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
I met Pierce Walsh of John R.’s last week as he was setting out his outdoor dining on another sunny Listowel day in summer 2022.
John R.s has been part and parcel of Listowel life for long before I came to town.
The late John R. ran a thriving business. His Christmas hams, puddings and cakes were legendary. He also had a regular clientele for his bar business.
Pierce, the next generation, had a new progressive vision for the business he took over from his father. Over the years he has built and expanded the catering and take away aspects of the business as well as the well stocked delicatessen and off licence.
He added a new offering for the visitor in his beautifully furnished and equipped holiday apartments and rooms.
The business is thriving so Pierce has picked a good time to step back and enjoy the fruits of his hard work.
He tells me that he is in no hurry to go so he will be serving us for a good while yet.
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An Old Book
I was anxious to get my hands on a copy of Hostage to Fortune by Joseph O’Connor. This Joseph lived in Listowel as a young boy before his family moved to Dingle and he tells a few stories told to him by his grandfather Wilmot, a blacksmith in Church Street. These stories include an eviction in 1863 and the official opening of The Lartigue.
The helpful folk in Listowel Library got me a copy to borrow. If you’re a member of the library (it’s free) this book is well worth a read.
It was published by The Kerryman in 1983
The book still has the old library card in it. It had been taken out of circulation but kept safely.
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A Few more Irishisms
Ronan Moore fills us in on a few Irish conversation fillers that might baffle a visitor.
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Pres. Yearbook 2009
Having your artwork featured on the yearbook cover was a huge honour for a senior Art student. It often pointed the way to a future career in some artistic field or other. This is Jane Kissane’s cover for 2009 2010.
The marvellous men who layed out this course, planted the first trees, and maintained it for so long, would be more than proud to see the magnificent shape it is in today.
Isn’t it absolutely pristine?
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Ballybunion Community Market
If you are looking for that different souvenir of your holiday in Ballybunion or a beautiful hand knit layette for that new baby; if you are looking for the best of vegetables, preserves, confectionery or Kombucha, Ballybunion Community Market is the place to go. It’s in the field opposite McMunns.
There is Irish music to entertain you. Emily of Simply Devine Preserves told me that they will have new stalls added each week so it’s well worth a trip back.
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Sonny Canavan’s Dog
Mattie Lennon tells a John B. Keane yarn.
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Kerry Pride Festival
Last Weekend June 16 to 18 2022 was Kerry Pride Festival. While most of the Listowel events were happening at The Family Resource Centre , some local traders were also flying the rainbow flag.
William Street
Danny’s
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And the winner is……
Healyracing turned the camera away from the horses to snap Charlene Brosnan as she is announced winner of The Best Dressed Lady competition at Killarney Races on July 15 2022
Some of the finalists against the backdrop of the Killarney Mountains. Photo: Healyracing
Tidy Town seat in Listowel Town Square in summer 2022
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Coming into Cork
My friend took these as the ferry came up the Lee estuary.
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In the Ballybunion Market
I was in the Ballybunion outdoor market on Saturday July 9 2022. I met the lovely entrepreneur, Sarah Fitzgerald of The Green Green Gate.
Sarah was being helped in her enterprise by her lovely Mammy, Peggy Fitzgerald.
I bought elderflower cordial. Delicious!
“Where did she get the name for her business?” you ask.
Here is the answer in Sarah’s words:
The Green, Green Gate was a half way meeting point between my house and the local sports field on my family land.!!! We didn’t have phones to keep in touch back then so my friend, cousins and I would arrange to meet there in the evening or weekends.
The Green Green Gate simply marked the start of many adventures and fun times for us all. It was our Gateway to Fun !!!! The fields, the forest, the bogland, the stream, the trees and the wide open spaces were our computers and phones of today’s children.
How lucky were we !!!!!
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A Few More Irishisms
from this book…
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Church of the Immaculate Conception, Blarney
Blarney is one of those churches where, if you gave a generous donation to the cause you got a plaque on the wall. Other churches put names on windows or pews.
