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 Celtic, The Case of the Black Pudding and will the next US ambassador be a Corkman?

By

On April 17, 2018

In Uncategorized

Photo: Donal Murphy, Mallow Camera Club

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Reliving a memory with Listowel Celtic

These photos from Listowel Celtic’s Facebook page are from the official opening of the soccer playing field at Tannavalla. May all of those who were part of the occasion and are gone from us rest in peace.

The late Jack Carmody (The Sherriff) with his family.

John Delaney with club chair, Aiden OConnor and Beatrice and Jack Carmody

Some great club stalwarts.

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The Council of Dirha by John B. Keane continued from yesterday

………However, this is
another matter. It is with the pre Pope Paul period of fast and abstinence that
I propose to deal now. Before I do, let me say that fireside theology was
reduced to a very fine art in those days. There was no opposition from
television and the country was far from motorized. Consequently there was
genuine profundity in most fireside exchanges. The subtler arts of sarcasm,
irony and cynicism all flourished and were brought to such a degree of
excellence by common country folk that ordinary comment was almost totally
outlawed.

The first serious
council held by hobside theologians to which I was a witness was held in Dirha
Bog circa 1935. So great was the fear of excommunication in those distant days
that even today I am not at liberty to mention the name of the house owner. The
council was well attended and present at the time were such venerable sages as
the late Sonny Canavan and Jack Duggan. The main spokesman was a spailpín by
the name of Billy Drury, brother of the poet, Paddy. The main item on the
agenda on that memorable occasion was whether the consumption of black puddings
on a Friday constituted a breach of the laws of fast and abstinence. Pork steak
and puddings were a common enough diet at the time. Every countryman kept his
own pig and when the creature was fat enough to be butchered substantial
quantities of pork steak and home filled black puddings were distributed among
the neighbours.

It was universally
accepted even amongst the most extreme heretics and schismatics that under no
cicumstances was the eating of pork steak to be countenanced on a Friday or any
other days of fast and abstinence. Puddings, however were a different kettle of
fish altogether. If I might be permitted to the use of a widely used saying at
the time, “there were puddings and puddings.” 
It was with this aspect of the matter that the Dirha theologians
concerned themselves. When is a black pudding not a black pudding or, to put it
another way, what are the chief characteristics of a sinful pudding?

more tomorrow 

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The Next U.S. Ambassador to Ireland ?




Ohio businessman Ed Crawford has emerged as the front-runner to become the next US ambassador to Ireland. 

A long-time Republican party donor, Mr Crawford is the chairman of Park-Ohio Holdings, a Nasdaq-listed manufacturing and supply-chain company which has operations across the world, including in Cork. 

He was the finance chairman for the Republican National Committee’s Ohio campaign during last year’s presidential race, and was an early supporter of Donald Trump. 

Mr Crawford, whose grandparents came from Co Cork, has also been centrally involved in the Irish community in Cleveland, hosting the then taoiseach Enda Kenny at an event to mark the rededication of the Irish Cultural Garden in the city in 2012. 

His emergence as the top candidate to become the next US ambassador comes after Brian Burns, a Florida businessman and friend of Mr Trump, withdrew from consideration for the post.

I read the above in The Irish Times and I decided that the next time I passed through Newmarket, I’d stop for a look around and see how this man’s ancestral place was doing now.

Newmarket is a neighbouring town to my own Kanturk and , apart from the old tribal rivalries of the G.A.A. Newmarket people were friends.

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Listowel Boy Scouts and Leaders



Photo from Mike Hannon from the John Hannon archive.

This looks like a St. Patrick’s Day parade passing through Main Street. I’m guessing the 1970s because the Spinning Wheel is where Footprints is now. I could hazard a guess at some of these men and ladies  but, for fear of mistakes, I’ll let it up to you. Tell me if you recognise yourself.

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Sam In O’Connell’s Avenue



The man on the far left is Tom Sweeney, a man whose family is steeped in football. The others are Tom Lyons, Mick Carey and Gigs Nolan R.I.P.

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One for the diary


On Sunday next, April 22 2018 Kay Moloney, formerly of Gurtinard House, Listowel will give a talk in The Seanchaí at 7.00p.m.

The subject of her talk will be an incident that was very significant in the history of Listowel.

One hundred years ago a group of local men ploughed up Lord Listowel’s lawn.

