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
Painted utility boxes in Ballincollig. I love this idea.
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Fitzpatrick’s Of Kanturk
Denis Fitzpatrick of Kanturk was a very successful businessman. In the 1960s he had three grocery shops, a bakery and confectionary and an ice cream factory.
Someone sent me this pennant photographed outside a shop in Cork in the 1950s. I have no idea why it was cream ices instead of ice creams.
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Date for the Diary
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Helping me Collect my Books
Paul, Eileen, Alice and Bridget having a first read of my book in Listowel Printing Works in Tannavalla on Friday, September 6 2024.
Listowel Printing Works is now in its busiest season of the year as they embark on the mammoth task of printing thousands of Christmas cards for schools all around the country.
These very popular cards featuring the children’s artwork are bought and treasured by most of Ireland’s schools. Designing and printing them, packaging and dispatch is a huge task for which Listowel Printing Works employs up to 50 extra staff and the facility works flat out.
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The Homecoming Symbol
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A Tony O’Callaghan Bronze
I thought that this plaque might be something to do with Writers Week. I was wrong. While O’Callaghan specialised in bespoke commissions, this is not one of them. Apparently he reproduced this one several times. The names in the book are the names of lots of writers, several of whom were dead before Writers’ Week came about.
Thanks to Vincent Carmody for clearing that one up.
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A Fact
A fingernail or toenail takes about 6 months to grow from base to tip.
Paul Shannon of Listowel Printing Works is the brilliant graphic artist behind the design and layout of my beautiful book, Moments of Reflection.
Paul’s attention to detail and pride in his work is second to none.
Here is a typical page. Paul took a colour from the photograph and put it as a background to the text.
The book is not a once off read. It is a treasure to be visited again and again. It has a hard cover, is case bound (i.e. the cover page is folded in under the front picture.) and the pages are sewn, not glued. It is built to last.
Mary Fagan will help us launch the book in The Listowel Arms at 7.00pm on
Saturday September 21 2024. There will be music and singing.
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It’s All About Timing
There I was, browsing in the St. Vincent de Paul shop on Saturday, September 3 2024, when a lovely lady comes in to donate this musical instrument. Nancy and Liz were delighted with it, a first for the shop and testament to the unique attraction of charity shops; you just never know what will come in the door. Nancy played a scale as a kind of test.
Now I don’t know how to play the ukulele (or any other musical instrument for that matter) but I’ve always heard that the ukulele is dead easy. I have a little granddaughter who loves to sing. She is constantly bursting into song or singing away to herself as she plays with her toys. I’m going to give her the ukulele as her first musical instrument. There is surely a teach yourself tutorial on Youtube. Her parents will love me!
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Advice from the Internet
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People I Met
Three generations of the Green family on their way for a coffee in
a dog -friendly restaurant, Thyme Out cafe, at Listowel Garden Centre.
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From the Archives
The Sydney Morning Herald
Nov 12 1849 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
.HARVEST PROSPECTS IN IRELAND. THE POTATOE. (From the Morning Herald, August 1.) WE have anxiously looked to the general state of the potato crop – which must after all be the staple food of our people for some time longer – and we are happy to say that there has been as yet no appearance of the fatal blight which destroyed the crop of late years, at all calculated to create alarm. We have, indeed, learned that there have been manifest symptoms of the blight in some few cases; but at this we are not surprised or alarmed, as the most experienced agriculturists did not expect it to disappear at once. Besides, in those years when the potato crop succeeded best, there have been always failures more or less extensive Newry Examiner. We (Cork Examiner) continue to receive the most favourable accounts of the potato. The Rev. Mr. Houlahan, of Listowel, from whom we lately gave a letter on the subject, wishes us to state, as the result of his confirmed observation, that from the brow of the Brandon Mountain to Tralee, and from Tralee to the City of the Violated Treaty, there is neither blast nor blight. ” Almost all apprehensions as to the fate of the crop has now vanished, and, as a natural consequence, a general restoration is taking place in public confidence, the results of which will probably soon appear in the improvement of business. We last week went through a large portion of the counties of Donegal, Tyrone, and Derry, and can safely state that a more cheering prospect of an abundant harvest we never witnessed the potatoes look beautiful. We were in a field of wheat near Strabane, where the stalks in general measured six feet and a half, with fine full heads. The hay is nearly all saved, oats and barley are nearly ripe, and promise well, as does the flax. The green crops also look well.
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A Fact
” Ah sure” is an indispensable Irish phrase, used to cheer someone up while stating the obvious.
Examples
— there’s always next year.
—no one died.
—worse things have happened at sea.
—it can’t rain forever.
—at least you don’t use that one for writing.
—it will be better before you are married.
I’m sure you can think of another 10 without too much effort.
The biggest night of September 2024 for me and my family will be the launch of my new book in The Listowel Arms Hotel on Sept. 21 at 7.00p.m.. Moments of Reflection is a collection of reflections, previously broadcast in the Just a Thought slot on Radio Kerry. The Thoughts are accompanied by some uplifting photographs.
The book will cost €20
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Listowel’s Monday half day
Remember we had this poster last week and I wondered about the year. Dave O’Sullivan to the rescue. The year is 1913 and the measure was not universally popular, as Dave uncovered in the following newspaper stories.
Monday January 27 1913 , Kerry Evening Star
And then on Friday, November 9 1934, Irish Press
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Castlemaine
Castlemaine’s most famous son is Jack Duggan, aka The Wild Colonial Boy, who terrorised Australia according to legend.
