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

The Slate House, Sinn Féin in 1919,St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2019 and a Marconi Centenary in Ballybunion



Ballybunion March 17 2019

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The Slate House


This Ballybunion house recently featured in the TV programme Home of the Year. It didn’t win but it came close.

It is a luxury architect- designed house with stunning views.

I saw it recently advertised on Air B and B at a rate of €700 per night.



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A Rabble Rousing Speech from 1919


Kerryman  Saturday, January 11, 1919
Nationalist Meeting in Listowel (Edited)

…..The speaker then proposed the resolution to the meeting which was seconded by Mr. T. J. Walsh, and passed with acclamation.

The Rev. Father Charles O’Sullivan, C.C., then came to the front of the wagonette and was received with a perfect storm of applause. The cheering having ceased, he said—Men of this young and unconquerable Ireland, the weather has put a serious strain upon our endurance this morning, but it is as nothing in comparison with the discomforts of soul and body suffered by those fellow-countrymen of ours those men of the breed and stuff of heroes who are enjoying the cold plank beds and the comfortless fare of British Imperial hospitality (cheers). 

Our first word to-day is congratulation to Cathal Brugha (hear, hear). He is not a Polish Jew, nor a Russian Bolshevist, nor a German spy (laughter). He is the elected representative of Waterford County who was arrested the other day for the crime of bearing and using his father’s name (laughter). Surely Johnbulism in Ireland has long since become a laughable farce, and if it had not been a stumbling block in the way of human liberty it would be a laughing stock indeed (hear, hear). We thank John Bull for this now piece of stupid buffoonery, and for this fresh bit of merriment in these serious times (laughter). 

Our second word is to offer to our own Sean McKenna our most hearty congratulations (loud cheering, which continued for some minutes). He appears with us to-day—(cries of he is welcome and cheers)—invested with a now title to our honour and esteem (hear, hear). Everybody in Kerry—yea in Erin knows what this title is. On this deathless combat between the Celt and the Saxon which is now in its last throes—in this strife between two forces divergent in their ideals and purposes as Columkille and Luther (laughter). In this combat John McKenna became a prisoner of war, he fell into the clutches of a tyranny as has never been conceived by Prussian, Russian or Turk to outrage the spirit of liberty and to extinguish that sentiment of racial self-respect, self-dependence and self-reliance, which is the very foundation of free national community life. How like and how familiar is the monster tyranny in all climes and ages the same old maws and the same old paws; (laughter). The old dragonheaded monster known abroad as Prussianism, Russianism, Turkism has for long centuries been seeking to devour this noble land of ours under the name of Saxonism. They never will (cheers). Now is the day, now is the hour for us to rise from slumber and to be up and doing, and watching and guarding from the hill tops of Gael-land (cheers). All Ireland asked to-day was to be allowed to take her place in a league of free peoples, in equal rights and equal chances in the pursuit of prosperity and peace (hear, hear, and cheers).

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More from St. Patrick’s Day 2019


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Rescue Services


On the day of the Marconi celebrations Radio Kerry provided live coverage of the whole event and a great account of the Marconi story.

Marconi


On March 19 2019 at the Marconi centenary celebration in Ballybunion, as well as wireless station memorabilia and early wirelesses there were many of our rescue personnel and rescue vehicles on display.

Jed Chute is here chatting to Liam OHainnín of Beale who is an expert in all things wireless and he had some of his many wireless related artefacts on display on the day.

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There were lots of children there when I was there and they were very interested in the rescue vehicles and the work of the rescue people.

Ballybunion in March, St. Patrick’s Day 2019 in Listowel, Marconi remembered and Masked Ball in 1919

Róisín Darby playing in the foam churned up by the gale in Ballybunion on March 17 2019

When any of my family visit, a trip to Ballybunion is always part of the adventure.

March 17 2019 and Ballybunion is skinning cold.

Yes that is a man wearing only swimming trunks swimming in Ballybunion on March 17th 2019.

Molly loves the beach.

 The family huddled together for warmth until they grew accustomed to the wind chill.

It was all fun  and games in the foam but one little lady wasn’t wearing wellingtons.

Molly had to endure a freezing cold bath before she could get in the car.

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Remember Pól ?



It’s always lovely to meet an old friend. Pól used to teach Irish in Presentation Secondary School a while back. He now lives in Tralee and works in Killarney.

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Watching the Passing Parade








Many people braved the cold to come out and watch the parade

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December 12 1919  : Kerry News


Dance held in Listowel, most enjoyable for many years. Catering by Kidd’s of Limerick and music supplied by Seaward’s band. Masks were removed at 1 O’Clock and dancing in ordinary costume till morning did appear.

Thanks to Messrs. D W Judge, Bank of Ireland, the hon Secretary and R Sweetman the greatest possible credit is due for the energetic manner in which they principally worked up the pleasant event and made it a success it was. Thanks also due to Messrs Jack Rice, sub manager National bank. Killeen, Bank of Ireland and E Boylan. While the ladies category. Mrs Foran, V.C. P.L.C. and Mrs Sweetman, also Mrs Crowley, Mrs Leane and the Misses Buckley, etc.

They also had electric light.

(It was remarked that most of the patrons were Sinn Feiners, but there was some small irresponsible element mentioned).

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Marconi Centenary

On March 19 2019 Ballybunion remembered it’s role in communications history.


