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

Tag: Ballincollig Page 1 of 7

Shopping

The Square

Something to Crow About

An Old Postbox

Image and copy from Old Postboxes on Facebook

This is a very historical piece…the original post box dates between 1911 and 1921…and Saorstát Éireann dates from 1922 to 1937….unusual in that original door was taken off and replaced…. but retained the original logo’s…. Knocksedan Ireland….. no longer in use….

2 Comments

That Edward VII postbox dates from 1901 to 1905; after 1905 the royal cypher was used.

This wallbox has been removed..I believe stolen a couple of years ago….

Shops and Shopping Memories

by Mick O’Callaghan

I remember Woolworths shop coming to Tralee in the early fifties. There was great excitement at the arrival of this new shopping experience for the people of Tralee. It had a special significance for me because I was starting school, and I was not happy to be held in captivity within the confines of a classroom with a locked door. Sr Immaculata told me that my mother was gone to Woolworths to buy me a present, whereupon I told her that she was a liar because Woolworths shop was not yet open. I lashed out and kicked her. That incident gave me the title for my published memoir ‘The boy who kicked the nun”.

Yes, Woolworths opened a whole new shopping experience for the people of the Tralee catchment area with its array of sweets, chocolates and a wide range of goods. I remember buying my first fishing rod there.

Woolworths was a bright star in the middle of the more traditional shops and institutions around it.

We had Revington’s store selling high class drapery and household goods. It was our Harrods of Tralee. People flocked in there and loved it

There were traditional butchers shops a plenty. I remember Mr Mulcahy in Wilsons Shop slicing rashers to perfection on the slicing machine. Mr Harmon sold loose sweets in paper tósíns, his wine gums were to die for. Yes, and we had Healy’s dairy selling ice cream and dairy products. Oh memories, memories of Havercrofts bakery, of Benners that sold every conceivable household gadget imaginable. There was Kelliher’s, McCowen’s and Latchford’s stores and yards with their hardware, fuel and building supplies. Yes, there is a rich memory bank from our early shopping days, but all is changed now with less local ownership and a huge diversity in suppliers and supplies.

We also had the Munster and Leinster bank with Bank of Ireland close by. They were revered national institutions where all shopkeepers queued up on Monday mornings to lodge the weekend takings. Young people aspired to getting a position there because it was regarded as a safe secure pensionable job for life. The local bank managers were well respected figures in the community. Little did they think that such noble institutions would crash and cause such inestimable damage and stress to the lives of ordinary people. They would also bring long serving businesspeople to their knees and cause national economies to collapse. Irish life was changed for ever by the collapse of the banks.

Apart from these we had a few grocers’ shops, and they had their regular clients. Our grocer of choice was O Connors and Mikey, the owner, was a relation of the family, on my mother’s side. He was a Fianna Fail Politician and that did not sit too easily with my father who was opposed to him politically, but practicality had to prevail because the choice of grocer’s shops was limited, and we shopped with Mikey.

More tomorrow

Sunday in Ballincollig

I was in Ballincollig yesterday, Sunday February 22 2025.

I was there to support my granddaughter and her team, Lakewood, in The National Cup U14 soccer tournament. They beat Drogheda 5/1 and are now into the quarter finals.

Cora is on the far left, with the headband in Carine’s photo.

While I was in Ballincollig I called to the shopping centre for my newspaper.

This was the scene 10 minutes before New Look opened to begin its closing down sale.

A Fact

For every human on earth there are approximately one million ants.

<<<<<<<

Different Sports

Photo: Chris Grayson in Killarney National Park…2024 rut

Where I was Yesterday

Volunteers were everywhere, Selling tickets, baking and serving, playing the piano, finding chairs for the huge crowd who came to support and generally ensuring that the annual Kerry Hospice coffee morning was an outstanding success.

I took lots of photos, so you will be seeing lots of the lovely people who attended in upcoming posts.

The Sales

In the days before online shopping, shops used to hold much anticipated end of season sales. A few hot ticket items would be greatly reduced and these would be available to shoppers on a first come first served basis. This led to competitive queueing and a mad scramble once the doors opened.

The queue at Roches Stores, Cork for one such sale. The queues and, in this case, the shop is no more.

My Weekend in Ballincollig

Last weekend found me in this little theatre for a festival of one act plays. The calibre of play and of acting was very varied but it was a worthwhile exercise and I enjoyed a return to live theatre which I had missed for a while.

