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: History Page 3 of 31

Drivers, Footballers and Local People at Listowel Races 2024

By

On October 14, 2024

In History, Listowel, Listowel Races

Dough Mamma, October 2024

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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.

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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.

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From Jer’s Archive Trawl

May 1936

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A Few More from Listowel Races 2024

Mostly local people, friends and neighbours today

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A Corner in Abbeyfeale

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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

By

On October 11, 2024

In History, Listowel, Listowel Races, Personal

Looking towards Courthouse Road

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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People at Listowel Races 2024

The judges were Heidi Higgins and Rosanna Davison

Suitable shoes for racing?

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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).

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A few more from my Book Launch

Carmel and Anne Marie

with my great friends, Geraldine and Bridget

Eddie, Mary and Carmel

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A Fact

Adult cats only miaow to communicate with humans.

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Looking Back

By

On October 9, 2024

In History, Listowel, Listowel Races, Poem

Lovely door on Courthouse Road

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October Horsefair

The October horsefair was held on Market Street on Thursday, October 3 2024.

Love Tralee shared this picture of a Listowel horsefair on Market Street 125 years ago.

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At the Lartigue Centenary Celebration on Sunday, September 29 2024

Pat Brodbin, Michael Guerin and Michael O’Sullivan

Michael Cronin relaxing before the first train run.

Martin Griffin with some of the great memorabilia collected over years by Michael Barry and donated by his family to the museum.

This Tralee family is introducing this unique Listowel attraction to a new generation.

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A Poem for Today

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Sustainable Fashion

On the Saturday of Listowel Races the fashion competition features a different kind of dressing. Anne Leneghan and Maria Stack are wearing some preloved style.

Anne’a hat was fashioned from the material that was cut off to shorten the dress. She embellished it with an old brooch.

The criteria were slightly different this year. In other years, repurposing was a big part of the look and then this dress, made entirely from old neckties, would have been in with a chance.

These outfits look as good today as when they were first worn.

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Another Memorial

In 2021, on the 100th anniversary of his death, Kathleen Griffin took these photographs of the memorial to Jack Sheehan. This monument is about a mile off the Tarbert Road on the road to the right after Amber Filling Station.

Jack (John) Sheehan Monument – murdered by the British Crown Forces on 26-05-1921.

Jack (John) Sheehan Monument – murdered by the Black and Tans on 26-05-1921.

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A Fact

Until the early nineteenth century Australia was known as New Holland.

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Out and About with Camera

By

On August 29, 2024

In History, Listowel

Time to write…Display in The Listowel Arms

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People I Met

I met Mary and Cathriona McCarthy and Joan Buckley on Friday evening on their way to Revival.

I met Mary McGrath and her lovely daughter on their way to visit Peter.

Jessica and Áine were taking a break in Market Street Kitchen.

Three Mountcoal ladies, Chrissie, Eileen and Peggy were having a cuppa and a catch up.

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From the Archives

21 Sept 1912

New York NY Irish American Advocate

Chicago News;

A very pretty wedding was celebrated In this town last week when Mr. Patrick J. Buckley, of Clounmacon, Listowel, Co. Kerry, and Miss Josephine Sheehan, of Tarmons, Tarbert, Co. Kerry, were joined In wedlock. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. F. Quigley in the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Albany avenue and Jackson Boulevard. Miss Sheehan was dressed In white silk, and carried a bouquet of Killarney roses. Mr. R. Walsh acted as best man, and Miss Marie McKean as bridesmaid. After the ceremony at the church the young couple and their friends drove to 1039 Oakley Boulevard, where breakfast was served, after which the young couple went on a honeymoon trip to California. The presents from the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Buckley were numerous and beautiful. On their return they will be at home at Monroe and Ogden avenue.

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A Poem we Learned at School

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Ogham

This is the stoney corridor in UCC. It is the most marvellous free museum. Along the walls are stones/ boulders which have been removed for safe keeping from several locations in Munster.

