Kerry folk excel in two areas: football and boasting about how wonderful the Kingdom is. Beaches, mountains, Fungi the dolphin, the Ó’Sés, every American tourist ever – we have it all. Sure why would you leave? This writer (a native of Ballyheigue) isn’t shy about extolling the many virtues of the county and with the Listowel Food Fair happening this weekend, there’s a great excuse to look at why the town and the surrounding area are so fantastic.

John B Keane

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There’s no way you could write about Listowel and not mention its most famous son, John B Keane. He passed away in 2002, but will always be known as one of Ireland’s most gifted writers. He based many of the character in his stories on the people he served in his pub. John B was always renowned for his one liners: “A Kerry footballer with an inferiority complex is one who thinks he’s just as good as everybody else,” is the best summation of the county’s psyche. Of course, John B isn’t the only great writer to come from the area. Bryan Mac Mahon, Brendan Kennelly and Gabriel Fitzmaurice are just some of the Irish literary figures to emerge from north Kerry.

Ballybunion

Just a few miles away from Listowel is Ballybunion, which has a special place in the hearts of the many tourists who spent their teenage summers at the seaside resort. Maeve Binchy spent a lot of time here and Bill Clinton famously played a round at Ballybunion golf course. The town subsequently became the first place in the world to erect a statue of the former president. Tell anyone you’re from Kerry and they’ll say a) they spent every summer in Ballybunion or b) ask how far away you live from there and/or Ballinskelligs in the south of the county.

Don O’Neill

Ballyheigue, another seaside town near Listowel, has become known as the home of top designer Don O’Neill. Stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Norah Jones and Carrie Underwood have worn dresses from Don’s label, Theia. He recently launched an Aran jumper wedding dress, which shouldn’t work as well as it does.

The ‘Don’ (see what we did there) of Irish fashion is based in New York, but comes home to Ballyheigue regularly and is regarded as a great advocate for the county. He is also best friends with Country Living’s Katherine O’Leary, who is now the object of our jealousy.

Economics

Did you know that Kerry is the home of modern economics? Well it isn’t, not really, but the founding father of economics, Richard Cantillon, hailed from Ballyheigue.

Born in 1680, he is also credited as being the first person to use the word entrepreneur. He left for France in his early teens and ended up in London, where he disappeared in mysterious circumstances, but we still claim him as our own, with the Richard Cantillon School held in Tralee annually.

Nunday

If you want an example of why Kerry people are the best craic, Nunday says it all. In 2012, more than 1,400 people took to the streets of Listowel dressed up as nuns. The event raised money for suicide prevention charity Pieta House and participants broke a Guinness World Record for the number of people dressed in nun’s habits in the same place. Where else would that happen but Kerry?

Kerry English

Kerry people have their own unique interpretation of the English language, which is made even more difficult to understand owing to the speed of speech. Why can’t people listen faster, this writer wonders? A few phrases to know before visiting the Kingdom:

• It’s a day for the high stool – It’s raining.

• Yera yeah... – I agree with you/want to fob you off.

• Amn’t – Am not, aren’t.

• Mara Dhea – Yeah right.

Listowel Food Fair

Have we made a good case to pay a visit to the Kingdom? If so, the 20th annual Listowel Food Fair will be held until Sunday 23 November 2014, in venues around Listowel town. To mark 20 years of the festival, the organisers have devised a celebratory programme, including the Young People and Women in Farming seminar, with guest speaker Minister Simon Coveney, and an inaugural Craft Beer Symposium. The highlight of the festival will be the 20th anniversary gala dinner and awards. The cookery competitions and craft fair will return for this year’s event with an expanded programme of workshops for all ages. The prestigious Best Emerging Artisan Food Producer Awards will also be held during the fair.

For more information, visit www.listowelfoodfair.ie