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

More from Ladies day 2013 and the ballad of Lidl and Aldi

Here they are; the first tranche of my Ladies Day photos. I’ll be posting more tomorrow and in the following days, but don’t worry, I’ll try to include a few non fashion related items as well.

If you needed a bag or a hat to complete the ensemble you could purchase one on the spot at a stand on the island.

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Serious message coming up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1dZddmJSOY&feature=player_embedded#t=0

The link above is to Christy Moore’s anti Arthur’s Day song. Listen and you will notice the ambivalence of the audience. They want to clap and sing along but the song is not a happy clappy number. It’s a very serious wake up call to alert us to the danger of being sucked into this image of Irishness being peddled by the advertisers.

We are all familiar with the iconic image of Barack Obama in a pub in Moneygall with a pint in his hand.

The queen’s visit was not complete until Prince Philip had been photographed in front of a pint.

Closer to home, I saw so much drunkeness in town on the Friday of Raceweek that I am very concerned for our young people.

A regular follower of the blog wrote to me to ask me to appeal to people to be “guardian angels” and look out for their friends and neighbours who are so incapacitated by drink on a night out or in this case a day out that they are a danger to themselves and others.

Rant over!

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In response to numerous requests, here it is Mickey MacConnell singing his ballad of Lidl and Aldi live in John B’s. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL7jyXCQ2Zc

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I wonder if they were as hard to come by in 1939.

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Free blood pressure checks today, Weds. Sept 25 2013 at Listowel Family Resource Centre between 10.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.

Ladies Day 2013, soccer and goslings

Some local ladies enjoying Ladies Day at Listowel Races 2013

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 This was taken by Listowel Celtic. Pictured in the parade ring at The Races are Savannah McCarthy, Aiden O’Connor and Daithi O’Se looking forward to Ireland v Estonia in Pat Kennedy Park this afternoon, Tuesday Sept. 24 2013 at 4.30. Free Admission.

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John Kelliher’s Nightime in Listowel with Ferris Wheel

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Some scenes from Ladies Day,  Listowel 2013

crowd in the stand
crowd behind the stand

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From my Bord na Mona connection comes this lovely photo of some geese and their goslings.

Fun in the snow in the 1960s and a Daly family from Listowel

The ball is over and this Cinderella lost her shoe in her hurry to get home. I went to The Island on Friday and Saturday and I took lots of photos. I’ll share them with you over the next few days.

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Maura MacConnell was trawling through her brother’s album and she came upon this atmospheric photo. According to the caption it was taken on “The Island”. This is what local people call the racecourse.

The boys who are enjoying themselves in the snow are Denis Keane ,Marty Sheehy, ? , Frank Murray and Maura’s brother Tony Fealy. Is the boy in the centre another Sheehy?

(more from the Fealy album tomorrow)


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Two new posts.


A new writer in residence and a new film maker in
residence have been announced for Kerry.

Noel O’ Regan is the writer in
residence in Kerry. He is the recipient of a Leonard A. Koval Memorial Prize
and was a prize winner in the Writing Spirit Award.

Michael Kelly has taken up the
position of film maker in residence in the county.

His career includes shooting and
directing documentaries and short films, plus music videos for various artists
including Lisa Hannigan and The Rubberbandits.

His ambition for the residency
includes a 48 hour film making challenge during the Kerry Film Festival.

The
writer and film maker in residence provides mentoring for established and
emerging writers and film makers

(source; Radio Kerry)

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Julie Mills is new to these pages. She gave me a run down on her Listowel connection and she is eager to hear any news of people who might remember her folks in Listowel.

Here is her email;

“Interest in my Irish ancestry started with a photograph of my Great Grandmother Katherine Moore nee Burke, if only because of the somewhat startling resemblance I have with that of Katherine.   The 1901 census shows Katherine married to John Moore, HeadWaiter at the Listowel Arms Hotel.

Their daughter Hanora married my Grandfather Patrick Daly in Listowel 1916.

Patricks father was Mathew Daly, born CO. Longford.   He is shown in the 1901 census as retired RIC and Courthouse Keeper.  Mathew was married to Maria O’Hare from Tipperary.   As far as I know the last of Patrick’s direct family lived in Listowel until the death of his sister, Susan  Daly in the mid 70’s.

I recently found on-line a distant cousin in Cork who was able to share a great deal of information on the family.  But I would love to know more.  Some of the Daly’s and Moore’s emigrated to the States but we have lost touch with their descendants.”

Grandparents Patrick and Honora Daly

Great grandmother Katherine Daly

Great Grandmother Maria Daly


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Ireland’s Best GAA fan lives in Listowel

A passionate Mayo fan has won a trip to the All-Ireland final this weekend.