Saturday saw me in Belgooley where hundreds of underage lady footballers from local clubs were trying out for mid Kerry teams. It is heartwarming to see so many young girls actively involved in Gaelic games. The turn out was a great credit to the mentors who coach and encourage these young ladies week in week out.

Sunday and I was in Lakewood tennis club supporting my daughter in the first round of the winter league tennis. Cora joined us after victory with her soccer team in their first round national championship soccer game.

Sunday lunch in Kanturk with my Kanturk besties.

The book tour is due in Kanturk on Friday, October 25th at 7.30 in the Linn gorm Community Hall (P51 YC57). Stuart, the bull, who is one of the stars of Moments of Reflection, won’t be in attendance but his family will. If you are reading this in North Cork, do join us. We won’t have any music this time but we will have a party, hosted by my star baker sister-in-law.

Sad story from the Internet

Did you sing this as a child? .

Explanation below, where this song came from..

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 old man he played two

He played nick nack on my shoe

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played three

He played nick nack on my tree

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played four

He played nick nack on my door

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played five

He played nick nack on my hive

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played six

He played nick nack on my stick

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played seven

He played nick nack on my deven

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played eight

He played nick nack on my gate

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played nine

He played nick nack on my vine

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This old man he played ten

He played nick nack on my hen

With a nick nack paddy whack

Give a dog a bone

This old man came rolling home

This rhyme is thought to relate to Irish beggars who arrived in England during the British genocide which lasted between 1845 to 1852 and  resulted in millions of deaths. Paddies’ as they were known would sell ‘knick knacks’ door to door, also playing a rhythm of ‘nick nack’ using spoons, in the hope of receiving some pennies. According to the tale, they’d be given a ‘whack’ and sent on their way, while their dog would be given a bone.

Last few photos from Listowel Harvest Festival of Racing 2024

John tries to get back to his native Listowel every year during race week.

I met Eileen at the parade ring spotting form.

Bridget and John always enjoy a day at the races.

Niamh and friends with their inventive headgear.

These Ballyduff sisters were reunited for Listowel Races.

A Fact

Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day.

<<<<<<<

Artwork

Painted utility boxes in Ballincollig. I love this idea.

Fitzpatrick’s Of Kanturk

Denis Fitzpatrick of Kanturk was a very successful businessman. In the 1960s he had three grocery shops, a bakery and confectionary and an ice cream factory.

Someone sent me this pennant photographed outside a shop in Cork in the 1950s. I have no idea why it was cream ices instead of ice creams.

Date for the Diary

Helping me Collect my Books

Paul, Eileen, Alice and Bridget having a first read of my book in Listowel Printing Works in Tannavalla on Friday, September 6 2024.

Listowel Printing Works is now in its busiest season of the year as they embark on the mammoth task of printing thousands of Christmas cards for schools all around the country.

These very popular cards featuring the children’s artwork are bought and treasured by most of Ireland’s schools. Designing and printing them, packaging and dispatch is a huge task for which Listowel Printing Works employs up to 50 extra staff and the facility works flat out.

A Tony O’Callaghan Bronze

I thought that this plaque might be something to do with Writers Week. I was wrong. While O’Callaghan specialised in bespoke commissions, this is not one of them. Apparently he reproduced this one several times. The names in the book are the names of lots of writers, several of whom were dead before Writers’ Week came about.

Thanks to Vincent Carmody for clearing that one up.

<<<<<<<<<<

A Fact

A fingernail or toenail takes about 6 months to grow from base to tip.

<<<<<<<<

Travels and Animals

Doggie visitors returned to base

An Irish Summer Holiday

My Cork family had a bit of a staycation in Killarney. Rain, mist and wind was the order of the day.

One of the highlights was having deer grazing on their lawn.

My Staycation

I had a lovely break with my Kildare family. Be forewarned. I’ll be posting Kildare photos for a while.

I travelled by train from Cork. Cork railway station, when the stations were renamed to commemorate the signatories of the 1916 proclamation of independance, got Thomas Kent.

I like to arrive early. I had plenty of time for a wander around the station. This is what I saw.

There are opportunities for entertainment in the foyer as well.

the “take a book; leave a book” library is a good idea but….. the selection was poor and displayed on open shelves in a very busy area. The books were old and grubby. To be successful, the books need to be protected from dirt and dust. They need to be replaced regularly and displayed in a tidy and inviting manner. It wouldn’t take much to make this a very useful service for travellers.

