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

Babe Jo and Corkmen

The lady on the left is Babe Jo Wilmot who was a well known character in Listowel in 1950s onwards. Here she is in Ballybunion with 2 friends.

Here she is again much later when she had become Babe Jo Collins. She is pictured during Writrers’ Week, which was founded by her more famous brother, Seamus Wilmot, registrar of  UCC. With her are Eamon Keane and Frank Lewis.

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For a short time in the 1980’s when Cork was on the crest of a wave, Corkmen exiled in Kerry at the time decided to form a Kerry Corkmen’s Association.  It looks like Cork had won a lot of the GAA silverware that year so quiz buffs will be able to date it. The people I know in the photo are Gabriel McCarthy, Martin McCarthy, Fr. Jack Fitzgerald, Paddy Guiney and Eddie Moylan. Some of the other faces look familiar but no name will come to me. Sorry lads!

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3 Comments

  1. Marty Sheehy

    How odd & nice it is to see a snap of one's mother—then nee Moira Madden ( on the right of the photo with Babe Jo) in 1930s-style women's swim-wear, yet!.

  2. Anonymous

    mary, i really love your blog.It was great reading about Mr. gleason by Billy mc Sweeney who i have not seen in nearly 50 yrs.Also my old classmate John(sandy)fitzgerald on the battle down tae lane.What great memories it brought back and to remember those battles as if it was yesterday and i forget what i had for breakfast yesterday.Most of the names on both side were my classmates some have gone RIP.I wonder if John remembers the time That I think David Shaughnessy and maybe himself tied up Colin McCoometo the pole behind maloneys place in the back market.I think ye might have tared&feathered him.I think the statute of limitations has run out in case you come after me for libel.We in Main st. Big Square and Church St.never got involved in such barbaric games as throwing stones at other people.We were more into putting on plays,watching the girls and maybe a game of pitch and toss with our allowance some times we would go birdwatching.Then it was time for afternoon tea and a gearys biscuit.How we survived i will never know.

  3. Anonymous

    that is my Mother Moira (Madden)Sheehy on the right with babe joe Wilmot.I had never seen the photo before.I dont know the lady in the middle.My mother was known better by her maiden name than married name.Thanks Mike Sheehy.Yonkers.Ny.

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