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

St. Patrick’s Day 2015

By

On March 18, 2015

In Uncategorized



St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Listowel March 17 2015



Some of the participants and spectators


A Lenamore past pupil dances as part of the Lenamore school’s entry
Holy Joes from Dromclough
MC Billy Keane prepares his stuff

Soccer star, Savannah MacCarthy led the parade
Liam Brennan was St. Patrick
The shoes of the fisherman





A little step dancing here;



https://youtu.be/YlGMfQTLDbM



More tomorrow…







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Trujillo, Peru

The Cork mission to Peru which is actively supported by the Kerry diocese is celebrating its golden jubilee. The celebration took place on St. Patrick’s Day in Trujillo because it was in this shanty town that the mission first built a church.

The first Kerry priests to volunteer were the late Fr. Seán O’Leary, Rathmore and the late Fr. John B. O’Sullivan, Sneem. Four others served in the 1970’s and 1980’s – Fr. Denis Costello, Castleisland, Fr. Pat Murphy, Castletownbere, Fr. Luke Roche, Brosna and Fr. Tomás Ó Luanaigh, Killarney. Sisters from many parishes in Kerry Diocese as members of the Bon Secours and Mercy Orders have served in Trujillo. These are the late Sr. Vincent Mahoney, Castlemaine, Sr. M. Bethany O’Sullivan, Sneem of the Bon Secours Order. Sr. Betty Barry, Abbeydorney, Sr. Mary Leen, Ballybeggan, Sr. Bríd Fitzgerald, Caherdaniel, Sr. Patrice Clifford, Glenbeigh, Sr. Dora Kennedy, Castlegregory, Sr. Teresa and Sr. Imelda Harrington, Eyeries. All served as nurses and catechists together with Sr. Sarah O’Connor of Castlemaine who continues to work as Parish Sister on the Mission.

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Back Home

So True

Back Home

If I had the power to turn back the clock

I’d go back to the house at the end of the block

The house that was home when I was a kid

I know that I’d love it more now than I did.

If I could be back there at my mother’s knee

And hear once again all the things she told me

I’d listen as I never listened before

For she knew so well just what life had in store.

And all the advice my dad used to give

His voice I’ll remember as long as I live;

But it didn’t seem really important then

What I’d give just to live it all over again.

And oh what I’d give for the chance I once had

To do so much more for my mum and dad

To give them more joy and a little less pain,

A little more sunshine, a little less rain.

But the years roll on and we cannot go back

Whether our house was a mansion or shack

But we can start right now- in the hour that’s here,

To do something more for the ones we hold dear.

And since time in its flight is travelling fast;

Let’s not spend it regretting that which is past;

Let’s make tomorrow a happier day

By doing our ‘good to others’ TODAY

Author unknown

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St. Patrick’s Day

By

On March 17, 2015

In Uncategorized


On this day in 2012

Today is March 17 2015 so, all going well,  I am in town at the parade. I’ll bring you photos from today’s parade tomorrow but meanwhile I’ll jolt your memory with a few from yesteryear.

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St. Patrick’s day in Dublin in 1950


(Photos of Dublin on Twitter)

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O’Reilly play in Cincinnati




Last week I wrote about Listowel playwright, Christian O’Reilly. Then I got this lovely email from a blog follower, Elizabeth Koller:

” I read ago about Christian O’Reilly in your blog, then discovered there was a production of Chapatti showing in Cincinnati, OH. My daughter and I went to see it on Saturday night, just before the run ended. It was powerful and the two actors were absolutely amazing. It was very well received here and was pretty well sold out. We were lucky and  managed to get two tickets that had literally just been turned back in.”



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Tralee goes Green



Tralee Chamber Alliance is turning Tralee green for St. Patrick’s Day 2015. 

Could Listowel try something similar?

courthouse
Dominican church

Pikeman

(Photos; Tralee Chamber Alliance)

Craftshop na Méar, a teacher contract and St. Patrick’s Day of yesteryear

By

On March 16, 2015

In Uncategorized


St. Patrick’s festival in Pittsburg



In Pittsburg they do our national holiday in style. On the far left is Hannah O’Donoghue who is Miss Smiling Irish Eyes. Hannah’s grandad was one of the O’Donoghue’s of Tannavalla and she is very proud of her Listowel heritage. Listowel can justifiably be proud of her too as she has a very impressive cv for such a young lady.

Next to Hannah in the photo is Pat O’Brien, parade chairman and a frequent visitor to Listowel where he stays with Nora Sheahan.

Hannah with her proud parents, Patty and Jack O’Donoghue.

Patty with St. Patrick

 with her two proud Listowel aunts, Maggie Cloonan and Eileen Curran

with her lovely niece, Ruby O’Donoghue.


Hannah will be visiting Ireland in August to take part in the Maid of the Mourne festival and after that she will be coming with her Dad to visit the Listowel branch of the family.

Methinks I see a future Rose of Tralee contestant or two here.

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St. Patrick’s Days  of Yore


To whet your appetite for this year’s Listowel parade here are a few photos from former years



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Craftshop na Méar gets ready for the national holiday 2015

Karen and Viveca dress the shop window for St. Patrick’s Day.

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St. Patrick’s Day blessing for tomorrow

Lucky stars above you,

Sunshine on your way,

Many friends to love you,

Joy in work and play-

Laughter to outweigh each care,

 In your heart a song-

And gladness waiting everywhere

All your whole life long!

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In Ohio in 1923 Teachers truly had something to complain about!

