The Listowel Harvest Festival

Every September the town of Listowel in north Kerry gives itself over to a week of racing. The Harvest Festival runs for seven days on the Island, a racecourse beside the River Feale that is close enough to the town centre to walk. It mixes jumps racing and Flat racing, fashion competitions, live music and a lot of people who come back to the same spot every year.

Racing came to Listowel in 1858, with the first meeting held on 5 and 6 October that year. According to the racecourse's own history, the races had previously been held at Ballyeigh strand near Ballybunion, where the gathering ended in faction fights, and the meeting moved to Listowel after that. The festival has grown in stages since: four days in 1970, five in 1977 and the full seven days from 2002. The course celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2008.

When is it?

The Harvest Festival is usually held in the second half of September. Listowel Races has already published the 2027 dates: 20 to 26 September 2027. The 2026 festival ran from Sunday 20 to Saturday 26 September.

Listowel also races over the June bank holiday weekend, so if September does not suit, that smaller meeting is worth a look.

The big races

The Guinness Kerry National is the centrepiece. It is a handicap steeplechase over about three miles, run on the Wednesday, and in 2026 it carried prize money of €200,000, which makes it the most valuable race at the track. Horse Racing Ireland describes Wednesday simply as "the day", and locals would agree. Past winners include Monty's Pass, who went on to win the Aintree Grand National, and in 2025 the race was won by Flooring Porter, a former Stayers' Hurdle winner at Cheltenham.

Other feature races through the 2026 week included the John McGuire Handicap on the Monday, the Lartigue Hurdle on the Thursday and a €100,000 handicap hurdle on the Friday. The exact programme changes a little from year to year, so check the racecard before you travel.

Because the week mixes Flat and jumps racing, it is a good place to see both codes. Our National Hunt vs Flat guide explains the difference.

Fashion and entertainment

Listowel takes its fashion days seriously. In 2026 there was a Best Dressed Man competition on the Thursday, the Best Dressed Lady on the Friday, and on the Saturday a Sustainable Style competition run with Listowel Tidy Towns and An Taisce, which celebrates re-wearing, vintage and pre-loved outfits. There is live music across the week too.

Getting there

The racecourse is right beside the town and within easy walking distance of the centre. There are three entrances with parking: Greenville (off Grenville Road), Tralee (off the N69 Listowel to Tralee road) and Barrett's Field (off Bridge Road).

By road. Listowel is about 25 km north-east of Tralee and 80 km south-west of Limerick. From Limerick or Shannon Airport, take the Tarbert road. From Kerry Airport at Farranfore, take the Tralee road.

By rail and bus. There is no train station in Listowel itself. Trains run from Dublin Heuston to both Tralee and Limerick, and Horse Racing Ireland notes that special buses run from there to Listowel during the festival. Bus Éireann also runs regular services into the town centre from the main routes.

By air. Kerry Airport is the nearest, at about 30 km. Shannon is roughly 47 km away and Cork about 95 km.

Where to stay

Listowel is a small town and rooms go quickly during festival week, so book early. If the town is full, Tralee is the nearest large town, with more accommodation and a rail link. Ballybunion on the coast is another option, and some visitors stay further afield in Limerick and travel in each day.

Tickets and tips

• Book online. Tickets and hospitality packages are sold through the Listowel Races website.
• Pick your day. Wednesday is Kerry National day and the busiest. Weekdays earlier in the week are quieter if you want more room to see the horses in the parade ring.
• Dress for Kerry. Late September weather on the west coast can change quickly. Bring layers and something waterproof even if you are dressing up.
• Walk in if you can. Parking is available but the roads around the town are busy, and the course is an easy walk from the centre.
• Betting. You will find the Tote and on-course bookmakers at Listowel, as at every Irish track. Betting is optional and plenty of people just enjoy the day. If you do bet, set a limit. Free, confidential support is available from Gambling Care on 1800 936 725 (gamblingcare.ie).

First time racing? Our first day at the races guide covers tickets, dress and what happens on a racecard. For more about the track itself, see our Listowel racecourse page.