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 First TV in Kerry

By

On June 26, 2024

In Listowel, Listowel Writers Week

Looking into The Garden on Europe in June 2024

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Remembering Paddy Fitzgibbon

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Early Adoptors

(Pic and story from Facebook page Anyone from Ballyduff out there)

In the early days, Mr. and Mrs. Bridie and Liam Kearney embarked on their entrepreneurial journey, establishing their business in the quaint setting of Mrs. White’s old shop in Benmore. The very location that now houses Buds was once the hub where they offered an array of products, from new bicycles to battery-powered radios. On December 1, 1961, the Kearney’s achieved a significant milestone by receiving one of the first television signals in Kerry. Their innovative spirit also led them to introduce the first milking machines in the area and to install the pioneering oil-fired central heating systems in newly constructed houses. A captivating photo captures the moment when Liam and Bridie received the inaugural television picture in Kerry, marking a defining moment in the history of their business.

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A Poem by John Fitzgerald

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Death of a Legend

This photograph of the late Micheál ÓMuircheartaigh was posted by his nephew in 2018. In this snap Micheál is celebrating his 90th birthday by abseiling down Dún Síon.

Micheál was the ultimate professional commentator. His legendary witticisms and anecdotes were carefully crafted and memorised. He had a prodigious memory and capacity for instant recall.

He was a gentleman to his fingertips and loved by Kerrymen and Irishmen everywhere.

His will be the voice of commentary as Gaeilge forever.

Slán abhaile a Mhichíl

Go gcloise tú ceol binn na nAingeal go sioraí.

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A Fact

This old man he played one
He played nick nack on my drum
With a nick nack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone
This old man came rolling home….

This rhyme is thought to have originated in the time of The Famine. Irishmen, fleeing the Famine, ended up on the streets of England begging for a living. These beggars were often badly treated. The rhyme suggests that even the dogs were thrown something but not the beggar who was given a “whack” and sent packing.

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A Poet, a Maestro and a Tree of Reflection

By

On June 25, 2024

In Listowel

Coláiste na Ríochta, Listowel

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A Tree in the Park

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A Weekend to Remember

Fr. Pat Ahern has had many eachtraí in his life. one of these is described in this article from the Kerryman of 1970

Kerryman, Saturday, June 06, 1970

Strong Kerry flavour at Fleadh Nua

THERE was a very strong Kerry flavour at the Fleadh Nua held in Dublin at the week-end by _Comhpitas Ceoltoiri Eireann and due to be repeated next year. Somebody suggested that the week-end was dominated by Kerry personalities and to a certain extent this was true. 

The first big moment of the Fleadh came on Saturday, when at mid-day, the much publicised pony and gig from Tralee, piloted by Liam Tarrant with co-pilot Johnny Dore arrived in Croke Park. Rehearsals were immediately suspended as the crowd surrounded the Kerrymen  and heard of their epic journey, which commenced in Tralee on Wednesday morning. But Liam and Johnny were by no means the first of the big Kerry contingent to arrive . At 10.30 on Saturday morning the gaily bedecked ‘Biddy Boys’ from Kilgobn – arrived, having left home at 3 a..m. Kerry artistes were well to the fore on Saturday night at the celebrity concert These included Maire Ni Dhaoda Abbeydorney (singer) and Kerry champions _Ballyheigue Comhaltas Polka Group. The big event of the week-end was, however, the mammoth pageant at Croke Park on the Sunday. Credit for the success of this event must go to the producer, Moyvane born Rev. Pat Ahem, of the Communications Centre. General feeling was that nobody but Father Ahern could streamline with just two rehearsals, a programme which had in all over 500 artistes from Ireland and England. Perched high up in the Hogan Stand, Father Ahern conducted the show, which will be talked about by the 8,000 people who attended, for many years to come.

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A Local Poem from a Local Anthology

John Fitzgerald’s Tae Lane

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A Definition

From The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce

Admiration. n. Our polite recognition of another’s resemblance to ourselves.

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A Fact

Alligators can live to be 80 years old.

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Black and Irish

By

On June 24, 2024

In Listowel, Poem

Hugh Stancliffe seat in The Garden of Europe

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Black and Irish

Rhasidat Adeleke, the greatest living Irish athlete.

One of the great benefits of having a festival like Writers’ Week on our doorstep is that we are exposed first hand to writing that opens our eyes to issues we may have been unaware of before.

For me, last year, one such event was the great event in Listowel Courthouse when Stephen Connolly brought us Bad Bridget, a look into the underbelly of the Irish diaspora, when there were more Irish women than Irish men in prisons in the U.S.

This year Martim Dyar brought us Black and Irish. This is not just a book. In fact the book is the least of it. It is an educational movement that opens our eyes to issues faced by people around us, who, even though they may not look stereotypically Irish, or have names like Siobhán or Seán, are just as entitled to call themselves Irish as I am.

Listen to this about our most promising athlete

Through our work in Black and Irish we’ve had many opportunities to speak to young people about @rhasidat_adeleke 

At every school talk and book talk we give, we show her to the audience and discuss the impact she has had on Ireland 

 Rhasidat is not just a talented athlete, she is an inspiration for all young Irish children who aspire to be the best at what they love. We are privileged to hear the whispered “wow’s” and see the looks of complete awe on children’s faces when we talk about her. We get to answer the many questions we are asked about her. This is the impact that Rhasidat has. She is inspiring the next generation. She is making all kids, regardless of gender, colour or anything else feel proud to be Irish 

Rhasidat is at the beginning of a glittering career. She is and will represent Ireland at an incredibly high level and we should all be behind her on this journey! 

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A Poem we Learned at School

W.H.Davies

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait tiWll her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.”

