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 2 of 8

Floods and Prayers

By

On November 28, 2024

In Asdee, Listowel, Poem, Schools' Folklore

Listowel Arms Christmas Tree 2024

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When Life in Asdee was Full of Prayers

Eddie Murphy , aged 14 in 1937 submitted a long list of prayers to the Folklore archive.

Here are a few;

“God bless us” is said when a person sneezes.

“God bless all here” is said when a person enters a house.

“God bless the hearers” is said when a person hears of an accident occuring or some other serious happening.

“I. P. R. I.” – a person puts those letters on his forehead when going to bed and repeats the following words: “My Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews save me from a sudden and unprepared death”. If those words are said a person will not get a sudden death.

“The Lord have mercy on the dead” Is said when a person dies.

“The Lord between us and harm” Is said when a person hears of some bad happening.

“God speed the work” is said when a person is seen hard working.

“God speed you” is said to a person going on a journey.

“God save all here” is said by a person when he enters a house.

“God bless the mark” is said when a person speaks of a máchail of another person.

“The Lord have mercy on the poor souls” is said when a person takes a pinch of snuff.

That the harms of the year may go with him” it is said when something dies.

When going to bed the following prayer is repeated: “Here I lay down my head to sleep, to God I give my soul to take. Wake now wake never, to God I give my soul for ever. There are four corners in my bed there are four angels at my head. St. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, God bless this bed that I lie on, and if any evil comes to me, the Lord of heaven protect me, and if I die before I wake to God I give my soul to take.

“The Lord forgive me my sins” is said when a person says a curse.

“As St. Peter was standing on a marble stone at the gate of Jerusalem our Lord Jesus said to him “What ails thee Peter?

O Lord Jesus I am suffering from a toothache.

Peter thou shall be healed.

Anyone that keeps this in memory or about them shall never suffer from a toothache”. This prayer is repeated nine times after each other. The person must have belief in the prayer.

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Saturday Nov. 23 2024 in Bridge Road

Bridge Road was closed to traffic.

Emergency service people were doing all they could.

The water edged further up the road and into the park after I left.

I lit a candle and said a prayer on my way home.

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History Repeats Itself

(from the National Archives)

NAI REFERENCE:CSO/RP/1822/811
TITLE:William Ponsonby, Listowel, County Kerry: request for financial aid as compensation for losses sustained by flood of 16 August
SCOPE & CONTENT:Letter from William Ponsonby, chairman, District Committee, Listowel, County Kerry, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, pleading for financial aid as compensation for losses sustained by a flood of 16 August in the baronies of Clanmaurice and Iraghticonnor, an event that brought ‘most extensive distress in a district already severely impoverished’: encloses an account indicating in tabular format name of parish, number of persons effected and the ‘amount of Damage sustained’ as a direct result of the flood water.
EXTENT:2 item; 4pp
DATE(S):26 Aug 1822
DATE EARLY:1822
DATE LATE:1822

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Athea Church

St. Bartholomew’s Church was built by Fr. John Ryan in 1832 on a site donated by Thomas Goold. It is Gothic in style with its high pitched roof and tall elegant windows. In 1862, Fr. Martin Ryan consecrated, remodelled and enlarged the church at a cost of £650 and also installed a bell. Fr George Quain added a spire to the church in 1905 and a new bell. The entire church was renovated in 1986/87 by Fr Thomas O’Donnell P.P. and was completed by Fr. Patrick Kelly P.P. It was rededicated on October 18th 1987 by Bishop of Limerick Jeremiah Newman. 

A window is Athea church

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Food for Thought

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A Fact

In 2005 Angela Merkel became the first female chancellor of Germany

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Time and Tide Wait for No Man

By

On November 27, 2024

In Asdee, Listowel, Poem, Schools' Folklore

Beautiful Christmas door at Kerry Writers’ Museum

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Honoured to have my Book Presented

Attracta Ní Bhrádaigh, Uachtarán Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann from Co Offaly was thrilled to receive a copy of Moments of Reflection on her recent visit to Dúchas Comhaltas Centre MTU Tralee. Karen Trench made the presentation.,

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Feale Flood 2024

Bridge Road on Saturday morning, Nov. 23 2024

Emergency service personnel were stopping people from going down Bridge Road.

