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

Tag: Big Maggie Page 1 of 2

Poetry, Drama and Memories

By

On June 19, 2024

In History, Listowel, Listowel Writers Week, Personal

The Big Bridge in May 2024

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+ Nóra Relihan R.I.P+

Photo credit: Paul O’Flynn

Nóra Relihan, who passed away on June 14th 2024, deserves a statue in her honour in her adopted town of Listowel, for Nóra was central to every significant cultural development in Listowel during her lifetime. She packed more into her life than many people do in many lifetimes.

Nóra was named Kerry Person of the Year 2023

(Photo and text from Kerry Association in Dublin)

Nóra had a varied career throughout her lifetime with solo tours, drama, TV, and film appearances, including “Fair City” and TG4 film “Limbo”.

Jimmy Deenihan, Chairperson of the Selection Committee, said “Nóra Relihan richly deserves this prestigious award in recognition of her immense contribution to the promotion of the Arts during her lifetime. One of her greatest achievements was the establishment of St. John’s Theatre and Arts Centre in Listowel which is regarded as the premier small arts centre in the country. She now joins the pantheon of renowned Kerry Artists who have received the award to date including Pauline Bewick, Brendan Kennelly, Fr Tony Gaughin and Fr Pat Aherne”.

In announcing the award, Mary Shanahan, Chairperson of the Kerry Association in Dublin said “Nóra has made a unique contribution to the promotion of the Arts in Kerry and nationally. She deservedly merits the accolade “Voice of the Kingdom” for her role as Director, entertainer, broadcaster and for her role in the various arts activities in North Kerry”.

In accepting the award Nóra Relihan said; “I am delighted and honoured to receive this award from the Kerry Association; it is a really lovely tribute to my interest and work in the arts over many decades”.

Photo from Kay Caball

Nóra (in sunglasses) with John B. Keane and the cast of Sive. On the right is Dan Moloney T.D. who entertained them in the Dáil after their big win in the All Ireland Drama Festival in 1959.

Here Nóra remembers her performance as Mena Glavin. Nóra, always glamorous and stylish, transformed into the shrewish, put- upon Mena was a triumph of acting.

Nóra was also an evocative writer.

Photo from Kay Caball …..Nóra, second from left with the cast of Drama at Inish in 1955.

Nóra loved the stage. Whether as a cast member in a big production, as a solo performer, performing on location, touring, or producing, the stage was Nóra’s home. It was fitting that her family returned her to St. John’s in Listowel to bring the curtain down on her long life.

Nóra is remembered in Kerry for her programmes on Radio Kerry, her Signposts to Kerry and Hospitals Requests. Her mellifluous voice was perfect for radio.

I took this photo with Phil in John B. Keane’s pub during one of Nóra’s final performances, a one woman show.

Nóra with her neighbours on Nunday in 2012.

Nóra at Writers Week in 2014 with Brenda Woulfe and Mike Lynch.

Nóra with her great friend and co founder of Listowel Writers’ Week, Noreen Buckley, was honoured at a commemorative meal in 2014.

With Joe Murphy in St. John’s

Nóra Relihan leaves behind a cultural legacy to her beloved Kerry. We will not see her likes again.

A great lady has exited the stage. We are lucky to have known her.

Monday, May 17 2024

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Byrne

Michael Guerin, Owen MacMahon and Mary McKenna on the Friday morning walk at Writers’ Week 2024.

Owen was an excellent Byrne in Listowel Drama Group’s recent production of John B. Keane’s Big Maggie. Mary was only 10 when her late father played the same role with Kilcullen Drama Group in the first ever amateur production of the play many moons ago.

The cast….Mary’s late dad was Johnny O’Neill. The play won many accolades at the festivals. Johnny won the award for Best supporting actor at the All Ireland final in Athlone.

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The Sullivans

This is an extract from Ireland’s Own. It contradicts what I had always believed, i.e. that ÓSúilleabháin meant one eyed rather than dark eyed.

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Another Fascinating Fact

The contrary Mary of the nursery rhyme was known as Bloody Mary, the Catholic daughter of Henry VIII. Queen Mary was a fanatical Catholic. She tortured and killed Protestants and buried them in her “garden”. Her ‘silver bells’ were thumbscrews and “cockle shells” were instruments of torture attached to male genitalia.

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Big Maggie

By

On March 8, 2024

In Listowel

A pheasant…Photo Chris Grayson

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Tonight’s the Night

Listowel Community Rose Selection

With just a couple of hours to go the people at Áras Mhuire are delighted to announce that there will be a disco with DJ FATZ after the selection takes place in The Listowel Arms Hotel! Entry is included in the ticket price. So get your dancing shoes on and we look forward to seeing you all Friday night! 💃🕺🏻🌹

Tickets available to purchase by calling

(085) 883 0746 or (068) 21470

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Big Maggie in St. John’s

John Kelliher took these brilliant photos of this excellent production by Listowel Drama Group of the John B. Keane classic.

