Limerick - Listowel Greenway History
The North Kerry Line
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The idea of a railway connecting Limerick and Tralee (later known as the North Kerry Line) arose during the mid-nineteenth century. Local entrepreneurs and landowners recognised the need for better access to markets and ports for agricultural produce, and for reliable passenger connections between provincial towns and the national network.
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The project evolved through the amalgamation of several smaller companies. The Limerick and Foynes Railway, opened in 1858, established the first stage of the route as far as Ballingrane Junction. From there, the Rathkeale and Newcastle Junction Railway, completed in 1867, extended the line westwards to the thriving market town of Newcastle West. Finally, the Limerick and Kerry Railway Company was incorporated in 1871 to build the last and longest section, from Newcastle West to Tralee. This final stretch crossed the River Feale and numerous smaller streams, necessitating substantial engineering works such as cuttings, embankments, and stone bridges.
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The completed line opened on 20 December 1880, under the operation of the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR), forming a continuous standard-gauge connection between Limerick and Tralee. Intermediate stations were established in Adare, Rathkeale, Abbeyfeale, Listowel, Lixnaw, and Ardfert, among others, ensuring that even remote rural districts were within reach of the railway.
The line’s importance was enhanced by its connections. At Ballingrane Junction, it met the branch to the port of Foynes, facilitating exports across the Shannon Estuary. In Tralee, it joined the main GS&WR line from Mallow, and later connected with the Tralee and Dingle Light Railway, which reached deep into the Dingle Peninsula.
At Listowel, the line became notable for its proximity to the extraordinary Lartigue Monorail, a unique single-rail system that ran from Listowel to Ballybunion between 1888 and 1924.
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For over half a century, the line served as the economic lifeline of its region. Trains carried schoolchildren, market-goers, mail, and troops during both World Wars. In the early twentieth century, excursion trains were popular, bringing visitors to coastal resorts like Ballybunion and Fenit.
Decline and Fall
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By the mid-twentieth century, however, the Limerick–Tralee line began to face serious challenges. The rise of road transport after the 1940s, combined with Ireland’s rural depopulation and economic shifts, eroded the line’s profitability. Lorries and buses offered greater flexibility than railways, and Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), the state transport authority formed in 1945, sought to rationalise the rail network by closing loss-making routes.
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Passenger services on the Limerick–Tralee line were withdrawn on 4 February 1963, marking the end of an era for many rural communities. Freight operations lingered for another fifteen years, mainly serving local industries and agricultural traffic, but these too declined as road haulage took over. The final freight train ran on 6 February 1978, after which the line was officially closed and much of the track was lifted.
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Today, the trail is part of Ireland’s expanding Greenway network and serves as a living monument to the country’s railway heritage. Original station buildings, bridges, and cuttings can still be seen along the route. while the Lartigue Monorail Museum in Listowel preserves the memory of the region’s distinctive railway past and is well worth a visit.
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The section between Listowel and Tralee has not yet been opened for cyclists, apparently the route was not conserved and a public consultation is being held at present to select a preferred route. It is hoped that the route will be open in late 2026. When built it will connect with the Tralee to Fenit greenway.
Cultural Listowel
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Nestled along the River Feale in North Kerry, Listowel is often called “the literary capital of Ireland”.
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Listowel has long been a cradle of Irish writing and storytelling, producing and celebrating some of the nation’s most influential voices.
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At the heart of this identity lies the Writers’ Week, founded in 1970, which transforms the town each summer into a hub of readings, workshops, and cultural exchange. The festival honors literary giants such as John B. Keane, the beloved playwright and publican whose works captured the humor and humanity of rural Irish life. Keane’s pub remains a cultural landmark — a living testament to the Irish art of conversation.
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Beyond its literary fame, each autumn, the Listowel Harvest Festival and Races bring color and excitement, reflecting Kerry’s deep-rooted love for horses, music, and celebration.
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Listowel is also home to the Seanchai – Kerry Writers’ Museum, which celebrates the storytelling tradition that has defined Irish identity for centuries.