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: History Page 2 of 31

The Big Wind in Kerry

Listowel Garda Station, February 2025

Pillar Post boxes

Pillar postbox in Main Street Listowel

Anthony Trollope, the novelist, introduced the pillar box to Britain in 1852 when he worked as a Post Office Surveyor in the Channel Islands. The first mainland box was erected a year later in 1853. At first local District Surveyors ordered boxes from local foundries. In 1859 a standard design was introduced. Wall boxes appeared in 1857, Ludlow boxes in 1885 and lamp boxes in 1896.

Each new reign brings boxes bearing the royal cipher of the monarch. Pillar boxes and wall boxes have been made in different sizes and with improvements to the design incorporated over time. A large number of different manufacturers have been employed and over the years there have been many experimental boxes put in service.

The Big Wind

I took the story and image from Joe Harrington’s Facebook page. He posted it on the eve of Eowyn.

Night of the Big Wind

The incoming Storm Éowyn would appear to be on the scale of the ‘Night of the Big Wind’, 6-7 January 1839. The centre of the storm to the north of Ireland is forecast to be as low as 938 Millibars (MB). The storm 186 years ago was 20 MBs lower at its centre. However, the pressure over Kerry at the height of this storm may well be lower than it was here on the night of the big wind.

In the 1839 storm, the number killed may have been about three hundred. It was calculated that 4,846 chimneys were knocked. How the fallen chimneys could be counted so accurately, and the dead so vaguely is strange. Trees were a valuable commodity and some Landlords had grown fine stands. These were valuable on January 6 and almost worthless on January 7, 1839. There was a glut of firewood on the market.

Many people lost their small savings, secreted inside the thatch when roofs were carried off. There was no weather forecasting at the time and the storm arrived unannounced. Winds reached 120 miles per hour in what was a category three hurricane. Twenty-five percent of the houses in Dublin were destroyed and 42 ships were sunk along the east coast.

From Kerry, it was reported that the “well-constructed Listowel Arms Hotel” was damaged and in the same town, the police under Chief Constable Fletcher were credited with saving many lives. There were no deaths in Listowel.

The 1908 Old Age Pensions Act came into law in January 1909 for those over 70 years of age – exactly 70 years after the Night of the Big Wind. Over a quarter of a million applied and within a year over 180,000 had been deemed successful. Contrary to popular belief, the acceptance of a memory of the Big Wind as proof of age in a claim for the Old Age Pension is not backed up by any records of the time. There is a belief that some official of the Board may have asked people who were having trouble providing proof of their age what they were doing on the night of the Big Wind but when large numbers answered “eating a potato out of my hand” that approach was quickly dropped.

Love is in the Air

Danny Russell is not only an excellent hairdresser, he is a top class window dresser as well. His Valentine’s 2025 window is a triumph.

A Poem Celebrating a Tree

Anyone who is familiar with the back gate entrance to UCC or anyone who works in The Bons in Cork or visits there will know this tree.

A Fact

In Finland 9 out of 10 plastic bottles and almost all glass bottles are recycled.

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When we read Bunty

Lower William Street, October 2024

Simpler Times

People, well, women anyway, of a certain age will remember this activity well. You cut everything out very carefully…not the good scissors, the one for paper. You glued Bunty to a piece of cardboard….a Cornflakes’ box was ideal, not too stiff to cut but stiff enough to stand up. Then wrapping the little paper tabs around her, you dressed Bunty. Hours of fun!

A Talk on Women’s Health

Shelagh Griffin organised and Katie Condon delivered a great talk on women’s health in Listowel Family Resource Centre on Tuesday last. Shelagh promises in future to alert me to similar events so that I can tell you before, rather than after the event.

Important tip from An Garda Siochána

Your IMEI number is the unique identifier of your mobile phone. Follow the easy instructions below to keep this number safe. It will make the job of finding it easier if your phone is ever lost or stolen.

Disappearing Verbs

If you remember anything about grammar you will remember that a verb is an action word and a noun is a naming word. Not so any more it would seem.

One doesn’t win a medal any more. One medals.

One doesn’t score a goal. One goals.

One doesn’t sit on the bench. One is benched or even sidelined.

We don’t put a question on the table. We table a question.

You don’t go on holiday, you holiday.

The list goes on.

Look what I bought in the Vincent de Paul shop

Prepare to be mesmerised.

