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

Category: Ballybunion Page 5 of 23

Winners

By

On August 9, 2023

In Ballybunion, Listowel, Poem, Schools

Main Street in July 2023

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A Piece of GAA History with a Listowel Connection

A gaelic football team from New York, composed entirely of US-born players, won the All-Ireland Junior Championship on July 16 vs. Kilkenny. The captain of the team, Danny Corridan, is the son of Listowel native, Richard Corridan. Rich is the son of the late Dr. Robert & Ella Corridan of The Square, and he emigrated to New York in 1983, where he still resides.

Rich was one of the early members of Shannon Gaels GAA, a Queens-based GAA club which was started in 2004 and for which two of his (now adult) sons have played since they were little. Danny, now 25, has played GAA since he was 6 years old and has played with other New York teams that have travelled to Ireland over the years, including the Feile football team when he was 13, the College team, and the World Games team, in addition to the New York Junior team.

After the big win, Danny and his girlfriend Erin spent a few days in Listowel visiting with aunts, uncles and cousins. He paid a visit to John Bs where Erin was briefly a guest bartender and also fitted in a climb of Carrantuohill, Killarney races, and a visit to Skellig Michael.

Dan is a frequent visitor to Ireland and even spent a semester at UCD while studying for his degree in Civil Engineering.

Rich and his American wife, Marge, have three sons and one grandchild and live in Queens.

New York players and staff celebrate their All-Ireland Junior Football Championship final win over Kilkenny at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

The “county ” anthem on the day was Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York.

Richard is a credit to the Corridan family and their great love and respect for Irish history and traditions. The loyalty and sacrifice of all the families involved in bringing all of these young men to this level of footballing skills is admirable. This is thanks in no small part to Richard and Robert Corridan of Listowel. You have achieved a truly amazing feat.

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A Few More Names

Muireann O’Sullivan has been studying the photo of her old classmates and she has a few more names for us.

That class picture is a blast from the past!! Not sure of the year but we finished primary school in 1974!! How time flies! I am definite about some of the identities and those I am no fully convinced of I will denote with an *. Hopefully you will receive lots of replies and definite names.

Front row: Audrey Sheehy, *Eleanor Browne, *Christine O Driscoll
Middle row: Marie O’ Halloran. *Avril O Driscoll ……, Eleanor Costello *Ann Kennelly ….. Mary Daly – Margaret Stack ….. Annette O Gorman – Phyllis O Mahony
Back row: Norma Doyle, *Kate Kennelly ….. Noreen Canavan, Helen Daly, Máire Óg Hourigan, Dana Mulvihill, *Joan McElligott RIP …. Muireann Moloney, Ann Gammell

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Volunteering for Saint Vincent de Paul

The ever smiling Helen, Mary and Eileen were minding the shop on the day I called.

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August 15 2023

August 15, always a red letter day in Ballybunion’s calendar. Let’s hope this year is dry.

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Back chat

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Happy, Sad, and Happy Sad

By

On August 3, 2023

In Ballybunion, Listowel, Poem

Carmody’s AKA Sheriff’s Corner in July 2023

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Beach Hive

If you have a bit of time to kill in Ballybunion or if you are in search of a different locally made present, this recently opened shop is the place for you.

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In Fota

We took the little lady to Fota with her Cork cousins for the birthday celebrations.

Her first sight of a rhino in real life underwhelmed her a bit.

When you’re two, blowing bubbles is more fun than looking at animals.

The Cork cousins minus one.

The reason they are stuck to the phones is that they were in the queue for tickets to Coldplay. Aisling saw them play recently in Amsterdam and they were “fantastic”. No joy with the ticket hunting so she’ll have to live with the memories.

One tired girl with her Mammy at the oryx enclosure.

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Poetry Corner

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TFI Transport for Ireland

People waiting at a bus stop…in Listowel

This has to be Ireland’s most unusual bus seat. The seat was sculpted by local sculptor Darren Enright to commemorate the town’s success in the Tidy Town Competition.

A double decker bus to Ballybunion in July 2023

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Artwork, History and Poetry

By

On July 18, 2023

In Ballybunion, History, Listowel

Áras an Phiarsaigh in July 2023

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Happy Doggie

A very cute local puppy is wagging her tail on the double this week.

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Listowel World Centre of Celtic Art

Since attending Stephen Rynne’s talk on July 6 2023, everywhere I look in Listowel I see Celtic influence.

Carmel Fitzgiibbon with her late husband, Paddy Fitzgibbon’s beautiful artwork. There are three pieces of Paddy’s extraordinary celtic artwork on display in Listowel. One piece is in the offices of his old firm, Pierse and Fitzgibbon. This one was kindly lent to Kerry Writers’ Museum for us to see up close on the night,

My photos give only a small insight into this unique design of artwork. Remember there was no template or instructions for this. It is pure genius.

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Ballybunion Castle on the Internet

wild atlantic way castle and beach with beautiful reflections

Ireland and Peg’s Cottage

BALLYBUNION CASTLE!