Who were these men?

Why did they convert Lord Listowel’s lawn into a tillage feld?

What were the consequences? 

These questions will be answered by Kay on Sunday evening and the answers might surprise you.

You won’t want to miss this one.



The Council of Dirha, an old photo and a new jumper

By

On April 16, 2018

In Uncategorized



A camelia in The Garden of Europe


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A Photo from the Johnny Hannon Archive



Junior Griffin to whom I  went to ask for help in  identifying these people wrote;

The best known name here of course is Sam McGuire. Not sure of the man on the left but he may be Walsh from O’Connell’s Ave as the other3 are from that area of town., namely Tom Lyons, Mick Carey and “Gigs Nolan, who sadly died just a few months ago. Mick Carey was known as the doyen of the Gleann street league football and knew the game inside out.


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A John B. Keane Story   (serialised )

Today I’m beginning another serialised essay of John B. Keane’s. He writes of a different era when Irish people were in the thrall of the church and fear of the wrath of God, as defined by the Catholic church, was ever-present.

The Council of Dirha       by John B. Keane

Good luck and
success to the Council of Trent

What put fast upon
mate but not upon drink,

(Overheard at a
wake) 

When the above
couplet was conceived there was fasting on Fridays. Nowadays, Lent apart, we
may eat meat with impunity throughout the entire year. The church was quite
clear in its strictures regarding the consumption of meat and meat products on
days of fast and abstinence. Then in 1966 Pope Paul promulgated new laws for
Roman Catholics. Fast days, which had included all the weekdays of Lent, the
vigils of Pentecost, The Immaculate Conception and Christmas and the Ember Days
were reduced to two, i.e. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In the same decree
Pope Paul reaffirmed the laws of abstinence from meat. However, he allowed
episcopal conferences to substitute for abstinence with other forms of penance
especially works of charity and exercises in piety.

Hobside
theologians of the time were known to smirk at the expression “works of
charity”. They deduced in their own indigenous fashion that to be charitable
one had to be rich. Since neither they themselves nor their associates were
remotely connected with wealth, they regarded themselves as being incapable of
charity. When it was explained to them that charity had other connotations such
as love of one’s fellow man they were quick to point out that because of their
innate worthlessness no one, save their own family, places any value on their
love.

(more tomorrow)


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Horan’s New Look




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My Latest Knit




The story of a jumper that turned into a saga.

Handknitted by moi
with a little help from Woman’s Way’s Louise Finn

It all began with
Woman’s Way, “Ireland’s best selling women’s magazine”.

I spotted a knitting pattern and I thought “This has my name on it.” 
Simple pattern, easy peasy knitting and beautiful result down to the
beautiful colourful yarn. But…..

I went on line to
the two big online sellers of wool, Vibes and Scribes in Cork, my favourite bricks
and mortar craft shop but I knew they sold online as well, and Springwools in Dublin,
Ireland’s biggest online yarn retailer. Neither of them seemed to stock Tivoli
Colour Maze.

Feeling a bit
miffed I contacted Woman’s Way with my false assumption that they had published
an old pattern and the yarn was discontinued. Louise Finn, the lovely deputy
editor, who has become my new best friend in this venture, emailed back to say
that my assumption was wrong. It was  a brand
new pattern and the wool came into the shops in September 2017. She gave me the
phone number of Tivoli, the Cork company who market the wool and Anne there
told me that they had thousands of yarns and not every shop takes every one.
She couldn’t sell it to me because they don’t sell directly to the public. When
she found out that I lived in Kerry, she found that the nearest retailer to me
with that wool in stock was in Kenmare. I gave her a quick Geography lesson.
Kenmare is 100kms from Listowel.

I reported back my
lack of success to Louise. Now Louise didn’t get to where she is today by
giving up. She did a bit of research and she found a lovely shop in Midleton,
Karen’s Krafts. Karen had the yarn in stock and she was willing to post. Now we
were sucking diesel or so I thought.

I contacted Karen.
There were 8 colourways available and she didn’t have them all but she was
expecting a delivery. So the final outcome of my chat with Karen was that she
would text me when the wool came in and I would take a trip to Midleton on my
next visit to my family in Cork.

