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
Do you remember the butter box? These marvellous wooden boxes used for storing butter from creamery to warehouse were put to many many reuses. They made stools, storage boxes, nesting boxes and containers for tools and stuff.
Jimmy Hickey told me that the men in his father’s shoemaking workshop used to go to he creamery in the afternoons and turn their hands to making butter boxes.
This is a modern vessel, more ornamental than useful.
These other old earthenware vessels held whiskey and spirits. It is lovely to see these old containers displayed, to remind us of how it used to be.
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Lidl Update
The site is a hive of activity these days.
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A Daily Challenge
Every day you can visit the library to read the daily newspapers or to do the crossword. It is now part of my daily routine to collect the crossword and bring it home to do with my elevenses.
Without a doubt the library is the best free resource in our town.
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Jack Sheehan Remembered
On May 28th last Ciarán Sheehan posted on Facebook;
104 yrs ago my Granduncle Lieutenant Jack Sheehan gave his life for Ireland’s freedom just outside of Listowel, Co Kerry.
Ciarán and his sister on a visit to his ancestral home in North Kerry visited the memorial to Jack Sheahan.
John Curtin, Ciarán’s cousin and also a proud descendant of Jack Sheehan’s accompanied the U.S. based cousins to the memorial.
Martin Moore’s post fills in the story.
Dark foreboding clouds hover Coilbee today, and on this day one hundred and four years ago, neighbours gathered to console the widowed mother of Volunteer Jack Sheahan who was fatally wounded, near his home on 26 May 1921
Jack was our local hero, an independent minded man, of an independent minded family. They had known all about evictions and legal decrees. The family was moved from Inchimoor, by the local landlord in 1861.
He noted how he evicted ‘old Shehan’ for dividing his farm with his sons.
A generation later, in 1889, the New Zealand tablet recorded how ‘Mr Sheahan of Colbie (was) ruthlessly evicted’. 6 years later, his son was proecuted for taking a bullock from the notorious George Sandes.
The ruthless suppression of the Gael in his own lands inspired Jack’s generation to finish the fight and wrest independence from the Empire’s grasp.
Following a number of fatalities in 1921, new volunteers stepped forward, including Donal Bill Sullivan who replaced Jack, and the legendary ‘Aero’ Lyons of Garrynagore.
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Schools Folklore
Long long ago there was a man by the name of Mr. Stack. He made candles out of rush and fat. He got the white out of the rush and caught the two ends and he would roll it around and around in the fat till he had a candle made.
Kevin Sheehy from Dan Broderick
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A Fact
The city of New Amsterdam was given to the Duke of York in 1864 as a birthday present. He renamed the city New York.
Jim Dunn is a genius at capturing likenesses. These men come to life in his Athea forge mural.
The horse is brilliantly captured as well.
Don’t we all know men like these?
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+ Sally O’Neill R.I.P. +
”Tis hard to part when friends are dear
Perhaps ’twill cost a sigh, a tear,
So steal away, give little warning
Choose your own time.”
(Anna Barbauld)
Sally O’Neill gave no warning. So many people have said since hearing of her passing, “ I was talking to her only last week.” or “I saw her on the street on Sunday.”
Sally stole away in her own time. She was always her own woman. She did things her way, with great gentleness and courtesy, but on her terms. There is a list as long as my arm of people who offered her lifts and she chose to walk. She walked every day for years from her home in Cahirdown to the other side of town to visit her beloved Oliver. Enduring devotion and loyalty were Sally’s hallmark.
Barbara Walsh told me that Sally and Barbara’s late mother used to be good pals in the St. Vincent de Paul. Barbara recalls many a time offering her a lift on a bad rainy day. Sally insisted on walking.
She did on occasion, accept lifts. I read this on R.I.P. ie. Some people’s powers of persuasion must have been strong indeed.
Sally with one of her many friends and neighbours, Robert Pierse. Sally was a great favourite with all the Pierse family and with all her neighbours in Cahirdown.,
When Sally lost her beloved Oliver, her life changed utterly. She was alone in the house, unable to drive and with no family nearby to help her. But she had great neighbours and friends. Through her involvement with local organisations and her unstinted support of local charities and cultural events Sally had friends throughout the community. Everyone looked out for her. She was never alone. Sally O’Neill was Listowel’s favourite adopted daughter.
Oliver O’Neill and his friend, Pat Brodbin. Pat and his family continued the friendship with Sally up to her death and beyond by helping her family in the organisation of her funeral.
Every day Sally got up, dressed up and showed up. She never wallowed in her grief. She knew she had to carry on. She went to mass, attended plays and readings and dined in The Listowel Arms or other local eateries.
Oliver and Sally O’Neill at Listowel Races.
