History of Listowel
Modern Listowel is likely to be located near an old Celtic settlement – Lios Tuathail. It was with the coming of the Normans to Ireland, in the 12th century, that Listowel’s stature as an important strategic location grew.
Listowel Castle was constructed in the 1500s, to serve as a fortress for the Knights of Kerry, or Green Knights, kinsmen of the Fitzgerald Norman Dynasty. Charles Wilmot, under instruction from Elizabeth I, sacked Listowel and subdued the castle in 1600.
Like many places in the south and west of Ireland, Listowel was ravaged by the Great Famine (1845-49). Teampallin Ban, located on the Listowel Ballybunion road, with its monument and surrounding gardens, marks the location of the local famine mass grave.
However, the 19th century was also a time of considerable social, economic and cultural progress in the town. It saw the opening of the North Kerry rail-line, the Listowel Ballybunion Lartigue monorail,the commencement of the first Listowel races, and the passing of various British land acts which revolutionised land ownership.
Listowel was embroiled in the political conflicts of the early 20th century, the War of Independence followed by the Irish Civil War, with the ‘Listowel Mutiny’ of 1920 of particular historical importance.
The 20th and 21st centuries saw continued social and economic change in Listowel, with the foundation of Writers’ Week, Listowel Emmets football club and Listowel Celtic, and the foundation in 1974 of Kerry Co-operative, later to be Kerry Group, now one of the world’s leading agricultural produce multinationals.
Historic Timeline
Pre 1303
1303
First written record of Listowel town found in the Plea Roll, a ledger of law cases that went through the English law courts.
1500s
Construction of Listowel castle. Castle was a fortress of the ‘Knights of Kerry’ or Green Knights, a hereditary feudal knighthood belonging to the Fitzgerald dynasty, the Norman lords that arrived in the island in the 12th century.
1569-73
First Desmond Rebellion.
1600
5th November, 1600 – Listowel Castle subdued by Sir Charles Wilmot, under instruction from Elizabeth I.
1845-49
The Great Famine
1858
First ‘Listowel Races’
1880
20th December, 1880 – Opening of the Limerick – Tralee railway line.
1888
29th February, 1888 – Opening of the Listowel – Ballybunion monorail line, designed by Charles Lartigue
1920
17th June, 1920 – Listowel Mutiny. Listowel RIC refuse to be deployed outside town to make way for Black and Tan division.
1958
Foundation of Listowel Emmets, GAA Football Club
1963
Founding of Listowel Celtic, soccer club
1970
June 1970 – First Listowel Writers’ Week.
1977
Listowel railway line closes to both freight and passengers.
1974
January, 1974 – Foundation of Kerry Co-operative, later Kerry Group
