Listowel Connection

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

Year: 2024 Page 17 of 48

Cork Visit

By

On August 23, 2024

In Listowel

Another snap of the Wexford garden of Mick O’Callaghan

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A Listowel Connection in Ballincollig

The Baker after whom this street is named was connected by marriage to the Gleasure family of The Square, Listowel.

This is the latest housing development on Baker Street.

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The Honan Chapel, UCC

The beautiful national treasure that is the Honan Chapel.

This doorway has featured in many many wedding photographs.

The nave with its iconic river mosaic

The stained glass in this church is among the best there is.

Eleven of the windows are the work of Harry Clarke. I thought this was St. Gobnait. Now I’m not so sure.

The plaque commemorating the Honan family who contributed generously to the establishment of this chapel and the nearby Honan hostel.

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A Poem

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Goodnight Sister

I took this picture of Nell McCafferty at Women in Media in Ballybunion in 2018. Nell passed away on August 21 2024.

Nell was a fearless advocate for women’s rights. She will always be remembered in these parts for her outspoken championing of Joanne Hayes during her ordeal at the hands of men in Tralee courthouse.

Nell was a voice for voiceless women. May she rest in peace.

A Fact

The car manufacturer, Volvo, made the three point seatbelt design patent open and available free of charge to other car manufactures. They did this in the interests of safety.

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Family Time

By

On August 22, 2024

In Listowel

Kinsale, Sunday August 18 2024

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Kilsinon Graveyard

Lovely overview of Kilsinon graveyard

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No Irish Need Apply

J.A. Harris

Help wanted ads New York Times May 1 1855.

This seems like terrible discrimination by NY protestants in the 19th century. There are plenty of incidences of similar insularity from Catholics in Ireland. Up to the 1960s we were forbidden to set foot inside a protestant church. During the Dublin Lockout of 1913 when the children of the striking workers were starving, the Catholic clergy of the time refused to allow them to be fostered out to Protestant families who were willing to take them in.

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Nana was Naughty

Nana bought Aoife the dearest lollipop in the shop (or maybe even in any shop) while Mammy was doing the food shopping

Aoife agreed to sing dumb.

It was well worth the money.

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Eclipse, The Pony

This is where Róisín’s pony lives and where she goes to ride him.

This equestrian centre is situated in the rolling hillside of Crookstown, Co. Cork.

I was only the driver. Aimee was the able assistant and videographer for the day.

Aimee took the selfie when Eclipse was all tacked up and ready to go.

In the arena

Eclipse wanted to get up close and personal.

I was on the outside with the dogs.

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A Fact

The driest place on earth is in the Atacama Desert in Chile. Rain has never been recorded in some parts of this desert.

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In the Military

By

On August 21, 2024

In Listowel

Mick O’Callaghan’s photo of a corner of his garden

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The Curragh Military Museum

I visited here on my Kildare holiday. All my photographs are taken outdoors. Photography is not allowed in the museum.

Frightening looking field guns and tanks are on display.

My son in law, who is a member of the army reserve and is familiar with much of this artillery was my guide. Aoife was there too.

This museum is well worth a visit for anyone interested in military history.

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From The Archive

The gymnasium was in the sportsfield.

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Lessons in Sport

I like to support my family’s sporting endeavours when I can.

That’s Cora, No. 19 waiting with her friends for their turn to go on at their Under 13 developmental match in Bishopstown on Friday August 16 2024.

30 girls turned up for each side and everyone got a chance to play half a game.

Ballincollig, Cora’s team, were playing Bishopstown. This is what happened before the game.

A lovely young lady who was a member of Bishopstown GAA club, Kate Wibbe, had lost her life in a road accident earlier in the week. Kate had just celebrated her 23rd. birthday and was on her way to work at her first job when the tragedy occurred.

On Friday evening, before the game, on a pitch on which Kate had trained and played, 60 young girls and their mentors bowed their heads and observed a minute’s silence. It was very sad, very sobering and very respectful, a valuable life lesson on the solidarity of sport. GAA is family.

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Big Day in Super Valu tomorrow

The official reveal of Garvey’s Listowel store revamp is on tomorrow Thursday August 22 2024.

