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: Personal Page 1 of 28

Tricycles, Horses and Memories

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On May 16, 2025

In Listowel, Personal

Ballybunion in May 2025

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George Fitzmaurice

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.

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In The National Stud

By

On May 15, 2025

In Listowel, Personal, Poem

In Listowel Town Square in May 2025

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Trust That Inner Voice

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A Visitor’s Perspective

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.

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Visitors and Visiting

By

On May 13, 2025

In Listowel, Personal, Schools

Church Street, Upper

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Post boxes

On my recent trip to Kildare I photographed some railway station post boxes along the route. I travelled from Kent Station in Cork to Kildare via Portlaoise.

Pillar box in Listowel town Square.

This one is in Kildare. This station that is currently undergoing a huge expansion as it now comes within the Dublin commuter belt.

Clíona and Aoife say goodbye to me at Kildare train station

In Portlaoise

This one is in Glenflesk on my way home to the Kingdom.

I have a dread fear that someone in An Post might consider these surplus to requirements. They are, in a way but they are part of our landscape and our history and so valuable in their own right.

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May Weekend Visitors

Reggie brought his human family with him to Listowel for the bank holiday weekend

We went to Woodford Pottery where Carine fell in love with Pat Murphy’s beautiful colourful tableware.

She bought three different colours in the end as she failed to pick a favourite.

We went to Pad Thai. Their English may be a bit hit and miss but they got the inportant thing right…the food. I’d recommend you give it a try.

We were in John B.’s for one.

Reggie did the river walk.

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Ballybunion

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Three French Visitors

In Lizzie’s, five retired teachers and one working one.

Nathalie Léger, far right with me and Catherine Moylan.

Nathalie spent a very happy year in Presentation Secondary School, Listowel in 1989. Catherine was one of her pupils.

Joanna Keane befriended Nathalie and introduced her to her parents. John B.’s became Nathalie’s local and she remembers John B. and Mary and their great kindness to her. She was delighted to meet Lily O’Flynn in Lizzie’s.

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A Fact

The Rolling Stones released their first album in 1964.

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Indianapolis, here we come

By

On May 12, 2025

In Ballybunion, Listowel, Personal

Corner formerly known as The Custom Gap

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One door closes….

New business in Church Street

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Fancy a Trip to Indianapolis?

Indianapolis, colloquially known as Indy, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County. Indianapolis is situated in the state’s central till plain region along the west fork of the White River. (Wikipedia)

Indy has a thriving American Irish community and they have just got a step closer to us.

Joe Cahill brings us the story.

Aer Lingus inaugurated direct flights between Dublin and Indy with a big gala yesterday evening.

We were there for the festivities – Céilí band, Irish Dancers, swag, fantastic spread of Irish hors d’oeuvres & more.  I’m guessing 300 people (+passengers) were there at the gate.

1 minute on local TV station shows LAOH members Lucy & Susan a couple of times.

Nice touch – the plane flying the American and Irish flags from the cockpit windows as it approached the gate.

Susan happy to see the new destination.

The LAOH welcome party

Joe adds, “Somewhere I heard that over 500 people leave Indy airport for European destinations each day.  Aer Lingus is hoping to capture a lot of that market channeling it through Dublin.

Indy has one of the nicest – and most efficient – airports.”

“We have several nice Irish pubs – and of course, those fantastic, huge breaded pork tenderloins.”

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Ballybunion for the MOYA Weekend

Reggie is cosying up to me as he sees Listowel as his home away from home in the fine weather.

Sunday morning on the beach was sunny but a bit chilly.

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In Kilcullen

On my Kildare trip I took in Kilcullen, a truly lovely little town.

Intriguuing piece of street art

I’ll be back in daylight to explore more.

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A Coincidence or Synchronicity

Sometimes two things happen at the same time. The two things have a relation but there is no obvious reason why they occurred at the same time. This happened last week.

My granddaughter, Róisín, went with her TY class on a pilgrimage to Knock as part of her wellness programme. The event was being held in memory of the late Donal Walsh. His father was one of the speakers.

Róisín is not particularly religious but she was very impressed by the events of the day. She prayed for me and she brought me holy water and prayer cards. I am the most religious person Róisín knows.

While the young people were in Knock the papal conclave was in progress. The young Irish pilgrims prayed that the cardinals would make a good choice. Then, the new pope was confirmed, Leo XIV.

On Saturday I read this in the Irish Independent.

Staggering coincidence surely?

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A Fact

The first International Women’s Day was obseved in 1911.

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A Play in Kilcullen

By

On May 9, 2025

In Listowel, Personal

Church Street Lower in May 2025

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Defibrillator

The removal of the door seems to be a deliberate act. It makes access to the life saving equipment easier but it also leaves it vulnerable.

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Another Business Closed

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Court Sketcher

This drawing appeared on the front page of the Irish Examiner last week. The sketching style will be familiar to readers of Listowel Connection.

The taking of photographs is not allowed in Irish courtrooms. Our desire to see as well as read about a trial is satisfied by sketches. One of the most popular court sketchers is the very talented Mike O’Donnell.

We know him better in Kerry as a muralist. He is also the very witty cartoonist who kept us amused during Covid.

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Let there be Light

Replacing a light bulb on William Street

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Kilcullen at Easter

On the Saturday evening of my visit to Kildare, I was back for an evening in the most comfortable;e little theatre in Ireland.

We were early so we took a little stroll around town first. Kilcullen was going full tilt with the Easter decorations

Nolan’s Butchers had a well dressed and eye catching window displays. Bunnies, daffodils and eggs were everywhere.

The purpose of our visit was this play in the Town Hall

Tony and Mary McKenna congratulate their daughter, Sinead, on another brilliant performance as Mairead in this darkly comic McDonagh play.

Sinead’s mother in law with Clíona before the play.

Mrs. O’Neill was in the box office at the door. Her husband and son (Andrew is married to Sinead McKenna) made the sets. Another son is in the cast. All in all Kilcullen Drama Group is like an O’Neill family business.

Those not familiar with the play may be shocked by the poster. The protagonist, Mad Padraig, ” too mad for the IRA” is a lunatic republican torturer with a soft spot for his cat, Wee Thomas. The cast included a real cat who, on the night, played a blinder in his short walk on part.

The play is very violent, a hard watch, but this ensemble did a brilliant job on it. They deserved all of the standing ovations in this sell out run.

I wrote about this group before when I visited their lovely theatre in 2023

Drama in Kilcullen

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A Fact

J.K. Rowling wrote the first chapter of her last Harry Potter book in 1990 – seven years before the first book was released.
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