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: Schools’ Folklore Page 1 of 9

Horseshoes and Men’s Shoes

By

On June 17, 2025

In Listowel, Poem, Schools' Folklore

Kerry Writers’ Museum door in June 2025

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Exactly What it Says on the Tin

Leahy’s Corneer

In whatever language you choose, and at either end of The Square, The Square is The Square is The Square.

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From Schools’ Folklore

A rogue brogue maker

About fifty years ago in Listowel in addition to men making boots there was also men who used to make cheap brogues or low shoes. Every time there would be a fair in Abbeyfeale they would take an ass load of these brogoues to the fair and sell them in the fair just as people sell second hand clothes now. The best known one of those was called Johnny the Cottoner (O Connor) a brother to famous Patsy. Patsy used work hard making brogues up to the time of the fair. On that night he would be mad drunk. Most of the houses at the top of church street at this time were thatched houses. Patsy would roll home about midnight and break most of the windows up on his end of the street. He would take the road the following morning and would not come back again till things were forgotten again. These brogues were stitched by the hand but at that time the shoemakers used work by “lamplight” and often worked well after midnight.

Told to W. Keane by Mrs. Keane

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Mural in Athea

People and horse in Jim Dunn’s extraordinary mural

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A Poem

But You Didn’t

By Merrill Glass

Remember the time you lent me your car and I dented it?
I thought you’d kill me…
But you didn’t.

Remember the time I forgot to tell you the dance was
formal, and you came in jeans?
I thought you’d hate me…
But you didn’t.

Remember the times I’d flirt with
other boys just to make you jealous, and
you were?
I thought you’d drop me…
But you didn’t.

There were plenty of things you did to put up with me,
to keep me happy, to love me, and there are
so many things I wanted to tell
you when you returned from
Vietnam…
But you didn’t.

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A Fact

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Our Heritage

By

On June 16, 2025

In Listowel, Schools' Folklore

Listowel Castle in June 2025

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Charles Street

Charles Street’s Irish name is Sráid Uí Chonghaile (Connolly St.)

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A Heritage Shopfront

This beautiful shopfront on William Street is a fine example of work appropriate for a heritage town.

Beautiful sign

I even caught the proprietors at the door. Well done, Lisa. Lovely job!

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Progress at Lidl Upgrade

Still a building site but the foundations are laid.

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Connecting People

I get all sorts of different emails and messages from people who want to connect with Listowel people.

Story: Valerie O’Sullivan took this great photo of our very own National Treasure, Jimmy Hickey, in his workshop.

A researcher for the Oliver Callan radio programme saw it and thought it looked interesting.

Then the researcher, Susan, searched to see who might have contact details for Jimmy.

A few phonecalls later and the two are in touch. If Susan tells me in time. I’ll alert you when or if the programme will be aired.

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Schools Folklore

Bryan MacMahon encouraged the boys to tell all sorts of stories for the collection. He obviously realised the value of the project and he collected a huge body of stories, some true and some a bit hard to swallow.

Here is one I have no doubt is true;

Basket making was a very old trade in Ireland in years gone by. Cliabhs and sgiaths are still being made by a young man named Martin Healy Cleveragh Listowel. He learned the trade from his father. Twigs with which the baskets are made are growing around his house and in the winter time when work is scarce he makes baskets from them. When he has 8 or 9 made he usually takes them to the market on a Friday and they are bought by farmers. The high baskets are called cliabhs and are generally used for bringing turf.

The collector is Jeremiah Carroll. He got the story from Tom Carroll

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A fact

A snail can sleep for up to three years.

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The Best of us and the Worst of us

By

On March 31, 2025

In Listowel, Schools' Folklore

Beautiful Ballybunion in March 2025

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Comhghairdeas

Could they be more Irish than the Irish themselves? The enormously talented musicians, Yershovy Sisters, last night were crowned winners of the TG4 Réalta agus Gaolta. Ukraine’s loss, our gain.

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The Famine in Listowel

John Pierse included these extracts from the schools folklore collection in his book, Teampall Bán.

