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

Jewish Community in Ireland in 1965

This is a post I am uploading for a specific purpose.

In 1965 the Jewish Community in Ireland presented President Eamon de Valera with the gift of a forest in his name in Israel. The forest is still flourishing today. To mark the handover of this gift, The Forest Committee presented the president with a “Book of Honour” in thanks for his work for peace during World War 2.

This book was beautifully illustrated and written in calligraphy by Michael O’Connor.

Stephen Rynne photographed the book, which is 31 pages of parchment in a specially commissioned box.

Since the book contains the names of all the contributors to the project it is a record of the names of probably all of the Jews in Ireland in the 1960s.

Stephen and I are bringing you here the lists of names in the book. We are doing this specifically to help anyone looking for a record of Jews in Ireland in the 1960s.

Mary Cogan and Stephen Rynne

Winners and Victims

Blennerville by John Hooton, photo shared on Facebook

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Two New O’Connor Pieces

These two newly discovered pieces of Michael O’Connor’s excellent illumination work have turned up in Stephen Rynne’s family home. Stephen’s dad was a friend of O’Connor’s and had many pieces of his work. After Michael’s death his widow entrusted much of his work in progress to his two friends, Maurice Fridberg and Etienne Rynne, who endeavoured to find a “home” for them. That search has been taken up by Stephen, son of Etienne and very soon these wonderful pieces of artwork will be back in Listowel in No. 24 The Square.

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We are the Best

Two Listowel institutions returned with well deserved awards from the Irish Hospitality Awards ceremony in Dublin, Mike the Pies in the Best Live Entertainment venue and Jumbos in the Best Family restaurant categories.

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Tom Doodle

Doodle Rally in Main Street

I found this essay on Boards.ie in a closed account. I don’t know who the author is. it’s a first hand account of the day Doodle came to town.

We were in the middle of our Leaving exam. at St. Micks when news of Doodles coming to town was announced and come hell or high water would we be denied the chance to act as guard of honour to the Doodle entourage which had been arranged by M.O.C. the late and great Johneen Keane, however to take part we had to dress as if in Mardi Gras, this to add to the frivolity of the evening and also as a disguise so the College President did not recognise any of his star pupils. I remember Bunny Dalton who was in the lead truck with the other musicians asking John B. what music would be appropriate for the occasion and the answer was as many National Anthems as you can think of. A tour of the town was completed via Charles Street and Church Street and to this day I cant forget the faces of the townsfolk who lined the streets, most were of joy and happiness and some in awe, one old woman with rosary beads went on her knees thinking it was the Papal Nuncio while another who having been attic bound for years thought that Doodle was the reincarnation of Parnell. What followed that night was the funniest night I ever spend at home and the night was recalled once again at the post performance reception of Sives Premiere in Dublin in May 59 when I met up with John B.

Quick background for newcomers;

Tom Doodle was a jape by a group of Listowel friends led by John B. Keane. The Independent Couleogous Party was a fictional political party set up by Keane and Co. Doodle was their candidate in the General Election of 1951. They ran a campaign for him complete with unlikely promises, slogans and a jingle. His campaign highlight was a monster rally in the small square.

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Lest we Forget

This brutal Siegfried Sassoon poem has been shared widely lately as rows swirl online over the wearing of the poppy.

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Dancing, Acting and Holidays

Closing date for applications has passed…Sorry!

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Passing on the Torch

Jimmy Hickey is a dancing teacher in a direct line from the old masters. Here is a paragraph from an article by Edaein O’Connell in last week’s Irish Independent. The Kelliher referred to is Jonathan Kelliher of Siamsa Tire.

Jonathan is videoing Jimmy dancing the steps and so preserving them for the next generation.

Here is a link to part two of the recent video about the dancing tradition in North Kerry.

Munnix dance tradition

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The Crown

Are you watching the latest series of The Crown on Netflix?

Here is our own local royal family at the premiere in London last week.

This photo of Dominic West and his wife, Catherine Fitzgerald, and their family was shared online by Glin Community News.

Dominic plays Prince Charles in The Crown. I think he has caught him well, his mannerisms and irascibility but West is far more handsome.

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Dates for the Diary

Full details of these talk on Kerry Libraries website

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Laethanta Saoire

Happy childhood days gone but not forgotten…

What’s in a Number

An essay by Charles McCarthy shared on Facebook by Glin Historical Society

What’s in a number? 

A lot actually, especially if that number is forever associated with childhood journeys.

ZIU 40 was the registration of my father’s car, or to be more precise to all of you auto fanatics out there a, 2 door, red, 1971 Ford Escort Mark I.

A little snug for a family of five with mam and dad up front.

Installation of the roof rack meant that the holidays were eminent and bootcases (Grappling with Pronunciations) had to be dusted down.

Not everyone had a full grasp of the English vocabulary but my mother was fluent in the many tongues of her young.

Destination was Ballybunion circa 1981 which meant passing through the bustling towns of Abbeyfeale, Listowel and some small villages with names we pronounced in a deep voice such as “Duagh”.

I would be consigned to the parcel shelf, transforming me into a small missile, primed, should the car come to a sudden stop.

We would all slowly bake if the sun was high, and no one really complained due to the possibility of we having to stop and thus hours being added to an already arduous journey.

I would have no choice but to stare at the gradual build-up of frustrated drivers faces, due to my father’s estimation of an acceptable speed and the cars inability to pass 45mph fully loaded.

What should have been a relatively short trip would seem an eternity. A garage in Listowel with the outline of a VW beetle painted on its side wall meant we were getting close to journeys end.

