This blog is a personal take on Listowel, Co. Kerry. I am writing for anyone anywhere with a Listowel connection but especially for sons and daughters of Listowel who find themselves far from home. Contact me at listowelconnection@gmail.com

Month: November 2020 Page 2 of 5

Convent Street Memories, Killarney Roll of Honour, Fear na Coillte and Bloody Sunday 1920

Reaction to this photo has been tremendous. Marie Neligan and Donal Griffin have fond memories of this little row of houses and the people who lived in them. When I posted their emails, many people were transported back to happier days in Listowel in the early decades of the 20th century.

“Mary, one more memory of Donald Griffin. I remember when he played Hansel in a pantomime Hansel and Gretel. Louise O’Connell played the witch but I don’t remember who played Gretel. Wonder if he remembers.” Marie Neligan Shaw

Someone nearer home also holds fond memories of Donal and Griffin’s shop;

“John O Connell Coolaclarig, originally Curraghatoosane, remembers the Griffin family well. They went to school together and played football together up in O Connells field “ the Cross” versus “ Bothareen Dubh”  He thinks it may be Tony who was around his age. He also bought reels of  thread for his mother from Mrs Griffin. Then he patiently waited for the same thread to be all used up, so he could make wheels for a tractor he made from match boxes !!!! .”

Added to the stories from Ireland, the U.S. and Britain is Liz Chute writing from Canada

Hello Mary 

It was lovely to read some of the history of the three houses at Convent Cross submitted by Marie . The Aloyousis ( Al) Doyle that Marie refers to was actually married to my aunt ,  Celia Chute of 17 Charles Street . They had three sons , Jim now deceased , Alan and Brendan . They lived in Banbury England for a number of years eventually returning to Newcastle , County Dublin . After Al passed away Celia returned to Listowel and lived in Cliveragh . She is buried with Al in the old cemetery on Church Street .  

On the same day as I received Liz’s email I got one from Nicholas Leonard which included this paragraph;

I am intrigued by the Listowel Connected people who are sending their stories to you. Great to hear of people who left and who made new lives in far-off lands. They never forget their origins and the people they knew and loved in  their youth.

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 Atlantic House, Main Street, Ballybunion

Rose Treacy shared this photo on Facebook. It was taken  sometime between 1930 one 1970

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Lest We Forget

There are about 100,000 war memorials dotted all over the U.K. Most were erected after World War 1.  700,000 British lives were lost in this terrible conflict. Irish soldiers are included in that number. Many of these men were buried in foreign fields. Many more were blown to smithereens and repatriating them would have been an impossible task. To focus people’s grief Britain built war memorials and engraved the thousands of names of the dead on them.

This roll of honour is in St. Mary’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Killarney.

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Sculpting a Statue with Chainsaws


Fear na Coillte is his trade name. He is Will Fogarty and he makes beautiful things from wood using chainsaws as sculpting tools. He did this job for a Limerick family recently.

The old tree was a bit of an eyesore in the garden. The lady of the house knew exactly what she wanted sculpted out of it. She wanted a statue of Our Lady.

This is the  part of the truck that Will sawed off to carve into the image.

This is the finished sculpture. Wow!

All of these photos were sourced from Will’s Facebook Page

Fear na Coillte Chainsaw Sculptures

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Just Saying


(Ger Greaney shared this on Facebook)



In Jean Edward Smith’s biography of George W. Bush, he wrote about what President Bush thought of President-elect Obama during the transition period.


On page 650, it states:
“As part of the presidential transition, Barack Obama asked Bush if it would be possible for him to meet all the ex-presidents. Bush was happy to oblige, and organized a White House luncheon in the Oval Office on January 7. Bush and Obama were joined by Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George H. W. Bush. The luncheon lasted over two hours, each former president ordered his lunch à la carte from the White House mess, and the tone was convivial and friendly. “All the gentlemen here understand both the pressures and possibilities of this office,” said Obama before the meeting. “For me to have the opportunity to get advice, good counsel and fellowship with these individuals is extraordinary, and I just want to thank the President for hosting us.”
Bush was equally effusive. “We want you to succeed,” he replied. “Whether we’re Democrat or Republican we care deeply about this country. And to the extent we can we look forward to sharing out experiences with you. All of us who have served in this office understand that the office transcends the individual.”


