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
My friend, Margaret came across this when she was looking for something else. Has anyone any idea who this Kerry Piper is?
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Listowel Races 2023
The weather was not the best for this year’s race week and I’m afraid I’m a fair weather race goer. I only made it to The Island on one day, Friday, Ladies Day.
My three children, Clíona, Anne and Bobby at Friday’s Races.
All of my grandchildren had school, except Aoife who is only 2. She was enjoying her first Harvest Festival of racing.
Clíona and Aoife posed for me outside the box where Clíona sold racecards many moons ago.
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Murals, New and Old
My visitors beside the newest mural and the oldest
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A Sobering Fact
The period 1347 to 1351 was a dreadful time in Europe. The pandemic known as The Black Death killed one third of the population. Physicians at the time had no clue what caused the pandemic but they recognised that it was highly contagious. To protect themselves against the disease they wore an elaborate beaked headpiece. This protective mask had a large beaklike container which sat between their mouths and their noses. The “beak” was filled with vinegar, sweet oils and other strong smelling compounds. It’s purpose was to counteract the stench of putrid flesh from the dead and dying plague victims, whom they were helpless to cure.
Folklore has it that this is the origin of the title quack as applied to a doctor.
During the week of the Listowel Harvest Festival of Racing, a local committee has always looked after entertainment away from the racecourse. The highlight of this entertainment is the All Ireland Wren Boys competition, traditionally held on the Friday night of race week.
Another highlight for many years was the selection of the Harvest Festival Queen. Betty Stack was part of the organising committee and she sent us a few photos.
Bernadette Sheehan, the 1994 Queen on the specially made float
Anna Enright, the 1991 Queen with the late Michael Dowling. Michael and Danny Hannon shared M. C. ing duties.
Dáithí OSé took over as M.C. for the last few years. The winner then went on to represent Listowel Harvest Festival in the Kerry Rose of Tralee selection.
Kathleen O’Sullivan 1993
Betty gave us a full list of all of the Queens
Harvest Festival Queens Through the Years
(With thanks to Betty Stack)
Rita Groarke, Moyvane 1989
Norma Carmody, Listowel 1990
Anna Enright, Moyvane 1991
Bridget Tydings, Listowel 1992
Kathleen O’Sullivan, Coilbee 1993
Bernadette Sheehan, Moyvane 1994
Ursula Carmody, Listowel 1995
Collette Carmody/Culhane 1996
Deirdre O’Connell, Clounmacon 1997
Elaine O’Connor, Ballygologue 1998
Sarah Griffin, Greenville 1999
Helena O’Carroll, Duagh 2000
Claire Naughton, Listowel 2001
Katie McNamara, Lisselton 2002
Olivia Dineen, Causeway 2003
Katie Shanahan, Causeway 2004
Ashling O’Donovan, Duagh 2005
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Progress
We’re a bit behind the actual work but I’m reporting to you in the order in which I photographed the creation of this latest mural. This is Sept 8 2023.
The next generation…Martin’s son, Jack, helped him out a bit on this very big project. Jack doesn’t want to be a signwriter and he was reluctant to pose for a photograph too.
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Mike the Pies has no Pies
Jumbo’s has no Elephants
When I came to Listowel first I was fascinated by some of the shop names. I was used to shops named after the proprietor. Listowel had shops with fascinating names like The Fancy Warehouse and The Cloth Hall and pubs with names like The Bees’ Knees and Journey’s End. There was a Serendipity, an Infidel and appropriately enough, an Enigma.
I hope this intriguing little Listowel quirk of giving a business a name which gives no clue as to what it might sell continues and leaves the curious visitor with a question to ask that many local people can’t answer.
Can you remember where Jumbo’s got it’s name?
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A Fact
Sean’s Bar in Athlone is the oldest pub in Ireland. It is operating as a bar since AD 900. The building is actually older. Google it. It’s fascinating.
In 1960 among the highlights of The Harvest Festival were a roller skating competition, a mothers’ race around the houses and a donkey derby.
Above is the poster from 1959 and below is Vincent Carmody’s account of Harvest Festivals in his youth.
The two main off course attractions during raceweek in Listowel were undoubtedly the Donkey Derby and The All Ireland Wren Boys competition. The late John B. Keane described Listowel Donkey Derby as “A fantastic flight of asses down the historic Church St. course.”
The heyday of the donkey derby coincided with the emergence of one of the best known racing asses called Listowel Factory. This donkey was owned by Paddy Behan of Bunaghara and many of my age will remember his terrific duels with Finuge Lass.
The course for the donkey derby ran from the boy’s school to Guiney’s in Lower Church St. now Mamma Mia. For health and safety reasons consideration was given at one stage to moving the derby to Charles St. This would give a straighter course and safer viewing for spectators. At the meeting to discuss this proposal, Mr. Denis Guiney, publican, asked to address the meeting as he heard that they were considering moving the event. He threatened to withdraw his financial support of this event if this happened. The records show that this support amounted to the grand sum of one shilling and six pence.
Another donkey derby memory is that on one race night the well known commentator, Michael O’Hehir was standing on a tea chest giving a live commentary on the action. The same night the excitement of the crowd at the finishing line caused them to surge forward and topple him from his commentary box.
In a conversation later with Thomas Ashe who was on the original festival committee, he told me that he had been appointed to organize the start of the race. The official starter was none other than Prince Monolulu. The first night over 80 asses turned up at the start. Thomas was wondering whether to hold 10 heats of 8 or 8 heats of 10. When he got in touch by walkie talkie with John B., who was running the event, John B. jokingly suggested that they run all 80 off together.