Well done all. Great night’s entertainment.

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Could it Happen again?

This time in Dublin.

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In 1988 the Musical was Oliver

from the 1988 yearbook

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A Fact

The blackbird is a member of the thrush family. Reliable estimates of the number of breeding pairs of blackbirds in Ireland now is 1,800,000.

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Nature photos, BlazeAid, Big Maggie in 1969 and 2018 and Welcoming the rain in summer 2018

By

On August 2, 2018

In Uncategorized

Nature Photography

Photo; Chris Grayson

Readers of this blog know that I love a good wildlife photograph and one of my favourite wildlife photographers is Chris Grayson. The above photo is one that he entered for an Irish Times biodiversity competition. He didn’t win but when you look at the others he was up against, you’ll agree that it was a huge achievement to be shortlisted.

Here is the link;  11the Annual Biodiversity Photographer of the Year Competition 2018

and here is what Chris said about his image;

Blue Tit by Chris Grayson: “I took this pic in my Garden in Glenbeigh, Co Kerry. This beautiful Blue Tit and partner are happily nesting in a tiny gap in the stonework of my house. I caught this shot as she/he headed very quickly into the nest. They’ve been a joy to watch daily collecting caterpillars to feed their nestlings. Beautiful to see every day.”

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Bert Hickie and a Different kind of volunteering



Bert, who grew up in Duagh follows Listowel Connection from Melbourne

He wrote:


Hi Mary,

  I love your blog & your entry about Molly made me LOL as I used to breed Cocker Spaniels when I lived in Duagh as a gorsoon to make pocket money which was spent quickly & foolishly, in hindsight. 


I have lived in Melbourne Australia since 1971 but I’m still considered Irish because I never lost the “accent” so they tell me . I retired in 2014 & started travelling around Oz in a campervan, & I’m on my second trip to Western Australia at present , but I also volunteer with BlazeAid, an organisation that helps people affected by fire, cyclones, floods, & droughts. 


BlazeAid.com

 I’m currently at a blazeaid camp in Cobden SW Victori,  replacing fences destroyed in “the St Patrickis Day bushfires” .  Its the middle of Winter here & its very similar weather that we used to get in late Nov in Irl. Cold,wet mud everywhere, thunderstorms, hail & sleet & sometimes frost in the mornings, but its all in a good cause & we get well looked after.



Your blogs keeps me in touch with all the local happenings in Listowel & the surrounding districts & sometimes little snippets of information that take me back to my days at St Michaels when I shared the same class as Batt Hannon, Seamus Brown, Michael O Keeffe Jim Keane, Maurice McMahon ,”Martin Sheehy & David Shaughnessy & Teddy Halpin,”all three  of whom I believe are deceased, also in that class was Thomas O Connor, Eugene Doyle ,John Moran, but my memory fails me on the other names.

Unfortunately, I cant say my days at St Michaels were happy ones.


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John B. Keane’s Big Maggie




Big Maggie was first seen in a professional production in The Olympia in 1969. In the audience was a Kildare impresario, Paddy Melia. He couldn’t wait to produce it with his amateur actors, The Kilcullen Players. An approach was made to John B. and, lo and behold, The Kicullen Players in Kildare produced the first amateur Big Maggie. They took it around to several drama festivals to much critical acclaim.

Dave O’Sullivan found the newspaper accounts for us.

My connection with the Kilcullen Players is to Johnny O’Neill who played Byrne. My daughter is married to his grandson.



Johnny’s daughter, Mary was only 10 when her dad played the part and she wasn’t allowed to see it.  So when the Corofin Dramatic Society  performed it In St. John’s, Listowel as part of of the Remembering John B. festival, Mary was delighted to finally get an opportunity to see the great play. Let’s say she understood why her parents deemed it unsuitable.




Mary (O’Neill) Mc Kenna and her husband Tony met Conor and Joanna at the festival.



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Welcome rain


After weeks of drought It’s great to welcome a drop of rain.

Big Maggie in New York in 1983, Ballylongford, Revival and a Rose comes to town

By

On August 21, 2017

In Uncategorized

Revival 2017 Remembered



On Saturday evening August 12 2017 Revival rocked The Square Listowel. Below is Denis Carroll’s great capture of the colour and atmosphere of the event.


I was in The Square with my young visitors to get a flavour of the great night.

The Blizzards were on stage.

The stage was erected by this firm.

I met friends, Mirian Ahern and Karen Kennelly in town for the big night. In fact I met so many past pupils that I felt I was back in the classroom.

A wedding was in full swing in The Listowel Arms. The happy couple came outside to sample the vibe.