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Bloody Sunday 1920 Remembered


Newspapers over the weekend were full of the story of Bloody Sunday 1920 and the commemoration this year.


One story, another tragedy of that awful time, I only saw reported in one forum.


Mark Holan writes about it in his marvellous blog


Mark Holan’s Irish American Blog

“Irish journalist Austin F. Cowley was shot dead by a military sentry on the evening of Nov. 21, 1920, at Navan, Co. Meath, hours after the “Bloody Sunday” killings in Dublin. The victim was deaf and did not hear three orders to halt from the sentry put “on the alert and on edge” by the earlier events.”


We owe it to Austin to remember him too. Thank you Mark for bringing us this story of an extra innocent casualty of Bloody Sunday.



Galway 1979, Boys School Class 1942, New Kingdom and Little Acts of Kindness

Portmarnock by Éamon ÓMurchú


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Soldiers of the National Army who died during the civil war


12/03/1923

On Monday the 12th of March 1923 an officer of Óglaigh na hÉireann/National Forces was killed in a tragic accident, while returning from an out-post at Finuge to Listowel County Kerry, Lieutenant A Glynn and Captain Cleary experimented with a bomb by throwing it into the river Feale. The bomb exploded with great force and Lieutenant Glynn was killed instantly. Captain Cleary was seriously wounded and died later that day, Cleary was a native of whitegate and a prominent member of the East Clare Brigade during the War of Independence. Lieutenant Glynn was the son of Mr J H Glynn Commercial Hotel Gort County Galway.

25/03/1923

On the 25th of March 1923 Private Hayes of Óglaigh na hÉireann/National Forces was accidently shot dead when challenged by a sentry at Newtownsandes County Kerry. Hayes was a native of Killarney County Kerry.

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Listowel Tennis Courts in November 2020



On the new path beside the pitch and putt course.

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First Class 1942


Máire MacMahon sent us this lovely old photo of the first class boys in Listowel’s boys’ national school. According to the note on the back of the photo it was taken on December 16 1942.

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New Kingdom Bar, Church St.


The Church Street/ Ashe Street debate is remembered here.

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Kerry Teenagers in Galway

 Kerry teenagers in Galway to see the pope in 1979. Carmel Moloney found the photo.

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It’s the Little Things


My lovely neighbour arrived with this for my tea. It was as delicious as it looks

Hot on the heels of one act of kindness comes another. I love where I live.

Fungie, Kerry Pilgrims in Lourdes in 1973, Patrick MacMahon and a Listowel man’s link to Joe Biden

 Fungie in his Heyday

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Listowel Community Centre in Winter lockdown 2020

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Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 1973


This was a huge photo so I photographed it in sections. It was also laminated so a bit hard to avoid glare

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Working Late at the Áras



Áras an Uachtaráin photo by Christine Ahern


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Spotting an Ancestor in an old photo


Máire  MacMahon wrote to us about this picture which was one that Rob Cross included in his restoration project.

Dear Mary,

 

Thank you for posting the photos of Listowel. I’m familiar with the black and white photos but to see them in colour is beautiful. 

In the photo ‘larger group at RIC’ or what we would know as Liam Dillon’s Corner – if you look at the gentleman in the boater hat in the middle of the photo – I’ve always been told that gentleman was my great grandfather Patrick McMahon, father of my grandad Bryan. 

If you look all the people at that side of the street are barefoot except Patrick as he had just come down Colbert street as the photo was taken. 

Patrick McMahon was originally from Charles Street, & when he married my great grandmother Johanna Coughlan and lived at Market Street  where part of the Spar Shop is now located.  He was a  land agent. 

This is one of my favourite pictures of the town because of the link to our family.

Hope you are keeping well? 

Máire 

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Joe Biden, A Listowel Connection


Eamon OMurchú in 1974 is here seated on the steps of Capitol Hill with Senator Joe Biden. I asked him to tell us the story behind the picture. 