“The apparel oft proclaims the man” was a motto that defined Oliver and Sally. Sally loved to get her hair done and to dress up. She had her own unique sense of style. Oliver and Sally always cut a dash as a handsome couple and Sally wore her stylish outfits right to the end.
Sally O’Neill did not have an enemy in the world. Her smiling presence will be greatly missed from our town. It was a privilege to have known her.
I consider it an honour to have taken what turned out to be the last picture of Sally. Many people have told me that that is how they will remember her, happy and smiling as she attended Listowel Writers Week opening event in her beloved Listowel.
Thornton Wilder said, “ The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude.”
Thank you, Sally, for enriching all our lives.
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A Fact
Tucked inside Harvard is a library unlike any other, one that protects some of the world’s rarest colors. We’re talking pigments made from extinct insects, crushed gemstones, rare metals, and even ancient Egyptian mummies. It’s called the Forbes Pigment Collection, and it holds over 2,500 samples that capture the history of color like a secret rainbow museum.
These aren’t just pretty powders, they’re stories in a jar. Each pigment tells a tale of science, culture, and even controversy. Some are so rare or toxic they can never be recreated. From the vibrant blues of lapis lazuli to the eerie red of mummy brown, this hidden archive preserves the shades that once painted the world… and may never exist again.
In whatever language you choose, and at either end of The Square, The Square is The Square is The Square.
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From Schools’ Folklore
A rogue brogue maker
About fifty years ago in Listowel in addition to men making boots there was also men who used to make cheap brogues or low shoes. Every time there would be a fair in Abbeyfeale they would take an ass load of these brogoues to the fair and sell them in the fair just as people sell second hand clothes now. The best known one of those was called Johnny the Cottoner (O Connor) a brother to famous Patsy. Patsy used work hard making brogues up to the time of the fair. On that night he would be mad drunk. Most of the houses at the top of church street at this time were thatched houses. Patsy would roll home about midnight and break most of the windows up on his end of the street. He would take the road the following morning and would not come back again till things were forgotten again. These brogues were stitched by the hand but at that time the shoemakers used work by “lamplight” and often worked well after midnight.
Told to W. Keane by Mrs. Keane
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Mural in Athea
People and horse in Jim Dunn’s extraordinary mural
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A Poem
But You Didn’t
By Merrill Glass
Remember the time you lent me your car and I dented it? I thought you’d kill me… But you didn’t.
Remember the time I forgot to tell you the dance was formal, and you came in jeans? I thought you’d hate me… But you didn’t.
Remember the times I’d flirt with other boys just to make you jealous, and you were? I thought you’d drop me… But you didn’t.
There were plenty of things you did to put up with me, to keep me happy, to love me, and there are so many things I wanted to tell you when you returned from Vietnam… But you didn’t.
Charles Street’s Irish name is Sráid Uí Chonghaile (Connolly St.)
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A Heritage Shopfront
This beautiful shopfront on William Street is a fine example of work appropriate for a heritage town.
Beautiful sign
I even caught the proprietors at the door. Well done, Lisa. Lovely job!
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Progress at Lidl Upgrade
Still a building site but the foundations are laid.
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Connecting People
I get all sorts of different emails and messages from people who want to connect with Listowel people.
Story: Valerie O’Sullivan took this great photo of our very own National Treasure, Jimmy Hickey, in his workshop.
A researcher for the Oliver Callan radio programme saw it and thought it looked interesting.
Then the researcher, Susan, searched to see who might have contact details for Jimmy.
A few phonecalls later and the two are in touch. If Susan tells me in time. I’ll alert you when or if the programme will be aired.
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Schools Folklore
Bryan MacMahon encouraged the boys to tell all sorts of stories for the collection. He obviously realised the value of the project and he collected a huge body of stories, some true and some a bit hard to swallow.
Here is one I have no doubt is true;
Basket making was a very old trade in Ireland in years gone by. Cliabhs and sgiaths are still being made by a young man named Martin Healy Cleveragh Listowel. He learned the trade from his father. Twigs with which the baskets are made are growing around his house and in the winter time when work is scarce he makes baskets from them. When he has 8 or 9 made he usually takes them to the market on a Friday and they are bought by farmers. The high baskets are called cliabhs and are generally used for bringing turf.
The collector is Jeremiah Carroll. He got the story from Tom Carroll
This is Upper William Street. The Premises at the far left of the picture is Number 21, an off licence. If Tankers is number 8, then Number 21 is not at 21.
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Craft Group
This lovely collage was made by one of the NEWKD Craft Circle. It shows examples of the craftwork people do in the Wednesday evening get togethers.
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An Essay from Mick O’Callaghan
The times they are a changing
I was born post-World War 2 in 1947. The treaties of Paris had been signed, and a shaky peace existed in the world. The Marshall plan had been signed to help rebuild Europe after the war. The United Nations voted to partition Palestine into two separate states, one Jewish and one Arab.
