St Michael's College was founded by the Catholic bishop of Kerry more than one hundred years ago to provide education for boys in the North Kerry area. Its original school population of about 70 was multi-denominational, including the son of the local Protestant clergyman, alongside the sons of evicted tenants. It was originally to be located in The Square in Listowel. This building was inadequate and when the present building, which was built before 1845 as a fever hospital, became vacant it was bought for the college. Until fairly recently the "professors", as the teachers were known, were remembered as much for their strict discipline as for their love of learning. In its role as a diocesan college it produced, over the years many students for the priesthood and religious life.
It was extended during the 1950's and again after the centenary celebrations in 1979 when the present large extension was built. The college was first noted as a school for the Classics and many of its original students went on to study Greek and Latin at university. Recently the emphasis has been on more modern subjects like Business and the Sciences.
Many of the writers from North Kerry are past pupils of this college. Even though cricket was the game first played here, in more recent times many footballers who played for Kerry learned their skills in St Michael's.
There are more than 350 pupils in the college now. Every year about 70 students sit for the Leaving Certificate examination and many go on for further study after leaving school.
In Summer 2000 work commenced on a new extension to the school.
This 12th century castle is now attached to the Kerry Literary and Cultural Centre. It was built as a fortress by the Anglo Norman Earls of Kerry. It ceased to be a significant defence in 1559. All that remains of this national monument is the fine facade which has been painstakingly restored in recent years and is floodlit at night. The Kerry Literary and Cultural Centre, located next door to the castle, opened to visitors in Summer 2000. It features exhibits dedicated to the work of local writers.
This 12th century castle is now attached to the Kerry Literary and Cultural Centre. It was built as a fortress by the Anglo Norman Earls of Kerry. It ceased to be a significant defence in 1559. All that remains of this national monument is the fine facade which has been painstakingly restored in recent years and is floodlit at night. The Kerry Literary and Cultural Centre, located next door to the castle, opened to visitors in Summer 2000. It features exhibits dedicated to the work of local writers.
This imposing building got a facelift in 1996, which restored some of its former glory. This same building once housed the Royal Irish Constabulary, and was the scene of a mutiny in 1921, fictionalised in Robert Perrin's book, Noonday. If you want to know more about this event in the Irish War of Independence,
Click here to learn more about Listowel Police Mutiny , just and select 'Listowel Police Mutiny' from the table of contents.
This imposing 9m. high tower, beside the old graveyard, was once attached to the church from which Church Street gets its name. In 1819 most of the old chuch was demolished and the stones used to build the new church, St. John's, in the Square. The old tower, is all that remains of the old Church of Ireland church.
When is a library not a library? When it�s Listowel's Carnegie Free Library. This building at Upper Church Street is now home to Kerry Dioscesan Youth Service's Listowel Centre, but from 1928 to 1995 it housed the local library. The Carnegie Trust owned the building at first and, as the name suggests, it was a free library, serving Listowel and its vicinity. An earlier premises on the Bridge Road, was burned by the Black and Tans in 1921. The Carnegie Trust handed over responsibility for the library services to Kerry County Council in 1953. In 1995 the building had fallen into disrepair and the library moved to its new premises opposite Halla an Phiarsaigh. KYDS completely revamped and refurbrished the building.