Ballybunion Castle is one of fifteen cliff forts along the North Kerry coast; it was built by the Fitzmaurices in the 1300s. In 1582 the castle was acquired by the Bonyan family, which is how Ballybunion derived its name, but in 1583 William Og Bonyan lost the castle and lands because of his part in the Desmond Rebellion.  By 1604 the castle was back in the possession of the Fitzmaurices and remained so until the mid-18th century. 

Today, the 40 ft high east wall is all that remains of the castle.  An underground passage leading from the cliff face to the castle, was discovered in 1987. 

Pic. iStock, credited to morrbyte

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LWW 1974

Wolfgang Mertens kept a comprehensive folder of memorabilia from his sojourn in Listowel for Writers’ Week 1974. He developed a special relationship with Bryan MacMahon, whose work he was studying.

This is MacMahon’s postcard to Wolfgang, accepting his application to join the short story workshop.

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A Smile for you

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Summertime is Visitor Time

By

On June 29, 2023

In Athea, Ballybunion, Listowel

What a difference a week makes; St John’s under cloudy skies in June 2023

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Corpus Christi Processions

This year the feast of Corpus Christi fell on June 8. The tradition is to hold a processsion preceeded by this year’s first communicants on a weekend near the date.

Listowel procession photo from Listowel Girl’s Primary Facebook page

Athea parade photos by Bridie Murphy

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In Kerry Writers’ Museum

Even a short visit to Listowel gives time to take in some of our lovely visitor attractions.

Last week I accompanied Phil to Kerry Writers’ Museum.

Our visitor centre in the square used to be called The Seanchaí. A statue of Eamonn Kelly, Seanchaí, greets visitors at the foot of the stairs.

Phil enjoyed the John B. Keane room. She remembered attending his plays and always enjoying his writing.

I was anxious to show her the Michael O’Connor corner. The beautiful pieces look marvellous under the light in their climate controlled cabinets.

When you look closely at the above details on the St. Patrick’s Breastplate scroll you will be amazed at the intricate detail achieved by this super talented local artist. I hope many many Listowel people visit the exhibition this summer. You will be amazed.

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Varying Shades of Dolly

Brendan O’Sullivan rocking the denim and stetson look

Most people accessorised with a guitar, this man brought a skateboard

I met Phil adding a few sparkles to her outfit

If your footwear was too undollylike, people in the Costume Fixing marwquee had plenty of high heels to cowboy boots available.

Jimmy Deenihan as you have never seen him before.

The queue moved along slowly but in good form. Everyone had to be photographed and braceleted for the record.

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Meanwhile in Ballybunion

Ballybunion Golf Club annual captains’ weekend was a huge success raising funds for seven local charities.

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An Old Problem Arises again

By

On May 29, 2023

In Ballybunion, Listowel

May evening 2023 in Ballybunion…Photo: Alice Moylan

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A Few More Busking Photos

Every year friends of North Kerry M.S. Society come out to sing, entertain and collect for the charity. Busking Day is always a great day in the Small Square. Music lifts the spirits. The lovely people in Lynch’s provide electricity, counting facilities and endless cups of tea and coffee. Here are a few last photos left over from May 19 2023.

Some people sat and listened to the music. Some paused for a minute, donated and moved on. One volunteer left what she was doing and helped a tourist couple to take a souvenir photograph. Volunteers rattled buckets and stopped traffic. And the band played on.

Great day!

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Abbeyfeale Trip

I was in Abbeyfeale on Saturday and there was a vibrant craft market in full swing in The Square.

Here is the Listowel Connection I chanced to discover. My attention was grabbed by the most beautifully decorated cakes I have ever seen.

They are fifishadesofcake and they are based in Lisselton. Their cakes are works of art, beautifully presented. I bought two cupcakes as a present for someone who is herself a great baker and has decorated a few cakes in her time. She was blown away as I was.

These beauties are far too good to eat but we ate them anyway. AND they were as good as they looked.

You can catch them in Ballybunion Market from now on or you can contact them on their Facebook page Fifishadesofcake

Feast your eyes on these. For those in the know this is not fondant icing but butter cream. For those not in the know this is much harder to work with but way tastier.

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Another Book from Emma

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And there is was …Gone!

Monday May 22 2023, Market Street and the most expensive loo ever is

gone, never to be forgotten.

This is how our public convenience used to look. It was costing us nigh on €40,000 a year and bringing in around €1,000. It gave spending a penny a bad name.

A public toilet in Listowel was ever and always a contentious issue and the present plan to locate it temporarily at the old Neodata site is not meeting with universal approval either.

David O’Sullivan did a thorough trawl through the papers for us last time this issue came up when the contract for this one came up for renewal. I’m going to rehash the whole saga now. If you dont have time to read it now put it aside for a few days. I’m going to take a bit of a break from here to go and help my friends at Writers Week so, from Wednesday next May 31, there will be no blog for a while.

More on this saga tomorrow when a man named Kidney draws up a proposal and Listowel Town Council have a win in the Prize Bonds and a win in a category in the Tidy Towns to help fund the loo.

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A Fact

Today’s monkey fact is straight from my calendar. These “facts” are for entertainment purposes only. I recommend they are taken with a pinch of salt.

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