India and Pakistan also won their independence from Britain in that year.
At home my parents, who lived and were married in London during the war spoke a lot about air raid shelters, food rationing and survival during their time in London. They taught me a lot about the futility of war and the difficult task of negotiating peace.
My grandparents, on. both sides, who had spent their pre marriage years in America often spoke about the Marshall plan and how it would rescue Europe. They also remembered the first world war and our own war of independence. There was intense bitterness in their home areas post war of independence. They taught us to respect each other and our close family and friends
I started my primary education in Moyderwell Mercy National School, Tralee in 1951.
The building of The Empire State Building was also finished in 1951. Nat King Cole was the dominant music man and Audrey Hepburn was our favourite film star.
When I made my First Communion in 1954, I remember visiting my relatives who lived in the area and collecting a few pounds.
1954 was also the Marian Year, a year of special devotion to our Lady. My family was involved in building the Marian Shrine Grotto in the village. We all recited the rosary and sang the hymn ‘Queen of the May’ there in our earlier years during the month of May. It is still maintained and visited by the present generation of people living there.
I also recall the launch of Tayto crisps which are still there today and eagerly requested by generations of ex pats around the world.
Roger Bannister, that great British Athlete, broke the 4-minute mile barrier in Oxford.
Another precious moment in my life was the confirmation Ceremony in 1958. I remember all the preparations and learning the catechism by heart and the visit of the bishop. Like the first communion we had the family, friends and neighbours to visit and all donations, great and small were gratefully accepted.
In the week after we were made soldiers of the Lord, we visited Cabell’s toy shop in Tralee to spend some of the Confirmation money. There we saw this new-fangled thing called Lego, which is now so prevalent world-wide. I stuck with my Meccano set. This was invented in Britain in 1898 by Frank Hornby, who marketed it to boys as Mechanics Made Easy in 1901 and Meccano in 1907. Last year the last Meccano producing factory closed its doors.
I can also remember other events around these special events in our lives. I can vividly recall the 1958 Munich Air disaster in which eight of Matt Busby’s Man United football babes were killed.
As I grew up, I went on to further education and experience a whole new world outside the narrow confines of our local village town and county. I was amazed when I first realised there was another world outside the Kingdom of Kerry and that not everyone was so obsessed about football as we were. When our cousins came home from England they spoke about soccer and their teams of Man United and Arsenal. The American cousins told us about American football, baseball and basketball.
They all added to my geographical and cultural awareness of the world.
The biggest cultural change for all of us was when Television arrived in The Kingdom of Kerry in 1965.
We had the Beatles who expanded our music and dress code choice. Bob Dylan and Joan Baez led the world with their peace in Vietnam songs. Martin Luther King was involved in The Civil Rights movement and won The Nobel Peace Prize for his work.
I remember my first summer work holiday in London and my whole world view was changed. I was mesmerised by the huge variety of people and cultures I experienced. It was the start of my real-life awareness journey, and I think it gave me a broader world view of life and living. My wander lust was also whetted on that first trip across the Irish Sea.
During my life I have visited many places around the globe but as I advance in years, I just love visiting places around our own native Ireland north, south, east and west that I missed out on during my summers working and travelling.
Nowadays I just love walking in woodland trails, and I enjoy all the people I meet during my rambles. It amazes me on a regular basis to meet people from our local area who have never visited our local beaches and trails. They were too busy working and rearing families they tell me.
When I was speaking to our painter this morning, he spoke about how he gets up early every morning to go to the gym. On average, he told me, there are about 20 people, at the gym he attends. They do intensive training before going to work.
During my working life I got up early to make sure I had a good breakfast, with the odd fry up, to keep me going for the day. We went for the odd walk and the odd pint but we never heard of gyms. Times have certainly changed. A lot of the younger generation and some of the more mature are more conscious of fitness and well-being. They are members of health clubs and gyms which is fantastic to see.
One thing that has not changed during my life is the prevalence of disagreement, trouble and war all over the world. There is still, after 78 years, major trouble in Israel and Palestine. India and Pakistan are still living on a knife edge with occasional border incursions and warfare. Russia and Ukraine are still at war while The Chinese like to keep a watching brief on surrounding countries.
Europe plus countries worldwide, and America are arguing, fighting and negotiating Trump instigated tariff wars.
I continue to walk and write about my peaceful strolls around the parks and forests of our green isle, meeting, chatting and acting as tour guide to so many people from all over the world. These physical and social endeavours help my longevity and wellness in life.
You can follow Mick O Callaghan on www.aramblersblog.com
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Wow!
This magnificent stone sculpture is called The Lookout and it’s in Cornwall.
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A Fact
The word salary comes from salarium, the Latin for salt ration. Salt was so valuable in ancient times that it was a kind of currency.