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: Billy Keane Page 5 of 14

Frederick Chute R.i.P., Facebook Friends and Saturday’s Guided Walk

Bobby Cogan and Molly on a trip to Teampall Bán


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Frederick Chute R.I.P.


In response to my request for information on the people commemorated on the new park benches I got a lovely letter from Judith Cannon

“A friend told me to look online at Listowel Connections, and I saw that you would like some information on the new benches installed at the Town Park.  I had a new bench recently installed in memory of my husband, Frederick (he didnt like to be called Fred, because that was his cousin’s name, the painter – RIP).

You have an excellent photo of Frederick’s new bench on your Listowel Connections website.

I think the new bench is lovely and it overlooks the River Feale, which Frederick loved.  He grew up in Church Street (no 57) Listowel,   and Betty Chute was his mother.  Arthur Chute, was his father.

I have done a little story about his life, which I will attach to this email, so if you need any information it will be on there, or I am happy to answer any questions about him.  He loved Listowel, and enjoyed the football and hurling and used to go to matches with Pat Whelan and Eric Browne. He played football in his younger days for Listowel and North Kerry. His best friend and lifelong friend, was Jimmy O’Quigley, and they went to Primary School together as well as getting up to all sorts of mischief in later life!

Frederick passed away in 2018 and his ashes were interred at his parents’ grave at the graveyard in Listowel as well as some of his ashes scattered in Ballybunion beach, one of his very favourite places.”

I will post Judith’s story of Frederick’s life shortly.

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Making Friends the Facebook Way

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Another Saturday, Another Walk


Guided Walking Tours of Listowel start off from The Kerry Writers’ Museum every Saturday until the end of August 2019 at 11.00a.m.  Last Saturday, July 27 2019 I was the volunteer guide.

This is the lovely group I escorted around our lovely town. There were Listowel people, returned Listowel emigrants, Canadian people, English people, Irish people and Californian people and we even had a newly engaged couple.



You’d never know who you’d run into on a walk around Listowel. Billy Keane took time out from his very busy schedule to talk to the group.

Jimmy Hickey danced for us on the junction of Charles Street and Colbert Street, where his father once ran a shoemaking business, making shoes for the clergy and for the gentry. Jimmy promises to tell me all for a future blog and Jimmy is a man of his word.

A Donegal visitor sang The Rose of Tralee for us.

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A Few More Entente Florale Photos


Going a step beyond! The “dawn raiders” doing their very best to make sure Listowel gets gold.

The adjudicators went to John Paul 2 graveyard. I’m sure they loved this wild flower grave.

This is the community fruit and nut orchard.

I posted this last week without saying where it was and people are anxious to know. This lovely door is in The New Kingdom on Church Street.

Herbs

Molly checking out the bug hotel

more herbs

Our riverside picnic area

The Big Bridge



1916 commemorative garden


St. Patrick’s Day 2019, Death of a Rev. Mother, Pres. footballers and a poem for Mothering Sunday



Ballybunion in March 2019

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Some Stalwarts of Listowel Parades

Seán Moriarty provides a running commentary in The Small Square.

Charlie Nolan recording it all from the viewing platform.

Listowel 2019 Parade by Charlie Nolan

Denis Carroll records the day for us on the street. His lovely video of this year’s St. Patrick’s Day  is at the link below.

St. Patrick’s Day 2019 in Listowel

Billy Keane was back on the stand in 2019 doing his MCing.

Tim O’Leary and Donal O’Sullivan

Liam Brennan as St. Patrick blesses us all.

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St. Patrick Joins in The Fun



 St. Patrick dances with Mary Twomey  on St. Patrick’s Day 2019

 Meeting and greeting


And we all head home, St. Patrick’s Day done and dusted for another year.

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Death of Rev. Mother in 1919


Kerry News, Friday, August 01, 1919
(An Appreciation by a grateful patient) Condensed

DEATH of Rev Mother Michael, Superioress of St Bridgid’s Convent of Mercy, Listowel. Requiem High Mass was celebrated on Sunday 13th at the lovely little-church attached to the Mercy Convent, by the Most Rev. Dr. O’Sullivan, Lord Bishop of Kerry, with the Very Rev. Fr. Breen, S.T.L., President St Brendan’s Seminary, Killarney, and the Rev. T. Trant, P.P.,Ballymacelligott, her nephew, as deacon and sub-deacon ; Very Rev. Canon O’Riordan, P.P., V.F., Boherbee, as Master of Ceremonies. There was also present in the Sanctuary the Very Rev Dean O’Leary. P.P.. V.G.. Tralee, and the Rev. Fathers , Ferris, Behan and Conlon, O.P. Several members of the Christian Brothers from the Industrial Schools were also in attendance.
Amongst the chief mourners were- Sisters Benedict and Catherine (nieces) Rev. T. Trant, P.P.: Dr Trant. J.P. : Mr. P. Trant, J.P., and Mr Michael O’Connell, Clerk of the Union (nephews) Miss Danagher, Mrs O’Connell (sisters) Miss M. A. O’Connell, Miss B O’Connell, Miss N O’Connell, (nieces); Miss Nora Trant. Mrs. S. Fuller and the Misses O’Connell (grand nieces); Messrs P. Trant. junr., and D Trant (grand nephews} : etc.. etc. A full list of the general public is out of the question.

