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

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Mary Cogan, retired from teaching in Presentation Secondary School, Listowel, Co. Kerry. I am a native of Kanturk, Co. Cork.
I have published two books; Listowel Through a Lens and A minute of your Time

Newbridge

A Listowel backway in June 2025

A Train Journey

I took this photo in Kent train station in Cork on the day I travelled to Newbridge, Friday July 4 2025. At first glance it looked like all the ticket collection machines were out of order.

If you haven’t travelled by train lately you wont be familiar with the present routine. You book your ticket online, you get a collection number to put into this machine to collect your physical ticket at the station. You need a physical ticket to open the barriers to get to the train in some stations. Cork is one.

The machine at which you print your ticket is also the machine where you buy your ticket if you have not booked online. On July 4th 2025 the train was fully booked (travellers to Longitude and the Cork hurling match).There were no tickets for sale but there were a lot of people needing to collect tickets. Iarannrod Eireann had sent me an email the day before asking me to collect my ticket the day before, if possible. Not possible! They did try to help the situation on the day by posting a man at the one open terminal to speed up collection.

I can’t understand why they couldn’t leave all the terminals open and put a sign saying. Train fully booked. This machine is for ticket collection only by passengers with prebooked tickets.

They say that if you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room. Was I in the wrong train station?

I’ve mentioned this before but there is a chasm between the platform and the train in Cork. You may have seen the ramp they have for wheelchair users. Well, in my opinion, they should put these ramps down at the doors in Kent station as a matter of course. I think I’ll write to the station master and see what he says. I’ll keep you posted.

Dining in Newbridge

I’m sure there are plenty of places to eat in Newbridge. I went to the one that came highly recommended and I can add my recommendation here.

specials at Lilly and Wild

I had the Feta cheese with fig etc. It was delicious.

If you take my recommendation and go to Lily and Wild, be warned. This marvellous restaurant is in a furniture shop. No body warned me so when I went in I immediately came out again, thinking I was in the wrong place.

This is one bit of the breakfast display in The Keadeen. There was another station with cereals, another with juices, another with breads and pastries and ,of course, a huge hot array of fried food. I didn’t take photos of everything in case people thought I was never left out.

Two Newbridge Facts

This bar was a favourite stopping off point for John B. Keane on his way to and from Dublin.

The Irish comedian, Hal Roche, was a native of Newbridge.

Hal’s seat is on a flower bedecked corner of the Main Street.

A Wedding in Australia in 1937

Catholic Freeman’s Journal

June 24 1937   Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

WOLLONGONG. CATHOLIC FREEMAN’S JOURNAL WEDDINGS. MORAN – GRIFFIN. At
St. Columba’s Church, Bribbaree, on Saturday, June 12, a singular
honour was conferred on Miss Agnes M. Griffin, and Mr. John L. Moran,
when they began their married life with the blessing of his Lordship
Most Rev. John Barry, D.D., Bishop of Goulburn. After he had
solemnised the marriage his Lordship celebrated the Nuptial Mass and
was assisted by Rev. Father Griffin, Bribbaree, and Rev. Father
Butler, B.A., Michelago. Rev. Father Morrison, Young, was also
present. In the pretty little rural church, where her brother, the
Rev. Father D. J. Griffin, parish priest, and which had been her
special care and pride ever since he was appointed to Bribbaree, the
bride made a radiant picture of happiness as she knelt at Holy Mass to
receive from his Lordship the solemn blessing of Mother Church in the
new state she had undertaken. Despite the fact that the ceremony was
ranged for the early hour of 6.45 a.m.. the little church was almost
filled with well – wishers as the bride – to – be left her brother’s
presbytery, where she has been his housekeeper and faithful companion
during the busy years in which his spare moments have been devoted to
the organisation and service of the Goulburn Diocesan Union of the
Holy Name Society. The bride is the daughter of the late James D.
Griffin and Mrs. Catherine Griffin, of Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland,
and she is the baby of a grand old Irish family of eleven. She came
upon her to Australia in 1933, and brother’s appointment to the charge
of the parish in 1934 she came to Bribbaree. The bridegroom, Mr. John
L. Moran, is the son of well – known pioneer family, the late Martin
Moran and Mrs. Hanorah Moran, ” Merrylands, ” who came to the
Bribbaree district from Victoria almost half a century ago, and during
those well – nigh fifty years Mrs. Moran has been one of Bribbaree’s
foremost church workers, and her indomitable spirit and material
devotedness. were borne witness to a few weeks ago when the whole of
her family gathered together to celebrate her seventieth birthday. The
bride was given away by Mr. John Davis, Postmaster, Cowra, who has
been an intimate friend of her brother ever since his arrival in
Australia in 1921. Mr. Kevin Dunn, nephew of the bridegroom, and Miss
Kathleen Moran, sister of the bridegroom. were best man and bridesmaid
respectively. The immediate relatives were entertained to a wedding
breakfast by Mrs. Moran, senr., at Merrylands, where Rev. Father
Butler presided. The happy couple were the recipients of many valuable
gifts. Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Moran are making their future home at
Bribbaree, where a new cottage is being erected for them.

