Keeping Listowel Spick and Span

Colbert Street in November 2024

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In Jumbo’s

Most of the gang on Listowel Food Festival food trail 2024. By the time we got to Jumbos we were all fairly stuffed but we made room for Jumbo’s special burgers.

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Keeping Listowel Clean

I met Willie Guiney at Carmody’s Corner on November 11 2024.

A wave from the top of the ladder and then it’s back to work.

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A Poem

Today we have a new poem by a poet with a strong Listowel connection.

Here is Paul’s email of introduction…

Hi Mary.

Good evening. I have subscribed to your blog today. I was given the details of it by my friend Seán Healy.

I lived in Listowel 1968-82 (Curraghtoosane, Ballybunion Road) , Naas 82-87, Dublin 87-2022 and Killarney 2022 to date.

My second poetry book called “For the love of Kerry” will launch in March 2025 and comprises 36 poems and related photos from all around Kerry.

Three of the poems are from Listowel ( The Carnegie Library and two set on the River Feale ).

I am attaching The Library one here in case it might interest your readers and happy for you to include it in the Blog if you felt it was worthy.

best regards

Paul

Listowel’s Carnegie Free Library by Paul Byrne

The great Andrew Carnegie 

a benefactor, and man of steel

He bequeathed £1,500 with generosity 

to make our education real

Now in 1931 excitement in Listowel

reached fever pitch,

As our towns new Library 

swung open her doors, far and wide

Twas’ only a mere 40 years later 

when in 1971, I graced those Library shelves

Introduced by my father Bill Byrne 

who adored education realising its wealth

Through life and true life, the books 

he’d proclaim, were our path to freedom,

Inspired oft by his wisdom, his words rang true

and I beat a regular path through her doors

Across the road, was Scoil Réalta Na Maidine

My primary home, for eight great years

Where learning abounded 

To fuel the imagination,

A book that resonated deeply,

Patsy O and his wonderful pets

By the Master,  Bryan McMahon

Instilling a love of words,

And language crafted beautifully,

As if to dance off the page,

Like sheets of music

My Library trips 

Became a race from home,

Curragtoosane down Ballybunion road

On the bicycle, as oft I roamed

Across Convent and Market Streets, 

Up William Street, across Charles Street

And then, controlling my breathing

As I freewheeled down, the tiny Library Road

Reaching my thrice weekly destination,

I loved the sensations that were evoked 

On the approach, on entering,

The musty smell, like church incense 

Tickling the inside of my nose

The glorious shafts of light penetrating

On high, those lofty bay windows as the       

Light enveloped the room, 

Reflecting off the polished floorboards,

Illuminating the tiny dust particles,

That surrounded me, like silent soldiers

From Listowel’s Free Library

The Secret Seven, The Famous Five

By Enid Blyton are most memorable,

Also, The road not taken, by Robert Frost

But my most resonant of all is 

The Little Elf by John Kendrick Bangs,

A short poem, to me, about respect,

Respect, a value, which has carried me through life

And been an inspiration, for my own poetic journey

As beauty and nature fire my juxtaposed imagination

Inspiration coming from within and without

With poetry, my invisible companion

Fuelling and fulfilling my harmonious quest

An incandescent fascination for words,

Words, words, words in contemplation,

Which enliven our senses, spirit and soul.

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A Fact

The name piano is an abbreviation of Crostofori’s original name for the instrument “piano et forte” or “soft and loud”.

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