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
An Unusual Knitting Pattern in last week’s Woman’s Weekly
The mind boggles.
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In Athea
This lovely old fireside scene was posted on a site called Vanishing Ireland. This traditional fire is in Batt’s Bar in Athea, Co. Limerick. From firesides long ago I remember the crane and the bastable and kettles . I also remember the bellows you activated by turning a wheel.
Echoes of the past.
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Great Memories here for Old Asdee Families
From Shannonside Annual 1§956
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From an Old Presentation Secondary School Album
Looks to me like a Parents Council group, since it has parents and teachers in it.
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The Man of the Moment has a Listowel Connection
Every newspaper this weekend had copious coverage of rugby player, Jonathan Sexton, who played his 100th international game on November 6 2021.
My photograph is from my Saturday newspaper where Jonathan’s proud godfather, Listowel’s Billy Keane, brought us the man behind the legend.
Jonathan’s Listowel Sexton family travelled in numbers to the match. They and everyone in Listowel are proud of him.
John L’s Irish connection was with Abbeydorney from where his parents emigrated to Boston.
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Kanturk 1900
In these days of calls to reduce the national herd by 30%, I was amused to see this old picture of Strand Street in my native Kanturk on the mother and father of all fair days in 1900
The planning notice has gone up for our proposed outdoor dining and performance areas. There are to be three covered structures with lighting and benches. The plans are available for inspection until November 25th and there will be people in Áras an Phiarsaigh to answer your questions.
This is definitely one of my favourite of Éamon ÓMurchú ‘s photographs. He took this magical image in Cloughleah in Co. Wicklow
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Danny’s Halloween Window
Main Street, Listowel, Halloween 2021
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Lovely paint job at Griffins of William Street
Beautiful sign by Mr. Signs’ himself, Martin Chute.
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A Piece of Dandy Lodge History from Barry O’Halloran
Dandy Lodge under reconstruction in Childers Park in 1995.
Below is the letter to potential sponsors of the project.
Barry O’Halloran’s late father, Tom, was the Hon. Sec. of the restoration committee. Barry sent us this.
It looks like our letter writers may have taken a few liberties with historical accuracy. It looks like the titles, groom and lady-in waiting may be a bit of an embellishment of their true status. On his marriage cert and on his death cert, Mr. Whelan’s occupation is given as a slater and Mrs. Whelan’s as wife of slater.
It would also appear that there was no riding accident. Mrs. Whelan passed away tragically at the age of 21 due to complications following delivery of a baby girl. That girl, Lillie, was taken in and raised in the home of her maternal grandparents, Hugh Jones and his wife of Charles Street.
Thanks to Kay Caball and Dave O’Sullivan for the research.
Kay thinks that the Dandy Lodge was just an ordinary house or lodge on the Bridge Road (or Babies’ Wood as it was known then) and had nothing to do with Gurtenard House, Lord Listowel or his agents. Lord Listowel’s tolls were collected nearer to town at the Custom Gap at the top of Canon’s Height. Kay feels that it would seem more likely that if there were to be a gate lodge it would have been at the gate of Gurtenard House.
Remember that saying about never letting the truth get in the way of a good story.
There they are, as promised, the names of the kind donors who contributed at least £50 to the Dandy Lodge Restoration Project in the 1990’s. The account of their generosity is preserved forever in a bronze sponsors’ board with names engraved by Tony O’Callaghan.
I hope you can read them.
Dandy Lodge now
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Tragic Letter
(From Tragedies of Kerry 1922 – 1923 by Dorothy Macardle)
His final request “Dont let anyone do anything” is a plea that there be no reprisals.
The siege of the caves is a reference to Clashmealcon. James McEnery was one of the men executed as a result of that tragic siege. The priest brother to whom he is writing this letter came from England in the days following the capture of the survivors of Clashmealcon to beg for mercy for his brother.
I found this book on my bookshelf. God alone knows where I picked it up, probably a charity shop.
This is one of the stories of interest. I’m sure some local people will know who these men were. R.I.P. John Linnane
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Baby Shark
Do you remember this (fairly irritating ) song that was really popular with children a few years ago.
It goes Baby Shark do do do do do do
Well, it could save your life. That’s a fact.
The song has a tempo of 115 beats per minute. This is just about the perfect speed for performing chest compressions. So it’s the perfect tune to hum while you are saving a life.