True!

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Mickey MacConnell R.I.P.

windows at Aras an Phiarsaigh

A Seasonal poem by John McGrath

In Ballyegan Bog

In Ballyegan Bog the cuckoo’s tune

has changed to mark the turning of the year.

Through summer’s haze the lark sings loud and clear

and soars above the dancing ceannabhán.

Where lines of neat turf-tepees strut and seem

to mock neglected neighbours with disdain,

sad strips of black spaghetti wait in vain

for willing hands. The bog-land trampoline

beneath my feet springs back as I march on,

remembering those summer days long gone

when life was sweet as heather-scented air

and feet were bare and fleet as childrens’ are,

when time endured and even work was play

and skylarks sang the live-long, lark-song day.

A Summer Laugh

+Mickey MacConnell R.I.P.+

I had the privilege of photographing Mickey MacConnell often, mostly in John B.s. I am a great admirer of his talent. His legacy is significant and vast.

Mickey MacConnelll could turn a phrase better than most writers I know. He was more than just a super songwriter, he was a consumate master of the English language.  He could craft a piece of writing in prose or poetry to evoke any emotion he chose. He was unequalled as a storyteller in song.

Mickey was a great observer of people and he had a unique skill for presenting us with characters we all recognised from our own lives. I know a man who drank the farm. There is one in every second parish in Ireland.

As a balladeer he was superb. He told us stories in such a relateable way that we were there with him. We travelled west on Friday nights with Mickey and we were back in our early twenties drinking supermarket wine and living on our wits.

Mickey had a knack of taking us behind the scenes and showing us the human side of people who we only knew in their warpaint and public personae. He showed us the politician speaking in clichés, the magician’s assistant whom he sawed in half “one time too many”, the clown who died with his painted smile on his lips, the students happy to have The Leaving behind but for them “the leaving’s just begun.”

“Hocus, pocus, focus, folks”

Mickey MacConnell was a gentle satirist. He had first hand knowledge of the Ireland of “The Troubles”, when “follow the flag was a game”. He knew well the boys of the Byline Brigade. He wrote about people he knew and he brought them to life for us. He held the mirror up to us too as we lost the run of ourselves buying into stock from the big German retailers.

As a writer Mickey MacConnell had the ability to evoke every emotion. He could walk in anyone’s shoes, it seemed. We laughed with him and cried with him in equal measure.

Photo taken at the unveiling of the John B. Keane memorial in the Garden of Europe.

As well as writing the songs, Mickey was a great interpreter of a song. His ‘Footsteps of John B.” has become a local anthem. His regular sessions in John B.s and other local hostelries will be greatly missed. Listowel won’t be the same without him. I hope someone writes a Ballad  of Mickey MacConnell to keep his memory alive.

with John Molloy

As well as writing songs. Mickey MacConnell was an accomplished journalist. His regular columns in The Kerryman were a must read for me. I would love if they could republish them as a tribute to his memory.

Photo with Maura taken in Allos where Mickey was posing to have his portrait painted by artists on a residency at the Olive Stack Gallery.

His loss to Listowel is great but far worse is his loss to Maura, Kerry, Claire and their families. May he rest in peace.

A Fact

The workhouse in Listowel was completed in 1842 but no paupers were admitted until February 1845.

(Source; Michael Guerin)

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The Bad Old Days

This is the carpark behind the offices of the Revenue Commissioners.

Joan Mulvihill’s Retirement

Joan Mulvihill and staff of Presentation Primary School, Listowel. The photo was shared on social media. It was taken at a fuction at the school to mark Joan’s retirement a principal.

A Sad,Sad Poem

The Famine

The population of Ireland is now around 7 million, the highest it’s been since the Famine.

“This problem may not be yours today but it could be someday.” This used to be the tagline in Frankie Byrne’s radio show but It’s apt for the world we are living in.

Here is an account from the school’s folklore collection. The account was collected in Scoil Realt na Maidine, Listowwel.

The crops grew abundantly the year before the Famine but the people had no meas(respect) on them & they left the crops beside the ditches to rot. The next year the crops failed especially the potato crop. When a person would go into a farmer’s house for a drink of water, if he saw a turnip under the table he would snap it and run his best. The people had nothing to eat but turnips. They weakened with the bad food & died in hundreds on the roadside.

It’s the Silly Season

In Kildare

I was in Newbridge for the weekend.