Meanwhile my
daughter is going to Midleton with her work on Monday, February 26 2018.
Spottting an opportunity I ask her to call to Karen to suss out my wool. I ring
Karen and now she hasn’t got three balls in any colour. (The pattern requires
three) but the delivery from Tivoli hasn’t come yet.

Delivery comes  and Karen texts me to tell me that the only 3 ball
stock that came in are grey or beige. Now remember I said that this is a very
basic jumper only made special by the colourful yarn. Let’s say grey and beige
don’t cut it with me in the ‘Colourful” stakes . So I decided to throw in the
towel.

Did I mention that
Louise did not get to where she is today…….?

When I told her
that I had accepted failure she was having none of it. She emailed back to say
that she had contacted a wool shop in Blanchardstown and they were willing to
order the wool and to post it to me.

And so they did.
The yarn arrived in Listowel and now all that was left for me to do was knit
the blessed thing. Then Louise emailed to say that she would like to see a
photo of the finished product for publication in the magazine.  No pressure then.

So voilà, me in my
beautiful new jumper just in time for the next cold snap.

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Two Names




The two people on the left have been identified as Arthur Chute and Violet McCarthy. The search continues to identify the other three people.

Jubilee Nurse, Skywalking and Help Needed with a Photograph

By

On April 13, 2018

In Uncategorized


Ever Beautiful Ballybunion



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Skywalkers in Tralee



I am always on the lookout for fun things to do when my grandchildren come to visit. They always love a visit to Bowling Buddies in Tralee.

The boys actually prefer Air Hockey to Bowling but on this visit we did both.

On their recent sojourn in Kerry the girls discovered Skywalking. This is an experience housed in the same building as Bowling but its a ride not for the faint hearted. My girls are gymnasts and have lots of upper body strength and flexibility so they were well able for the exertions. Their mother, on the other hand, found it a bit tougher and she was only going along to make sure they wouldn’t be frightened.

Their grandmother stayed firmly planted on the ground.

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Contributing to the Jubilee Nurse fund


Kerry People  Saturday, March 09, 1912

LISTOWEL JUBILEE NURSE

Subscriptions  towards a fund for the support of a Nurse from the Queen’s Jubilee Institute for the poor of Listowel and Kilmorna district.

 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS

Earl of Listowel … £25- 0 -0; Knight of Kerry … 10- 0- 0; George Gun Mahony … 10- 0- 0;Mrs  Trent Staughton … 5- 0 -0; Jas. D. Crosbie , D.L. … 3 -0 -0; Jas. Bannatyen and Sons, Ltd. … 5- 0- 0; Thomas Armstrong … 2- 0- 0; Mrs. McElligott, Mount Rivers .. 2- 0- 0; Revd. J. Beazley, Duagh … 2- 0 -0; B Johnston … 2- 0- 0.

ONE Pound from Following; J. Woulfe-Flanagan, R.M. , M J Byme . … John Dillon, M.D. … Mrs. Raymond … Mrs. Sweetnam : … Robert Geo. Gentleman .. R Latchford and Sons … Miss Horgan .. Mrs. Moran … Henry J Marshall …  Connor, Martin, MD., Tarbert … William McElligott … Revd Canon Molyneaux, Ballybuinion . … Michael O’Connor, M-D. .. J. Little, I.N.S. 

TEN SHILLINGS from; Mrs  Eagar … T. J. O’Connor, Tralee …  Patrick Corridan …  Mrs. Breen …  Mat Finucane …  Maurice Kelliher, Tralee … Thomas. Sampson; T. F. Cronin … J. H Pierse, V.S. …  D H Leane, L.P.S.I. …  Revd Canon O’Riordan ….Maurice Leonard…. Revd. Canon Hayes, Ballylongford …  D Flavin. C.U.D.C…. Dr . Clancy .

5 SHILLINGS EACH from; —T. F. Hawney, T M O’Connor, D,C., Tarbert; P Breen, J Kane, T Moran, Mrs. M Colohan, M O’Connell, Mrs Spillane, Jerh. Galvin, M. O’Carroll, B. Johnston, junr.; Revd. John Pattisson, Miss Pattison, P. Quill, B. Browne, T. Galvin, Thomas Corridan. T O’Connor. J J Kennelly, J Moran, .M. Murphy. Pat Scanlon, Mrs. M. Crowley, Miss Griffin. Edwd. Wilson. Miss Lyons, Mrs. Behan, John McNamara.

