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
If you haven’t been there yet, do drop into the Christmas shop and be a child for a while.
Stairs are no obstacle to this explorer.
Aren’t these Victorian carol singers only gorgeous?
My first time in a ski lift.
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In Kanturk Library
I made my first visit to the beautiful new library in my hometown. This is the children’s corner.
There I ran into my cousin, Donal Desmond. Donal is profoundly deaf. He was joined in the library by Eric Johnson, a fairly recent resident of Kanturk. Eric was a teacher of the deaf in Canada for 27 years. Eric signed for Donal so we didn’t have to do all the usual writing to communicate.
I was back in the library later that day for the launch of Seanchas Duhalla. Here I am with Noreen O’Sullivan of the Duhallow Heritage Society.
Denis Twohig is the chairman.
I met my old friend, Mary Lynch, chatting to Noreen Meaney
I met Mary Corbett for the first time in years.
Catching up was great.
The magazine committee have published the story of my Uncle Bernie and the combine harvester which you read first here on Listowel Connection.
There are lots of great stories in the book. i can’t wait to read them.
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A gem from Facebook
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Listowel Food Fair Food Trail 2023
Stop number 2 on our trail was in John.R.’s
Jimmy, Pierce and the wine expert.
They certainly believe here that we eat with our eyes. Feast your peepers on this spread.
John Relihan with John Mangan of the organising committee
John and Thalita with our host, Pierce Walsh.
The people who brought us this wonderful feast….John R’s lovely workers.
Having gorged ourselves here we moved on to Daisy Boo.
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A Fact
Every known dog, except the chow, has a pink tongue. The chow’s tongue is black.
Jimmy Deenihan lead us from café to restaurant to take away on Saturday as he showcased one of his pet passions, Listowel food.
My friend, John Relihan, internationally renowned chef and meat expert was also on the trail. I was documenting it for you.
John brought his womenfolk, Mary Ann, proud mother, and Talitha, proud wife.
At each stop (there were 5 ) a member of staff told us a bit about what they do. My friend, Anne Marie ORiordan told us all about Thyme Out Café at Listowel Garden Centre.
It was a super start to the trail. we got a cuppa while we were waiting and then we got samples of all their wares, savoury and sweet. I heeded the lesson of former years and held back at the first stop. The food was lovely and the staff are so efficient and welcoming.
Here I made the first of my new friends. This couple travelled from Dromid to enjoy the delights of Listowel eating.
We drank the coffee and things got better and better.
On to John R.’s tomorrow.
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A Listowel Legend Remembered
I took this photo of the late Toddy Buckley and Noreen a few years ago.
Toddy was remembered by the Pitch and Putt Club in a post lately.
Photos and text: Listowel Pitch and Putt Club
Brilliant photo by Brendan Landy shared by the club.
This month marks the fourth anniversary of the passing of Toddy Buckley. Toddy Buckley shot a course record of -13 (41) in June 1982, a record that holds to the present day. Toddy was more than just the course record holder at Listowel Pitch and Putt Club. He was part of the fabric of the place and worked hard on and off the course to further the cause of the club. He took a particular interest in juvenile pitch and putt and acted as a mentor to many juveniles in the 1980s/90s. A big thank you to Mary Buckley, daughter of Toddy, for presenting the club with this lovely memento of Toddy’s remarkable achievement.
PS: for the eagle-eyed of you, the card was signed by Willie Enright. The course of time has meant that Willie’s signature is now barely visible.
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Kanturk’s Newest Success Story
On my recent visit home I called in to Catch Up Café. You may have read the story or heard Jack on radio. But for those who don’t know this great story here it is.
In my photo are Jack Tobin and his mother, Sonia, who run Catch up café in The Square.
This quirky little café has grown in popularity since its opening in April.
Above are some of the jokey signs that set the tone for the place. The decor is black and it looks like a city café.
Now the reason Catch up Café is in the news is because Jack launched his very own Coffee there on Friday evening, November 10 2023.
Jack is 24 . He has lost 10 years of that 24 to drug addiction. He was born in Cobh where he started smoking cannabis at a young age. He spiralled downwards into addiction until a day in 2021 when he knew it was make or break.
His family had relocated to Kanturk hoping to take him away from his drug taking suppliers and companions. He found new contacts and new suppliers and he was worse than ever.
He had been introduced to catering at the Cork Life Centre where he completed his education. His mother gave up her job as a Home Ec teacher, Jack went through rehab. and together they opened Catch up Café under Jack’s management.