From the Archives

IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News 8 January 1920

FURTHER OUTRAGES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Jan. 5. Constable Clarke, while walking in a street at Ballylongford, was shot from behind a wall, 150 pellets lodging in his neck and shoulders. His condition is critical. A number of men waylaid a police patrol who were protecting a loyal farmer in North Clare. A brisk exchange of shots followed, one constable being wounded. His comrades, using grenades, routed their assailants. This is the first time grenades have been used. Military aeroplanes are patrolling throughout Ireland, particularly in the neighbourhood of Carrigtohill, to prevent further assemblies that might lead to a recurrence of outrages. The police in Cork visited prominent Sinn Feiners and interrogated them, regarding their movements on Saturday. Sinn Feiners are contesting all the 80 seats in the Dublin Corporation elections—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Hospice Coffee Morning

A few photos of people who attended the best coffee morning ever in The Listowel Arms on Thursday October 17 2024

A Fact

With 980 known species bats make up 23 per cent of all known mammals by species.

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Different Sports

Photo: Chris Grayson in Killarney National Park…2024 rut

Where I was Yesterday

Volunteers were everywhere, Selling tickets, baking and serving, playing the piano, finding chairs for the huge crowd who came to support and generally ensuring that the annual Kerry Hospice coffee morning was an outstanding success.

I took lots of photos, so you will be seeing lots of the lovely people who attended in upcoming posts.

The Sales

In the days before online shopping, shops used to hold much anticipated end of season sales. A few hot ticket items would be greatly reduced and these would be available to shoppers on a first come first served basis. This led to competitive queueing and a mad scramble once the doors opened.

The queue at Roches Stores, Cork for one such sale. The queues and, in this case, the shop is no more.

My Weekend in Ballincollig

Last weekend found me in this little theatre for a festival of one act plays. The calibre of play and of acting was very varied but it was a worthwhile exercise and I enjoyed a return to live theatre which I had missed for a while.

Saturday saw me in Belgooley where hundreds of underage lady footballers from local clubs were trying out for mid Kerry teams. It is heartwarming to see so many young girls actively involved in Gaelic games. The turn out was a great credit to the mentors who coach and encourage these young ladies week in week out.

Sunday and I was in Lakewood tennis club supporting my daughter in the first round of the winter league tennis. Cora joined us after victory with her soccer team in their first round national championship soccer game.

Sunday lunch in Kanturk with my Kanturk besties.

The book tour is due in Kanturk on Friday, October 25th at 7.30 in the Linn gorm Community Hall (P51 YC57). Stuart, the bull, who is one of the stars of Moments of Reflection, won’t be in attendance but his family will. If you are reading this in North Cork, do join us. We won’t have any music this time but we will have a party, hosted by my star baker sister-in-law.

Sad story from the Internet

Did you sing this as a child? .

Explanation below, where this song came from..

This old man he played one

He played nick nack on my drum

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played two

He played nick nack on my shoe

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played three

He played nick nack on my tree

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played four

He played nick nack on my door

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played five

He played nick nack on my hive

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played six

He played nick nack on my stick

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played seven

He played nick nack on my deven

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played eight

He played nick nack on my gate

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played nine

He played nick nack on my vine

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played ten

He played nick nack on my hen

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This rhyme is thought to relate to Irish beggars who arrived in England during the British genocide which lasted between 1845 to 1852 and  resulted in millions of deaths. Paddies’ as they were known would sell ‘knick knacks’ door to door, also playing a rhythm of ‘nick nack’ using spoons, in the hope of receiving some pennies. According to the tale, they’d be given a ‘whack’ and sent on their way, while their dog would be given a bone.

Last few photos from Listowel Harvest Festival of Racing 2024

John tries to get back to his native Listowel every year during race week.

I met Eileen at the parade ring spotting form.

Bridget and John always enjoy a day at the races.

Niamh and friends with their inventive headgear.

These Ballyduff sisters were reunited for Listowel Races.

A Fact

Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day.

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Drivers, Footballers and Local People at Listowel Races 2024

Dough Mamma, October 2024

Older Drivers

Kerry County Council held an Age Friendly Conference for older drivers in The Rose Hotel on Tuesday October 8 2024.

If you are wondering at what age you become an “older’ driver: 55, apparently. You may have noticed since Covid the term Age Friendly appearing in parking spaces. It’s a kind of euphemism for “Reserved for Old People”. It’s a misleading term as it’s certainly not friendly to twenty somethings.