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New Kid on the Block

Frances O’Keeffe welcomes Jean Thomas to Craftshop na Méar

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The photo of Keane Stack’s from Vincent Carmody’s book brought back happy memories to many people. Hilary Kelly remembers the barley sugar sticks and Cathy Dunne remembers Mr. Keane Stack in a bowler hat and from Liam Murphy in the USA came this memory;

” More of long ago memories recalled,  from the age of four to fourteen I wore prescription glasses that were filled by Willie Keane- Stack. I remembered young John B behind the counter on right when you entered the shop and getting  from a tall jar “Barley Sugar” that as I recall was only sold in chemist shops. But have clear memory of them when I went with my late father there early 50’s.”     

Ballybunion 1962 and 2015

By

On March 13, 2015

In Uncategorized

Ballybunion Feb 28 2015

 I visited Ballybuniion for the first time since Christmas. The refurbished castle looks suitably imposing.

This corner by Collins’ Baths has a new sign.

The sign is a bit on the negative side, listing ten activities that are not allowed.

Does this mean that surfing is prohibited now too?

Coast and the Credit Union building look really well.

JD’s was closed but I’m assured that it is as popular as ever.

 A reminder of dark days in our recent history

The corner by the old Daly’s Baths is undergoing renewal.

Close up of stonework on the castle.

A sturdy railing keeps visitors safe while visiting the castle ruin.

The view from the castle doorway.

My gang on the beach. We had it practically to ourselves. The weather was Baltic.

Below is a link to a great Radharc film from Ballybunion in 1962

Ballybunion for the holidays

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Future Stars


( Photo: Facebook)

Listowel Community Games U10s indoor soccer team who qualified  for the County semifinals on march 29th. Well done boys!

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Still Snowing in the U.S.


(photos: Liam Murphy)

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Big Overhaul

This shop which used to be Justin Stack’s,  then Changes Hairdressers, then The Kerryman and finally A Snip Ahead is being refurbished from the roof down. It’s so heartening to see an end to all the empty shops.



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Ireland’s Favourite poem   (young Ireland anyway)




When all the others were away at
Mass


I was all hers as we peeled
potatoes.


They broke the silence, let fall
one by one


Like solder weeping off the
soldering iron:


Cold comforts set between us,
things to share


Gleaming in a bucket of clean
water.


And again let fall. 

Little pleasant
splashes


From each other’s work would bring
us to our senses.

So while the parish priest at her
bedside


Went hammer and tongs at the
prayers for the dying


And some were responding and some
crying


I remembered her head bent towards
my head,


Her breath in mine, our fluent
dipping knives–


Never closer the whole rest of our
lives.

Seamus Heaney



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See him at Writers’ Week






Saturday May 30



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Radio Kerry documentary


A documentary about a group of Kerrymen working on rebuilding the site of the World Trade Centre attacks in 2001 is to be broadcast on Radio Kerry on St Patrick’s Day at 10am.
Kingdom Rising tells the story of the men from Kerry who helped rebuild Ground Zero and the 9/11 memorial after the terrorist attacks.
Navillus Construction, owned by Donal O’Sullivan from Ballinskelligs, won the concrete contract to build the 9/11 memorial.
“Kingdom Rising tells the stories of the men from the Kingdom including Paul Kenny from Listowel, Ian Galvin from Waterville, Kieran O’Halloran from Tralee, Willie O’Donnell from Ballylongford, as well as countless others, who have worked on one of the most symbolic sites to terror and freedom in the world.
“What they built are meaningful tributes to what happened at Ground Zero and their handprints are part of the history here,” said producer Audrey Galvin.
Kingdom Rising will be broadcast on Radio Kerry on St Patrick’s Day at 10am.

Well worth a listen.

St. Patrick’s Hall Social, Ladybird books are 100 yrs. old and some Tidy Town volunteers

By

On March 12, 2015

In Uncategorized

Watch the birdie!


Timothy John MacSweeney took the two photos below of prey and predator. One is a hawk in flight. The other is a robin on a branch. Clarification: the two photos were not taken at the same location. No life was lost in the pursuit of the photographer’s art.



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St. Patrick’s Hall Social 1960

This picture is from Vincent Carmody’s great Listowel book, Snapshots of a Market Town.

The clergy in front are Archdeacon Wallace, Canon O’Sullivan, Fr. Curtin and Fr. Galvin. The layman in the middle is Eddie Scanlon. Vincent has all the other names on page 15 of his book.

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Remember these?

Ladybird books are celebrating 100 years this year. Above are some of the titles on my bookshelf.

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Charles St.

Town end of Charles St.

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Our Hard working Tidy Town Volunteers


(photo: Listowel Tidy Towns )

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Listowel Emmetts Ladies U14


At training on Saturday       (photo Listowel Emmetts Ladies)

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Jim MacMahon Remembers Mick Doody



Jim MacMahon, formerly of Church St. has memories of Mick Doody too.

He writes:

Mick used to visit our house in Church St in I guess the 1940s. He was indeed blind and had a dog …he seemed to me like a character in a school poem …..Pinch and Caoch O’Leary. He came to chat to my father but primarily to upholster old arm chairs with horsehair for my mother. He was friendly with the Broders , Mick and Dan , who lived directly across the road from us , next to what is now Allos restaurant. I recall one incident vividly . While he was with us he heard that Mick had died and he asked my brother Garry to accompany him over the road to say his farewell to his friend . Garry told me that the night was very dark and there was no electricity in Broders….going up the stairs was scary for him. When they got to the wake room Mick went to the bedside and proceeded to feel all over Mick’s face and caoined him ,  so to speak , in what must have been  an eerie if not biblical  fashion.



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Oh oh!!!!



Two Parent and Child Parking spaces at Lidl yesterday.

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