Local people could only look on in horror.

We knew we were witnessing a once in a lifetime event.

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Christmas Windows

Fairytale of New York is this year’s theme. This is Vision Ireland’s shop window.

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Old Prayers

Eddie Murphy of Asdee, aged 14 in 1937 recorded a long list of prayers and prayerful ejaculations in the Schools Folklore collection.

“The light of heaven to all the poor souls in Purgatory and our own souls at the last day” is said when the candles are lighted on Christmas Eve.

“That we may be all alive to see them lighted again” is said also when the candles are lit Christmas Eve.

“God save the hearers” is said when the thing happens but very seldom.

“O Divine Jesus lonely to night in so many tabernacles I offer thee my lonely heart may its every beating be a prayer of love to thee thou art always present. –

The sacramental veils in thy love thou never sleepest thou art never weary of thy vigil for poor sinners. O Loving Jesus, O lonely Jesus may my heart be a lamp of light of which shall burn and beam for thee alone. Watch Sacramental sentinel. Watch for the weary world for thy erring soul for thy poor and lonely child”. is said to wish good night to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

“God love you” is said to a young person who does something for an old person.

“Snuachan maith chugat” is also said to a young person who does something for an old person.

“Hail and blessed be thy hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary at midnight in the piercing cold in the stable of Bethlehem. At that same moment and hour vouchsafe my God to hear my prayer and grant my request through the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. This prayer is said fifteen times every night from the 30th. of November to Christmas Eve.

“I wish you a happy Christmas” is said to a person on Christmas morning.

“God grant you all happiness in the New Year” is said to a person on New Year’s morning.

“A long life to you” is said to a person who gives something to the poor.

“Bad luck from you” is said to a person who does some good act for another person.

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A Poem

Poet unknown

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Placenames

Geraldine O’Sullivan has done Trojan work in translating yesterdays place names.

Dear Mary,
I used Google Translate to help me with the English translation of the Placenames on the schools folklore collection as I was very interested in your article with regard to their origin .
Coillbuidhe – The forest in which the black trees grew Dubh-Áth – A small Áth that was on the other side of the Féile river was named Cluain Tiobraid – The town in which the well was named Cluain Meacain – The place in which the thing called yellow root grows Cluain Mhagh Con – The field in which the dog was. Cnoc an Iubhair – The Iubhair tree was named after. There is a tree like that growing on the top of the hill there to this day. Fionn Uaigh – The grave that is fawn. Fionn Abha – A fawn tree (This was found by a child in the Class – Máire Uí Conaill). Mhagh Mheán – The flat plain Bun-a-Ghearra – A cut was made there for an underground road or something like that and because of the beginning of the cut there it was called “Bun a’ Ghearra”. Derry – Wood. Drom Beag – The small ridge. Gort na Sceiche – Hedges growing there. Béal – There is a bay, at the mouth of the Shannon. Cúl Árd – This is on top of a hill, it is a kind of corner. Coill a’ Ghuirtín – The wood in which the small field is. Drom Iarainn – The ridge where there is perhaps iron. Caisleán Easa Duibhe – Asdee, in English. I do not know how it got its name. Áth-an-Turais (Bedford) – Some ford that people would cross on their journey to some holy well. Ladhar a’ Crompáin Innis Mhór – Ennismore Leaca – Lacca Mín – Meen Toirbhéart – Tarbeit. Some connection with the women rulers of Toirbhearc or something like that. Cill Eachdruim – Killocrim. Baile ‘n Ghrianáin – Ballygrennane. Baile an Ridire – There was a Knight of Garraidh in residence there. Son of Réamonn Reamhar Mac Muiris. The ruins of the castle are still there. It is likely that the Mac Muiris line that is very numerous in and around Listowel descended from him. Tripail – A collection of Luachra. Biolarach – Billeragh. The name comes from “biolair”. Fuarthán – There is a spring of fresh water in the place. Perhaps that is where the name comes from. Baile an Abhainín – A small river running through it probably gave the name. Cill Mórna – A village there, and it is said that a woman named Mórna was buried there. There is some story that a coffin and other objects were found there. Baile an tSeanbhaile – Tanavalla. Garrdha Árd – Cranyard. Lios Eiltín – Lisselton – It is said that St. Eiltín had a lis or cell there – the patron saint of Kinsale. Coill a’ Mhágh’ Ruaidhe – Killomeroe. Cnoc na Gaiseal Úrlaidhe – Urlee. “Úrlaidhe” means a fight or faction fight. There may have been a fight of some kind there, at some point. Baile an Búinneánaigh } Ballybunion. Baile Bun Abhann } Leac Snamha – A slab that they would probably have to jump off when they went swimming. Ráth Fiadha – Rathea. Tuar na Gaoithe – A field where clothes are put to be washed. Clievrach } Cleveragh. This is said to be a derivation from “cliabh” which means “basket.” Barraig Plough } Or perhaps there was a monastery of Barra where some plough was built. There is a monastery of Barra today anyway. Pollach – Plough Rith Lán } Rhylane. It may be “Réidh”, meaning “Réádh-Lán” } “Réadh” means a moorland or heather plain; level plain; móinteán. Béal Cille – Bealkilla. Beithíneach – Behins. A place where birch trees grow. Brúgh Mhadra – Probably the palace of the dog…
With kind regards and best wishes,
Geraldine

