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

Author: listowelconnection Page 33 of 190

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

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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Visitor attractions

By

On August 16, 2024

In Listowel

Pollinator at work

Photo: Mick O’Callaghan

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The National Stud and Japanese Gardens

I’d highly recommend a trip to The National Stud if you find yourself in the vicinity of historic Kildare.

Among the trees are several of these charming sculptures.

There are some cavelike structures to hide in on a sweltering day, or even on a rainy one.

The bug hotel is charmingly called The Buglington.

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Entertaining the Visitors

I took Cora for a little educational/ recreational trip to Kerry Writers’ Museum.

After our trip to medieval Listowel, we listened to a few more modern writers being interviewed.

Next up the writers’ rooms

Brendan Kennelly shares his room with Michael O’Connor.

I was anxious for Cora to see at close quarters the work of genius I am always talking about. It never ceases to amaze me.

We visited Maurice Walsh in his room. We took in the other rooms too but there is only so much museum a 13 year old can take.

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Book Of Kells Experience

This is a unique experience for anyone interested in celtic monastic art.

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A Definition

from The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce

coward n. One who in a perilous emergency thinks with his legs.

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Injustice

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A Fact

Whales drown if they remain under water for more than 30 minutes.

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In The National Stud

By

On August 15, 2024

In Listowel, Poem, Schools

Bee at work;

Photo: Mick O’Callaghan

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Changes

Dough Mamma on Lower William Street in August 2024.

Here are some of the previous iterations of that premises.

Europe

Off the Square Café

Oscar Wilde

Lizzy’s Little Kitchen

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Resilience in a Poem

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In The National Stud

Aoife is a regular visitor to The National Stud. She introduced me to this magical place.

It isn’t all about horses. Aoife’s favourite part is the playground.

There are really famous horses at close range.

There are magnificent gardens and flowers all around.

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William Street Mural

People loved yesterday’s photos of Cora posing with the beautiful murals. Here is another one.

I’m waiting for the artists names. When all the GDPR hurdles are jumped I hope to bring the names to you.

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Down Memory Lane

Sr. Patricia’s class in Listowel Girls Primary School 1971

Front: Mary O’Flaherty, Siobhán O’Shea, Maura Walsh, Bridget O’Brien, Kathleen Dillon, Geraldine Kenny, Breda Sugrue R.I.P. Deirdre Sullivan

Middle: Theresa Conway, Kathleen Curtin, Margaret Doyle, Isobel O’Dowd, Joan Loughnane, Anne Costello, Margaret Canavan, Bernadette Costello

Back: Marie Scanlon, Margo Kennedy, Cora Stack, Marie O’Sullivan, Marie Stack, Veronica Corridan, Eileen Kennelly and Bernadette Walsh

Thank you very much to all who helped with the naming the girls.

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A Fact

The music video Gangnam Style was so popular it broke YouTube’s view counter. The view counter had to be upgraded as a result.

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