Mona Bradley R.I.P. of Listowel and Kanturk

Photo credit; Chris Grayson…Elegant stag in National Park

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Christmas Decorations

Innocent times in the 1950s and 60s when we made our own decorations. The only shop bought decorations I remember were paper streamers and what my mother called mottoes. There were glossy sheets of card with phrases like “God Bless our home at Christmas” and “Happy Christmas to All”. They were pinned under shelves and mantlepieces. Christmas cards were displayed as decorations as well.

The ESB booklet had a few suggestions for homemade decorations. People, particularly women, had loads of time for this caper when we had no TV or internet. Can you imagine anyone trying this today?

The following one predates The Sound of Music but it has a whiff of Maria Von Trapp about it.

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Mona Bradley R.I.P.

This is the story of a lady, part of whose life journey was a mirror image of mine. Mona spent her young life in Listowel and went over the border to Kanturk on marriage.

Here is her story as told to us by her son, John.

Listowel Connection

Nora Mary Duggan was born 08/05/1934 to parents Jack and Hannah Maria Duggan, Dirha West, Listowel.  Nora Mary, better known as Mona, was the 4^th youngest of a large family consisting of 8 girls and 5 boys. 

Sadly, Mona lost her mother when she was only 13. Hannah Marie Duggan, nee Walsh, passed away at age 47.

Mona worked as a barmaid in Broderick’s Bar in Tae Lane, Listowel.  During this time circa 1955 she met Michael Bradley from Kanturk who was a regular visitor to Listowel as the company he worked for (Fitzpatrick’s Hatchery) also had a premises/shop in Church Street, Listowel.  Mona and Michael first began dating in September 1955 at the Race Dance. 

Mona and Michael on their first date

She married Michael Bradley on 24^th June 1959 and moved to Kanturk where she lived for the rest of life. In Michael’s marriage vows he promised to take Mona every week to Listowel, which he did every Sunday to visit her sisters and relatives.  Even when Michael retired he continued with the Listowel visits every week.

June 24 1959

Mona and Michael had 4 children, John, Breda, Joan and Monica who also spent a lot of time in Listowel and Ballybunion of course.  Mona always went to Listowel Races for the whole week and always looked forward to meeting all her relatives and neighbours.

While in Kanturk, Mona went back to her love of bar work taking a part-time job at The Alley Bar.  Mona was always a Listowel (Kerry) woman, and her favourite times were Munster Final Days when more often than not Kerry would prevail.  She would have her Kerry hat on when everyone would call that night in the bar and the slagging would start.

Behind the counter in The Alley Bar, Strand Street

Mona was a hugely popular woman in Kanturk where she made loads of friends and went on to have a very happy Life.

Mona Bradley outside The Alley Bar a few years before her death

Sadly, Mona’s husband, Michael, passed away in February 2002 after a short illness and Mona passed away in November 2019.  

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For the Diary

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Decorating St. Joseph‘s

When I was in St. Joseph’s last week, Christmas decorating was underway.

Mary beside the Christmas tree in the cozy recreation room.

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A Fact

Birds sing mainly in spring and early summer but robins sing all year round.

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