Cora posed with the statue of the outlaw she had never heard of.
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Tony O’Callaghan Bronze Plaques
This picture was shared on line by Gerard Leahy. Carol Broderick also has one of these. The names in the “book” would appear to be the names of the founders of Writers’ Week.
Do other people have them? Were they some kind of souvenir/reward?
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Fireman
In the early 1900s this is how a fireman dressed so that he could get nearer to the fire to better extinguish it.
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A Saturday Serenade
The local Knotweeds group, John Kinsella, Mary Murphy, Paddy MacElligott, Mike Moriarty and Denis O’Rourke performed in the Square on Saturday August 31 2024.
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A Fact
In AD79 Vesuvius began erupting on the feast day of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.
‘Comma’ butterfly resting on the Rudbeckia Goldstrum flower in the Wexford garden of Mick O’Callaghan who took the photo in August 2024.
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In Kildare Town
When visiting the Kildare branch of the family, I took a few photos in the town.
Cill Dara means the church of the oak. Oaks and acorn symbols abound in the town.
Kildare people are pretty proud of this fellow too. The statue of Bill “Squires” Gannon, the first person to hold “Sam Maguire”, stands in the Square.
“Regarded as one of Kildare’s greatest-ever players, Gannon was a regular member of the starting fifteen during the team’s golden age of the 1920s. During that time he won two All-Ireland medals and four Leinster medals. An All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions, Gannon captained the team to the All-Ireland title in 1928.” (Source; Facebook)
Recent mural of St. Brigid
The community mosaic is on the wall of the Heritage Centre
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Poem
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Music in The Square
Clíona Cogan in The Square on Saturday August 10 2024. Clíona was enjoying the music.
There will be music in Listowel Town Square on the next three Saturdays. Last Saturday the musicians were Ian O’Shea and friends. I don’t know if next Saturday’s musicians will be different. If they are, be warned, lads, you have a very hard act to follow. Last Saturday’s music was top class. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Some Olympics Lore
(research by Jer Kennelly)
Edward Barrett of Rahela, Ballyduff:
Edward Barrett was born in Rahela, Ballyduff in 1882 to father Thomas and mother Bridget Whelan. He joined the City of London Police. In 1901 he won an All Ireland Hurling medal as a member of the London Irish Hurling team that beat Cork in the All-ireland final. At the 1908 Olympic Games held in London he won an Olympic Gold medal as a member of the City of London Police Tug- of -War team, he also won an Olympic Bronze medal in the heavyweight freestyle wrestling. He married Julia McCarthy in 1910 in Middlesex. They are on the 1911 Census in High Holborn and I can trace them both in Electoral rolls until 1926 in St Pancras area – Chalk Farm, Regents Street and Kentish Town Road. He died c 1930s.
John James Barrett:
John James was born 1879, represented Britain at the 1908 Olympics and was a brother of Edward Barrett.
Tim Ahearne and his brother, Dan Ahearne from Dirreen, Athea.
They emigrated to the United States, Tim Ahearne had won the 1909 AAA long jump championship, in America Dan Ahearn set the first IAAF-recognized triple jump with 50-11 (15.52) in May 1911. He won the AAU triple jump in 1911 and 1913-1918, mostly defeating Tim, who was runner-up in 1911, 1913-14, and 1916. Tim Ahearne born August 18, 1885 died December 1968. Tim Ahearne won the gold medal in the triple jump at 1908 Olympics held in London. Dan came 6th in the Olympics in 1920 triple jump, he was born in 1888 and died 1942.
LEAHY Family of Creggane
Seven brothers Leahy all atheletes. Pat and Con were the first brothers to win Olympic medals. First brothers to two Olympic medals each. The first family to win olympic medals in all three jumping events.
Martin Sheridan won a total of nine Olympic medals.
Michael Collins of Currans competed in the free style discus at the 1908 London Olympics games.
1900 High Jump Pat Leahy of Creggane won SILVER 1.78m
1900 Long Jump Pat Leahy BRONZE 6.95m
1900 Hammer John Flanagan GOLD 51.01m
1904 3,000m S/C John Daly SILVER 7.40.61
1904 Hammer John Flanagan GOLD 51.23m
1904 Decathlon Tom Kiely GOLD 6,036 pt
1908 High Jump Con Leahy of Creggane won SILVER 1.88m
1908 Triple Jump Tim Ahearne of Athea won GOLD 14.92m
1908 Shot Putt Denis Horgan SILVER 13.62m
1908 Hammer John Flanagan GOLD 51.92m
Jer. tells me that the Ahernes and the Leahys had cousins in Knockanure.
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A Fact
Fidel Castro estimated that he saved 10 working days a year by not bothering to shave,
If it rains on July 15 St. Swithin’s Day, ( and it did), many of you will have grown up with this folklore regarding the date ie if it rains on that day, it will rain for forty more days.
Swithin (or Swithun to give him his proper name) was a 9th century Anglo-Saxon bishop and his folklore has survived right across England, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Ireland since. You even find it in Newfoundland or where people from these countries settled.
To be fair, it pissed down in Ireland last year on this day and didn’t really let up all year. However, I did hear it said that the bowld Saint Bartholomew’s Day on the 24th of August could cancel Swithin’s curse as apparently once St. Bartholomew’s Day comes, he’ll wipe all the rain and tears away.
That verse goes like this “Of all the tears that St. Swithin does cry, St. Bartholomew will wipe them dry”.
And speaking of tears, I’d say there was a lot of water flowing in England last night and you can blame the Spainish for that!