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Emigration is Hard on Everyone

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In an Unkind World

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St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2025

A few I took on Church Street

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Daffodil Day 2025

A few of the hard working committee in the very poorly lit Mermaids. Some beautiful blooms donated for Daffodil Day.

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A Fact

Irish magpies are suffering similar problems to Irish humans. Lack of houses, or, in the magpies’ case, nesting sites, mean that up to 50% of magpies don’t breed.

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Daffodil Day

By

On March 28, 2025

In Listowel, Schools' Folklore

Listowel branch of Kerry Library

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Daffodil Day

Today is Daffodil Day. To co- incide with the fundraising, the local committee has shared a photograph of the first Daffodil Day committee.

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Home, Sweet Home

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St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2025

A few more from the parade…rescue services

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The Famine memembered by schoolchildren

Extracts from the schools’ folklore collection are included in John Pierse’s Teampall Bán

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A Fact

A magpie can hatch three to ten eggs but, on average, only one or two from any brood survive to adulthood.

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Famine and Gluttony

By

On March 27, 2025

In Schools' Folklore

Corner of Charles Street and William Street

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Exotic Super Valu

When Super Valu got its makeover, it adopted a kind of rural Ireland in the 1950s vibe, using props like this pulper, wheelbarrows and pots etc.

Then you enter the shop this week and you are met by this big display of the latest sweet treat craze, Dubai chocolate.

I haven’t tasted it yet but reports say it’s delicious.

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Found in a Clearout

Spring cleaning threw up this memory from 15 years ago.

Front: Anne Dillon R.I.P, Mary Twomey, Margaret Daly, Geraldine O’Connor, Sr. Consolata Bracken, Mary Cogan, Sr. Nuala O’Leary, Bridget O’Connor, Margaret Walsh, Mary Jo Dowling and Helen McCarthy

Back; Collette Daly, Bridget Maguire, Mary O’Flaherty, Caroline Reynolds, Anne O’Neill, Breda Ferris, Brian Coffey, Mary Kennelly, Anita Barrett, Sr. Eilish Daly, Grainne Henry, Elaine Keane, Johnny Ryan, Teresa Culhane, Eileen Keane, Mary O’Connor, Teresa Deenihan and Norma Dowling, Geraldine O’Donovan, Lisa Whelan, Jane Gleeson, Dolores O’Connor and John O’Flaherty

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Bicycles, Tractors and Scooters

St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Listowel in 2925

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Famine Times

In his great book, Teampall Bán, John Pierse included some accounts of Famine Times in North Kerry from the Schools’ Folklore collection. The memory of the Famine lived long in folk memory.

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Progress

Mitchell McKenna has had a breakthrough in his family history research.

Looks like I finally got lucky – I saw a cached Ancestry.com page that said this –> 

Jeremiah McKenna

Birth abt 1858 – County Kerry Ireland

Death 28/05/1918 – Maude St Shepparton Victoria

Mother Brigid O’Donnell

Father John McKenna

The date / address info is correct – Due to the inaccuracy of Ancestry I am a bit skeptical of the other part – that might be “Bridget” O’Donnell who passed away 1900 aged 80 .. listed as a “widow” and Farmer’s wife – As for John McKenna – there is one listed as having passed away on 1897 aged 77 as a Farmer / “married” .. and looks like a son William witnessed ? 

I guess Rathea was a pure farming district ?  – and the above might fit the frame ?  – however for Bridget a 37-38 year old conception for Jeremiah in those days would have been a bit on the edge !! I’m guessing if I also perused Kilshenane Cemetery more would be revealed !

I’m wondering why Jeremiah emigrated because he was newly qualified, and things there might have been a bit better post the Potato Famine ? But I guess Melbourne was all the rage back then, being one of the most prosperous cities in the world at the time (Victorian gold rush) – and the looming expiration of the government assistance program for emigrants in 1883 probably cemented his decision and he took it up just in time.  

Cheers,

Mitch 

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A Fact

The collective noun for magpies is parliament.

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