I’m presuming this is the man who set up Blarney Woollen Mills. It used to be known as Mahony’s Mill.
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Town this Week
Flags, bunting, green and gold everywhere and I expect to see much more of the Kerry colours flying in the next few weeks as we near the All Ireland.
Thank you Seán OShea, the Cliffords, Spillanes et al for lifting all our spirits.
The Black Valley is one of the most inaccessible places and also one of the most beautiful in Co. Kerry.
Recently a man, Michael Rodgers, posted some extraordinary photographs on Facebook. There are no people in these shots, just sheep and nature at its rawest.
These abandoned houses tell their own story.
There are some inhabited houses too, a church and a school, a community hanging on by the skin of its teeth.
Before they built Our Lady of the Valley church in 1955, people had to go to Derrycunnihy Church to worship.
“Long before the Lady of the Valley Church was built after quite a Battle to Build it the Black Valley Residents traveled from Lord Brandon’s Cottage, took a boat rowed by Teresa Tangney to a spot across the Upper Lake to a spot near the Derrycunnihy Church which was still a hike from the Dock which took a couple hours.” Michael Rodgers
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Presentation Secondary School Yearbook 1991
The early days of football for ladies in Listowel…
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President Clinton in Ballybunion 1998
Photo; Bert Griffin
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Ring of Kerry Cycle 2022
Listowel’s Ard Chúram crew were out in force volunteering as stewards at the very successful cycle. Unfortunately the weather was fairly miserable but the mood was upbeat among the cyclists and volunteers.
Dr. Colm Henry HSE Clinical Director with Árd Charm chairman, Finbarr Mawe
Timothy Hurley, Cahirsiveen, with Finbarr and Kathy Mawe
Volunteers, Angela Quinlan and Anne Donegan at Kenmare Food Station.
At the Kenmare food station, Anne Donegal looking after AC cyclist Fergus O’Brien, Cork
Cathal Walshe, PRO of ROKCC with Listowel Árd Chúram volunteers, Mike Moriarty and Brenda O’Halloran on Friday evening at the registration desk
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The Claddagh Ring, The Listowel Connection
Yesterday The New York Times’ Sandra Jordan did a story on the Claddagh ring
Walt Disney, Queen Victoria, Mia Farrow, Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts and Gabriel Byrne have all worn them.
200 Claddagh rings were recovered from the rubble of the Twin Towers.
These are some of the great titbits I learned from the article.
When it comes to a modern take on the Claddagh design, the New York Times has this to say about Eileen Moylan of Claddagh Design
In 2013, the Overall Winner at Showcase Ireland, a national exposition presented on behalf of the Design and Crafts Council Ireland, was a minimalist version of the Claddagh ring. The design, which eliminated any detailing on the hands, cuffs and crown, was created by Eileen Moylan, a goldsmith with Claddagh Design.
Ms. Moylan said she was 8 when her grandmother gave her a Claddagh ring. “It was my first proper piece of jewelry and I adored it,” the 44-year-old said. But when she studied jewelry design, she found the traditional Claddagh ring too ornate.
“I was inspired by fede rings, lovely, simple things,” she said. “I didn’t want to remove the elements of the hands, heart and crown — my rings are still recognizable as Claddaghs.”
Ms. Moylan, who makes all her rings by hand, does sell traditional rings, but she said her contemporary designs, which start at 196 euros ($206), are her best-sellers. She uses only recycled metal: silver, white and yellow gold, platinum and palladium.
A lot of customers “like the simple, clean lines,” she said. “I sell a lot of men’s wedding rings, they are not ornate. And an awful lot of men are getting my Claddagh rings as engagement rings.”
In 2017,commissioned by Writers’ Week, Eileen made an extraordinarily beautiful presentation piece for Brendan Kennelly. Here she is pictured with him on Opening Night, Listowel Writers Week 2017.
All of Eileen’s work is exceptional. She deserves all the recognition she gets.