Old friends, Maurice Kelliher and Dominick Scanlon were enjoying the concert.



























Ballylongford, Shannonside Home of Poets and Artists


This photo of the annual graveyard mass at Lislaughtin Abbey was posted on Facebook by Ballylongford Snaps

That site also has these lovely pictures of artistic wrought iron work on gates on the road to Carrig Island

The artist is Mick Rea



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John B. Keane’s Big Maggie in New York in 1983


I was delighted to get this email from Marie Neligan Shaw.

Hi Mary,

Was cleaning out some bookshelves today and came across a Play Bill for the NY production of John B. Keane’s play Big Maggie at the Douglas Fairbank’s  theatre in 1983. I was at the play and the after party with John B. and Mary. It contains a letter from the then mayor of NY Ed Koch welcoming John B. And his play to theatre row. Was wondering if this was something you might like to include in your blog. If interested just let me know and I will mail it to you.

Regards,

Marie

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Do you remember the O’Donoghues of Tanavalla?



If you remember them or if you would just like to meet the Florida Rose, there will be a meet and greet reception for Elizabeth and her family in The Listowel Arms on Wednesday evening next, August 23 2017.

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Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2017




Musicians and singers of Listowel Folk Group performed Garry MacMahon’s Aifreann na Ríochta at the fleadh in Ennis on Sunday.

Vintage Best Dressed 2015; the men and Big Maggie at The Gaiety

By

On October 9, 2015

In Uncategorized

Vintage Fashion Day at Listowel Races 2015

This is Joe Broderick telling the story of his outfit to Angela Wall of An Taisce who were co sponsoring the Recycle/Upcycle event at Listowel Races 2015. Joe actually had a new suit and a lovely bowler hat. But he had a vintage accessory. On his watch chain he had a North Kerry football medal. He was recycling and reusing his corsage as well. He claimed he swiped the flowers on his way in.

This man won this competition last year. He looked just as smart this year, when he replaced the red tie with a blue one but the competition was very keen this year and he failed to make the final cut.

Paudie Moriarty was sporting a tie given to him by his late father, Gene who worked on The Island for many years. It was a lovely yellow number decorated with racehorses. His jacket was a present from his brother. It was actually a hand me down, passed on when his older brother lost some weight but it looked perfect on Paudie.

When Joe Broderick stepped up for his interview, the paparazzi were on it in an instant. I videod a bit of his interview HERE. Joe was a big hit with the judges and the audience.

This Galway man was a kind of novelty item. He was wearing a hat made from Heineken cans. He bought it in The Phillipines for €2 and he has been wearing it to race meetings since. He was full of praise for the Tidy Town movement. He, himself has a Super Valu who are  sponsors of Tidy Towns.  In answer to the so frequently asked question; No, he didn’t drink all the beer. He is a teetotaler.

The final line up

The finalists made their way into the parade ring for the announcement of the winner.

The Races were going on as usual and Mick  Ó hUallacháin was interviewing jockeys.

There was a poignant presentation taking place. Mrs. McElligott was presenting the winning trainer’s trophy to Willie Mullins in memory of her husband who had a long association with Listowel Races and who passed away earlier this year.

The winners were announced and there were two Moriartys in the shake up. Nora won the Ladies category and her brother in law, Paudie was the runner up in the mens’.

No one was surprised when the charming Joe was declared the winner.

Joe is a man who knows how to celebrate a victory. His hand went immediately to his pocket and he ordered a bottle of champagne.

Mairead from TG4 interviewed both winners.

Oonagh Harnett of Broderick’s Pharmacy sponsored the Ladies competition and Con McCarthy of McCarthy Insurance sponsored the mens’.

Nora’s family were delighted with her win.

Joe and Nora toast their success.

Listowel Tidy Town members with the organizers and judges of the event. Well pleased with how everything went.

Back at the tent everyone lines up for a photo and the ebullient Owen MacMahon leads us all in Lovely Listowel, just to get us in the mood for the following day’s match.

“Twas more like Geneva than Lovely Listowel”

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Looking Ahead to Drama in 2016



Some of the Keane family gathered in Dublin last month for the launch of Druid’s production of Big Maggie at The Gaiety which is due to take the stage  29 January 2016 – 20 February 2016 .

It was an emotional event for the family as it came just months after the passing of their mother,Mary, widow of the late playwright, John B. Keane. In February 2015 The family accompanied by Mary were in that same theatre for the premier of The Field.



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+    R.I.P. Kevin (Geg) Sheehy    +






(Photo:Listowel Celtic on Facebook)



Our streets will be lonelier and less colorful with the sad and untimely passing of Giggs Sheehy. The above photo posted by his friends in Listowel Celtic captures Kevin’s fun loving  upbeat personality.



He is a huge irreplaceable loss to his family. Listowel too has lost a great character.

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