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
The shopfront at Maguire’s Pharmacy, Main Street entrance is having a lovely makeover to bring it in line with the rest of the shopfront.
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Dowd’s Road
The work of expansion and building is going on apace at the top of Dowd’s Road. When I came to town in 1975, the gate here led on to the railway track. I’m presuming a family called Dowd lived in this house sand that they were the gate keepers.
I looked up Listowel and its Vicinity but could find no reference to any Dowds. Mybe someone will fill me in.
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Book Launch
Paul Byrne launched his For the Love of Kerry, a beautiful book of poems and photographs in Kerry Writers Museum on Saturday May 10 2025.
Poet and photographer Paul Byrne and Mary Cogan before the launch.
Paul poses for a photo with Anne Donegan who helped launch the book.
Music at the event was provided by Ian and Hannah O’Shea.
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In St. Mary’s
The ambo on First Holy Communion Day 2025
An Easter resurrection display
Everywhere I go there seem to be reminders of the late Donal Walsh. This icon in tribute to Listowel born Michael Morrison who served as a chaplain in Bergen Belsen concentration camp was presented to St. Mary’s by Donal’s family.
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A Fact
In 1920 women were admitted to degree programmes at Oxford for the first time.
This photo of the meadow beside Lidl is in my 2009 Listowel Through a Lens
This is the same field on May 13 2025, The field is now owned by Lidl and is being developed as part of their Listowel store revamp.
Patrick Godfrey on Facebook remembers when things were different.
Forever Childhood Memories in this field & photo!!! Spent my entire Childhood in this one field. The stories this field could tell growing up at the back of Ballygologue Park!!! Lots of fun times mischief tears devilment & craic!!!Hard to believe it’s all built up now with houses!!!It used take us to town down through Dowds Road/Old Road. And Now with the works happening on Dowds Roads / Old Road it’s gonna change forever one of the days!! love to go back just one more time.
(photo taken in the late 80s)
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Scoil Realta na Maidine Food and Craft Fair
Sunday May 11 2025 was the first day of the new Sunday attraction.
The venture got off to a slow start. Starting something new is always a challenge and on this particular sunny Sunday there were lots of competing attractions to draw the crowds.
Brew and Banter were there with refreshments.
The Keanes were out supporting their old school. Billy remembered all his old teachers as he tripped down memory lane in the schoolyard.
It’s a week later and I’m back in the schoolyard.
I have Clíona and Aoife for the weekend.
There are more stalls. There is music. Brew and Banter are doing a steady trade. News of the Market is spreading and people are adding it to their Sunday schedule.
I met lovely people.
Kerry was manning the stall for her craft group. They are raising money for a trip to Belfast for the knitting and craft show.
Clíona and Aoife met Anne Marie and Keith.
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Invitation from Kerry Writers’ Museum
Join us in Kerry Writers’ Museum on Wednesday 28th May at 6pm for the official opening of Kerry Women in Literature—a bold new exhibition honouring the trailblazing women who shaped Ireland’s literary heritage through the lens of Kerry’s unique cultural landscape.
Kerry Writers’ Museum proudly launches Kerry Women in Literature, a new permanent exhibition supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media.
From Peig Sayers to Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, discover the stories of thirteen remarkable women whose writing reshaped Irish cultural life.
Featuring newly commissioned artworks by five contemporary artists, this exhibition bridges past and present through visual storytelling.
The exhibition will be officially opened by Dr. Fiona Brennan, a leading expert on Kerry’s literary women and long-time supporter of the Museum.
Curated by Louise Lynch, with thanks to Executive Director Cara Trant, this is a landmark moment for Kerry’s cultural legacy.
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Because it’s Silly Season
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A Fact
President Donald Trump is a teetotaler. He has said that he decided to abstain from drinking alcohol after seeing its effects on his older brother Freddy, whose alcoholism led to his early death at the age of 43.
Last week Warren Buckley brought us news of the George Fitzmaurice commemorative plaque which has been removed from his former home in 3 Harcourt Street Dublin. Jimmy Deenihan organised a hooley for Kerry people living in Dublin to mark the unveiling of the plaque. I wondered if anyone had a record of that evening and sure enough someone had.
Eamon ÓMurchú realised that it was an occasion that should be captured for posterity. He unearthed his photo of the attendance on that night and sent it to us.
I recognise only a few of these people but I’m sure someone will help us with names.
