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: Listowel Page 78 of 182

Charles Street Mural

By

On September 15, 2023

In Listowel

Courthouse Road

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The Mural

London has Banksy; Listowel has Martin Chute. Martin is much more of a purist. His public artworks are done, not with spray cans and stencils but with brushes and masking tape.

I am privileged to watch this artist at work and to see this masterpiece take shape before my eyes.

Saturday September 9 2023

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Listowel in Bloom

Every road facing window at Scoil Realta na Maidine is adorned with flowers.

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Irish Nurses in England

There is a long tradition of Irish girls going to England to train as nurses. Jer Kennelly found this photo and account for us.

Jan 26 1957 New York Advocate

The Gulson Hospital Coventry employs a total of 191 nurses, 18 nursing auxiliaries and 24 nursing cadets. Of these 50 are Irish. ——————————–

Some names      

T. Kennelly. (Kerry); Nuala M. McNamara, (Limerick); Helen A. O’Malley, (Mayo); Ellen McCarthy, (Kerry); Mary A- Keane, (do. and Johanna C. Cunningham, (Kerry); Julia Johnson, (Laois)

I would love to hear from any local lady who has memories of nursing training in Britain.

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Prayer I Picked up in Baile Mhuirne

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A Muslim Fact

This is the tallest building in the world. It is The Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Ramadan is a month -long period of fasting, prayers and good works observed by Muslim people. They fast between the hours of sunrise and sunset.

Residents of this building who live above the 80th floor have to wait 2 to 3 minutes longer than people on the ground to end their daily fast.

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Ballyvourney

By

On September 14, 2023

In Listowel

Veterinary Centre, The Square

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Crann na Scéalta

Have you wondered what the story is as you passed this marvellous sculpture on your way through Ballyvourney?

Here, before they bypass it, is the story.

The tree stands in the grounds of Scoil Abán Naofa.It was a tree that had grown so tall that it was beginning to block the light from the school’s windows as well as posing a threat to life should it ever fall in a storm.

The tree is a Monterey Cypress and it was planted by a local schoolboy Seán Jerh OCeilleachair over 100 years ago. It seemed a shame to just chop it down so they set up a committee locally to see what they could do to preserve it.

They brought in a tree sculptor.

“Sculptor John Hayes has been inspired by the stories that pupils in the school have gathered together and will feature a wide compendium of local heroes and legends in Crann na Scéalta/The Tree of Stories. These include Naomh Gobnait who found the nine white deer she had been shown in a vision in a grove above the village of Baile Mhúirne and, following the message she had been given, founded an abbey there. They also include the story of Nurse Singleton, a legendary figure in the parish from the last century and who is being included, according to Sam Morton of the Tree Committee, as a tribute to local health workers who provided vital care during the Pandemic.” (The Corkman)

These and lots more stories and legends are preserved forever in this gloriously original form.

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Progress on the Martin Chute Mural

September 8 2023 was exceptionally warm and humid. It was evening time when I went to Pat Nolan’s gable to check up on progress. I did not expect the artist to be there but Martin was back at his task.

This man is painting this huge work from ladders!

Not content with distracting him myself I invited a passer by, Mary Broderick, to pose with him. Mary loves Martin’s work.

Martin is a master of reusing and recycling. Don’t you love his paint pot?

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Guide to Listowel in the 1960’s

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A Fact

In most American states, a wedding ring cannot be counted as an asset in bankruptcy proceedings. A creditor cannot seize a wedding ring no matter how much the debtor owes.

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Listowel, Then and Now

By

On September 13, 2023

In Listowel

Listowel Fire Station at evening in September 2023

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Listowel Food Fair 2023

November 9th to 13th November 2023

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Flowers

Lovely Listowel is greatly enhanced in September 2023 by beautiful floral displays.

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The Last of the Concerts (for now)

Kerry Sentinel, Saturday, 17 March, 1906; Page: 4

Grand Entertainment at Ballylongford

LECTURE AND CONCERT. On Friday night last a highly interesting entertainment consisting of a lecture on the Irish Brigade, illustrated with lantern slides by Mr Thos F O’Sullivan, Listowel, concert of Irish music was held in Ballylongford and was well attended.

The Rev Fr. Pierce, P.P, presided, and was supported by the Rev Fr. Enright, Sacramento, and the Rev J Dillon, C.C, Ballylongford. At the conclusion of the address, a hearty vote of thanks was tendered to the lecturer on the proposition of Fr Enright, seconded by Fr. Dillon.

The concert opened with the children’s chorus “Erin the Tear,” which was harmoniously rendered. ” An incident of ’98” by  Misses Bride Shanahan and Bessie Fitzmaurice was warmly received. Hour hath Come by the same young ladies, with Miss Maggie Carmody, was a decidedly attractive and humorous item and richly deserved the applause bestowed on it. Miss Collins and Miss Carmody were responsible for the training of the children in these contributions, which certainly reflected credit on them.

Miss Shanahan sang ” Carrigdhoun,” and was warmly applauded while Mr Jas Leahy’s recitation, ” Fontenoy,” was extremely  popular. The duet ” Molly Bawn,” by Miss O Grady and Mr R Jones was much appreciated, and the Irish step-dancing of Messrs Hanrahan and Ahern evoked well deserved applause. In addition, Messrs ? Cotter and O Shaughnessy, Listowel, contributed largely to the success of the entertainment, which from start to finish was interesting, attractive and instructive. We understand a somewhat similar entertainment will be shortly held in Ballylongford when the lecture will be delivered by the Rev Fr. Enright, Sacramento.

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Another Gold

Representing Listowel Tidy Towns in Clonakilty on Monday last, Jimmy Moloney, Julie Gleeson and Breda McGrath picked up a well deserved 13th gold medal. In early October we’ll know the national result.

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Baile Mhúirne

This lovely little linear village on the road to Cork is soon to be bypassed. I dropped into the church on my way past last week.

Eucharistic adoration was in progress so I couldn’t do too much wandering around. The church was beautifully kept but obviously built in poorer times, with little enough stained glass and no mosaic work.

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1960’s Guide

Two businesses now the stuff of memory

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A Fact

In 1492 Pope Innocent VII was dying. On the advice of his physicians he drank the blood of three young donors. He was convinced that this would keep him young and healthy. It didn’t. He died shortly after.

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Harvest Festival Queens

By

On September 12, 2023

In Festivals, Listowel, Listowel Races

William Street

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On Church Street Upper

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Listowel Harvest Festival Queens

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.

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Remembering the Convent

By

On September 11, 2023

In Listowel

McKenna’s Corner Aug 2023

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Lixnaw Carnival Queen

Listowel’s own Betty Stack was once Lixnaw’s Carnival Queen

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Presentation Convent, Listowel

Margaret McGrath was remembering her beloved sister, Betty and her dear aunt Sr. Gemma and she sent us these memories of the convent.

Some teachers from the secondary school who went to say goodbye to the sisters before the convent closed.

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An Official Guide to Listowel

In the 1960s Listowel UDC brought out an official guide to the town. Wolfgang Mertens purchased a copy when he came to town to attend Writers’ Week 1969. He kept his copy and now shares it with us.

God and Mammon

Listowel was well served with churches and banks.

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The Canvas is ready

The nearby Mill Lane mural

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Listowel Men Reunited at Wilco

Enjoying the concert on Saturday night were David Reen, Seán O’Sullivan, Gavin Buckley and Bobby Cogan, all with a Listowel connection.

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A Fact

Indonesia is the world’s largest island country. It has more than 13,000 islands.

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