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A Fact

In 2012 divers discovered a 2000 year old Roman shipwreck which was so well preserved that even the food in storage jars was still intact.

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The First of the Christmas Stuff

By

On November 19, 2024

In Listowel, Personal, Poem, Schools' Folklore

Courthouse Road in November 2024

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The Only Upside of a Funeral

Meeting relatives whom you rarely meet is one of the lighter sides of the very sad occasion that is a family funeral.

The four older people in this photo have all descended from Benjamin Brosnan of Ballybahallow, Freemount.

L to R. Sheila (O’Callaghan) Healy, her grandmother was a daughter of Benjamin’s, Mary (Ahern) Cogan, her grandfather a son of Ben’s and Norah (Ahern) ORahilly and Morgan Ahern, their grandmother was a daughter of Ben the weaver.

This is an excerpt from the school folklore collection of 1937…

“Weaving was carried on by Ben Brosnahan and his son Johnny. They lived in the townland of Ballybahallow at the eastern side of Tim Mullane’s haybarn. They worked at two looms and made “bundle-cloth” from linen thread, and blanket and frieze from woolen thread. When the woolen stuffs were woven they were taken to the “tucking mill in Coolbane owned by O’Shaughnessy’s in order to be properly shrunken before wear. “

Isn’t family history fascinating?

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Last stop on the Food Trail 2024

Jumbo’s family restaurant has been feeding North Kerry people since 1983. Jumbo’s snack box, curried chips and more are the stuff of legend.

For Listowel Food Fair, Jumbos offers a specially curated and assembled burger.

All the ingredients are local and even the serving board is from Ríocht.

One of the ingredients in this special burger is John Relihan’s prizewinning Proper Meat Sauce.

Damien is the very genial proprietor and always treats his customers to an excellent dining in or take away experience.

The place was packed on Saturday as well.

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A Christmas Treasure

This little booklet was once given away free. Mary Sobieralski of the Vincent de Paul shop gave it to me free as well with my haul last week.

It is actually priceless.

This is the back cover of the booklet and the language suggests to me that it was printed and distributed sometime close to rural electrification when electric cookers were only just making an impact. Rural electrification began in 1946.

The writer of the booklet was Maura Laverty. Maura died in 1966. She was a prolific writer, journalist, food writer and script writer. She is famous for writing the script for Ireland’s first soap opera, Tolka Row.

