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.

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