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Photos bring back Memories
This exhibition of old photographs will be a great hit in Kanturk Library. Danny O’Sullivan took hundreds of photos of Kanturk events in the 1950s and 60s. He took his camera with him everywhere. He had his own dark room. His family with the help of Duhallow Heritage Society is now sharing his valuable legacy with us all.
This is just one of the charming pictures in Danny O’Sullivan’s archive. It’s carnival time in town and this is the start of the children’s tricycle race.
When I was in Kanturk last week I saw that one of the tricycles is parked outside Kelly’s in The Square.
It looks a bit the worst for wear but it is definitely one of the bicycles in the O’Sullivan photo.
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The National Stud
If you are going to visit the stud be sure to take the guided tour. If, like me, you are lucky and the day is fine, you are in for a treat.
This is my tour group on a May Sunday in 2025
Ross was our very knowledgeable guide. Here he is telling us about the stallions standing at the National Stud.
This is one of the newer stallions so his children havent raced yet. A date with him is a bit cheaper than one of the proven boyos. Because we had children in our group, the language of mating and covering was couched in romantic terms. There was lots of “dating”, often 3 times per day every day.
There is no artificial insemination used and horses are not cloned. It’s a hugely regulated industry.
These flags represent all the countries from which students of equine science have come to Ireland to work and study at the stud.
There is a huge workforce in a wide number of disciplines employed at the stud and the students help with the work as well.
Handling the stallions is a very skilled job and each stallion has his own dedicated handlers.
We were allowed to get up close and personal with some of the retired horses. They love mints. Ross had a supply on hand.
New foals are being born here every day. We saw some who were only hours old. Did you know that mares nearly always foal in the nighttime?
The setting is beautiful. The animals are stunning. There is much to learn. The National Stud comes highly recommended for a summer visit.
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Respect for a Fallen Comrade
National flag at half mast at Listowel Garda Station
Books of Condolence for the family of Garda Kevin Flatley R.I.P. have been openend at many Garda stations.
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A Fact
Canada has more lakes than all of the rest of the world’s lakes combined.
Carmel Hanrahan returned to her beloved Listowel at the May holiday weekend 2025. She took a stroll in the park and sent us a few photos.
River Feale
Beautiful tree in the park
Macushla was happy to pose for Listowel Connection.
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The National Stud
A highlight of any trip to my Kildare family is time spent in The National Stud.
Princess Aoife enjoyed having two doting grannies for a change.
The National Stud is not just all about horses. The gardens too are absolutely gorgeous.
This is just one of the many artistic interpretations of equine life you will encounter around every corner here.
There are marvellous sculptures dotted around the grounds. This toff has a very colourful history. Our well informed guide filled us in about this former owner of this magnificent estate.
This sculpture commemorates the visit of the Queen Elizabeth. The late queen loved horses and she thoroughly enjoyed her visit here.
It is unusual to have a monument to a living champion. Invincible Spirit is an exception. This most successful horse is now in retirement in the Living Legends Paddock . We saw him in the flesh later on on our guided tour.
I hope I got the right horse here!
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For My Kanturk Friends
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A Fact
The name Venezuela derives from the Italian word Veneziola meaning little Venice.
That property was previously owned by the Charity St. Vincent de Paul, and due to its location, was an ideal spot for National Council meetings when SVP members from around the Country would meet. I have mixed memories of it, it was where I first attended a National Council meeting. Some parts of the building were very old and the new wing was very cold, I learned very quickly to bring two hot water bottles for my bed when staying there at weekends! .
The Society used it as a Holiday Home and would bring people on holidays there for a week, and during the winter, it was often used by community groups, such as Scouts, et cetera.
In recent years it was sold by the SVPas patterns have changed with people going on holidays.
It is now owned by the Peter McVerry Trust who run a social enterprise from it.
regards
Máire
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Sunday Market at MOYA
I went with Reggie and family to the Sunday market.
If you want that special handmade gift for a baby, look no further that Josephine Kennelly. Once the Ballybunion market starts up for the summer, she’ll be there every week.
She will be in the Listowel Market in Scoil Realta na Maidine as well with her vintage ware
Reggie was a great hit. He loved the fair and all the attention.
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Stamps
Will we see the end of postage stamps as we know them in our lifetime?
Letter writing is only practiced by a few hardy souls nowadays and even then the stamp is often digital.
I was given lots of old stamps by a lovely lady. I have now given them to a charity that makes up packets of stamps for stamp collectors. Before I passed them on I photographed some of the huge haul. I was struck by how lovely these little miniature pictures are.
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First Holy Communion
The sun shone gloriously all day on Saturday May 10 2025 as the local children received their First Communion.
