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
(from Joe Kennedy’s Country Matters in yesterday’s Independent)
<<<<<<<<<<
The Residency @ 74
Isn’t it coming along beautifully?
Martin Chute has added his flourish.
<<<<<<<<
St. Batt’s Well
From Shannonside Annual 1959
Note the reference to Collopy’s Corner.
Public transport has improved since those days. Here is a recent post from Tarbert.ie
“There are now buses running 4 times daily to Listowel and back to Tarbert. The 1st bus leaves Tarbert at 7.55am. There is also buses running to Limerick 4 times daily and back. The 1st bus leaves at 6.45am.”
<<<<<<<<<<<
Listowel Food Fair 2022 Opening Banquet
I was lucky enough to be invited to this feast in the Listowel Arms on October 27 2022
The evening was a celebration of delicious Listowel food and was in tribute to Kerry Group which has sponsored the food fair from the beginning. Kerry Group is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. We were honoured to have at our table, Eddie Moylan who was one of the founding members of what is now an 8 billion euro global industry.
We heard great tales of soggy boggy fields and employees in caravans. From a little acorn in the Canon’s field, Listowel, a mighty oak has surely grown.
Liz and Jim Dunn, Mary Cogan, Helen and Eddie Moylan, Martin Moore and Simone Langemann
Here is the menu for the meal
Because of Kerry’s sponsorship of Kerry football, Jason Foley, newly announced as Ballydonoghue’s first All Star was a guest of honour.
Jason Foley and Jimmy Deenihan……… photo shared by Jimmy
We got to pose with another guest of honour, who has become a bit like Banquo’s ghost, turning up at every feast.
Eamonn Dillon, Sam, Mary Cogan, Eddie and Helen Moylan
<<<<<<<<<<
A Reunion Photo
When this class from the early sixties reunited, they brought a few old photos with them. Here is one of the girls from a good few years ago.
I happened to walk by the clubhouse on Sunday last and I enquired what sort of competition was in progress. It was a three club invitational. The day was sunny and warm and the course was in tip top condition as usual.
These friendly gentlemen were minding the house. I asked them is they had a photo of the founding fathers. The club is 50 this year and I have so much respect for those early pioneers who gave us this beautiful amenity, that I’d love to post a picture of them.
They told me that a photo collage is in the making to mark the 50th. All the photographs are with Billy Moloney who is looking after this project. I look forward to seeing the finished picture.
I subsequently met Billy and he says that there is non picture among the ones he has of the men who set up the club. So if you have such a picture, will you give it into the clubhouse or to Billy, These men deserve recognition in this the 50th anniversary year.
Billy told me that the delay with the collage is the difficulty in getting a frame big enough, but he’s on it.
Watch this space!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
St. Michael’s Class of 1972 Reunion
When these men got together to reminisce, much of the talk centred around football, a big part of their St. Mick’s days. (Essay on the way from David Kissane)
Christy Walsh and Jason Foley got together to crown their night with a visit from Sam Maguire.
Jim Fitzmaurice sent us Gerard Hussey’s great essay capturing life in St. Michael’s in the early days of “free education”.
“Donagh O’Malley’s Boys” by Gerard Hussey
They came in those first yellow school buses in 1967 from Listowel’s hinterland, from Dromerin, Clounmacon, Lisselton , Bunagara and Bunglaise in Duagh, and mixed with the Borough Boys of the Town.
Donagh O’Malley’s inspired free education policy spawned a rake of the newly educated that met again on Sat. Sept 17th after fifty years (fifty five if you count the lost years!). Those fellas from the country taught us townies a thing or three.
Their compositions stood out, descriptions of the bog went deeper than a sleán. They knew a thing or two about sciortáns and ciaráns – “lá breá brothallach” how are you?
And they could field a ball for you – Paddy Quilter and Tim Kennelly, the Horse with his trademark drive out from the square and a drop-kick from the lawn end that went into Captain Shanahan’s yard. That’s two hundred yards, by the way, and speaking of which – wasn’t Eamonn Carroll (RIP) the champion sprinter in our day. I once teamed up with him and Conor Heaphy in a relay ….. a few Pilates are all I can manage now! I still pine for a two-hundred yarder with a Callaway driver!
I remember Old John ‘volunteering’ me one Friday for a week-end cross-country event and coming along to Neilius Brosnan only to be told… “No thanks, Sir”. Courage a plenty, Neilius – fair dues. Sure it was no pleasure to be lapped by Gerry Kiernan or Dave Kissane and John Hartnett .
Despite the regime, we learned a lot to prepare us for life during our five years. Sure, didn’t Rocky’s “Sets” stand to us …… back in the Gaeltacht and Ballai Luimnigh! And Greek and Roman history ….useful when perusing Budget Travel brochures! And, Miss Murphy telling us that a triangle was the finest form in the natural world, and I, innocently thinking it was 36-26-36 !
