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

Listowel, Facts and Photos

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On November 25, 2021

In Listowel, Schools

St. John’s Theatre, November 2021

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A Listowel Fact

St. Michael’s College used to be as fever hospital. In the 1940s and 50s it had a massive reputation for the teaching of Latin and Greek. A remarkable number of St. Michael’s past pupils have achieved international eminence.

Hard to believe but the first team game that was played in the college was cricket.

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That was Then; This is Now

Another premises looking for a new tenant. The first photo dates back to 2007.

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How Much is….?

A Listowel pooch in a room with a view.

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Today’s Long Read

Cyril Kelly tells us about the trials and tribulations of an altar boy in November. They were all boys before Vatican 2. No altar servers then.

Cyril brings 1950s Listowel vividly to life in this beautifully crafted essay.

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That was Then; This is Now

A then and now picture with a difference…new principal of Presentation Secondary School, Listowel, Katherina Broderick pictured with former principal, Sr. Consolata Bracken in St. Mary’s Listowel on Presentation Day, November 21 2021

(photo shared on school’s Facebook page)

Katherina is the first past pupil to be appointed principal. I wish her every good luck in her new role.

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Listowel Then and Now

By

On November 24, 2021

In Listowel

Listowel Town Square in November 2021

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A Listowel Fact

In 1800 a flour mill was built on The Feale behind the castle. When milling ceased there the building became a creamery and later a sweet factory.

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Sunday July 29 2007 Church Street, Listowel

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A Kanturk Memory

Kanturk Railway station

I belong to a Facebook group called Kanturk Memories. Recently Richard Norton added this gem. It is a goods train steaming into Kanturk Station in Percival Street with empty wagons before a Kanturk fair.

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Her Smile

A poem by Cyril Kelly

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That was Then; This is Now

This premises is soon to change its use again. In 2007 it was an Art Gallery.

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Christmas Windows

Listowel businesses are excellent at embracing a window display challenge. This Christmas Listowel.ie has chosen Toy Story as a theme for the festive windows.

It is lovely to stroll around town and look at all the various displays.

Here is Doran’s

I met Ryanne and she told me that the reproduced letters are genuine and the toys are the ones Santa brought as requested in the letters.

What a magical uplifting window display!

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Stories of Old Listowel

By

On November 23, 2021

In Listowel

Church Street in November 2021

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In 2007 Listowel had a large Polish population. This shop/ sklep opened on Charles Street to bring them a taste of home

Same view of Charles Street in Novemnber 2021

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A Listowel Fact

These facts that I am sharing with you were told to walkers on the late Jack McKenna’s Rotary Club walking tours of the town many moons ago.

The pump house on the banks of the Feale was originally designed to hold a water wheel which would operate a pump to lift water from the river to tanks in Ballygrennane. These tanks would provide a gravity flow water supply to the town. The flow of water to operate the wheel was to come from a point upriver known as The Falls. The water was to flow to the wheel in the pump house via a canal. The engineer who designed the system was fond of a drop. On the day of the grand opening, he went to the tanks in Ballygrennan to await the flow the water while the dignatories who had been invited to the grand opening waited at the pump house for the flow of water which would operate the pump.

When the sluice gates were opened there emerged the smallest trickle of water, nothing near the amount needed to rotate the wheel to operate the pump.

The engineer, up in Ballygrennane realised that his scheme was a failure. The story goes that he polished off his bottle of whiskey, scarpered from the scene and was never seen in Listowel again.

The town council had to install a steam operated pump which supplied the town with water for many years until the ESB brought electric power to Listowel.

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A Sign of the Times

On this old street lamp a very modern notice advertising outdoor dining

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That was then; This is now

2007
2021

In 2007 we had many many foreign nationals working in our area. Demand for money transfer services was such that a dedicated Western Union shop opened in Church Street.

Since then electronic money transfer has become even easier.

Yesterday I saw a man pay for his groceries using his watch.

We’ve come a long way since 2007.

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Listowel Memories and a New Business in Town

By

On November 22, 2021

In Listowel, Schools

Listowel Garda Station in November 2021

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The Master

an essay by Cyril Kelly

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Homeward Bound

A nun walks home to the convent in 2007. A lot has changed.

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A Listowel Fact

Lord Listowel visited the town in 1814 and he handed over sites for two churches, one Catholic and the other Church of Ireland. Both were built almost ten years later. St. Mary’s was built in 1829. The spire and porch were added in 1865. Initially the congregation stood during mass as there were no pews. The seats were added and side aisles built in 1910.

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Pixie has made a Calendar

If you’re looking for a gift idea for a Covid bound emigrant, this could be the answer to your prayers.

Pixie will deliver or drop for you to collect if you are local.

You can contact him with your order at the email address below.

pixieskingdom@yahoo.com

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Santa at McKenna’s in 1959

Were you one of the lucky children who visited Santa in Listowel in 1959?

Kathy Reynolds has put a lovely collection of Santa photos from that occasion up on line. The link is here;

https://vimeo.com/647951277

If you recognise yourself or someone you know please email Kathy. The photos are numbered and you can give her the number and the names of the people in the photo. Kathy’s email address is on the video. She asks that you respect copyright.

Santa in McKenna’s in 2021

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Another Change on Church Street

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A Drunken Wall

By

On November 19, 2021

In History, Listowel

Church Street, Listowel in November 2021

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John B. Keane’s Sive

To mark the 50th anniversary of the first performance of Sive, The Listowel Players produced a souvenir programme to go with their production of the play. They included a page from the original programme.

Margaret Ward, who played the first Sive when she was only a schoolgirl remembers an eventful rehearsal.

Lovely memories from Nora Relihan

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Martin Chute, Master Signwriter

Martin stopped for a short chat with a friend as he finished the sign on Griffin Butchers on William Street, Listowel

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Did you Know?

Listowel once had a structure called The Drunken Wall. It was located at the end of the footpath on the Neodata side (or Town Park side for those who don’t remember Neodata) of Bridge Road. It was a wall built across the footpath preventing you going any further. It was built to prevent intoxicated pedestrians from walking into the river which is about 100 yards from that point. The idea was that as soon as you hit the wall, you could go no further and you knew it was time to cross over to the other path which would lead you over the bridge.

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We’re having a Christmas Market

and we’re turning on the festive lights.

Photo; Listowel.ie on social media

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