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St. Michael’s Cemetery

Martin Moore’s walk during this year’s Writers’ Week brought us to St. Michael’s cemetery.

This place deserves a book. It is full of Listowel’s history.

Owen MacMahon told us about Bill Kearney and his central role in Listowel life.

A family who experience tragedy

Michael Guerin has relatives buried here. He is knowledgeable about them and other fighting men interred here.

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A Defintion from The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce

Acquaintance, n. A person whom we know well enough to borrow from but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor or obscure and intimate when he is rich or famous.

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A Fact

Almost 90% of snow is air.

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A Friday Miscellany

By

On June 21, 2024

In Listowel, Personal, Poem

Courthouse Road

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The Horseshoe

Looks like this eatery is about to have something added to its facade.

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Paddy Glavin Remembers The Feale

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Moments of Reflection

Listowel printing Works at Tannavalla

Paul Shannon printing up another iteration of my book…exciting times.

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Moments with Aoife

Aoife and her Nana on Charles Street

Happy days with a bubble wand

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Little Known Kerry Writers from The Newspaper Archives

New York NY Irish American Advocate 1916-1918

Mr. James J. O’Neill, Librarian of National University of Ireland, in a series of monthly lectures at the Carnegie Library, Listowel, Co. Kerry, read an interested paper on some distinguished Kerrymen.”

Mr. O’Neill after a rapid survey of Ireland’s ancient scholars, and their merits said that Kerry had Just cause to be proud of its place in its countries roll of fame —————–

Kerryman prominent among the writers of that literature. Hugh Kelly, the Kerry dramatist was born in Killarney in 1739. At an early age he removed to Dublin closed his career, and he died in 1777 at the early age of 38.

——– Richard Cantillon, the political economist, sprang from a Kerry family He was born at Ballyheigue about the beginning of the 17th century .

Among the writers in English we have the names of Bartholomew Dowling, Mrs. Mary Downing and Maurice O’Connell.

Mrs. Mary Downing was the daughter of Daniel MacCarthy of Kilfadimore, near Kenmare. She contributed many pieces of prose and poetry to the columns of the Cork Southern Reporter under the pseudonym of Christabel.

The O’Donoghue of the Glens, a leading figure in Irish politics from 1858 to 1868, was another distinguished Kerryman.

Lest we forget, Thomas Moore’s father was a Kerryman. Dr. Douglas Hyde, the great father of the Gaelic League, also has ‘Kerry blood in his  veins. To Irishmen the name of O’Connell is synonymous with their redemption.

Harman Blennerhasset the talented, but unfortunate son of Conway Blennerhasset of Castle Conway, Killorglin. He sailed toAmerica in 1726, and settled down to the life of a country gentleman, with his bride, the beautiful and accomplished Miss Margaret Agnew. After a few years he had the misfortune to meet the notorious Aaron Burr.

Mr. James Franklin Fuller, of Gasnacree, is another artist of whom Kerry may feel proud.

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A Fact

In 1830 Sarah Josepha Hale wrote the well known nursery rhyme, Mary had a Little Lamb. She based it on an experience of her own when she was teaching in Newport, New Hampshire in the U.S. A pet lamb followed one of Hale’s students to school and refused to leave. The lamb waited until it was reunited with “Mary” at close of classes.

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Canon Adderley of Listowel

By

On June 20, 2024

In Listowel, Listowel Writers Week, Poem

Friday Morning walkers trecking through the Garden of Europe during Writers’ Week 2024

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Window Displays

During Writers’ Week 2024, shopkeepers displayed books in their windows. Some people concentrated on books with a local connection.

I was chuffed to see my A Minute of Your Time among the pictures of calves on Horan’s window.

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Moloney/Maloney

According to this week’s Ireland’s Own the Maloneys were a bright and holy bunch.

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Canon Adderley

Jer. discovered this piece of Church of Ireland history for us.

Edward Adderley and his wife Mary Hale were ancestors of the Adderley family of Innishannon, Co Cork. Francis Adderley of Innishannon, Co Cork, and his wife Elizabeth (Fowkes) were the parents of Thomas Adderley (1713-1791), a politician, landowner, amateur architect, developer of the linen industry and MP.

Thomas Adderley was still a child when he inherited his father’s estate, and was educated at Trinity College Dublin. He built the town of Innishannon, Co Cork, brought 60 Huguenot families to Innishannon in 1747 to establish a linen manufactory, and built a charter school there in 1752.

Robert moved to Limerick in 1905 and was Curate of Saint Mary’s Cathedral (1905-1908) and Vicar Choral (1905-1918). During that time, he was the Precentor of Limerick for ten years (1908-1918). During World War I, he was also a chaplain to the forces in 1915-1919.

After the war, Canon Adderley spent almost 30 years as Rector of Listowel (1918-1946), which was amalgamated with Ballybunion in 1922, and Brosna and Abbeyfeale in 1928, all now part of the Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin Group of Parishes.

In the cathedral chapter, he was Prebendary of Croagh (1918-1924), Prebendary of Kilpeacon (1924-1940), Treasurer of Limerick (1940-1941), and then Dean of Ardfert (1941-1946). But the position of Dean of Ardfert was a sinecure or nominal appointment: the parish of Ardfert was amalgamated with Tralee in 1921, and the Church of Ireland parish church closed in 1945.

He died in hospital in Tralee, Co Kerry, on 12 October 1946.

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Graveyard Masses 2024

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Another Nursery Rhyme Fact

Goosey, Goosey, Gander is a nursery rhyme originating in the time of Cromwell. Cromwell’s soldiers persecuted Catholics. They sought them out everywhere, even in “the lady’s chamber”. When caught, the unfortunate Catholic was sometimes executed by tying a rope to his leg and flinging him down a flight of stairs.

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