Funny incidents, mixed with humiliations , were the order of the day for many of us. One day Danny Kelliher, a Butcher’s Lad was driving sheep down Cahirdown ….. and they darted into St. Michael’s. Mad for classical learning – no doubt. “Ye can’t goin thare”, roared Danny, so we helped unround the sheep – which gave us fifteen minutes of distraction from the regime.
We all recall the unhelpful refrain…. “ and what colour chalk shall we use?” when someone lost their way trying to solve a difficult Maths problem. Humiliation was too quick to follow any mistake.
The heart of the matter was captured by Tim Danaher, who once offered up “Hard Times” to Fr. Danny when he inquired what we were reading outside of school books. I think our knowing laughter was not lost on him either! Hard times indeed, but it formed us into a bunch of fellas that would stick together and you’d be happy to meet again.
We were imbued with a sense of justice and fair play from our experiences. Neilius reminded us of a week’s strike that we took once to make our point about a grave injustice to one of our own – a good sign of fellowship.
Donagh’s Boys went on to make a worthy contribution to Irish life, in Education, Construction, Business, Agriculture and Miscellaneous Professions. It is worth noting that our year of 72 produced 10 teachers. The basic education was no burden – I gained my own further education during 3rd Arts in UCG, when I shared room with Padraic Breathnach!
It’s the fine fellas that you meet along the way that lighten the world’s load – I can count those I met at Christy’s on our 50th Re-Union as fine a cross-section as you’d like to meet ….. a fine “Set” indeed. Thanks Rocky!
Footnote : A few little anecdotes of our times at St. Michael’s
WE learned hand-stands at P.E. ……. we held each other up …….. time to do it again surely, Lads!
My first concussion ….. it wasn’t the Horse giving me a mighty shoulder ….. t’was the bringing down the full weight of a hard-back anthology on my noggin…..”Alliteration, young Hussey is things sounding alike”, oblivious to the effects of the bounce of the book on my head!
Junior was putting up a rough chalk map of Ireland and throwing in mountains that were fish bones, for some odd reason. “The Comeraghs”, I offered as he pointed towards Tipperary. “You’re too small Hussey to be moving mountains!” says he. The Galtees me boy.
Fr. Danny coming around once a month to collect for his propagation of the faith and checking for long hair and the trade-mark yellow-stained cigarette fingers – Frank got caught on both counts. Down to Quigleys for the hair, with Danny paying the bill, while Frank rubbed his fingers at the front school pillars to remove the yellow stains. Maggie Stack had his measure though by putting the haircut money in his pocket and never returning. I hear he still has a fine head of hair!
Free spirits, we had a few, and our reunion noted the missing souls: John Scully, Tim Kennelly, Vincent Donegan, Eamonn Carroll, Tim Danaher. Rest easy boys!
Our final leavetaking had Fr. Danny giving us the profound declaration “Ye’re going out into the world as rare birds with ye’re classical training” ….. while Brendan Keane whispered “extinct birds more likely”. Wit, the great leveller !
“ All life was there”, John B said of McKenna’s corner …… well, so too it was at Christy’s – a well-rounded crew and not a chip in sight,…. except those paired with the goujons!
Anthony Nash, former Cork goalkeeper has retired from club hurling. His emotional decision was covered in the sport website The42.
I met Anthony Nash in Strand Street, Kanturk in 2014 when Kanturk hurling was in its heyday and Nash’s career with Cork was flourishing.
Eight years later, he has made the hard decision to leave the pitch.
Here is the 42 article.
ANTHONY NASH HAS decided to call time on his club hurling career after South Liberties were beaten in the Limerick SHC semi-final 1-23 to 0-9 by Na Piarsaigh.
The two-time All-Star transferred to South Liberties in 2021. The club secured their spot in Limerick’s final four after a stunning 1-13 to 0-14 win over Patrickswell before suffering defeat in Kilmallock last Saturday.
“It was sore in a way, you are living in fairytale land going into a game but I thought the lads were exceptional,” Nash said, speaking on The42‘s GAA Weekly podcast.“After 35 minutes we were three points down, just the difference in class pulled through. There is no point saying otherwise, a far better team beat us.”
Nash spent 16 years representing Cork at senior level. After his inter-county retirement, he transferred to the South Liberties club due to strong family links.
His parents hail from the parish and his uncles, former South Liberties players Declan and Mike Nash, won two Munster medals with Limerick and played in two All-Ireland finals during the 1990s. His cousin is player of the year nominee Barry Nash.
“I’m done. I kind of made a decision last year that I wasn’t going to play on. Christmas time came, I was saying what will I do and I felt ok. I still feel ok, thank God.
“I referenced this in the dressing room after, I came out of a county career and a club career with a few injuries, but nothing major. Disks in my back and neck but I’m able to walk and talk, play golf. I consider that a successful career.