I’ll share more from this little treasure tomorrow.

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Listowel Tidy Towns Local Awards

The local committee of the Tidy Towns organised a great award event on Friday November 15 2024 in the Family Resource Centre. John Kelliher took the photos.

These are some of the Tidy Town team who were there on the night.

I was honoured to be invited to be the guest speaker.

All the category winners are on Listowel Tidy Town Facebook page

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A Fact

Bears have an excellent sense of smell, better even than dogs.

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A Book Launch and a Schmozzle

By

On October 1, 2024

In Athea, Poem, Schools' Folklore

Finches at a feeder in Kanturk

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People at a Book Launch

Five of my six grandchildren

Robert and Eileen Bunyan with Paddy MacElligott and Helen Moylan

Clíona with Margo Spillane. Margo came all the way from Castlelyons in Co. Cork to support me on the big night. Such loyalty is much appreciated.

Anne Brosnan, Mary O’Connor, Marie Lucid and Pam Browne

John Kinsella shares a laugh with Mary McGrath and Mary Sobieralski

Cliona Cogan, Breeda Ahern, Carine Schweitzer, Bobby and Sean Cogan, Catherine Moylan and Dulce Lopez

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The Trials of the Golf Lesson

Talk about 100 things going through your head… I love John McAuliffe’s description of all the things he has to remember and all the things he is trying to ignore in this marvellous poem about a golf lesson on the links course in Ballybunion.

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Roly Chute, Legendary Coach and Painter

I met Roly out for the second of his daily walks. He is always willing to stop and chat.

Roly taught all of my children to play badminton and tennis. He gave selfless years and years to training the youngsters in the badminton club the skills of the game. Listowel owes him a lot.

A little known fact about Roly is that he is quite a skilled artist.

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Tupperware

Once upon a time every house had stacks of these plastic containers. We once learned that Queen Elizabeth kept her Corn Flakes in a Tupperware box.

Now the brand has fallen victim to its own success. Since its product is practically indestructible, sales have fallen off and the company is in trouble.

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Knockanure (from the Schools’ Folklore Collection)

Knockanure Church

The old cloisters at Knockanure Church were built in 1649. The chief man at the building of it was Father Moriarty of Castleisland.

There were five friars in it for years, the head brother was Brother James Keane.

There are two beautiful violin players buried in the old Abbey. They were drowned in the Gale on Saturday 11th June 1752. The place where they were drowned is called the Fiddlers’ Hole at a place called Tubber.

The friars lived about three quarters of a mile west of the Church at a place called Carrueragh. Father Mortimer OConner is also buried in this Church. He was born in the field that the church is built on. He died in Arda in 1781. The meaning of Knockanure is the hill of the Yew-Tree. Knockanure chapel was built in Father Sheehy’s time in 1865. The youngest Friar in Ireland at that time was Friar Toban.

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A Fact

A schnozzle is an event in a game of football or hurling. It falls somewhere on the spectrum between a few friendly thumps between friends and second degree assault.

A schnozzle can arise for a number of reasons that range from being 3 goals and 12 points down and 5 minutes left on the clock to someone enquiring into the marital status of your mother at the time of your birth.

A schmozzle must never be allowed to develop into an almighty schmozzle. This would include the subs bench, managing staff, an Maor Uisce, several members of the crowd and, if it is a Junior B hurling match, a collie cross barking.

(information for this fact from Ronan Moore’s book of Irishology.)

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Christmas Then and Now

By

On December 4, 2023

In History, Listowel, Poem, Schools' Folklore

Courtyard at Listowel Castle 2023

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Craft Fair in Kanturk

Sunday, November 26 2023

The annual Christmas craft fair is organised by the local Men’s Shed. The Edel Quinn Hall is the venue and it was mobbed.

This lady’s knitted toys and ornaments were very popular.

It is always a pleasure to meet the Two Crafty Ladies at a fair. It was their first time in Kanturk.

