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

Author: listowelconnection Page 31 of 194

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

Listowel, Athea and Brehon Laws

“The trees are in their Autumn beauty.

The woodland paths are dry….”

Sustainable Fashion at Listowel Races 2024

These are the Tidy Town volunteers who introduced this event which has become the Saturday highlight of race week. They turn up year after year to run this marvellous competition. It has evolved over the years from having some entries that looked like school projects to be a themed fashion competition to rival Friday’s best dressed lady’s event. Many of this year’s outfits would not have been out of place in the Friday competition.

Kathleen O’Flaherty always looks stylish.

This lady got a special prize for inventiveness.

Frances O’Keeffe was the winner of the first sustainable fashion competition at Listowel Races. Her daughter, Edel, won a few fashion prizes too.

The story of the outfit is part of the entertainment of this competition. Maria’s stories areaways the best. Maria Stack was wearing gloves and a hat gifted to her by her late friend, Mary O’Halloran. Mary was a great supporter of Listowel Races.

Tidy Town ladies and An Taisce judge are intrigued by the back stories.

Something Old

This is the kind of old fashioned pram babies slept in in the 1900s. The net over the pram was to protect the infant from flies and wasps and to deter the cat from jumping in with the baby. There was usually a string of coloured rattles across the hood in view of the baby and nearly always a holy medal pinned somewhere.

In Athea

The celtic mural in Athea celebrates Irishness in hundreds of symbols but it also celebrates local people and the enormous talent in the area.

This young flautist is like a snake charmer conjuring up shamrocks, birds, snakes and entwined celtic symbols.

What could be more Irish than a step dancing cailín?

A local young girl immortalised forever among the oak leaves in this impressive piece of wall art.

Brehon Laws

Lately I came upon this treasure of a book in the IWA charity shop. It’s all about the Brehon Laws. These laws were passed on orally since the first centuryBC. They were written down for the first time in the 7th century AD and they were in use until the reign of Elizabeth 1 who replaced the old Brehon Laws with English common law.

The laws give us a great insight into how our ancestors lived.

The great assembly was usually held on Tara. The elders came together to discuss and, if necessary, amend the laws.

Music has always been part of Irish life. There was a hierarchy of musicians with the harpist having pride of place.

A Fact

Percy Spencer invented the microwave oven. He patented it in 1945.

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Drivers, Footballers and Local People at Listowel Races 2024

Dough Mamma, October 2024

Older Drivers

Kerry County Council held an Age Friendly Conference for older drivers in The Rose Hotel on Tuesday October 8 2024.

If you are wondering at what age you become an “older’ driver: 55, apparently. You may have noticed since Covid the term Age Friendly appearing in parking spaces. It’s a kind of euphemism for “Reserved for Old People”. It’s a misleading term as it’s certainly not friendly to twenty somethings.

Now this seminar was free for us oldies but you had to reserve your place through the booking site, Eventbrite. It doesn’t really take a genius to know that that alone is off-putting for many older people. Next time you, Kerry County Council, organise a seminar for older people make it ring to book your place or even send a text message. Eventbrite is fine for concerts and shows.

90 year old Anna May McHugh was the guest of honour. Anna May is seated beside the Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Breandán Fitzgerald. Breandán welcomed us and told us that Kerry is an Age Friendly County. The newly appointed chair of the Older People’s Council, Kerry, Catherine Lenihan, addressed us as well.

Then followed some excellent speakers. I’m not going to go through it all but here are a few facts:

Environmental factors are usually weather related, e.g. icy roads or sun glare.

Even if you are old and one of the above is an issue for you, you may still be able to get a restricted driving licence, e.g restricted to driving in daylight or to a radius of 30 kms from your home.

Having listened to all the really good speakers we then got tea and a scone or two and we were free to find our inner child and visit the stands gathering a bag of swag to take home. I felt like a child at the summer show with my free pen and my trolley token, my air freshener and my hi viz jacket.

It was a really worthwhile event, well worth repeating.

From the Swap Box

In Listowel Library there is this marvellous resource. It’s a swap box, where you can leave a book and collect a book. You don’t have to donate to collect. Sometimes it’s oversubscribed, and you have to take home your “donation”. I love it and I have found many treasures there. Last week I took three old Ballydonoghue Magazines from the box. Look what I found:

Two very promising footballers receiving an award from a former footballer who too fulfilled his young promise.

