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
Helen and James Kenny of this parish pictured with Keir Starmer a few years ago.
I got the story from the horse’s mouth. (James Kenny, himself)
This photo was taken at the time of a family wedding when Helen’s niece married Chris Ward. Chris was then a member of Starmer’s backroom team. Since July 4 2024 the same Chris is an M.P.
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Casement Train Station
Did you know that Tralee train station is called Casement Station?
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With the John B. Statue
Every visitor to Listowel has to be photographed with this statue. Thank you very much to the kind man who took this one of Phil and me. He did a great job.
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A Bit of History from the Newspaper Archives
April 19 1930
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1930-1931
The returns of the Registrar-General for the year 1929, show that Kerry had the lowest death-rate in the Irish Free State during that period.
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From the Devil’s Dictionary
by Ambrose Bierce
belladonna, n. In Italian a beautiful lady; in English, a deadly poison. A striking example of the identity of the two tongues.
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A Fact
The acronym BFF (best friends forever) was first used by the character Phoebe Buffay in the TV show Friends.
Text and photos from Raymond O’Sullivan on Facebook
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” – Henry DavidThoreau.
This is a ‘mantra’ that I repeat continuously to my charges on school history tours. Looking is a passive, surface-level act; seeing is an active process of interpretation. But, due to aggressive modern ‘landscaping’, they would be forgiven for not noticing that the iconic castle overlooking the beaches in Ballybunion was built on the site of a much earlier coastal promontory fort.
These forts, generally assigned to the Iron Age, consist of promontories connected to the mainland by a narrow neck of land and defended elsewhere by steep cliffs. On the landward side they are defended by earthen banks and fosses.
In Ballybunion the path from the beach seems to pass through the fosse between the two outer banks, before bursting through the inner of the two into the castle green itself. There is a much eroded third bank nearer the castle. The few that have been investigated show that they were not permanent occupation sites. Probably only used in times of trouble. Check it out the next time you’re in BallyB.
The castle was built in the early 16th century by a branch of the Geraldines. They placed a Bonzan family there as caretakers. Bonzan-Bunyan, Bunion- this family gave its name to the place.
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Flowers in Tralee
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A Poem
Life
There is little joy in growing old, some maturing people say
As they get stressed with the ageing process, trying to cope
With health, death of partners, accommodation
And who will look after their daily needs as they age
Their household and personal requirements
Finances, health issues, nursing home facilities
Or maybe they want to keep their own independence
Will family members pop in and assist with household chores
Will they be able to cook and mind the house
With assistance from home help and meals on wheels
What family member has space in their home where they can live for a while
Will they be able to get respite care when they need it.
Decisions, decisions, mostly out of older peoples’ control
They are really difficult decisions to be decided
Which put a strain on family relations
This can result in arguments and bitter feuds
Which are sometimes nasty and deeply wounding
Often caused by some simple silly remark
Or misrepresentation of some retort
Which should be ignored by sensible people involved
Sadly, this does not happen on a regular basis
Forgiveness is often forgotten about
I am sorry, I regret what I said or why can’t people say
Sorry I misunderstood what you said or did
Instead of prolonged shouting and arguments
Followed by legal advisers and costly court cases
These bitter family feuds can go on for years and years
Causing more stress, anxiety and tears
This is so sad when a family member dies
And some other members refuse to attend
Wakes, reposing, masses, funerals or cremation services
Tensions are unfortunately unnecessarily risen
There are stern stressed looking countenances
When feuding members meet socially or on the street
Scowling and frowning and attempting avoidance
Eyes down, looking in the other direction
With every facial and body muscle tensed and stressed out
When a simple hello how are you?
Or warm embrace or a hug or handshake
Could soothe and resolve the nastiest of rows.
In my life I have seen family members excluded from wills
Court cases ensuing, arguments, fights and injuries
Even death and murder most foul
Caused by not getting a few acres of land
A bit of financial endowment or house in a will
And mental and physical stress continues to the grave and beyond.
Mick O Callaghan. June 2024
I love the chorus line of Ken Dodds song ‘Tears’ written in 1930 that goes ‘Let’s forgive and forget Turn our tears of regret ,Once more to tears of happiness’
Or as the American journalist, author and world peace advocate, Norman Cousins [1915-1990] said ‘Life is an adventure in forgiveness’.
