Listowel races 2011
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for the best bargains.
Transport arrangements to and from Listowel.
Racing in the area was originally held at Ballyeagh, near Ballybunion but due to faction fighting was moved to Listowel in 1858. It was originally known as the North Kerry Hunt Steeplechase Meeting.
It started as a 2-day event but because of its popularity has been gradually extended over the years and in 2002 became a week long affair.
2003 Irish Derby winner Alamshar won his first race at Listowel in 2002
2011 Upcoming Fixtures
Sun05 Jun 2011Listowel
Mon06 Jun 2011Listowel
Sun11 Sep 2011Listowel
Mon12 Sep 2011Listowel
Tue13 Sep 2011Listowel
Wed14 Sep 2011Listowel
Thu15 Sep 2011Listowel
It is now the joint longest racing festival in Ireland, at 7 days in duration the same as the Galway races and second in attendances only to that great event. It is the last major festival of the Summer and the last one before Christmas so the crowds make the most of the festivities. Traditionally it was the meeting where the farmers of Ireland came to spend/gamble the money they made from the harvest but it has since grown into something much larger and more wide ranging than that and everybody and anybody now attends with a warm Kerry welcome guaranteed to all.
John B Keane Quote
I think the Irish woman was freed from slavery by bingo. They can go out now, dressed up, with their handbags and have a drink and play bingo. And they deserve it.
A son of William B. Keane and Hannah Purtill, he was educated at Listowel National School and then at St. Michael's College, Listowel. He worked as a chemist's assistant for A.H Jones - a chemist who dabbled in buying antiques. Keane had various jobs in the UK between 1951 and 1955, and was a pub owner in Listowel from 1955. He married Mary O'Connor and had four children. He was an Honorary Life Member of the Royal Dublin Society from 1991, served as president of Irish PEN and was a founder member of the Society of Irish Playwrights and a member of Aosdána. He remained a prominent member of the Fine Gael party throughout his life, never being shy of political debate. In his life John B. Keane published 46 works. He died at his home in Listowel - a popular public house - aged 73 from prostate cancer. In 2007 a life size bronze statue by Clare sculptor Seamus Connolly to Keane was erected in his beloved Listowel during Writers week.