The Wren Boy competition was started by the festival committee in the fifties. Dr. Johnnie Walsh was the first chairman and John B. was the first M.C. The first competitions were mainly made up of local groups, Killocrim, Ennismore, Dirrah East and Dirrah West. Two of the original “kings” were Jimmy Hennessey and Sonny Canavan.
One memory of mine is of working in a bar in London in the early 1960s and Dr. Johnny accompanied by Jimmy Hennessey in full Wren boy regalia entered the bar. The bar in question was The Devonshire Arms which was popular with film and TV celebrities. One of these, Sir Bruce Seton exclaimed when he saw the goat-skin clad Hennessey beating his bodhran “Good gracious, They’re coming in from the jungle.”
I don’t remember children in the river chanting “Throw me down something”, and I am sure that this tradition only started in the 1970’s.
Nowadays no horses are stabled in town. There are close to 200 stables at the racecourse.
The following week it was back to school and life in Listowel resumed as normal. We were left only with memories, which happily we can still recall today.
Listowel Donkey Derby 1959 by Jet Stack
The weather being fine, being fifty nine and the races drawing nigh
To win the donkey derby sure our hopes were very high.
So we called on all the donkeys that might win cup or bowl
And we started preparations for the derby in Listowel.
The donkeys came in dozens, some were fast and some were slow,
But sure that’s the way you’ll find them no matter where you go
But we put them through their paces and we raced them past the pole
And twas all in preparation for the derby in Listowel.
We had Nixes grey and Driscolls bay, she showed a little blemish
John Joe brought our camera in case of a photo finish
When Lady Barney won the second race, Dan Riordan scratched his pole
And t’was all in preparation for the derby in Listowel.
Nedeen Buckley came with Sad Dust and Nellies Morning Dew
This was a kind of challenge race and t’was left between the two
Then Margaret came on Forge Road Lad, He’s the sire of a foal
And t’was all in preparation for the derby in Listowel.
When Shanahan’s Stamps came winning home, the crowd they gave a roar
They heard it back in Coolagown and down through Ennismore
Bob Stack got so excited, he ran up the winning pole
And t’was all in preparation for the derby in Listowel.
Scortlea’s Hope when going well, won many a thrilling race
He ran his best to half a length and that was no disgrace
But when Casey down from Dromerin, said he couldn’t run with goats
Sure his feeding was substandard, it was small Kilarda oats.
When Phil arrived on Gurtinard Lad, Sean’s donkey gave a wink
He started like a bullet and gave him no time to think
Our jockeys rode like professionals both fearless and bold
And there’s one thing I can vouch for; a race was never sold.
The crowd grew larger every night, they came from far and near
Elsey , Kit and Minnie came the winners home to cheer
We had Bertha , Paul and Bridie, sure they played their usual role
And t’was all in preparation for the derby in Listowel.
Eileen came with Kathleen and Bridge came running fast
Sure Mary nearly broke her neck in case she might be last
Ginette was there from London oh my heart she nearly stole
And t’was all in preparation for the Derby in Listowel.
So then when the fun was over and we picked our chosen few
We raced them down Church Street where we met our Waterloo
But such is life, there is always strife in trying to reach your goal
Still our hopes are high for another try at the derby in Listowel.
Among all the pomp and regalia of the coronation you may have missed this bit. Each monarch has his own individual cypher/logo.
This is Charles, the Third’s cypher. If he ever writes you a letter it will be at the top. In the unlikely event they ever place another postbox on a street corner in the UK it will be adorned with this cypher which is now the logo of the Royal Mail.
The king chose for the stamp an image without a crown or jewellery.
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Changing of the Guard
Pat Healy has handed over the reins of Listowel Races Company to David Fitzmaurice after his three year stint in charge.
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Michael O’Connor Archive update
I’ll begin with an apology. I told you that you could view the work of this extraordinary genius in Listowel. Kerry Writers’ Museum is not quite ready with their exhibition. I am assured it will be there for viewing by the end of May.
Apropos O’Connor’s winning the 1963 competition for design of the Irish Standards logo, David O’Sullivan has been delving in the newspapers and he found accounts of this very significant win.
The logo is still in use today. It is a marvel of perfect design. The photo of the design reproduced in the papers omits the essential fada.
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Celebrating Friendship
The Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma is the biggest native American Nation. We, in Ireland, have a special relationship with these people forged during one of the darkest periods in our history. They have now erected a memorial to celebrate our friendship.
In 2017 on a visit to friends in East Cork I visited Ireland’s Choctaw memorial just outside Middleton
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A Poem
Channelling James Joyce
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A Fact
“Sweating like a pig”…
Really?
Strange but true, pigs have no sweat glands so don’t sweat at all.
This is the only war grave memorial in Listowel cemetery.
This headstone in St. Michael’s graveyard was erected by the War Graves Commission to a fallen soldier of The Great War. The soldier is D. Daly who died on December 26 1918 at the age of 26. His next of kin was a brother who lived in Convent Street.
Does someone know the story? So sad!
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Remembering Listowel Races 2022
When looking for something else I came across a few Races photos I think I never posted
Martina and her two lovely daughters were racing on Sunday
Emma was out with her family enjoying family day.
Gillian and John had little Robbie at his first outing to The Island
Me and past pupil, Lisa
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Listowel Garden Centre Christmas Shop
It’s as good as ever for Christmas 2022
It’s great to have a smallie as an excuse to browse in the Christmas shop.
A bit early for the letter. But no harm to be preparing.
