fest in
Lyreacrompane in August. B. Kennelly
Festival in Ballylongford in August. The
village of Finuge celebrates The Sean McCarthy Memorial Weekend in August. Pattern Day in Ballyheigue in August. Harvest Festival in September. Listowel Festival Race Meeting in
September. Food Fair in November.
Written by Liz O'Malley - Summer of Travel 2007
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