Here it is;


During the summers of 1974, 1975 and 1976, it was my pleasure and privilege to act as  Group Leader on Summer Teacher Programmes to University of Delaware, U.S.A. Teachers from first-level, second-level and third-level from Irish Schools, Colleges and Universities participated in these programmes on Comparative Education.  A central element of these programmes was that we stayed at weekends with host-families.  It was my privilege to stay with a family in Wilmington each year – and I am ever since in very close contact with that family.  Another element of the programme was a five-day stay in Washington D.C., during which we visited the White House, the Capitol, the Irish Embassy, the Kennedy Centre, Arlington Cemetery and other locations of importance and of interest. 

The photograph I sent you was taken in 1974 on the steps of the Capitol.

It was also my privilege to greet Ted Kennedy on the steps of the Capitol in 1975 – and I also have a photograph of that occasion!

Through these teacher programmes many Irish teachers during the 1960s and 1970s had the opportunity to visit the United States during the summer, study at American Universities, stay with American families, learn about the American educational system and way of life, while at the same time bringing to America the rich cultural heritage of music, song and literature here in Ireland. We used every opportunity to do this.  The man who spearheaded these programmes was Mr. Stephen Daly of ITP Travel, Terenure, who, sadly, is no longer with us.

I have of course written recently to my friends in Wilmington conveying my delight that Joe Biden from Wilmington is now President-Elect.




Raceweek 1965



Cathleen Mulvihill’ found this old photo and it’s causing a stir on Facebook. Everyone recognises the late Brendan Daly but the other two are proving harder to identify. Dr. Johnny Walshe and his brother Jim have been ruled out.


Frank Murray R.I.P., Artwork in the ball alley and Dancing on the Beach in 1955

Putting up the Christmas Lights

 on Church Street, Listowel, Tuesday November 17 2020




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A Different Kind of Christmas


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Frank Murray R.I.P.


The following obituary to Listowel’s Frank Murray was printed in The Irish Times. I’m sharing it here to show how proud Listowel should be of this native son.

Frank Murray – made huge contribution to community and comprehensive education

An Appreciation

Denise Burns

Frank Murray: a charismatic and friendly leader with an ability to relate positively with people, to address issues strategically, and to find solutions that were fair to everyone.re to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to Email AppShare 

Frank Murray was born in Listowel, Co Kerry, in March 1944. He excelled at GAA football and continued playing during his years in UCD. His love of Gaelic games resulted in Frank becoming a steward at Croke Park for more than 30 years.

Following his graduation with a UCD commerce degree, Frank obtained a teaching qualification, and in 1967 began his career in Belfast.

Appointment as a deputy principal in Tallaght Community School in 1973 began his long association with the emerging and rapidly growing secondary education sector in Ireland. In 1977, he became the founding principal of St Mark’s Community School in Springfield, Tallaght, Dublin.

Frank was the general secretary of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) from 1990 to 1996. His professional support for boards of management and school principals of community and comprehensive schools was outstanding. In many communities nationwide, Frank facilitated the amalgamation of existing secondary and vocational secondary schools into new community schools. A colleague described as “monuments to Frank” the many community schools in different parts of the country that Frank helped to establish. His energy, insight, problem-solving and negotiation skills and his ability to interact positively with people contributed enormously to the sense of community and professionalism in the community and comprehensive education sector.

In 1994, Frank completed a master’s in science (educational management) at Trinity College Dublin, with a dissertation on the amalgamation of schools that in turn became the blueprint for future school amalgamations.

When the then-minister for education Niamh Bhreathnach established the Commission on School Accommodation in 1996, Frank was appointed the executive chair. The commission included school management bodies, teacher trade unions, and parent representative bodies. Its first task was the controversial rationalisation of the Vocational Education Committees nationwide. The commission reported on criteria and procedures for the recognition of new schools, procedures for the recognition of Irish-medium schools, the future amalgamation of schools and the planning for provision of schools in urban and rural areas. Frank’s expertise with statistics, his consultative style, and his friendly disposition, combined with his outstanding skill as a chairman, lead to reports that had the consensus endorsement of all the partners in education.

His inclusive style, his willingness to listen to concerns from all partners, and his ability to create a pleasant environment for respectful dialogue facilitated the consensus outcomes.

Several schools benefitted from Frank’s chairmanship of their boards of management and he was a director of the Loreto Education Trust. He served on numerous interview boards for positions of senior educational management. His advice to the Department of Education was invaluable.