Now this seminar was free for us oldies but you had to reserve your place through the booking site, Eventbrite. It doesn’t really take a genius to know that that alone is off-putting for many older people. Next time you, Kerry County Council, organise a seminar for older people make it ring to book your place or even send a text message. Eventbrite is fine for concerts and shows.

90 year old Anna May McHugh was the guest of honour. Anna May is seated beside the Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Breandán Fitzgerald. Breandán welcomed us and told us that Kerry is an Age Friendly County. The newly appointed chair of the Older People’s Council, Kerry, Catherine Lenihan, addressed us as well.

Then followed some excellent speakers. I’m not going to go through it all but here are a few facts:

Environmental factors are usually weather related, e.g. icy roads or sun glare.

Even if you are old and one of the above is an issue for you, you may still be able to get a restricted driving licence, e.g restricted to driving in daylight or to a radius of 30 kms from your home.

Having listened to all the really good speakers we then got tea and a scone or two and we were free to find our inner child and visit the stands gathering a bag of swag to take home. I felt like a child at the summer show with my free pen and my trolley token, my air freshener and my hi viz jacket.

It was a really worthwhile event, well worth repeating.

From the Swap Box

In Listowel Library there is this marvellous resource. It’s a swap box, where you can leave a book and collect a book. You don’t have to donate to collect. Sometimes it’s oversubscribed, and you have to take home your “donation”. I love it and I have found many treasures there. Last week I took three old Ballydonoghue Magazines from the box. Look what I found:

Two very promising footballers receiving an award from a former footballer who too fulfilled his young promise.

From Jer’s Archive Trawl

May 1936

A Few More from Listowel Races 2024

Mostly local people, friends and neighbours today

A Corner in Abbeyfeale

A Fact

In 1737, a cyclone in Calcutta, India is believed to have killed 300,000 people and caused 40 foot waves.

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Horse Fair and Horse Races

Looking towards Courthouse Road

Two Jostle Stones in Ballincollig

According to Wikipedia a jostle stone is “A guard stone, jostle stone or chasse-roue (French lit. “wheel chaser”), is a projecting metal, concrete, or stone exterior architectural element located at the corner and/or foot of gates, portes-cochères, garage entries, and walls to prevent damage from vehicle tires and wheels.”

Nineteenth century towns were very dependent on the horse. These stones were put in place at entrances in order to jostle the cart wheels away from walls.

There are many jostle stones still in place in Listowel. Look out for them is you are walking in town.

Listowel, an Autism Friendly Town

This sign is at Garvey’s Super Valu. Many businesses in town are adapting to make Listowel a more welcoming town for people with autism.

At the October HorseFair

Market Street

A young horse man

These little miniature horses are Falabella. They cost about the same as your high end puppy. Of course you can’t ride them as they are far too small but they make lovely outdoor pets or companions for horses or donkeys.

This man from Galbally in Co. Limerick introduced these little ponies to this part of the world. Business was slow at the October horse fair but he says that there is steady demand for these lovely creatures.

These men were on hand to inform people about fire safety in the home this winter.

One Hundred Years since The Lartigue

The beautiful replica train before its centenary run on Sunday September 29 2024. Pat Brodbin at the controls.

One of four flying gate wheels now it the museum

Martin Griffin and Jimmy Deenihan, two men who are passionate about the monorail and museum

Jimmy and Sean greeting the first passengers of the day

People at Listowel Races 2024

The judges were Heidi Higgins and Rosanna Davison

Suitable shoes for racing?

1945 death of a lady with a Listowel Connection

The Telegraph

Aug 16 1945  •  Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Late Miss C. Hewson The death has occurred of Miss Caroline Hewson, at the home of her late sister, Mrs F. J. Macgillycuddy, at Eagle Junction. Some weeks ago Miss Hewson fell and broke her hip. After several weeks in a private hospital she returned to her home at Eagle Junction, but did not rally from shock, which was too great for her advanced years. the Miss Hewson was second daughter of the late Mr William Minchin Hewson, and was borne at Finuge House, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland. some years she lived at Stanthorpe, where she was widely known. Her surviving sisters are Mesdames For R M. King (Brisbane), and Murdo Mackenzie (Southport).

A few more from my Book Launch

Carmel and Anne Marie

with my great friends, Geraldine and Bridget

Eddie, Mary and Carmel

A Fact

Adult cats only miaow to communicate with humans.

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