Martin Trench, a Mayo man living in Listowel in Co Kerry, won the title of Ireland’s ‘Best GAA Fan’ – thanks to Ulster Bank, the official sponsors of the GAA Football All-Ireland Championship.

Martin will be presented with a €5,000 prize of a home makeover and a ticket to the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football final on Sunday.

Ulster Bank asked GAA supporters to submit their most passionate and dedicated stories, pictures and videos that demonstrate the lengths they go to support their county.

And the above video shows how the Mayo-mad fan won it with his impressive collection – including the bonnet of his car painted in red and green.

Speaking about his win, Martin said: “I’m absolutely delighted and I’m still in shock. I’m proud to say I am now officially Ireland’s ‘Best GAA Fan’.

“I look forward to travelling up to Dublin in my Peugeot 406 with the Mayo crest displayed proudly on the bonnet.

“Seeing Mayo take on Dublin in Croke Park will be a dream come true.”

Over 2,000 fans were surveyed as part of the competition and a whopping 84% admitted they would cut short a summer holiday to come home and watch their county play in an All-Ireland final at Croke Park.

Despite the recession, two in five (41%) claimed they would give-up a €5,000 winning lottery ticket if it meant their team would win the All-Ireland .

But Mayo fans polled much higher when asked if winning an All-Ireland Football title is worth much more than the €5,000 prize – with two thirds (64%) saying it was.

Ulster Bank GAA ambassador and Kerry GAA legend Kieran Donaghy said: “It’s great to see Martin win the title of Ireland’s ‘Best GAA Fan’, although it would be better if he supported Kerry rather than Mayo.

“The ‘Best GAA Fan’ competition showed just how many dedicated fans we have in Ireland who will go to any lengths to support their county.

“I hope Martin and his family have a great experience at the GAA Football final in Croke Park.”

(Source: Irish Mirror)

Duagh reunion and Currans of Dingle

Do you remember this, the glass bottle, the crinkly paper, the gold foil covering the cap? 

I’m feeling better already.

That was then; This is now

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A very enjoyable Gathering event was held in Duagh during the summer. Here are two of the many old photos that were put on display during the weekend. 

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Have you noticed how cafes have all gradually become tea-rooms? I must say I like the nostalgic feel to this move. The teddy bear sitting outside Lawler’s in the early autumn sunshine added a further touch of old world charm to this refurbishment.

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Pictures of a pub with a Listowel connection

James Curran
John Curran

J. Curran’s pub in Dingle is virtually unchanged since the 1930s and 40s.  The owners resisted all the lure of the early plastic era and the fake charm of the retro period in pub furnishing and have kept it just as it was with all its genuine charm. I’m told they also have the essentials right and serve one of the best pints in Kerry. The pub cum shop first opened its doors in 1871 and was the place where Peig Sayers found employment when she spent her first “tréimhse in aimsir”. She describes her time there very fondly in her autobiography. Her memories of Currans and the Curran family were among her few happy recollections of her working life.

The photographs were taken from the facebook page of The Irish Pub film. The film will be in cinemas from October 4.

I try to keep everything the same as it was, that’s one of my traditions. Keep things as they were. There’s enough of things changing in the world”



One of the publicans you will meet in the film is James Curran of Curran’s pub in 

Dingle, Co. Kerry”

The charming trailer for the film is here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=N9uaboCF1N4

I can’t wait to see the full thing. It’s a treasure, a glimpse at a vanishing Ireland.

Quilters and Liam Dillon’s repainted

” Stooks” of Irish Heritage Bristle/Black Oats cut with a reaping hook, this is from last years saved seed and will again be saved for 2014

The above photo and caption were posted on Facebook by a man who posts as Bromore Cliffs. He is clearly a conservationist.

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Here is a link to a lovely video of Listowel shot during Races 2011 by Fealegood productions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pMeAMxkGlo&feature=share

These and other of Denis Carroll beautiful videos are available to purchase from

http://www.fealegoodproductions.com

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The Irish Post has a great article on Second Generation Irish in Britain .

http://www.irishpost.co.uk/life-style/30-things-second-generation-irish-checklist

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Kathy Taylor sent me 2 more from the Quilter Clan gathering. First is Jacques Quilter of Lixnaw with his branch of the Quilter Tree and below is one of the youngest Quilters present planting a tree at their tree planting ceremony.

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Liam Dillon’s on Upper Church St. has been repainted by Fred Chute Signs Ltd. They have done a great job but the weather has been too bad lately for me to get a good picture of the finished job but I’ll bring you one as soon as I get a good day and no vehicles parked in front of the shop.

Francis 
Roly

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