Next stop Portlaoise…

A Horsey Photo

Photo; Fred Ward

My brother, Pat, admiring Felicity’s horse at a recent show

The Joys of Gardening

by Mick O’Callaghan

Cabbages and Catterpillars

Whenever I hear the word butterfly, I recall my late father and his horror when he saw the cabbage butterfly, or large white, appear in the garden in summer. He grew a lot of cabbage, and the white butterflies loved to lay their eggs on the cabbage leaves and the ensuing caterpillars could devour lots of cabbage overnight.

I was appointed the exterminator person to dispose of these eggs before they emerged into caterpillars. I rather enjoyed my role as inspector of cabbage leaves. You had a choice of squashing them or throwing them into a bucket of water.  I was successful in protecting the cabbage crop most years. There was also an added incentive in that I was allowed sell some fresh cabbage every day and enjoyed the pecuniary reward for my labours and industry.

I, like many more people admired the butterfly who got all the publicity and admiration, because of their elegant colours and flight patterns, while their offshoot commandos, the caterpillars, did all the destruction of the cabbage crop and later devoured our nasturtium leaves as well.

Apart from my father’s hatred of the large white we loved to see the Red Admiral butterfly appear and we ran around after them with our jars and lids to catch them and have a close-up view of them. We never damaged any and they were released quickly.

I also loved the ‘Comma” butterflies which appears around gardens and woods and are particularly fond of areas where nettles flourish . I have seen quite a few in our garden this year despite our lack of nettles. They are very like the ‘Tortoise Shell’ butterfly and are very attractive with their light brown colouring.

 Pride of place must go to the “Peacock Butterfly’ for all its beautiful colours. We have noted quite a few of them in the woods this summer season. They frequent an area near the river where nettles abound. They are truly aesthetically beautiful and add so much colour to the environment they inhabit.

All butterflies start as tiny eggs and then out comes wriggly caterpillars ready to gorge on juicy cabbage and other leaves. Later the caterpillar makes a chrysalis and starts to change. In the season after the chrysalis the caterpillar has turned into a lovely butterfly after the cocooning and is ready to fly and start the whole metamorphism all over again.

Mohammed Ali was one of the greatest boxers of all time. I remember him being asked about his style of boxing and his movement in the ring. He said, “I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” What a lovely description of his boxing performance. You can mentally paint a picture of a butterfly floating around the sky on a nice sunny day and then picture Mohammed’s ducking and diving and floating around the ring.

People use butterflies to describe nervousness. Before any tense situation a person might say, “I’ve got butterflies in my tummy, ‘or” I’ve got butterflies flying around in my tummy”.

I leave the final bit of this to that lovely Danish writer of children’s’ literature, Hans Christian Anderson in his book ‘The Butterfly “when the butterfly says “Just living is not enough, one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower “.

Go on, be a daredevil, get out and taste the freedom of the great outdoors today and come home with lungs full of the fresh outdoor air and your nostrils full of the aromas and smells of the great outdoors. You might even see a butterfly and evoke some childhood summertime memories.

Mick O Callaghan

05/08/2024

A Fact

The five Olympic rings are symbolic of the five continents, and the colours were chosen because they all appear on the flags of all the competing nations around the world.

<<<<<<<<<

 

Ballincollig

Market Street

Saving the Turf

The lovely 5 year old Kerrie Browne and her dog, Milo, pose for the camera beside Paud Pelican’s skilfully constructed turf stuaics.

Ballincollig, Supporting Cork, Win, Lose or Draw

The bunting is still up. The pain of what might have been still being felt.

The real winner on Sunday July 21 2024 was hurling. The game was broadcast by the BBC and the reactions of this new audience say so much about hurling as the best game in the world.

The Big Fair

We have had a very interesting email from Kay Caball.

Mary, your readers might be interested in this significant piece of Listowel history recovered by the Virtual Treasury.https://virtualtreasury.ie/  It is the Licence granted on 13th August 1688 by William [20th] Lord Baron of Kerry & Lixnaw to hold a Wednesday Market, & two Fairs on the Feast of St. Swithin (15 July) & St Luke (18 of October) on the day before each, at the Town of Listowhill.

I am sure many of your older readers will remember the ‘Big Fairs’ that took over the town each May and October. 

I don’t have to tell you of the great work being done by the research partnership of the Virtual Treasury recovering and reconstructing, through digital technology many of the records destroyed in the disastrous fire of our national archives in 1922

Kay

A Definition

From The Devil’s Dictionary

by Ambrose Bierce

circus, n. a place where horses, ponies and elephants are permitted to see men, women and children acting the fool.

A Fact

In 1981 in Florence, Sebastian Coe set a world record for the 800m. that stood unbeaten for 16 years.

<<<<<<<<

Page 1 of 7

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén