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

Ballybunion at Night, Life on the turnstile, Neodata Remembered, a return to school and a Book Launch

By

On November 21, 2016

In Uncategorized

Spooky Photos of Ballybunion during in the early morning on the nights of the Super Moon



photos by Mike Enright



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Memories, Memories



Liz Galvin, who worked in Neodata, has very kindly opened her photograph album to us. Here are some of her photos from the good old days in the Bridge Road.

The girls relax during a break from typing

If you see yourself here or if you see someone you know be sure to share a memory.

Noreen Mc Mahon Mary O’Connor Sheila Hanafin and Liz Galvin.





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The Life and Times of a G.A.A. Stilesman   a.ka. Junior Griffin


The Talk at the
Turnstiles  John Griffin’s article, written for the souvenir programme of the County Final in 1999 and published in The Irish
World (London)

December 3 and December 10
1999

Quite rightly, the players on
duty in today’s eagerly awaited  county
final will be the chief focus of attention as they do battle for that coveted
county championship medal.

Perhaps decisions by the
referee or by his umpires or linemen at some stage in the game will also give
rise to comment.

But have you ever given thought
to the function of the  man who more than
likely,  will be the first official you
will encounter at today’s final- The Man Behind The Wire.

The whole structure of our
games has changed a lot over the past 30 years. Facilities for boith players
and spectators have improved tremendously with the whole country now dotted
with some wonderful stadia.

Finance, of course, is a fact
of life in the GAA and whilst sponsorship is much welcomed and needed, the most
important contributions come from you, the patron, by your attendance at our
games.

Hence the role of the
stilesman. The work of the stilesman is not as easy as some may think and, indeed it carries a lot of responsibility. I look on the stilesmen as the
front line troops of the GAA.

The abuse hurled at referees
often hits the headlines but it pales into insignificance at times with what
the stilesmen have to endure. I know stilesmen who have been hit, kicked and
even spat at. Indeed my own shinbone bore the brunt of many a well placed kick
on more then one occasion.

Definitely some people have a
Jekyll and Hyde personality when they go to a match. If the entrance fee is
considered dear- blame the stilesman.!

If there are no programmes
available- blame the stilesman! The festival of Kerry Sunday was a nightmare.
For many years, County semi finals were held on that Sunday and traffic and
parking was chaotic. Did people make allowance for delays/ Yerra- no! Sure
we’ll blame the stiles man!

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1916 Commemorative Garden in Listowel Town Park



The box hedge has been planted and the heathers are in. It’s looking beautiful. I hope the surrounding hedge does not grow too tall and cut off the lovely view we have of it currently.

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Like Old Times




Today is Presentation Day, a kind of Irish equivalent of Founder’s Day. In the good old days all Presentation schools closed on November 21, the pupils got a holiday and the sisters celebrated in their convents. Then the school year was standardised and everyone had to take the same school holidays. So the day was celebrated during the school day.

This year in Presentation Secondary School, Listowel, all the retired staff were invited back for a little get together. Here I am among my old school colleagues as we reminisced and reconnected. I think we were all delighted to hear that it is planned to make it an annual event.

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A Book Launch to Cap all Book Launches 


On November 18 2016, John Kelliher was among the many photographers and videographers recording for posterity the biggest book launch the Listowel Arms has ever seen and it has seen a good few. The outpouring of goodwill and support for one of our own as he made his first big public appearance since his tamall grappling with serious illness was uplifting to behold. The ballroom was heaving and there were hundreds more waiting to get in.

Fr. Pat was surrounded by friends helping him to celebrate this great night. The success of the book was never in any doubt. The event in the hotel was more a show of support and affection and  a rejoicing that a beloved priest had dodged another bullet.

Many of his friends were on hand to entertain us as well.

Sonny Egan opened the evening’s entertainment.

Jer Barrett, well used to being behind the camera, was recording the event for social media.

Joe Costello, Fr. Pat’s great friend and supported sang his song.

This was our super M.C.



The highlight of the proceedings was a duet of Ballybunion Town from the above two.

Mary Fagan sent me the following great memories of the night to share with you.

Ballybunion, Junior Griffin, a Craft Fair and Striking a Chord is launched

By

On November 18, 2016

In Uncategorized

Beautiful photos of Ballybunion in Summertime by Deirdre Lyons

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Junior Griffin, Stilesman.

Junior Griffin is a great man
to tell a story and a great man to write one too.

I have to set this article up
with a back story just as Junior told it to me.

It was 1999 and Junior was on
holidays in Spain with his late sister, Joan. The compromise rules football
game was on and they decided to go to an Irish pub to see the game.

The pub is full of customers,
mostly Irish, watching the television. At half time, one of the TV analysts is
Jack O’Shea.

Junior hears one of the men
near him say, “He was one of the greatest footballers of all time.”

Some time later and Junior is
at the airport on his way home. Who is sitting next to him but the Jack O’Shea
fan from the pub? He and Junior fell to talking.

This man was Pat Cowen, owner
of the Irish World newspaper in London.

This is a tangent now. It’s
an interesting one though.

Liam McCarthy of the hurling
cup fame died in London and no one knew where he was buried. This man, Pat
Cowen, with others helped to find his grave. When the GAA congress was held in
London and a few of the past presidents were in town, Pat and his friends organized
a ceremony at the graveside.

By the way, Sam Maguire also
emigrated to London. He played three All Ireland finals with London. In those
days, 1920s, the winners of the All Ireland series played London.

Anyway back to the Spanish
airport and our two boys chatting away.

As it happened the Kerry
County final was the next week and Junior and Pat were both going to be there?  Junior told Pat that he was going to be on
the gate collecting the admission fee. In fact, he told Pat, that he had been
asked to write something about his experiences as a stilesman to be included in
the programme for the game. One word borrowed another and Pat invited Junior to
send him the article about his experiences as a gateman and he would love to
publish it in The Irish World.

That is exactly what happened
and on two consecutive weeks in December 1999 The Irish World carried a tale of
life as a gatekeeper at GAA games all over the country, a small part of the
life of the great John Junior Griffin of Listowel, Secretary of Listowel
Emmets, handballer, legendary badminton administrator and all round good guy. 

Junior has shared these articles with me and Listowel Connection will bring you next week an exclusive (almost) insight into life at the gate at GAA games.

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At The Seanchaí Craft Fair


 Cookarama looking good.


Frances and her granddaughter with their colourful display of tea cosies and hats.

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Snapped



I met Cara and Chris in The Seanchaí

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Striking a Chord


This anthology of writing by North Kerry Writers is a treasure. It was launched in St. John’s to a packed audience on Thursday evening, November 10 2016. I’ll tell you more about it when I have a chance to read a few of the contributions. A good day to get your copy would be on November 26 when it will be on sale in Garvey’s Super Valu and everyone who buys a copy on that day will have their name put into a draw for a hamper valued at €100, sponsored by Super Valu.




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And the winner is….



In Dublin on November 16 2016 Listowel Writers’ Week first poetry winner at the BGE Irish Book Awards was announced. Jane Clarke’s poem, In Glasnevin, found a resonance with the poetry loving public and they voted for it in numbers.

Finding the words carved

on their plain, granite
headstone,

faithful comrade, lifelong
friend,

reminds me of my grandmother

who used to say, there was
none of that

in my day. I wish I could ask

the faithful Julia and
Elizabeth

were they grateful for the
mercy

of sharing a grave, did they
choose

those words to save them from
shame,

did they have someone to tell

that though the words said so
much,

they didn’t say enough, and
when

they nursed the rebellion’s
wounded,

did they question the cost

of a new (free) state.


( Sets you thinking doesn’t it? Have the future generations kept faith with Julia and Elizabeth?) 

Cyril Kelly on Jimmy Hickey, Old Dance Poster and a Craft and food fair in the Listowel Arms

By

On November 17, 2016

In Uncategorized

Shadows on The Feale 


(photo: Deirdre Lyons)

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An Childhood friend pays tribute to Jimmy Hickey


Jimmy Hickey and Cyril Kelly are friends from way back. they are still friends today. Cyril was prompted to write to me when he saw his old friend feature so deservedly in Listowel Connection. 

Cyril wrote;


“In your frequent perambulations around the town, if you come across the man with the twinkling eyes and twinkling feet, extend the good wishes of a former fellow cornerboy of yore. Many a time and oft in the Sunday mornings of the hungry fifties, we played handball against the gable end of what was then Kanes at the corner of Forge Lane (later  the ESB and later again other metamorphoses). Then, with endless time on our hands we loitered with content in the vicinity of that corner, commenting on the rivettingly  entertaining vista of The Bon-Tons, Quille’s, Birdy Browne bound for 10 o’clock, various officers of the Garda Siochána setting off on their leisurely beat or on their bikes, pedaling the countryside in search of a variety of obnoxious weeds, et cetera, et cetera. 


During those halcyon mornings, Jimmy with his restlessness and quick wit, was the best of company.”


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Violet Dalton shared this old Dance Poster on Facebook






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Listowel Food Fair in The Listowel Arms, Sunday November 13 2016

Here are some of the people I met.

Derval O’Rourke posed with the Walsh family at their John R.’s stall.

Maurice Hannon was having a chat with the winning  cheesemaker at his table.

I met this lovely young Duagh man at the Eabha Joans stand. He had on display a range of garnishes which they had made from locally sourced wild food foraged earlier in the year.

Derval O’Rourke’s book and food label is The Fit Foodie. I bought the energy treats. They were delicious.

These people were selling cds and books and raising awareness of the charity. Hope Guatemala.

Near 2 nature had some delicious energy bars. They were lovely too.


Maura Gleasure had her aprons and tea cosies on display.

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Sheila in the Grounds of The Seanchaí


Local lady, Sheila Horan with the statue of Bryan MacMahon





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One of the Final Events of our 1916 Commemoration



Owen O’Shea sent us an account of this event which will be a must for all historians.

TALK ON THE 5TH KERRYMAN KILLED DURING THE RISING 

FEATURING READINGS BY POET BRENDAN KENNELLY

Duagh native and UCD historian Dr Mary McAuliffe will give a talk at 8pm on Thursday, November 24th in Duagh national school hall on Robert Dillon, from Lyreacrompane, who has now become known as the ‘Fifth Kerryman’ killed during the Easter Rising. 

Dr McAuliffe – one of the co-editors of ‘Kerry 1916: Histories and Legacies of the Easter Rising – has researched the story of the north Kerry native who was a successful businessman in Dublin’s Moore Street. He died tragically while trying to get his family to safety during the worst fighting of the Rising. Witnessing Dillon’s death on Moore Street, Pádraig Pearse is said to have finally decided to surrender to prevent further civilian casualties. Robert Dillon’s name is now on the list of the Rising dead in Glasnevin Cemetery. His descendants are the Dillon family in the parish. 

Dr McAuliffe and fellow author Owen O’Shea will also talk on the other north Kerry men and women who took part in the Rising and who were active during the Revolutionary Years. Poet and Ballylongford native Brendan Kennelly will give a poetry reading and there will also be a musical interlude with a 1916 theme. 

This event is a fundraiser for the local Transition Year students who are travelling with the Hope Foundation to Kolkata and entry is €5 per family. The book on the period, Kerry 1916: Histories and Legacies of the Easter Rising – A Centenary Record will be for sale at a special price on the night. All are welcome.

1916 Commemorative garden, Ribbon Dance in Athea and a new Feature in Listowel Town Park

By

On November 16, 2016

In Uncategorized

1916 Commemorative installation in Listowel Town Park….The Early Days

This is how it looked as it was laid out before the planting.

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From a Park Bench






This is just one of the many magnificent trees that surround the pitch and putt course.



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More from Jimmy Hickey


The Liam Dineen Ribbon Dance is beloved of all Listowel girls down through the years. The story, as Jimmy members it, is that Liam, when talking to a friend who was also a dancing master, came up with the idea of a dance involving ribbons, something like a traditional maypole dance. When you watch the video you will see that the maypole element is included.

Liam Dineen came away from that conversation with the germ of an idea. From that he developed his  Ribbon dance. Liam taught all over North Kerry and West Limerick in convent schools and he taught this dance to the girls. It became associated with St. Patrick’s Day and the ribbons used were green, white and gold.

In this video, kindly given to me by Kathleen McCarthy, you will see a group of adult dancers who relearned this dance to perform it in Athea earlier this year, 2016.

The dancers line up with Jimmy at the end of the video.

They are:

 Left to
Right;  Jimmy Hickey, dancing teacher,
Kathleen McCarthy, Margaret Regan, Peggy Williams, Carmel O’Mahoney, Miley
Costelooe, Bridie Keane, Kathleen Stack, Noreen McEvoy, Carmel Keane, Mary O’Flaherty,
Eileen Costeloe and Peggy Brick

Ribbon Dance in Athea

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Remembrance Day in St. John’s Sunday November 13 2016


This was the scene on the stage in St. John’s as we remembered the dead of all wars.

Earlier a special mass of commemoration was celebrated in St. Mary’s. The remembering continued in St. John’s with school children reading out the names of the soldiers from their areas who had died in two world wars.

Jim Halpin of Listowel does trojan work in ensuring that those young men who gave their lives in two world wars will not be forgotten.

I photographed Michael Guerin on his way to mass.

The names of the North Kerry men who lost their lives in WW1 took centre stage.

A hush fell over the audience as Mick McConnell sang is poignant ballad of a Christmas truce when for one night humanity cut through the horrors of war.

Listen Here

Looking for Barry and Lynch Relatives,A Book Launch for Fr. Pat Moore and some good drama in store for us

By

On November 15, 2016

In Uncategorized

Shadows Lengthen as the Sun declines



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Looking for Barry and Lynch Relatives

I have been in email correspondence with Jeff Carney from the U.S.A. He is anxious to find some living Kerry relatives before his planned visit. Will you kindly read the following extracts from Jeff’s emails and see if you can help him.


“I  have been studying my family tree for years, but I must say that I have run into a wall in my Kerry connections.  My siblings and I are planning a visit to North Kerry in September and was hoping to find someone who can help with some research as we prepare for our visit.  There are wonderful resources online such as 1901/1911 census and Kerry burials which have been helpful.

My ancestors are Edmund Barry and Honora Mangan Barry married in 1844 in Ballybunion parish.  Edmund is from Coolkeragh.  I believe he lived in Ballyegan.  My great grandfather, Thomas Barry married Molly Lynch  from Asdee East, and emigrated to US around 1887.   His brother, Edward also emigrated. Thomas’ siblings, John and Patrick, as well as daughter, Ann lived in Ireland at the time of Thomas death in 1914.

It would be wonderful to know if there are relatives still in Kerry.  I’d also be very interested to learn where Edmund and Honora lived, when they passed, and where they are buried.





My grandfather, who was born in Utica, NY in 1900 told the story of his father, Thomas E Barry and mother, Mary (Molly) Lynch Barry, coming to America with “babe in arms”.   The babe was the oldest daughter, Nora, most likely named after his mother, Honora, or Molly’s mother, Nora Sweeney Lynch.  Online marriage records show Thomas and Molly were both lived in Clounamon in 1887.  I believe they emigrated shortly after marriage.  They were well respected as parents of 10 children, with 9 born in upstate New York.  Thomas died at age 48 due to complications of an injury suffered while at work at the brewery. At the time of his death, he had a sister and two brothers living in Ireland. Another brother, Edward died in Waterbury, CT IN 1917.  I have quite a bit of info on the American side.”




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Upper William Street


This old picture has gained a new lease of life on Facebook. Apparently the ass and cart are not those of the late Mamie Gunn. The clue is in the steel bands around the wheels. Mamie’s cart had rubber wheels.  The things you learn on Facebook!

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Don’t forget




Friday November 18 2016 in The Listowel Arms.



Fr. Pat’s book is written, produced and printed in Kerry, and €1 from every book sold will go towards the Kerry Cork Link Health Bus Service.



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Good News on The Christmas Shopping Front


Parking in Listowel will  be free of charge after 1pm each day from the 1st to 17th of December, and will be free for up to two hours between the 19th of December and 2nd of January.

Councillors in the Killarney Municipal District will finalise parking arrangements for Christmas at their next meeting on the 23rd of November.

In Tralee, parking will be free from 1pm in all areas where pay and display currently operates, both on-street and in Kerry County Council car parks from the 5th of December to the 7th of January.

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Annual Active Retired November Mass



Listowel Active Retired members will have their annual mass for their dead relatives at 3.00p.m. today. They will remember in a special way Micheál OSuilleabháin R.I.P. who did so much for the older members of our community.



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Local Play in St. John’s this Week





Poor Jimmy promises to be a good one and then we’ll have a Listowel biggie, Jon Kenny and Mary McEvoy in The Letters of a Successful T.D.

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