Rev Mother Michael came to Listowel some 36 years to take over charge, of the Union Hospital and let it be said that from the very start her work was cut out for her, for the Hospital Buildings though large enough were anything but sanitary or comfortable. Uninviting, rough, whitewashed, walls, straw beds, small apertures in the Walls instead of windows a room only fit for a stable to hear mass in were only a few of the many unsightly objects that met the view of Rev. Mother Michael and her faithful little band of nuns when first she entered the then unhallowed walls of the Listowel Workhouse. The change for the better which she wrought in this establishment would if described fully read like a chapter from Fairyland. The sisters transformed the place.

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Presentation Secondary School Team

I think this is a football team back in the day

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Richard Moriarty sent this poem home to us for Mothers’ Day


MY MOTHER

DEDICATED TO MOMS EVERYWHERE

WHILE WE’RE TOLD IN SONG AND STORY

OF PEOPLE OF RENOWN

BE THEY WRITERS, POETS OR CONGRESSMEN

OR KINGS WHO WEAR A CROWN

IT’S INSCRIBED THERE IN THE PAGES

THEIR NAMES AND WHERE THEY’RE FROM

BUT I BELIEVE THE UNSUNG HERO

IS THE PERSON KNOWN AS MOM

SHE’S THE ONE WE ALWAYS TURNED TO

WHENEVER THINGS WENT WRONG

THE GENTLE HAND THAT DRIED OUR TEARS

WHILE SHE HUMMED SOME SILLY SONG

SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE TO GREET US

AND HELP US ON OUR WAY

WITH THAT SPECIAL TOUCH

THAT MEANT SO MUCH

AND A GENTLE WORD TO SAY

AND THERE WERE TIMES WHEN

WE CAUSED YOU PAIN

AND TREATED YOU UNKIND

BUT ALL THE WHILE YOU’D SOFTLY SMILE

OH, HOW COULD WE BE SO BLIND

BUT YOU ARE THE ONE WE DO ADORE

AND LOVE LIKE WE COULD NO OTHER

WE THANK YOU GOD FOR GIVING US

SUCH A SPECIAL CARING MOTHER

Richard G. Moriarty

Listowel, A Printer’s Legacy is launched and a few photos from Christmas in Killarney 2018

Christmassy Listowel 2018



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Killarney



Killarney on a quiet Sunday morning

This ice cream shop is next door to the cinema.

Killarney always looks clean and well kept. The road sweeper was out early on Sunday morning.

The Great Southern

The Friary

Christmas trees and wreaths for sale after mass

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Work up an Appetite for the Turkey




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Listowel, a Printer’s Legacy Launch



On December 9 2018 we launched Vincent Carmody’s latest book. Here are some of the people who were there.

Old friends, Paddy Keane, Liam Grimes and Jimmy OQuigley

Vincent and Kathleen Carmody

Carmodys and friends

Friends, Norah Canty and Mary Broderick at the launch

Arthur Caball met up with Eugene and Tadhgh Moriarty

At the top table, Seán Kelly, Kay Caball and Bryan MacMahon

Gabriel Fitzmaurice sang us a few ballads which were  written by Bryan MacMahon, printed by Bob Cuthbertson and sold on the streets for a penny or two. Many of the ballads are included in the book.

Scions of two great Listowel families, Bryan MacMahon and Billy Keane

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Bishop Ray in Knockanure



Ray Browne, Bishop of Kerry paid a visit to Knockanure on Dec 16 2018 and he met a few local ladies.

Mary O’Carroll

Mary Fitzgerald

1965 Green Guide, Pub Theatre at John B.’s, Sensory Sunday at the barber’s

In Childers’ Park, Listowel

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Listowel’s 1965 Green Guide


Aileen Skimson in Canada kept this souvenir of her visit to Listowel, her father’s birthplace, in 1965. Here are a few more photos and advertisements to bring back memories.


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Remembering John B. Keane at 90


The first event of the recent John B, Keane festival was pub theatre in John B. Keane’s Bar.

I was there for a while and it was a great night.

 Some of the appreciative audience with Billy Keane.

Two of the performers were Cathy Healy and Gabriel Fitzmaurice.

 Mickey McConnell sang his tribute to Mary and John B.

Billy in character as the matchmaker.

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The Gentleman’s Barber, William Street, Listowel




Sounds very inviting, doesn’t it?


I know someone who brought a nervous little boy one Sunday. She was full of praise for the whole experience. Highly recommend it


Jumbos on March 17 2018, Presentation memories and a big Listowel moment in Twickenham


Ballybunion Castle, Easter 2018






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From my Archive


Photo: John Stack


John  Stack took this photo at my retirement party in The Listowel Arms in May 2010. I include it today to remind past pupils that we are still looking for photos or stories from you.

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A last few from St. Patrick’s Day 2018 in Listowel

I finished the day in Jumbos with my visitors. Jumbo’s is an iconic Listowel institution with much more mouthwatering fare than many of its big name competitors.

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Meanwhile in Twickenham


We all saw the picture. Billy Keane in his “famous blue raincoat” and his beloved godson, Jonathan Sexton embrace after Ireland’s victory over England to win the Six Nations competition.

Listowel is not known as Ireland’s literary capital for nothing. Local poet, Micheál Gallagher and photographer Paul Manning came together to create this artistic memory of that famous hug. I found it on the John B. Keane Bar’s Twitter feed.


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A Fact Stranger than Fiction



On display in Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral are the mummified remains of a cat and a rat. It would appear that the cat was chasing the rat when both became trapped in an organ pipe. Their mummified remains were later found and put on display.

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For One Week Only…starting tonight



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