First ‘comicon’ on way for May as Tattoo transforms into History Festival

IT’S a brand-new era for Listowel’s Military tattoo weekend in May as it takes wing as the newly rebranded ‘Listowel History Festival’ in an event set to celebrate the history of some of pop culture’s best-imagined heroes too.

Heroes of the big screen and comic books will also be celebrated as the inaugural History Festival as Listowel first ever Comiccon (Comic book convention) arrives to the Arms.

It’s a departure for an event that previously focused solely on big-spectacle displays commemorating historic events - from the on-street renacted World War 2 battles to life in Viking villages.

“It’s good to have a new aspect for the event as well as the traditional aspects too,” one of the organisers of the event Padraig Nolan said.

“We are hoping the event will be a great success and even though it is the first year we hope for it to become an annual occurrence,” he told the Kerryman this week.

The new rebranding of the Military Tattoo into the Listowel History Festival is one that will widen the

audience so that the festival can offer something for everyone.

As well as the traditional events that will be taking place, such as the re-enactment of battles, this year being the Band of Brothers, the ‘Kingdom Comic Fest’ will be held in the Listowel Arms Hotel on Sunday, May 6 from 11am to 5pm.

It’s an event that will include vendors, exhibitions, artists, cosplay, a costume competition and a panel of artists, writers and actors; all looking at comics, movies and TV shows old and new. Chills and spills galore are set to feature with characters such as the Ghostbusters and Predator (pictured) among the colourful throng. Character themes will range from Vikings to Superheroes and much more.