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 2 of 29

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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Kerdiffstown

By

On May 7, 2025

In Listowel, Personal

Main Street, Listowel in April 2025

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Mill Lane Variety Store will be missed

It is really difficult for small local stores to hold out against the big giants, especially when the giant moves in next door.

Small local businesses like Mill Lane are invested in the community. It’s little things like these that make the difference. Santa will be missed too.

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Kerdiffstown Park

Outside Naas in Co. Kildare is one of the best playgrounds in Ireland. The playground is located on the site of an old landfill. It is just one part of a large public amenity with walks and pitches.

This is nearby Palmerstown house. The estate and studfarm have an interesting history.

As well as the modern colourful Playground equipment there is a park with rudimentary unpainted wooden play equipment.

Disabled children are also catered for.

Situated across the park is a series of 18 carved stones that tell a story of the local landscape and mythology – The Stones of the Hollow Hill. The carvings on the stones tell a story that draws on Irish mythology, the folklore of the surrounding landscape and the recent history of Kerdiffstown landfill.

The tale involves two heroic figures named Brigid and Fionn who set out on an epic quest to recover a stolen fire. The character of Brigid references traditions connected to both Brigid the goddess of pre-Christian Ireland and Saint Brigid. The character of Fionn draws on the stories of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the great warrior of Irish mythology who is said to have lived nearby on the Hill of Allen. ( Kildare Co. Council website)

Kerdiffstown Park is located in Naas, Co. Kildare. Following a 2.5-year construction programme (2020 –  2023), this exciting project remediated the former Kerdiffstown Landfill into a 30 – hectare multi-use public park. (Kildare County Council website)

Well worth a visit if you are there or thereabouts.

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Well Deserved Recognition for Local Lady

Listowel native Anna Guerin has been named Creative Businesswoman of the Year at the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2025 for her unique tweed coat business The Landskein.

This is some of what Kerry’s Eye had to say about her.

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Important New Initiative

Teach Siamsa Finuge will host a new series of monthly adult classes in traditional music, song and dance.

The upcoming ‘North Kerry Voices’ classes will focus on preserving on the folk traditions that have defined the Finuge area, such as the distinctive Molyneaux style of North Kerry dance, the dance music tradition of the region and the song legacy of Sean McCarthy.

The classes will be led by a team of talented and passionate tradition bearers.

Dance classes will be taught by renowned North Kerry dancers Jonathan Kelliher and Joanne Barry and instrumental music will be led by Sean Abeyta, master fiddler and archivist at Teach Siamsa.

Song lessons will be instructed by Donal Tydings and Peggy Sweeney, both exponents of the North Kerry singing tradition.

The classes will focus on sharing tunes, songs and steps in a relaxed and supportive environment and will be suitable for anyone who’s been meaning to return to an instrument, try Irish dancing for the first time, or simply connect with others through the arts.

(Jack Joy in Kerry’s Eye)

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A Fact

Las Vegas has 17 of the 20 largest hotels in the U.S.

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It’s a Dog’s Life

By

On April 17, 2025

In Listowel, Personal

Happiness is a bed in the shade

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Presentation Update

Yesterday, because of the upheaval at AIHS, I speculated that Mark Holan’s presenation might not go ahead.

Mark has been in touch to say that the Michael J. O’Brien presentation is indeed going ahead. Learn more at the below link.

.https://irish-us.org/events/virtual-lecture-michael-j-obrien-defending-irelands-record-america

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Handball and Pitch and Putt

Bobby Cogan stops to read his old friend, Junior’s poem about great days in this very handball alley.

Memories of the ball alley in Listowel

When school was o’re, our hearts would soar,

At meals we would not dally,

With homework done, to seek our fun,

We’d wander to the alley.

To toss that ball against the wall,

And combat every rally,

With pouring sweat we’d play‘til death

Those games within our alley.

With left hand or right we’d try our might,

Until the grand finale,

But win or lose, how we’d enthuse

On those games played down the alley

Each game was fought, the prize was sought,

The marker counts his tally,

The match was won at twenty one,

‘Twas victory in the alley.

But time moves on, the youth now gone,

No more do young men sally

To toss that ball against the wall

Of my beloved alley

Yet, memories hold of comrades old

Until the last reveille,

Of times gone by which brought such joy

Those days spent down the alley

Junior Griffin

Junior, in his prime, accepting a handball trophy.

It was handball that led to the establishment of the Pitch and Putt Club. Junior and others of the handball fraternity campaigned for the setting up of the Pitch and Putt Club. Sadly now hand ball is not played anymore. The sport is still alive and is played elsewhere but it has died out in Listowel. Meanwhile pitch and putt has gone from strength to strength

Sunday, April 13 2025. Who needs Augusta when we have this gem on our doorstep?

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Reggie visits Listowel Landmarks

People have asked me if Reggie is a greyhound. No, he is not. He is a lurcher, i.e. half greyhound. He is a rescue dog who was abused in a previous life. He was maltreated and left on the side of a road where a kind person found him, cold malnourished and covered in cuts and bruises. After his rehabilitation at the sanctuary he found his forever home where he is loved like one of the family. His sweet nature means he is easy to love.

He posed beside a few iconic Listowel landmarks as souvenirs of his recent visit.

at Listowel Castle

at the Tidy Town seat

at the statue of John B. Keane

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Not only a Green Jacket and millions of dollars

Look what Rory got.

He will be the host a next year’s champions dinner. Wonder will he have an Ulster fry?

Maybe not.

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A Fact

The world’s largest colony of bats lives in the Bracken Cave in Texas. There are about 20 million of them.

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Home and Away

By

On April 3, 2025

In Listowel, Personal, Poem

A Listowel Stone Wall

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If you feel like singing….

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Daffodil Day 2025

It was lovely to meet my former colleagues, Teresa and Mary, doing their bit on Daffodil Day.

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Billy O’Shea Remembers a Highlight of his Football Career

Above is the book and below is an account of the game.

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Cork Regional Park, Ballincollig

Aren’t these red and white seats gorgeous? Maybe an idea for our Garden of Europe…a few green and gold benches.

Fear na Coillte, Will Fogarty, has been hard at work converting the dead trees into works of Art. They willl be lovely when they are fully finished.

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A Fact

The second hand on a watch is actually the third hand.

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