’What a great country we would have if we could have more forgiveness and less tears and regrets.
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A Definition
from The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce
barometer n. an ingenious instrument which indicates what kind of weather we are having.
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A Fact
In 1908 the morse code signal …—… became the worldwide standard for help.
Whilst crossing a Meld in Drumcunnig, Abbeydorney, a few days ago, Maurice Hayes, a youth, was attacked by five greyhounds and a Kerry Blue. It is stated that though young Hayes sustained injuries to both his legs and arms, still they are not of a serious nature.
( I haven’t heard the word meld used like this before. Is it still in use?)
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A Definition
from The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce
bait n. a preparation that renders the hook more palatable. The best kind is beauty.
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A Fact
In 1698 the British engineer, Thomas Savery, patented the first steam engine.
This will be a good one. The lineup looks special. Get buying those tickets.
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Our Beautiful old Coins
These beautiful animals were once in everyone’s pockets. As we move ever closer to a cashless economy, let’s take a minute to see how beautiful these pre -decimal Irish coins were.
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Another Find at the Library
You can borrow these “age friendly” tablets from the library for 10 weeks at a time. They are ideal for an old person who has to go into hospital or for respite or even in their own home.
Once you have a gmail account they are relatively easy to set up and they are programmed for local regions. They have a calendar and diary, links to the webpages of the local newspapers, links to local churches so you can “attend” mass if that’s your thing. You can take photos and chat to friends. I think they are a “try before you buy” option for someone who likes to stay in touch. On these Acorn age friendly tablets you can use Borrowbox, the free library online store of books , papers and magazines. When you hand it back, the library staff will wipe all your stuff off it before the next borrower.
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What I’m Reading
I usually have a few books on the go at a time. This one won this year’s Writers’ Week Kerry Novel of the Year. It is very very good.
Piece of serendipity in the IWA charity shop this week…expect some great weird and wonderful facts from this source.
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Squashed In
I just love the names of flowers and plants
Like the lovely Sauce Hollandaise daisies
Conjuring up images of summer salad days
Or that adorable Butternut Squash
With images of butter and nuts
Being squashed together
To make a tasty nourishing mash
I first became aware of this lovely vegetable
In the year of two thousand and ten.
I was just retired from teaching
And was embarking on a new way of living
Health matters were now a more pertinent issue
Weight loss and exercise became a focus for me
With aspirations to become a slimmer, fitter, healthier me
So, I betook myself off to a healthy heart course
With the emphasis on eating meat dishes demoted
And using vegetarian dishes was promoted
For their beneficial effects for healthy living
We had carrots, lettuces, cous cous and coleslaw
There were melons, oranges apples and bananas
We tried shepherdess pies, Moroccan tagines
There was tofu with ginger and broccoli spears
Then we were introduced to special soups and dishes
With butternut squash being the new one to me
We made butternut squash soup
We roasted it in the oven, skin and all
It tasted yummy and delicious
Leaving my taste buds with a yearning for more
We made risottos and curries
I really liked eating them all
Because it was such nice nutritious food
Also, on our menu we had
Quinoa with stir-fried greens
There was wheat grass and juices
Energy balls and sprouts
Diet plans and meal plans
I got used to living a more spartan lifestyle routine
Shedding kilos of weight and waistline inches
Reducing my cholesterol and blood pressure levels
My energy levels increased appreciably
I just loved my expanded healthy menu choices
With my new friend, my delectable butternut squash
heading the nutrient field for me
In my newly acquired style of healthy living routine
Mick O Callaghan June 2024
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A Fact
Octopuses have three hearts. (You know where I got this one.)
July is the month before the Harvest comes in. In the days before copious imported produce, farmers and housewives worried about making last year’s stocks last through to harvest time.
Here is what Kevin Danaher’s The Year in Ireland has to say. This account is from 1841
This year, 2024, we’ve had a poor summer after a wet winter and spring. Fodder for cattle and grains and vegetables for us all are a cause of concern.
If we think we’re badly off we need to take a look at our poor forefathers in the years before it all went so disastrously wrong for them in the 1840s.
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A Few More from Ard Churam
Some singers and audience on June 27 2024
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A Definition
From The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce
auctioneer n. someone who proclaims with his hammer that he has picked a pocket with his tongue
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A Fact
In 1568 the Catholic Church condemned the entire population of The Netherlands to death, for heresy.
