By Jennifer Ciotta
Located in the southwest of Ireland, County Kerry has played host to many famous writers thus dubbing the town of Listowel, in the northern part of the county, "Literary Capital" of Ireland. Tourists flock to this community and region for the celestial ride along the coast, all
the while, absorbing scenery such as the gleaming greenery and countryside cottages. In the midst of all this beauty lies the Writers Museum, the infinite experience for literary travelers interested in Irish writing. The Museum, also known as Seanchi, is comprised of seven rooms spanning over three floors. In the Irish language, the word Seanchai translates to "storyteller," a revered Celtic tradition. The last great Seanchai was Eamon Kelly, who passed away in 2001. Kelly told stories of the "old country" orally as a form of entertainment, which resulted in a highly successful acting career, including a Tony nomination. Kelly believed, as many other fellow Irishmen and women, that storytelling was the first form of entertainment, even citing that the Seanchai sat at the same table as
the King. The Writers Museum honors "the gift of gab" through its exhibitions and events.
Beginning with the room dedicated to Eamon Kelley, a visitor has the unique opportunity to listen to an audio recording of the origins of the Seanchai, a legacy which is on the verge of extinction. The Landscapes Room appeals to the optic senses in that a beautiful
audiovisual presentation, including exquisite clips of County Kerry's countryside, acquaints the literary traveler with the locations and cultural aspects which inspired writers from the area. The Writers' Week Room hosts a plethora of events of which the most prominent being Ireland's established literary festival, Writers' Week, held in early June. Past authors who participated in the festival include names such Nobel Prize-winner Seamus Heaney, author of The Cure at Troy. Unfortunately, the festival does not coincide with tour dates,
however, entering the Room is permissible. Bryan MacMahon, one of the founders of Writers' Week, has a room in his memory. MacMahon served as an Irish folklorist, playwright, author and producer of plays, additionally he could also speak Shelta, a secret language only spoken by Irish travelers. He taught at a school in Listowel, which greatly
influenced his writing. In his Room, a visitor can listen to excerpts from his works as performed by local actors who actually worked with MacMahon. Perhaps the John B. Keane Room is the most humorous of all. A statue of the poet/playwright sits at a bar waiting for his drink, as if frozen in time. Guests can pull up a bar stool and join Keane, all the while, listening to his stories. The Brendan Kennelly Room features a statue of the poet grasping a railing, gazing pensively onto the floor, as if an imaginary lake or river was there instead.
Kennelly worked in his father's pub, and due to this experience, he spent many days and nights listening to the songs, jokes and stories of his fellow countrymen--all evident in his poetry. The Maurice Walsh Room showcases the short story writer/novelist at his desk
penning one of his works, something he used to do at his Scottish summer house. The Quiet Man, his short story, was later made into a movie, even earning an Oscar award. A George Fitzmaurice statue greets visitors in his Room with a downtrodden stare, perhaps due to
his lifelong struggle with a complex depression and anxiety disorder. The happy moments in his life included his acquaintanceships with John Millington Synge and Lady Gregory, founders of the Abbey Theatre, which staged one of Fitzmaurice's plays The Country Dressmaker. Along the Hallways of the Writers Museum are plaques with passages from various Irish writers, making this a literary encounter around literally every corner.
Various children's events, film screenings and workshops are available to visitors as well. However, the spring/summer 2007 list of events is not on the website. It is best to check before departing on the tour. Visit the website at:
http://www.seanchai-klcc.com/writersmuseum.html
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