From Jer’s Archive Trawl

May 1936

A Few More from Listowel Races 2024

Mostly local people, friends and neighbours today

A Corner in Abbeyfeale

A Fact

In 1737, a cyclone in Calcutta, India is believed to have killed 300,000 people and caused 40 foot waves.

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Horse Fair and Horse Races

Looking towards Courthouse Road

Two Jostle Stones in Ballincollig

According to Wikipedia a jostle stone is “A guard stone, jostle stone or chasse-roue (French lit. “wheel chaser”), is a projecting metal, concrete, or stone exterior architectural element located at the corner and/or foot of gates, portes-cochères, garage entries, and walls to prevent damage from vehicle tires and wheels.”

Nineteenth century towns were very dependent on the horse. These stones were put in place at entrances in order to jostle the cart wheels away from walls.

There are many jostle stones still in place in Listowel. Look out for them is you are walking in town.

Listowel, an Autism Friendly Town

This sign is at Garvey’s Super Valu. Many businesses in town are adapting to make Listowel a more welcoming town for people with autism.

At the October HorseFair

Market Street

A young horse man

These little miniature horses are Falabella. They cost about the same as your high end puppy. Of course you can’t ride them as they are far too small but they make lovely outdoor pets or companions for horses or donkeys.

This man from Galbally in Co. Limerick introduced these little ponies to this part of the world. Business was slow at the October horse fair but he says that there is steady demand for these lovely creatures.

These men were on hand to inform people about fire safety in the home this winter.

One Hundred Years since The Lartigue

The beautiful replica train before its centenary run on Sunday September 29 2024. Pat Brodbin at the controls.

One of four flying gate wheels now it the museum

Martin Griffin and Jimmy Deenihan, two men who are passionate about the monorail and museum

Jimmy and Sean greeting the first passengers of the day

People at Listowel Races 2024

The judges were Heidi Higgins and Rosanna Davison

Suitable shoes for racing?

1945 death of a lady with a Listowel Connection

The Telegraph

Aug 16 1945  •  Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Late Miss C. Hewson The death has occurred of Miss Caroline Hewson, at the home of her late sister, Mrs F. J. Macgillycuddy, at Eagle Junction. Some weeks ago Miss Hewson fell and broke her hip. After several weeks in a private hospital she returned to her home at Eagle Junction, but did not rally from shock, which was too great for her advanced years. the Miss Hewson was second daughter of the late Mr William Minchin Hewson, and was borne at Finuge House, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland. some years she lived at Stanthorpe, where she was widely known. Her surviving sisters are Mesdames For R M. King (Brisbane), and Murdo Mackenzie (Southport).

A few more from my Book Launch

Carmel and Anne Marie

with my great friends, Geraldine and Bridget

Eddie, Mary and Carmel

A Fact

Adult cats only miaow to communicate with humans.

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Listowel Men from Far and Near

Courthouse Road, Listowel in October 2024

At the October Horse Fair

There is so much more besides horses at the fair these times.

You could buy a spade or a fork, a pickaxe or even a mallet.

Poultry

I only saw one goat.

A Successful Emigrant and Philanthropist

Dec 16 1926  •  Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Death of Mr. D. Kennelly Mr. Daniel Kennelly, for many years a well – known resident of Port Pirie, died at his home at South_terrace, Adelaide, after a long illness. The late Mr. Kennelly was born at Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland, 60 years ago, and came to South Australia by the Robert Lee, sailing ship, in 1877. After a period of farming at Crystal Brook he removed to Port Pirie, where started a carrying business. He secured from the Broken Hall an important. Proprietary Company contract for the carting of coal, coke, and lead, which proved eminently satisfactory, and which he retained for several years. The late Mr. Kennelly was the owner of a number of farms in the Port Pirie district, and showed remarkable foresight in investments. He left Port sight Pirie in 1906, and settled in Adelaide, but he had always evinced the greatest interest in the northern town, which he visited on numerous occasions, and had such a regard for it that he left instructions that his remains should be interred there. An excellent organiser and a man of the strictest integrity, he was held in the highest esteem by all with whom he had business transactions, and when he left Port Pirie he was given a public send – off by the citizens. He was a much travelled man, and during his lifetime visited Japan and China several times, the South Seas, Honolulu, and the Mother Country, while it was a regular thing for him to make a trip to North Queensland during the winter season. Possessing a remarkable memory he was a most interesting raconteur. and he will be much missed by a large circle of friends to whom he had endeared himself by reason of his kindly, and generous nature. He has left a widow and one son. Mr. Eric Daniel Kennelly.