3s and 6d from—Wm. Keane. N.G. 

2s 6d each from—M. McCarthy, Mrs. Leahy. Miss O’Carroll. Martin Sheehy, Miss Buckley, J. C. Harnett, Martin Mulvihill, Mrs. Costelloe, Mrs. Harnett. L. Larsson, H O’Sullivan,  J Kirby, John Broderick, Miss  Namack. R. A. Browne, Mrs. McMahon, Mrs P Keane, Miss Barrett, John R Troy, Geo. Hewson, T Browne, J Foley, J Ross. Mrs E Stack, Mrs. Carroll, Sergeant Kane, J Lynch, D J Johnston, J O’Donoghue, Timothy O’Sullivan, M O’Connor, Joe Broderick.  M. Hannan. Elder and Co. 

2 SHILLINGS each—T. Bennett, Mrs. Kirby. Jerh Buckley, P J O’Connor, Wm. Leahy, Morgan Sheeny, I Peet. T O’Connor,. Mrs. Cotter. J P Kennelly, T. O’Brien, Miss Julia Nolan, Pat Stack,  Mrs. Griffin, John Moran, Wm. Dillon. P M McGrath, Mrs. Reynolds, Miss Keane.

 Is 6d EACH—Mrs O’Sullivan..

Is each—Timothy Galvin, Miss Kearney, L Dwyer, Miss Bunyan. Mrs. McGrath. Mary Buckley; T Grogan, J Sweeny, Con 0’Farrell, B McGinley, Mrs Naylor, Miss Lane. J Cain, J Quigley, T J Dillon. P Mangan, T. Bolster. Wm McCarthy, M Scanlon, M J Dillon. J.Thornton, J Relihan, Miss Moroney, Mrs Bridget Nolan, T. Dillane, Miss Stack.

B JOHNSTON, Hon. Treasurer.

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Another Photograph from Johnny Hannon



Junior Griffin drew a blank with this one. Someone must know them. They are almost certainly local and I’m guessing the time is the 1950s

a Jubilee Nurse in 1912, a Visit to Duagh Pottery and a photograph to evoke memories

By

On April 12, 2018

In Uncategorized

Litter Picker

Photo: Philip Karina, Mallow Camera Club

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The Jubilee Nurse


The title Jubilee Nurse comes from the The Queen’s Jubilee Institute which was the body that first appointed and funded these district nurses.


Kerry People  Saturday, February 03, 1912; 

Women’s National Health Association 

LISTOWEL BRANCH.

APPOINTMENT OF DISTRICT NURSE.

Mr. D J Flavin, J P. C.U.D.C. was moved to the chair and the other members  present were: Miss Lamont (Organiser): Mrs B. Foran, V.C., P.L.G., hon. sec. ; Mrs Raymond, Mrs J H Pierse, Mrs  W McElligott, Miss B Buckley, Messrs. B Johnson, Manager Bank of Ireland; D H Leane, L.P.S.I. ; and P. Breen, St. Michael’s College. The hon. secretary read her report to the meeting which was considered very satisfactory after which the necessity for the appointment of a district Jubilee nurse was discussed. Miss Lamont explained the rules under which a Jubilee nurse takes-up the position, and stated the salary of such a nurse would be £90 a year.

Mr. Johnson said they commenced to collect the town and said they had collected in one street about £50, there being no refusal but one. The people he should state met them in the most generous and sympathetic manner possible, and he had no doubt whatever that they would be always in a position to meet the salary of the nurse.

The Chairman asked Miss Lamort what, would be the area  to be covered by the nurse.

Miss Lamont said the nurse  would take in a radius of about three miles from the centre  of the district, but, of course, in exceptional cases she would not confine herself to that radius; she might go four and even five miles from the centre. Her duties primarily should be concerned with the poor of the district, but in exceptional cases and where she was at liberty to do so, she could give her services to the better off people who of course, would be obliged to pay for such services. The nurse would at the same time, be always subject to the directions and advice of the doctors as to the patients to attend to, and she hoped the medical gentlemen of the town would sympathise with the movement.

Mr. Johnson said he knew that as far as the dispensary medical officer Dr. Dillon was concerned he would, he assured him give all the assistance in his power. Mr. Leane said that Dr. O’Connor, he was sure, would do the same. 