This lovely lady’s company is called The Rebellious Goat and she produces lovely soaps and balms using goats milk and honey from her bees. My friend, Lil is trying out some hand salve.

Paddy, Gael and Lil were sampling mulled wine all the way from Listowel.

Will you look at the lovely group of choristers I bought.

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Booker Winner

Couldn’t believe my luck when I got this in the library. Just started but so far it’s lovely, very poetic but I know the subject is far from pleasant so I’m prepared.

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A Seasonal Poem

A Kerry Christmas Childhood

Garry MacMahon

Now I cannot help remembering the happy days gone by,

As Christmastime approaches and the festive season’s nigh.

I wallow in nostalgia when I think of long ago,

And the tide that waits for no man as the years they ebb and flow.

We townies scoured the countryside for holly berries red,

And stripped from tombs green ivy in the graveyard of the dead,

To decorate each picture frame a hanging on the wall,

And fill the house with greenery and brighten winter’s pall,

Putting up the decorations was for us a pleasant chore,

And the crib down from the attic took centre stage once more.

From the box atop the dresser the figures were retrieved,

To be placed upon a bed of straw that blessed Christmas Eve,

For the candles, red crepe paper, round the jamjars filled with sand,

To be placed in every window and provide a light so grand,

To guide the Holy Family who had no room at the inn,

And provide for them a beacon of the fáilte mór within.

The candles were ignited upon the stroke of seven,

The youngest got the privilege to light our way to Heaven,

And the rosary was said as we all got on our knees,

Remembering those who’d gone before and the foreign missionaries.

Ah, we’d all be scrubbed like new pins in the bath before the fire

And, dressed in our pajamas of tall tales we’d never tire,

Of Cuchlainn, Ferdia, The Fianna, Red Branch Knights,

Banshees and Jack o Lanterns, Sam Magee and Northern Lights

And we’d sing the songs of Ireland, of Knockanure and Black and Tans,

And the boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wran.

Mama and Dad they warned us as they gave each good night kiss,

If we didn’t go to sleep at once then Santa we would miss,

And the magic Christmas morning so beloved of girls and boys,

When we woke to find our dreams fulfilled and all our asked for toys,

But Mam was up before us the turkey to prepare,

To peel the spuds and boil the ham to provide the festive fare.

She’d accept with pride the compliments from my father and the rest.

“Of all the birds I’ve cooked,” she’s say, “ I think that this year’s was the best.”

The trifle and plum pudding, oh, the memories never fade

And then we’d wash the whole lot down with Nash’s lemonade.

St. Stephen’s Day brought wrenboys with their loud knock on the door,

To bodhrán beat abd music sweet they danced around the floor’

We, terror stricken children, fled in fear before the batch,

And we screamed at our pursuers as they rattled at the latch.

Like a bicycle whose brakes have failed goes headlong down the hill

Too fast the years have disappeared. Come back they never will.

Our clan is scattered round the world. From home we had to part.

Still we treasure precious memories forever in our heart.

So God be with our parents dear. We remember them with pride,

And the golden days of childhood and the happy Christmastide.

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A Fact

A Christmas fact from the schools’ folklore collection…

The Big Wind

In the year 1839 on little Christmas night there was a fierce storm. The people were very happy and enjoying Christmas ; they had the Christmas candles lighted and the night was very calm. At ten o’clock they went to look at the cows and took lighted splinters as candles were very scarce in those days. It was so calm that the splinter kept lighting till they had secured the cattle for the night.

Afterwards they went to bed, and were sound asleep when the storm arose at midnight. It was so bad that the people ran out of the houses. The houses were thrown down, cowstalls were flying half a mile away, and cattle were bellowing with no roof over them. The people were screaming for help, and tried to hold on to each other, and were very much exhausted.


The storm lasted till twelve o’clock at night till seven in the morning. Then the people collected and made up little houses that they could sleep in, until a time came when they were able to build their houses once more.

Afterwards when people talked of it they used to call it the night of the Big Wind.
Pat Stack, Told by Nurse Stack, Newtownsandes, 62 years.

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