Oct 19 1927  •  Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

DISTRIBUTED Legacy of Late Mr. D. Kennelly INSTITUTIONS BENEFIT Elder’s Trustee and Executor Company, Limited, as executor of the will of the late Mr. Daniel Kennelly, of Listowel, South terrace, Adelaide, has made a first payment of one – half of the amount of the legacy bequeathed in terms of the will to each of the following institutions: £ 500, St. Joseph’s Orphanage,, Largs Bay. 2500, Late Father Healy’s Reformatory and Old Men’s Home, Brooklyn Park. £ 500, St. Vincent de Paul’s Orphanage, Goodwood. £ 500, Catholic Refuge, Fullarton. £ 500, Little Sisters of the Poor, South Australia, Incorporated, at Glen Osmond. £ 500, St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral Building Fund. £ 500, Good Samaritan Sisters, Port Pirie. £ 500, Solomontown Catholic School. £ 250, St. Joseph’s Providence, West terrace. £ 250, St. Vincent de Paul’s Society, Adelaide, to be divided equally between St. Francis Xavier’s and St. Patrick’s Conferences. £ 250, Little Company of Mary, South Australia Incorporated, for proposed Public Hospital, North Adelaide. £ 250, Sisters of Saint Joseph, Port Adelaide. £ 250, St. Patrick’s Church, West terrace. £ 250, St. Mark’s Church, Port Pirie. £ 50, Late Father O’Mahoney Memorial Fund, Port Pirie.

Listowel Men in Cork

Richie, in grey in left front, is the only man in this picture who is not from Listowel.

L to R: Seán O’Sullivan, Gavan Buckley, Fergus O’Connor and Bobby Cogan

Dancers in 1975

John Stack shared this photo on Facebook and some others named the dancers as Diane Barry, David Moriarty, Ann Hickey, John Scanlon, Ann Dowling, Murt McAuliffe, Mary Cantillon and John Stack. Jimmy Hickey is the dancing teacher and we don’t know what the cup was for.

An Admirable Aspiration

A Fact

The last person to be executed by a government via guillotine was Hamida Djandoubi on 10 September 1977 in France.

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Looking Back

Lovely door on Courthouse Road

October Horsefair

The October horsefair was held on Market Street on Thursday, October 3 2024.

Love Tralee shared this picture of a Listowel horsefair on Market Street 125 years ago.

At the Lartigue Centenary Celebration on Sunday, September 29 2024

Pat Brodbin, Michael Guerin and Michael O’Sullivan

Michael Cronin relaxing before the first train run.

Martin Griffin with some of the great memorabilia collected over years by Michael Barry and donated by his family to the museum.

This Tralee family is introducing this unique Listowel attraction to a new generation.

A Poem for Today

Sustainable Fashion

On the Saturday of Listowel Races the fashion competition features a different kind of dressing. Anne Leneghan and Maria Stack are wearing some preloved style.

Anne’a hat was fashioned from the material that was cut off to shorten the dress. She embellished it with an old brooch.

The criteria were slightly different this year. In other years, repurposing was a big part of the look and then this dress, made entirely from old neckties, would have been in with a chance.

These outfits look as good today as when they were first worn.

Another Memorial

In 2021, on the 100th anniversary of his death, Kathleen Griffin took these photographs of the memorial to Jack Sheehan. This monument is about a mile off the Tarbert Road on the road to the right after Amber Filling Station.

Jack (John) Sheehan Monument – murdered by the British Crown Forces on 26-05-1921.

Jack (John) Sheehan Monument – murdered by the Black and Tans on 26-05-1921.

A Fact

Until the early nineteenth century Australia was known as New Holland.

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