• Aims & Objectives• The Centre• The Kerry Writers• The Kerry Writers’ Museum• Other Facilities• Arts Activities

SeanchaíKerry Literary & Cultural Centre

Aims & Objectives• Establish and develop an Arts & Cultural Centre in the

town of Listowel for the benefit of the public as a whole, to advance the unique artistic, musical and literary tradition of the Irish people

• To develop the cultural centre as a tourist destination and to promote tourist interest in Irish culture and heritage.

• To promote and disseminate information, to engage in research in connection with the literary and musical heritage and to provide educational opportunities for students and the general public in relation to literature, music and other matters of local interest.

Aims & Objectives (cont’d)

• To establish, operate and conduct educational courses, classes, tours and the like for tourists and literary and musical enthusiasts and other interested parties

• To act as a co-ordinating body for the development of tourism and culture in the town of Listowel in association with local authorities, development agencies, educational interests and local communities.

• Located in The Square, Listowel

• 19th Century Georgian Residence

• Opened in 2001• Audio-visual Museum

on the local writers• Restaurant & Book/Gift

Shop• Programme of Arts

Events• Local Community

Resource

The Centre

The Kerry Writers

Bryan MacMahon• 1909 to 1998• Known as ‘The Master’• Folklorist, short story writer,

poet, playwright and producer of plays, novelist, lecturer and ballad-maker

• Co-founder of Listowel Drama Group & Listowel Writers’ Week

The Kerry Writers

John B. Keane• 1927 to 2002• Dramatist, novelist, poet and

raconteur• First play ‘Sive’ winner of the

All-Ireland Drama Festival in 1959

• Other plays include ‘The Field’ and ‘Big Maggie’

• Co-founder of Listowel Writers’ Week

The Kerry Writers

Brendan Kennelly• Born in 1936 in Ballylongford• Professor of English

Literature in Trinity College• First book of poetry ‘Cast a

Cold Eye’ published in 1959• Two novels – ‘The Crooked

Cross’ & ‘Florentines’• Most recent poetry collection

‘Reservoir Voices’ published in 2009

The Kerry Writers

Maurice Walsh• 1879 to 1964• Employed by British Excise

Service in 1901 and was based in the Highlands of Scotland

• First novel ‘The Key Above the Door’ was published in 1923

• Published over 20 novels• Short story ‘The Quiet Man’

(1934) made into an award winning film in 1952.

The Kerry Writers

George Fitzmaurice• 1877 to 1963• Son of Church of Ireland father &

Roman Catholic mother• Moved to Dublin in 1900 and joined

the Civil Service• First play ‘The Country Dressmaker’

staged by the Abbey Theatre in 1907

• Wrote 13 other plays including ‘The Pie Dish’ and ‘The Dandy Dolls’

• Suffered from neurasthenia, a severe shyness of people

The Kerry Writers’ Museum

Seanchaí Room

The Kerry Writers’ Museum

Bryan MacMahon Room

The Kerry Writers’ Museum

John B. Keane Room

The Kerry Writers’ MuseumBrendan Kennelly Room

The Kerry Writers’ MuseumMaurice Walsh Room

The Kerry Writers’ MuseumGeorge Fitzmaurice Room

The Kerry Writers’ MuseumLandscapes Room

• Restaurant• Book/Gift Shop• Meeting &

Training Rooms• Reading Room• Tourist Office• Listowel Castle

Tour Guides

Other Facilities

Other Facilities

Other Facilities

Arts ActivitiesLiterary Readings & Workshops for Adults & Children

Arts ActivitiesTraditional Music Classes & Events

Arts ActivitiesSummer Outdoor Entertainment

Community ResourceOrganisations that use the Centre

Irish Wheelchair Association – Listowel Branch Brothers of Charity

Multiple Sclerosis Society – Listowel Branch Harvest Festival of Ireland

North Kerry Special Olympics Committee Listowel Food Fair

Kerry Parents & Friends Association, Listowel Listowel Farmers Market

Presentation Family Centre Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann

Listowel Adult Literacy Group North Kerry Walks

North Kerry Travellers Group Listowel/Downpatrick Linkage Committee

KDYS Youth Reach Programme Listowel Chamber of Commerce

Kerry Hospice Movement LINK – Learning Initiative in North Kerry

Nano Nagle School North & East Kerry Development

The Carers Association FÁS Employment Services