Before there was paper, there was stone. People actually wrote on stone. Obviously if you were chiseling out every letter on stone, you wouldn’t write much.

These Ogham stones have the names of chieftans and important people carved on them. The name was carved in a morse code like system of scratches in the edge of the boulder. The name, I am told was read from the bottom upwards.

It is marvellous to have these great artefacts within touching distance. Of course we mustn’t touch them. We must show them the respect their longevity and historical significance demands.

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Caring for their Customers

This is a good idea. Be sure to tell the youngsters, just in case….

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A Fact

The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia (muk-an-hand-ra-do-dauter-hal-i-a). It is a 470-acre townland in the civil parish of Kilcummin in County Galway, Ireland.

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A Bronze Horse, Fireworks in Budapest and Historic Poverty in Dublin

By

On August 26, 2024

In History, Listowel

A snail in Wexford; Photo credit, Mick O’Callaghan

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What an Athlete!

The great Paul O’Donovan this weekend won his seventh world gold medal, this time rowing alone is the lightweight skull championships. He stayed away from any Olympic celebrations, where, of course, he also won gold in a boat with Fintan MacCarthy. What focus, what dedication? Superman!

AND let’s not forget that Siobhan McCrohan won bronze at the world championships as well. That was a great achievement too against a strong field of oarswomen.

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A Bronze Horse

Several people have talked to me about Tony O’Callaghan’s bronze artworks since I featured the ones I happened upon in The Bons in Cork.

Then Liam ÓHainnín shared this from a Love of History page on Facebook.

“The Jockey of Artemision is a large Hellenistic bronze statue of a young boy riding a horse, dated to around 150–140 BC.

It is a rare surviving original bronze statue from Ancient Greece and a rare example in Greek sculpture of a racehorse. Most ancient bronzes were melted down for their raw materials some time after creation, but this one was saved from destruction when it was lost in a shipwreck in antiquity, before being discovered in 1926.

It may have been dedicated to the gods by a wealthy person to honour victories in horse races, probably in the single-horse race (Greek: κέλης – kēles). The artist is unknown.”

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Budapest

People may remember my grandsons, Sean and Killian, who used to holiday every summer in Listowel. We used to visit Kennedy’s Pet Farm, Coolwood, The Donkey Sanctuary as well as Ballybunion, The Rose of Tralee and the Dog Track. Happy days!

Now the boys are young men and spreading their wings. This summer their travels took then to Portugal, Strasburg and only last week to Budapest. Sean sent me these photos of the world renowned fireworks display for St. Stephen’s Day 2024.

St Stephen’s Day, Hungary’s national holiday, is celebrated on August 20. It commemorates the first king of Hungary. There is a massive fireworks display on The Danube. It is attended by huge crowds.

Getting home on The Metro was “mental”, according to Sean.

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A Monday Kind of Poem

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The Bad Old Days

Dublin, 19 June 1915 – The Fresh Air Association has appealed for funds to allow it continue its work of sending underprivileged children in Dublin for a week in the countryside to relieve them from the troubles of life in the city.

The association estimates the cost of five shillings a week procures board and lodging in healthy surroundings for a child for a week. In a statement this week, the association claimed: ‘None but those who work among the poor have any idea of the happiness it affords the young people to see the green fields, and enjoy the pure air of the country.’

[Editor’s note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]

The above is from The National Archives

Jer found the following in a later 1920s newspaper…

At a public meeting in Cork a Fresh Air Fund was inaugurated for the purpose of giving poor children holidays in the country or at the seaside. The Lord Mayor, Councillor Daly, presided. The project was sponsored by Cork Council of Women, and Miss Long, Secretary of the Dublin Fresh Air Fund, explained the working of the scheme.

Does anyone remember any of these children coming to Kerry?

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A Fact

The Eiffel Tower was originally intended for Barcelona but the project was rejected.

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