I was helping Tony and Mary McKenna celebrate 40 years of happy marriage.

I stayed in the Keadeen Hotel.

When I share some more of my weekend’s photos with you you will see that Newbridge has flowers everywhere.

These are just some of the floral displays at the hotel.

Once upon a time you opened a drawer in your hotel room and you found bible. In The Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge I found Arthur Gouroulian looking back at me from the Newbridge Silverware Brochure. Shopping is the new religion.

A Fact

The game of Pitch and Putt was invented by W.A. Collins in Fountainstown in Co. Cork in 1936.

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Users of the English Language.

Paul Gerard O’Connor took this photo of Paud Pelican’s turf stacks

Some Different Church Art in Knockanure

Knockanure Stations of the Cross are non traditional and in keeping with the minimalist ethos of the church.

The Madonna and Child statue is also very non traditional.

A wood panel just inside the door has relief features like these.

Gabriel Fitzmaurice Honoured

Photo and text shared on line by Kerry Writers’ Museum.

Honouring a Voice of Kerry – Gabriel Fitzmaurice

We were proud to host the announcement of Gabriel Fitzmaurice as the recipient of the 2025 Kerry Association in Dublin Arts Award at Kerry Writers’ Museum in Listowel.

A poet, writer, teacher, singer, and lifelong supporter of Irish language and culture, Gabriel’s work has touched audiences of all ages across Ireland and beyond.

Deeply rooted in the literary tradition of North Kerry, Gabriel has been a driving force in keeping our stories alive – both through his own writing and his decades of dedication to the arts and education.

📸 Photos taken at the Museum on Saturday 21st June, where the award was officially announced.

Local Writer Making her Mark in Children’s Literature

Local sports fiction writer, Emma Larkin, had her book reviewed and recommended for summer reading in a recent Irish Examiner.

A Fact

America’s Drug Enforcement Administration is costantly amending its dictionary of drug users’ slang. Words include:

Whiffle Dust; Amphetamines

Bernie’s Flakes; Cocaine

Aunt Hazel; Heroin

Smoochy Woochy Poochy: Cannabis

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More from Knockanure

Evening in Ballybunion

Corpus Christi Church, Knockanure

Everything about this unique church is simple and minimal. There is no stained glass, mosaics, marble or elaborate statuetry.

The crucifix is over the tabernacle.

The priest’s chair

The baptismal font

Solid wooden church pews.

Mitchell McKenna update

Mitch was delighted with your last response. He is back seeking more assistance in his search to trace his local relatives.

Hi Mary,

Some more feedback since my last post on my McKennas from Lixnaw/Duagh parishes. I’ve since corrected a few earlier inexperienced forays (one with Martin) and done much more methodical research. I think I have done reasonably well so far – my great great tier discovered so far –> 

William McKenna        Born 1840          – stayed local – (this is an educated guess though from the 1911 Census – so it’s still an open finding)

Maurice McKenna       Baptised 1844   – went to Geelong, Australia (the Archpriest)

John McKenna      Baptised 1850   – stayed local 

Johanna McKenna   Baptised 1851   – Stacks Mountain    

Jeremiah McKenna     Born  1858          – went to Shepparton, Australia

Ellen McKenna        Baptised  1861   – went to Chicago, USA

Timothy McKenna       Baptised 1863   – no idea ! Not a common name across the whole of Kerry either.  

Now an interesting question for you , I have discovered that their parents – John McKenna (aka Ginaw) & Bridget Odonnell  – were married in 1839 Lixnaw and a certain Gerald McKenna (aka Ginaw) was present as a witness – I haven’t spotted any other Gerald in the records in this area at this time period so I am strongly suspecting this was one of Thomas the rebel’s sons ?  Was John a brother of Gerald or even a first cousin ?  – their ages would have been close ? Intriguing. 

Anyway, considering Irish passed name conventions on the above, my further guess of John senior’s parents would be  William Guinaw and Johanna Murphy. They had a daughter Bridget in 1810 baptised in Lixnaw Parish.

Would appreciate it if anyone could point me to any more information from that period from the turn of the 19th Century. 

cheers,

Mitch  – Melbourne, Australia

( I feel the name Guinaw or Ginaw has to be wrong. I certainly never heard of such a surname. M.C.)

Parents and Friends Garden Fete 2025

Gabby loves dogs. Reggie loved the attention.

Reggie was a big hit all round.

There was enough food to feed all Ireland

The Knotweeds were dishing out the tunes.

Mother and daughter enjoying the music and the vibe.

Strawberries, rhubarb and various herbs and plants were for sale.

A fact

The world’s first avocado restaurant opened in New York in 2017. There were avocados in every dish. The restaurant ran out of avocados on its first day.

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