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
Stewarding, policing and commentating are important jobs on the day of the parade.
Some of the participants in the 2023 parade
Convent marching band
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Card Game in the Pitch and Putt Clubhouse
(Photos by Tom O’Halloran R.I.P.)
Card playing was enjoyed by members of Listowel Pitch and putt club.
In Tom O’Halloran’s photo Denis O’Donovan R.I.P., Con Whelan, Jerry Brick, Brendan Kenny, Bill Hartnett R.I.P. and Peggy Brick.
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Reggie’s Guide to Social Climbing
I enjoy Reggie from The Blackrock Road on Facebook so my family knew I’d enjoy him live. We saw him in his one man show in The Everyman in Cork. It was a great laugh, a snob’s guide to “bettering yourself”.
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Cork Murals
I was early for the show in The Everyman so I explored a bit nearby. These lovely murals were done during the pandemic.
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Upper William Street
Bernard O’Connell once shared this old photo on his Facebook page. Bernard grew up on this street in the house with the TV aerial. The two donkeys on the way home from the creamery are probably waiting for their owners to pick up a few messages in the nearby shops. The railings and wall lead to the railway bridge that used to be over that part of the street.
It is interesting to note that the houses in this historic part of town are still very much the same today as they were back in the 1970s.
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Ten Years Ago
The late great Mary Keane officially opened Craftshop na Méar ten years ago. The lovely little craft shop traded on Church Street for seven happy years thanks to Namir Karim.
Schools participating in Listowel’s St. Patrick’s Day parade 2023
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Áras an Phiarsaigh March 2023
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Convict Musicians in Australia
IRISH CONVICT MUSICIANS
(Text and picture from internet site Australian Historical Dance)
Especially for St Patrick’s Day we compiled a list of Irish Convict Musicians who brought their culture to Australia.
Between 1791 and 1867 about 40,000 Irish convicts were sent to the eastern Australian colonies. Although these only accounted for 12% of the total number of convicts transported, their culture had a distinct influence on the Australian psyche. Irish convict musicians provided music for celebrations, weddings (which could last up to three days), wakes, and for everyday entertainment, especially in public houses.
The great majority of Irish convicts served their sentences free from trouble and went on to lead ordinary lives. It is almost impossible to trace their musical careers. We’ve created a list of Irish convicts who gave stated they had a musical trade.
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Daffodil Day 2023
Friday March 24th 2023 is Daffodil Day. In advance of the day, I’m sharing this photo of two lovely Listowel ladies, Betty McGrath and Anne Moloney, lost to cancer.
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151 Years in Business
Congratulation to Sheahan’s celebrating 151 years trading in Upper William Street.
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The Big Busk
Photo; Marie Moriarty
This group of local musicians and many many more came together in Garvey’s Super Valu to form the Fealegood Band to participate in
Today fm’s Big Busk for Focus Ireland.
Photo Super Valu website
Members of the Fealegood Band, Listowel.ie and management at the Super Valu centre with the cheque for €1,288.28 which the buskers raised for Focus Ireland.
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A Little Known Fact
On Easter Monday 1916 as the Rising was taking place in Dublin, The Irish Grand National was taking place at Fairyhouse. The race was won by a horse called All Sorts. All Sorts connections had a rude awakening in store for them. All the trains were stopped due to The Rising and so they had to walk all the way home to The Bishopstown Stud in Streamstown, a distance of 60 miles.
Lovely statue of St Patrick in Harp and Lion window
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Vincent’s Window
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St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2023
Spectators on Main Street
Local Primary scho0ls were out in force this year. It was heartwarming to see so many young people taking part. Well done staff and parents. They were a credit to you.
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Credit Union looking back
Listowel Credit Union is celebration 50 years since the early days in Charles Street. The present committee brought out a booklet to celebrate.
I took a few pictures of the pictures in the booklet.
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More Pitch and Putt Memories
A few more of Tom O’Halloran’s photos of good times in the pitch and putt club.
Looks like a prize giving…a good few O’Hallorans in this photo.
Another prize giving
Fr. Kerins and Pat Walshe
This one looks like a bit of a party in the clubhouse; Brendan Kenny with his back to the camera, Con Whelan, Michael Walshe, Teresa Carey and Billy Moloney.
These recent stamps are based on The Book of Kells.
This is what An Post says about them.
Over half a million visitors view the Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin, each year but, on February 23, you will have the opportunity to lay your hands on two stamps that feature beautiful illustrations from this masterpiece.
The Book of Kells is widely credited as being the most renowned of all medieval illuminated manuscripts for its intricacy, detail and, particularly, the majesty of the illustrations. Measuring 330 x 255mm, the book is an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels of the Christian New Testament. It was reputedly created by Columban monks c800 AD.
The two stamp designs feature details of the profile of a lion’s head, a symbol of Christ and his resurrection. The FDC image represents a cat apprehending a rodent in possession of a communion host. The illustrations on some pages highlight how, in medieval monasteries, cats were seen to preserve the supply of food for body (and soul – chasing mice breaking into stores of Communion hosts.)
The images in the Book of Kells are called miniatures and were painted by artists who were known as miniaturists and later as illuminators. Abstract decoration and images of plant, animal and human ornament punctuate the text with the aim of glorifying Jesus’ life and message.
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Your help is Needed
Good morning. My Name is Allen O’Callaghan and I live in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. I’ve been pursuing my families history in Ireland, and particularly in the towns of Listowel and Ballybunion. My G—G grandfather owned properties in both towns, as well as agricultural properties south of Listowel. His name was Gerard J. O’Callaghan (1808-1888) and apparently prominent as he was in the local newspapers quite often. He had a daughter named Mary Jane O’Callaghan (1845-1923), who professed with the sisters-of-mercy as Sr. M M Louis. According to census records she was Mother Superior of a convent in Ballybunion. I’m having problems reconciling modern day locations with the family lore and actual known records. At one point I was told that a family home called Sea View Lodge was given to the Catholic Church. If you have any knowledge of any of these old locations and/or can recommend any available histories I can review, I’d be very much appreciative.
Sincerely
Allen O’Callaghan
If you can help Allen will you contact me on listowelconnection@gmail.com and I’ll put you in touch with Allen.
Today is St. Patrick’s Day, a day of rest and celebration so I’m just going to check in with you here. I hope to go to the parade and to take a few photos which I hope to post here next week.
For the day that’s in it a few pictures;
Michael O’Connor’s beautifully illuminated copy of St. Patrick’s breastplate now in Kerry Writers’ Museum.
The late great Michael Dowling in Danny Gordon’s photo of a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Listowel in the 1980s.
A more recent picture of Liam Brennan as St. Patrick.
