Listowel Castle
Families can explore the remains of Listowel Castle, an Anglo-Norman structure with two tall square towers and a curtain wall. It has a dramatic history from the Nine Years War.
Listowel Castle stands on an elevation overlooking the River Feale, above the location of a strategic ford. Although only half of the building survives, it is still one of Kerry’s best examples of Anglo-Norman architecture. Only two of the original four square towers, standing over 15 metres high, remain. The towers are united by a curtain wall of the same height and linked together – unusually – by an arch on one side. Listowel was the last bastion the Fitzmaurice rebels had against the forces of Queen Elizabeth in the Nine Years War in 1600. The castle’s garrison held out for 28 days of siege before finally being overpowered by Sir Charles Wilmot. In the days following the castle’s fall, Wilmot executed all of the soldiers left inside.
The details
- Address
- Listowel Castle, The Square, Islandmacloughry, Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland, Kerry
- Cost
- Check the official website
- Indoors or out
- Outdoors
- Booking
- Check the official website
- Listed by
- Heritage Ireland (OPW)