“As I said to the lads in the Kanturk WhatsApp, I am hanging up that beautifully designed Aidan Walsh hurley once and for all. Leading into it I was saying, ‘can’t wait to be finished. Hoping it would be a county final. How tough it all was, sick of it etc.’
“Then I took off my boots for the final time and got emotional. That is it. Memories of a child, family driving you everywhere and anywhere.
“I’d thank everyone who helped me get what I did. I’ll never forget the help. I think a lot of umpires will be delighted, I won’t be nagging about wide balls! I am very honoured to have represented Cork, captained Cork, played for the club where I was born and finished my career with my family.”
Nash said getting to finish in the famed green and gold was the perfect ending to his playing career.
“At the time of the transfer, 90 per cent was positive including Kanturk. there is always ten per cent negativity. ‘A disgrace for transferring, all that stuff.’ People just don’t understand my story. I’d never apologise.
“My grandfather was there after the game the last day, he was crying. My uncle was crying.
“It was an emotional day for me to be able to hang up my boots with the Liberties jersey on. I got to go to Croke Park and win a club All-Ireland with Kanturk. Everyone says, ‘one club, one county.’
“It was a dream to be able to finish my career with my cousin on the field, my uncle as a selector on the sideline. All my family standing around, hugging and embracing. I wouldn’t swap it for the world.
“In fairness, all my Kanturk friends wished me the best. I turned 38 last week and I was getting congratulations and happy birthdays from Kanturk. I’d hope to get involved in that club in a few years’ time.
“For me, I know a fairytale ending seems like a county final but it was a fairytale ending that I get to wear the green and gold of South Liberties after growing up with them during the summers.
“Hard to take, Sunday was a tough day but look, I will be fine. I am very grateful to hurling as a sport. Very grateful to the GAA.”
Some North Kerry churches remembered by Jerry Kennelly in Shannonside Annual 1959
<<<<<<<<<<<<
A Leftover from Another Age
This image of the grotto at Lourdes in a window on Church Street took me back to my childhood. This image was everywhere, in pictures and in little cards we used to have in prayerbooks. It was also very popular in memorial cards.
<<<<<<<<<<<<
De Valera and a Forest in Israel
This 1965 picture shows representatives of the Irish Jewish community presenting Eamon de Valera, Uachtaráin na hEireann, with a “Book of Honour” in thanksgiving for his work for peace during the second world war. The book was illuminated and written in calligraphy by Michael O’Connor of Listowel.
On Dev’s right as you look at the picture Professor Mervyn Abrahamson, chair of the Eamon de Valera Forest Committee.
So where is this forest?
Éamon de Valera Forest (Hebrew: יער איימון דה ואלירה) is a forest in Israel, near Nazareth. It was planted in 1966 and named after American-born Irish politician and statesman Éamon de Valera.
“It has 10,000 trees planted by the Jewish community of Ireland in tribute to President Eamonn de Valera. To be known as the Eamonn de Valera Forest at Kfar Hanna near Nazareth, the project is the latest in a series of similar forests named to honor the late President John F. Kennedy, Jan Christian Smuts and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”
The 10,000 tree forest is till flourishing today.
<<<<<<<<<<
Greenway Mural
I met this lovely young man in the Neodata carpark.
He is Garrett Joyce and he is busy finishing his mural in time for the official opening of our Greenway.
Looking good!
<<<<<<<<<<<
Today’s English lesson
<<<<<<<<<
Getting Ready for Halloween
My dotey granddaughter in her pumpkin outfit is all ready for Halloween. She has no clue what is all about but she knows excitement when she sees it.
Shannonside Annual printed some of Jerry Kennelly’s reminiscences in 1959.
Jerry claimed that he was known by every man, woman and child in Listowel and district.
I hope this print isn’t too small. I firmly believe our ancestors had great eyesight. Old newspapers and magazines all seem to have tiny print size. This old man tells a first person account of life in Listowel in bygone days…. e.g.”the time of Bonaparte.”
>>>>>>>>>>>
In The Park
1916 Commemorative garden
Lane between Park and Bridge Road
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
De Valera and the Jews
Further to my Michael O’Connor story of Friday last, I went on an internet search for a forest in Israel and Jewish people in Ireland.
I found this picture of the Nobel prize winning physicist, Edwin Schrodinger on the internet. He was probably the most illustrious (and controversial) Jewish person who Dev. invited to Ireland.
Dev had two great passions, Celtic Studies and Maths. He set up the Institute for Advanced Studies and invited Shrodinger, then a renowned theoretical physicist, to be part of it. The invitation was timely as Schrodinger, an Austrian Jew, was facing expulsion or worse. He came to Ireland in 1939 and spent 17 happy years here.
I don’t pretend to understand any of his wave mechanics stuff. All I get from “Schrodinger’s Cat” is that a cat can be alive and dead at the same time.