Special guests, tastings, giveaways and fun in store. The shop is looking fab. when I visited yesterday the pimping was in full swing.

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A Fact

There are at least thirty ways of saying “drunk” in Ireland. Here are twenty to be going on with;

Three sheets in the wind, out of his skull, stocious, in the staggers, scuttered, scundered, polluted, legless, ossified, twisted, rat-arsed, bollixed, jarred, fluthered, paralytic, pissed, half cut, shit-faced, locked, langers etc., etc, etc.

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Kildare Farm Foods

By

On August 20, 2024

In Listowel

Photo; Mick O’Callaghan

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On College Road, Cork

This super sized pillar post box is on a corner of College Road.

It’s been around since the era of George V (1910-1936)

It’s still in daily use, though probably not so busy any more

Near the postbox was this graffitied utility box. The postbox is from the era of Pablo Picasso and Elizabeth Bishop. Today’s artist is Lankum.

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Kildare Farm Foods

Our little Aoife has just turned three. We had a great day on her birthday.

We visited Kildare Farm Foods. This is an open farm, a restaurant and a food shop.

Popular summer activity here

This artefact is a reminder of olden times.

Some of Aoife’s Kildare family, Sinead, Mary and Conor were also with us feeding the animals and enjoying the experience.

Clíona encouraged this goat’s disobedience by feeding him through the fence. There is a very clever chute system for delivering the food into a tray. This smart fellow preferred the modh díreach.

A baby alpaca

We learned a bit about maras. There are also camels, sheep, lots of farmyard fowl, a playground and indoor arcade and a crazy golf course in this marvellous facility. They also have a service where you can buy a teddybear and have a little device with a recoding of your own voice message implanted in him.

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Can You Help?

I am looking for some info on my husband’s grandfather, John Fitamaurice (1888-1948).  He was born in Kerry, Ireland and enlisted in the 2nd RMF on 12 Aug 1914 , service # 4608.  We know he was wounded and served in France as he received the SilverWar Badge and 1914 Star.  He also received the Army War Badge and Victory Medal.  He was permanently disabled and lived the rest of his life in the Soldier’s Cottages, Listowel, Kerry, Ireland.
I cannot find where he was injured or hospitalized.  I’d appreciate any help or guidance in finding out this information.

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A Fact

In 1568 the Catholic church condemned the entire population of The Netherlands to death for heresy.

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In Cork and Kildare

By

On August 19, 2024

In Listowel, Poem

A corner of his garden photographed by Mick O’Callaghan

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From the Archive

In the final days before the convent closed, a group of former colleagues went to say goodbye to the sisters.

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A Listowel Connection

Last week fate found me in The Bon Secours Hospital in Cork.

As I walked towards the Xray department, I was fascinated to see some familiar artwork on the walls…the unmistakeable work of the late great Tony O’Callaghan.

There are 6 scenes depicted in the bronzes, featuring saints associated with Munster.

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In Kildare Village

The only purchase I made on my recent trip to Kildare Village was ice cream.

Eating this delicious confection requires concentration.

Since most of the shops are not really child friendly (lesson learned on my Christmas visit!) we contented ourselves with strolling around outdoors.

Yes, that is a wasp heading straight for the child. There are all kinds of hazards to be encountered here.

The seat was wet. Aoife enjoyed the simple pleasure of drying it before we sat.

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The Simple Life

Ode on Solitude

BY ALEXANDER POPE

Happy the man, whose wish and care

   A few paternal acres bound,

Content to breathe his native air,

                            In his own ground.

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,

   Whose flocks supply him with attire,

Whose trees in summer yield him shade,

                            In winter fire.

Blest, who can unconcernedly find

   Hours, days, and years slide soft away,

In health of body, peace of mind,

                            Quiet by day,

Sound sleep by night; study and ease,

   Together mixed; sweet recreation;

And innocence, which most does please,

                            With meditation.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;

   Thus unlamented let me die;

Steal from the world, and not a stone

                            Tell where I lie.

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A Fact

A fun fact from a wag…

Irish motoring hazards; Funerals, speed cameras, pot holes, learner drivers, horses loose on the M50 to name but a few.

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