Jed Chute and Martin Griffin were there to represent the role of the Lartigue Railway in this piece of history. Martin and Jed told me that all the components for the broadcasting station were brought to Ballybunion on the monorail. All the components that is except the generator.

Because the Lartigue was a monorail and the passenger and goods carriages were balanced on either side of a central raised rail on trestles, a delicate balancing act had to be performed at embarkation.

The generator for the Marconi station was too heavy to put on the train so it had to be brought by road. It was too heavy for the road as well and it got bogged down at Dirrha. Steel girders had to be got and these laid across the road to reinforce it. These reinforcements had to be taken up after the load had passed over them and relaid in front of the lorry.

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Winners alright



Listowel had great success at the recent Irish Hospitality Awards 2019.

Jumbo’s won the award for the best family restaurant. Jumbo’s is a Listowel institution. If you grew up in Listowel no trip back home is complete without a trip to Jumbo’s. Curry chips and stuffing anyone?

Máire and Catherine picked up a highly commended award for Listowel Writers’ Week, another Listowel institution.

Butler Centre, Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, Cork Badminton and More St. Patrick’s Day Photos

Roofing work in progress at The Butler Centre

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Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Listowel in the 70s




Photos Junior Griffin

The first time Listowel was proposed as a venue for  the fleadh local traders became a bit apprehensive. It was obviously going to bring huge crowds to town and lots of business, but people feared that the pubs (there were over 50) might not be able to cope. There might be drinking in the streets, drunkenness and antisocial behaviour of all sorts. Some people boarded up their  premises and took the precaution of employing security.

None of these measures were necessary. The fleadh crowd were really well behaved. The music, song and dancing in the competition venues and on the streets provided excellent entertainment for all and sundry. Business in pubs and shops brought in an early harvest for business people.

A rising tide lifts all boats. Everyone in town seemed to profit from the fleadh and Listowel was delighted to welcome the festival back again and again.

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They’re Celebrating at Harnett’s





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Cork Badminton with  Listowel Connection


Third from left is Caroline Kenny, formerly of Listowel, holding the cup she won with her Mallow team in the Cork County badminton championship.

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March 17th 2019


Some of my Cork based family came to The Kingdom for the Patron saint’s weekend.

Molly came too. She is now a little older but only a tad wiser. She brought her own throne from which she liked to view the world.

 Kay’s Children’s Shop was just one of the many who decorated their windows as Gaeilge.


These vintage vehicles were also on parade.

Listowel Toilets, Halls in Knockanure, More St. Patrick’s Day Photos and Daffodil Day 2019

Market Street, Listowel in March 2019

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More Photos fromThe Parade 2019



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Spending a Penny In Listowel

This public convenience is in Market Street, Listowel. It is costing us a fortune in maintenance and it is rarely used. We are all half afraid of it and it appears to me that visitors to town are the only patrons.

Michael Guerin posted an amusing video on Facebook detailing the locations of previous toilets.

Listowel Toilets

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Knockanure Dancehalls



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Now and Then



Same corner but without the public phone kiosks

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Daffodil Day 2019



I missed Daffodil Day in town this year but as you can see from these photos posted on Facebook, the hard working volunteers covered every corner of town and had another very successful fundraising day.

Listowel Square, Knitwits, Writers’ Week in the 1970s, March 17 2019 and a Marconi Centenary

Trees in Listowel Town Square

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Knitwits

Knitwits, Listowel knitting group meet in Scribes in Church Street on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11.00a.m.

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Listowel Writers’ Week , The Early Days



John Pierse has this photograph of  a very early Writers’ Week Committee. 

Recently Aidan OMurchú donated a copy of Reality magazine from 1975 to the present Writers’ Week committee.

Aidan’s dad, Luaí OMurchú was an early chair of the committee. Under his pen name, Redmond O”Hanlon, he wrote an article for Reality about the  early days.

He quotes Seamus Wilmot’s definition of Writers’ Week as “A showing of the man to the boy, the writer to the aspirant, an examination and an evaluation.”

Bryan MacMahon saw it as “a bit of impertinence on our part.”

Hugh Leonard proclaimed it “a Kerry Baccinalia”.

“An orgy of sociability”  John Boland.

Listowel Writers Week is still all of these things and more. I popped into the office recently and I got a glimpse of the storyboard of this year’s festival. It was filled with “big names”. Everyone who is anyone in Irish writing today seems to be coming our way sometime between May 29 and June 3 2019.

I have just finished reading John Boyne’s Ladder to the Sky. Brilliant! My book club has read Kit de Waal’s The Trick to Time, a book that stayed with me long after I had put it down. I am reading a brilliant new Irish writer at the moment. Anne Griffin reminds me a lot of Donal Ryan. Her book is When all is Said and it is a great read. I can get to meet all of these writers in my own home town this summer. What’s not to love about Listowel Writers’ Week?

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Listowel St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2019




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Centenary Commemoration of Marconi Station in Ballybunion


One hundred years ago this was the Marconi Radio Station in Ballybunion. Today it is Coláiste Bhréanainn. On Tuesday March 19 2019 Ballybunion looked back at the historic day when the first east to west voice message was broadcast across the Atlantic.


Above are some of the artefacts which were on display on the day. I took my photos in black and white as a medium befitting the occasion.



This man was teaching the children how to send a message in Morse Code. He favoured the mobile phone himself.

There is a great video of the unveiling of the commemorative plaque here

Marconi Centenary

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