Mrs. Foran asked if the nurse could be sent to cases of infections disease Mrs. Lamont: Yes, in exceptional cases, but while attending such a case she must be kept away from the ordinary cases. Of course she knows a good deal herself what to do, and how to act in such circumstances. Chairman : I am sure she won’t be  overwhelmed with too much authority. (Laughter).

 Mrs. Foran : If we had a nurse when the  present epidemic broke out it would have possibly prevented it. Because instead of having the patients nursed by their mothers, the nurse would have at once known that they were suffering from a contagious disease and have them separated at once.

(Discussion continued and suggestions and advice was sought on who to appoint to the position.)

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More Pottering About at Easter 2018


While my young visitors were with me we visited the newly opened 

Duagh Pottery 

This is a small 2 man or one man and one woman operation in the heart of rural North Kerry. The beautiful flora of this idyllic location is the inspiration for many of the unique, quirky colourful pieces produced bt Maggie and Mac.

Maggie showed us how she makes her beautiful tiles using bits and pieces she finds in the kitchen and incorporating vegetation from the nearby meadows.

Duagh Pottery is an adults only operation but Maggie allowed my boys to have a go just so I could see how its done. Duagh Pottery offers a very different kind of day out for a small group in its Pottery Experience Day. All the details are on the website

Duagh Pottery

This is a tile made by Maggie in her studio in Duagh for her son’s kitchen in London.

Above are some of Duagh Pottery’s beautiful  creations

Maggie and Mac are two more talented artists who have relocated to Kerry and continue to contribute and enrich the life of our community. 

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One Night in 1959



This photo is one of several that were given to me by Mike Hannon so that I could share them with you. Mike came upon these when he was clearing out his Uncle Johnny’s house and he knew that some people would love to see them and to relive the happy memories.

I recognised Junior Griffin and Margaret Dillon in this one and I asked Junior to fill me in on the the others. Here is what Junior wrote;

Left to Right…(later Judge) Brian McMahon; myself; Olly Kerins, Margaret Dillon, Joan Sharry (nee Griffin). That photo was taken in Ballybunion and I’m almost certain it was in 1959. Olly’s mother was housekeeper to Canon Peter O’Sullivan  who was our P.P  here in Listowel and came around late 1953. Olly’s eldest son is Liam Kerins who is the current manager of the Tipperary senior football team. Olly and his wife Eileen are now based in Tralee for many years. My sister Joan was married to Jack Sharry of Colbert Street who was himself an uncle to Margaret Dillon. Joan and Jackie settled down in Coventry, indeed next October will be the 10th anniversary of Joan’s death. Jackie pre deceased her.

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The icon of The Holy Family in St. Mary’s, April 9 2018



My visit to Woodford Pottery

By

On April 11, 2018

In Uncategorized

 Photo; Chris Grayson

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Old Ballybunion


This photo was from The Kerryman May 1969

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Pottering about in North Kerry at Easter 2018



The above three mugs were all made in Listowel by Pat Murphy of  Woodford Pottery

The blue one is my favourite. The white one is a work in progress. Pat is experimenting with different shapes and sizes of mug. He is planning on adding a plainer “everyday” mug to his more stylish range. It won’t be white like this but will have a colour outside and for those customers for whom this is important, a white interior.

I usually meet Pat at craft fairs and he has been inviting me to visit his workshop and shop at Woodford for some time now. I made the long promised visit at Easter 2018 accompanied by  my young visitors.

Woodford Pottery is a one man operation. This one man produces a wide range of very beautiful and practical items of tableware and one-off pieces such as bowls, lamps and vases and an adorable Christmas crib.

Like so many North Kerry artists, Pat is a blow-in, a cliamhain isteach. I never fail to marvel at how life in rural North Kerry and West Limerick is so enriched by these very talented people who chance to end up here.

Pat is a Wexford man who began his career as a potter at Kiltrae. You can see that early influence in the practicality of his pieces. In my humble opinion, Woodford Pottery outshines Kiltrae in terms of style, beauty, usefulness and price.

Look out for Pat at future craft fairs or give him a ring at his studio in Woodford.  You can also message him on Facebook where you can also see some of his wares.

Woodford Pottery

If you are in the market for a unique local gift, look no further. Tell him I sent you.

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They Stretched in Never Ending Line



Beside St. John’s in Ballybunion

Page 348 of 675

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