A landmark event in the story of Jack and the café was the launch of “The Recovery Blend” of coffee blended especially for the cafe by Soma in Cork.
An exemplary young man from an exceptionally supportive family. I hope Kanturk continues to be good to them.
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A Fact
Roy C. Sullivan of Virginia USA was struck by lightning seven times in his life.He suffered a burnt left shoulder, legs, chest and stomach, burnt hair (twice) and lost a toenail and both eyebrows.
Seats and kneelers at the front of the church have now been upholstered. Tried one out and I must report that they are very comfortable indeed.
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Irish Traditions
by Kathleen Jo Ryan and Bernard Share
Below is an extract from an essay by Bryan MacMahon on the Irish people he knew.
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Book Launch
We had a great time in St. John’s on Saturday, November 11. Vincent’s latest book is probably his best and most important book yet.
Kathy Buckley, a humble Listowel girl, daughter of Lar, the local cooper, ran the White House kitchen under three US presidents. Vincent has done a marvellous job of research on this one and the beautifully presented book is full of information, photographs and interesting stories from behind the scenes.
Finbar and Cathy Mare were in charge of sales.
Some of Vincents old Listowel friends gathered for the launch
John Cahill, Anne Crowley, Owen MacMahon, Elizabeth Moriarty and Kay Moloney Caball.
Katie Hannon launched the book for her childhood postman. She caught up too with Canon Declan O’Connor, a fellow Duagh native.
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Our Wonderful Tidy Town Team
Photo; Tidy Town
Just some of the Tidy Town stalwarts at the presentation of local prizes last week.
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Fact of the Day
With delight I bring you today’s fact, sent to us by Vincent Doyle
Look at me, delighted with myself with celebrity chef, John Relihan on Listowel Food Fair’s great food trail through Listowel on Saturday November 11 2023.
This is not a stock photo. I took it with my phone in John R.’s on Saturday November 11 2023. And we got to eat the food!
I have had a busy week, book launches in Kanturk and Listowel, new café opening, the 2023 food trail and more . Look out for a few photos from my travels in the coming days.
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Honouring our Dead
Below is the list of St. Mary’s parishioners who have died since last November. The list is displayed in our church.
This year we have a new way of remembering. We have a special November candelabra
I have a nephew who lives in the US. Here is how they celebrate The Day of the Dead in Cleveland. Thank you Philip for the pictures.
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When you have a Party for the lads to celebrate a great year
Mick O’Callaghan got this artefact from a friend of a friend. No, drink wasn’t cheap in 1971. Wages were low. A principal teacher earned £770 per annum, a female principal earned £100 less.
So what were the brave boys in Leixlip United celebrating?
Dave O’Sullivan did the research for us.
Just cause for a knees up I’d say.
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A Fact
If it were removed from the body, the small intestine would stretch to 22 feet.
Extract from John B. keane’s essay on The Quality of Neighbourliness.
The Ballybunion Buds
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A Shared Pain…Story in photographs
The lighter penguin is an elderly female whose partner died this year. The darker one is a younger male who lost his partner two years ago. Biologists have followed them as they meet every night to comfort each other. They stand for hours together watching the lights.
[Photographer Tobias Baumgaertner captured this image of two widowed fairy penguins looking over the Melbourne skyline. It has won an award in Oceanographic magazine’s Ocean Photography Awards. Via: MeliMels99 on Twitter]
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Have you a Product to Sell?
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My Final Thoughts on Nurses
Based on what I have read in this book.
The overriding impression among the Irish nurses who had trained in Britain that Ethel interviewed for the book was that nurse training in Ireland was a closed shop to many. The following quote from Mary McCarthy from Limerick seems to me to sum it up.
“I had not applied to nurse in Ireland. It was whom you knew and what you knew there to get into nursing. Your education meant a lot, for instance if you went to a private school or boarding school, also if your father was a doctor, dentist or solicitor.”
As well as this snobbery, would be nurses in Ireland had to fight for places against nursing nuns whose jobs were guaranteed.
English trained Irish nurses were often from farming backgrounds. There was great camaraderie and support in the nurses’ homes which were usually on site with the hospital. Homesickness was often the biggest problem. Most seemed to have an ambition to return and work in Ireland. Many did.
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Deo Gratias
I am delighted to report that they have painted the pillar box at the end of Church Street. It looks smashing. They haven’t done the ones in the walls yet.
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A Fact
More people get heart attacks and more cars break down on Mondays than any other day of the week.
