John B Keane Lecture with Christian O’Reilly

Apr 16, 2026

John B Keane Lecture with Christian O’Reilly

Date: Thursday 28th May 2026

Venue: St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre

Time: 1 PM

A Giant who Cast Both Shadow and Light
Listowel playwright Christian O’Reilly was not only influenced by the work of John B Keane, he used to regularly call to him for advice on how to become a writer. Throughout Christian’s career, John B’s advice has served as a touchstone, providing Christian with the guidance he has needed to navigate his way forward, especially when he had lost his way. In this very personal memorial lecture, Christian will talk about John B as a mentor and as a literary giant who might have cast a long shadow, but who always encouraged aspiring writers to step into the light.

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Book Launch Dermot L Martyn

Apr 16, 2026

Book Launch Dermot L Martyn

Date: Thursday 28th May 2026

Venue: Seanchaí- Kerry Writers’ Museum

Time: 12 PM

Hard Sums and Soft Stories

As part of a family genealogy project, remarkable literary discovery emerged: a collection of short stories written over eighty years ago by Professor Martin J. Newell (Máirtín Ó Tnúthail), affectionately known to family and friends as ‘Brod’. The stories were found among the papers of his son, Fr Eamonn Newell, whose wish was that they would one day be published.

Dating over eighty years ago, these stories were written after Brod had embarked on a course in short story writing with a London based publishing house. We are therefore delighted to fulfil Eamonn’s wish and present this collection of stories by Brod, under his pseudonym Dermot L.Martyn, together with our genealogy findings which give context to his life. We are therefore pleased to bring ‘Hard Sums and Soft Stories’ to publication.

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Winners’ Readings

Apr 16, 2026

Winners’ Readings

Date: Thursday 28th May 2026

Venue: Listowel Arms Hotel Main Room

Time: 11.30 AM

Celebrating a selection of standout voices from the Listowel Writers’ Week Literary Awards. From compelling prose to evocative poetry, this event promises an inspiring and intimate glimpse into some of the finest writing of the year.

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Exploring History & Politics with Dr Owen O’Shea in conversation with Catriona Crowe

Apr 16, 2026

Exploring History & Politics with Dr Owen O’Shea in conversation with Catriona Crowe

Date: Thursday 28th May 2026

Venue: Seanchaí- Kerry Writers’ Museum

Time: 11 AM

From Bullets to Ballots
Owen O’Shea, in conversation with Catriona Crowe
The Civil War has long shaped and defined Irish politics and cast a long shadow over twentieth-century Ireland. The development and evolution of politics in the years after 1923 was hugely influenced by the deep divisions of the preceding conflict in County Kerry, and the ruptures caused by the war were more deep-seated and longer lasting than most others. In this session, archivist and historian Dr. Catriona Crowe speaks to Kerry historian and author Dr. Owen O’Shea about his recently published From Bullets to Ballots: Politics and Electioneering in Post-Civil War Kerry, 1923-33.

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Exhibition Opening – Michael Flaherty

Apr 16, 2026

Exhibition Opening – Michael Flaherty

Date: Thursday 28th May 2026

Venue: St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre

Venue: 11 AM

Coast
This extraordinary exhibition from Cloghane artist Michael Flaherty is a celebration of the Kerry Coast and its surroundings painted at various times over the past two decades. Flaherty has exhibited far and wide and his sought-after works are held in many prestigious private and public collections reflecting a distinguished career firmly rooted in place.

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