When Frank retired from the commission in 2009, he continued in a voluntary professional capacity on school boards of management and interview boards until his illness demanded his full retirement.

Frank will be remembered as a charismatic and friendly leader with an ability to relate positively with people, to address issues strategically, and to find solutions that were fair to everyone.

Frank died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on August 22nd. His funeral took place in St Colmcille’s Church in Knocklyon on Wednesday 26th. His children paid warm tribute and a former colleague, Tommy Flynn, outlined Frank’s great contribution to Irish education.

Frank is mourned by his wife Barbara, who cared for Frank with great care and dedication, his three children Michael, Catherine, and Conor, son-in-law Alan, daughters-in-law Mary and Kathrin, and six grandchildren.

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Revamping the Ball Alley



Listowel Handball Alley in November 2020. Work has recently commenced on decorating the walls with artwork. Local artists are volunteering their time. I took some photos of the work in progress.

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Ballybunion 1955

Photo shared on Facebook by Jeremiah O’Carroll

Doon, Ballybunion, Convent Street Memories and Garden of Europe

Early morning, Portmarnock by Éamon ÓMurchú

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 Doon Church Ballybunion

From Cathleen Mulvihill to Glin Historical Society

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Convent Street Memories

First I posted this view of Convent Street in October 2020.

The Marie Neligan Shaw wrote this:

Hi Mary, 

Another flashback to old times, seeing the picture of those three houses at Convent Cross. The corner one was the  McElligott Family. Paddy Joe and his wife Bunny Sayers (whose brother was married to my aunt) they had five children, Robert, Betty, Anne, Gerald and Pat. Only Gerald still survives.

Next house was Doyle’s. I remember Maureen who died in the US and whose body was returned to Ireland for burial in St. Michael’s cemetery. Joan, who was married to one of the Relihans whose family owned a pub in upper William St. And Aloyousis , the youngest who lived in Dublin. There was another sister who lived in Canada whose name escapes me. 

Next house was Griffins. In the 40s it was a sweet shop. I remember Tony and his wife Nora, they had two children, a son named Donald and a daughter whose name I’ve forgotten. They moved to England in the early 50s.

I could probably go right down that street and tell you everyone who lived there back in the day.

Thanks for the memories.

Grá,

Marie

And now Donal Griffin has been in touch;

Hello Mary,

I have not been in touch with you before but I have read many issues of 
the Listowel Connection.

Andy showed me the email from Marie Shaw, which is what prompted me to 
write.

Yes, she’s quite right about the family but, because of a peculiar quirk 
in our family, the names are different.  My father was known as Tony but 

his first name was Thomas.  They referred to me as Donal but my first 
name is Daniel.  My grandfather’s was known as Robert but his first name 
was Andrew.  Other members of my father’s family suffered from similar 
name changes – don’t ask me why.

My grandfather had a bakery and the bakehouse, which I remember, was 
behind the house but the baking had finished before my time.  They 
retained the shop, however, and sold not just sweets but some clothing 
and some bits and pieces such as razor blades.

Our house was next to the glosh and my mother used to tell a story about 
how my late younger brother Tony – whose first name was of course 
Patrick – fell into the glosh, which you could get to from the garden, 
and almost drowned.  Difficult to believe considering the low level of 
water in the glosh.  But she believed in not letting the facts get in 
the way of a good story.

I think the family on the opposite bank of the glosh were the Carmodys – 
I seem to remember that Bill Carmody used to come into the shop for 
razor blades.  I think our next door neighbours, whose name I seem to 
remember might have been Doyle, had a hairdressing business. I remember 
they had a little dog called Rusty.  Next to them on the corner were the 
McElligots

We were booked to go to Listowel during writers’ week this year – having 
booked a house in Listowel owned by Robert Corridan – but were forced to 
cancel because of the lockdown here. We were going with both our sons 
and their children to celebrate our fiftieth wedding anniversary.

I would add my hope, along with I’m sure many others, that you will keep 
the Connection going.

Kind regards,  Daniel (Donal) Griffin


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Garden of Europe



Listowel’s Garden of Europe is stunning in every season. I Particularly love it in winter.


I am constantly in awe of Padraig Tarrant’s talent that imagined and created this lovely tribute to John B. Perfect for this location!


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Seven Deadly Sins




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