The stretch of road between Listowel and Ballybunion is long and relatively straight, with sudden dips in the road that reacted wonderfully with the leaf springs of an ageing car.

Sudden dips and up we would go with familiar tickles in the tummy, made all the more pronounced if we were getting hungry and the limited supplies had been exhausted.

Faster Dad! faster came the loud exclamations to my father’s ever growing frustration.

No one ever thought of opening a window, instead I believe it was my parents way of keeping us quiet, by way of partially knocking us unconscious from sheer heat exhaustion.

One damp face cloth was used on the many faces and we never thought to question such rationing, though that too would dry out over time within the hostile environment.

Complaining meant stopping which meant more time added,  which was a no, no.

Was it just beyond one hill crest, or two?, finally the sight of the sea side resort would appear like a majestic vista, mobile home roof tops glistening in the sun.

The slow procession of cars through the main street, each car loaded with little sea urchins such as ourselves in awe of the many sights.

A cacophony of sights, sounds and smells, salty sea air, chip shops, perry winkles, bumper cars, slots machines, and the latest block buster “ Raiders of the lost Ark” advertised at the local cinema.

We were finally there, a journey and destination that will forever be engrained in my memory.

 What’s in a number indeed.

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Michael O’Connor of No. 24 The Square

William Street Upper in November 2022

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Bringing it Home

No. 24 The Square was once the family home of Dr. Michael O’Connor. His son, also called Michael, was an extraordinarily talented illuminator and calligrapher.

This talent went largely under appreciated during his lifetime. Michael was a self effacing individual and had no interest in self promotion. His friend and art dealer Fridberg got him the commission to illustrate the Book of Honour which the Jewish community in Ireland presented to President de Valera in 1965

Isn’t this absolutely beautiful? This is not the work of a professional artist with a well equipped studio, but was done by an amateur artist, father of four children, working at his kitchen table after the children had gone to bed.

As well as Fridberg, Michael O’Connor had another friend who appreciated his talent. He was Professor Etienne Rynne of UCG, renowned archaeologist and scholar. Rynne had in his possession many examples of O’Connor’s work. Both Etienne Rynne and Michael O’Connor have now both gone to their eternal reward.

When sorting through his father’s papers, Stephen Rynne came across a folder full of extraordinary celtic illustrations. He had never heard of Michael O’Connor but he knew that this work was extraordinary so he went on a search to find out more about the artist.

Fast forward to 2022. Funding has been secured and much of O’Connor’s work has been traced. The O’Connor family are most anxious that these O’Connor masterpieces would make their way back to Listowel where the O’Connor home is now Kerry Writers’ Museum.

Plans are underway to mount an exhibition of Michael O’Connor’s pieces in the museum in 2023.

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The sign is up but the shop is Gone

Hopefully this central building will have a new tenant shortly.

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We are the Champions

I found this on Facebook

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Denis Daly R.I.P.

A soldier of The Great War

Dave O’Sullivan has done a bit of research for us. Denis Daly’s age at his death is misreported as 26. He was in fact 32. Dave verified this by reference to the census of 1901 and 1911.

Dave wrote;

“I was stumped for a bit as I couldn’t find his death cert registered in Listowel, as it had been reported he ‘died at home from his wounds.

So I cast the net wider and lo and behold I found that he actually died in the Irish Counties War Hospital in Glasnevin on Dec 26th and aged 32 matching the birth record I sent yesterday and the 1901/1911 census.

See attached for details as registered. He seems to have sustained a gunshot wound 9 months prior to his death. Rest in peace Denis.

DALY. DENIS. Rank: Corporal. Regiment or Service: Royal Munster Fusiliers. Unit: Depot. 

Age at death: 26. Date of Death: 26-December-1918. Service No: 1576.

Died of wounds at home. Enlisted in Listowel while living in Listowel, County mKerry.

Grave or Memorial Reference: Eight yards West of main path.
Cemetery: Listowel Cemetery, County Kerry.

Born 9th Feb 1887 in Charles St, Listowel to John Daly and Mary Barry.

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Craft Fair

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A National Treasure

John Hooton shared this image of Slea Head on Facebook

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Michael O’Connor. Illuminator: an update

Quick recap; in 1965 The Jewish Community in Ireland gifted President Eamon De Valera a forest in Israel. To mark the presentation of that gift they gave Dev a beautifully illustrated book in thanks for his peace making efforts during WW11 and his welcoming of displaced Jews to Ireland.

The book was illuminated and calligraphed by Michael O’Connor who is on the far right of the picture above.

Stephen Rynne is making a study of O’Connor’s work and he is helping Kerry Writers Museum round up some of the scattered artworks to bring back to O’Connor’s childhood home at No. 24 The Square, now the home of Kerry Writers’ Museum.

Stephen visited the Book of Honour in the De Valera archive and he took a few photos for us.

The book is 31 pages and many of them list the names of Irish Jews who contributed to the project. The pencil is to give an indication of size.

The book is a magnificent piece of artwork. Michael O’Connor was a massive talent. I’m looking forward to seeing Kerry Writers’ Museum bring him the recognition he deserves.

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An Art and Writing Project

Kathryn Crowley is an artist. She lives in Listowel and this is her latest project.

On the Wings of Creativity

It’s a writing and photography competition on the theme of birds, feathers, flight.

The above link will give you all the details.

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Comings and Goings

Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Optometrist is the new kid on the block on William Street Lower.

Ladbrokes has gone online.

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