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: Bord na Mona Lyreacrompane

Fair Days, Turf and Lovely Cluain Doire

By

On July 19, 2021

In Duagh, Listowel

Photo; Chris Grayson

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Bord na Mona in Kerry

“This is a tipper at Barna Bog, Co. Kerry. The caption states the photo was taken by Mr. E. Switzer in April 1948. However Barna didn’t officially start producing turf until 1950, so is it Barna or Lyrecrumpane? Switzer worked for BnM in the early days, he was reputed to have lost an eye in the first World War and the family had a shop in Grafton Street.” From Bord na Mona Living History.

This country has a long history with turf and peat harvesting. Bord na Mona have now pivoted into wind energy and sustainable living. Maybe in time all that history will be preserved and housed in a visitor attraction for future generations to see how we lived once.

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Cluain Doire in Cahirdown, Listowel

Cluain Doire, meaning Oak Meadows, is a beautifully landscaped small estate just off Cahirdown. All the trees that line the road into the estate are surrounded by colourful planting in circles around their bases.

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One Hundred Years Ago

Fair Days were very important one hundred years ago. The above notice is from the Cork Examiner and the following account is in the schools’ folklore collection

The fairs nearest to the people of locality are those at Abbeyfeale and Listowel. The buyers never transact business in the country. The only country fair which the old people can remember is Port fair. Port is the name of the townland and it is in the parish of Abbeyfeale. The fairs were held four times there. These are the dates; the second of May, the 15th of July, the 13th of October and the 15th of December. Cows horses, calves, and bonhams were sold there. There is a castle situated near where the fair used to be held. It is called Port castle and the ruins can still be seen.

The fairs held in Listowel are held in the street and in the square. A penny each is paid for pigs and sixpence for every cow.

When an animal is sold “luck” is given in money and is called “luck money”.

When a bargain is made the parties concerned show their agreement by hitting the animal on the back. When an animal is sold the halter is kept.

COLLECTOR

Séamus Ó Roileacháin

INFORMANT

Séafradh Ó Conchubhair

Address

Foildarrig, Co. Kerry

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Best Weekend of the summer so far

Glorious sunshine, crowded beach, amazing sunsets, Ballybunion was heavenly.

On Saturday June 17 2021 Ballybunion hosted its first triathlon. A huge willing band of volunteers, rescue services personnel and gardaí ensured that everything ran smoothly.

Thank you Lil MacSweeney and Carine Schweitzer for the photos.

Ard Churam, Bord na Mona in Lyreacrompaneand more Listowel street names

By

On April 30, 2019

In Uncategorized

Ballybunion Golf Club in Association with Ard Cúram

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Bord ns Mona in Lyracrompane



Tony McKenna posted this photo on Facebook in January with this caption.

“We might have posted this a few years ago. It shows the tipper at Barna Bog, Co. Kerry. The caption states the photo was taken by Mr. E. Switzer in April 1948. However Barna didn’t officially start producing turf until 1950, so is it Barna or Lyrecrumpane? Switzer worked for BnM in the early days, he was reputed to have lost an eye in the first World War and the family had a shop in Grafton Street.”

Then in the comments some people with local knowledge helped him out.



This photo is of the Tip at Lyreacrompane as it stands today. I never remember it having steped walls at the sides as in the Switzer photo but I wouldn’t remember back beyond 1955. Perhaps it was altered. I will check with locals in Barna for any memory that might solve the mystery…

 Joe Harrington

and

Denis Lenihan wrote this 

“Definitely Barna, The truck is Cadbury’s Rathmore. At this time it was hand cut turf. Next came a spreader which was filled by hand before the bagger arrived. A brilliant quality photograph.”

And then this;

Interesting in a quiz, you know the answer instantly but given time doubts set in. Same here I withdraw the words definately Barna. The tiphead in Barna and Lyreacrompane were identical as far as I know and theres little background. There is another photograph of that truck taken from the side. The truck was new and was brown the Cadburys colour. It has a Cork Reg. and Cadburys factory is on the bank of the Blackwater but on the Kerry side of the river.The man with his back to the camera could be the manager Jerry o Leary, he was a slender man that always wore a hat. In the view from the side the embankment is Barna, much higher on the right than the left. Lyreacrompane is on flat ground.

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Cad as Duit?



When is Church Street not Sráid an tSeipéil?

Answer: When it’s Listowel, Co. Kerry’s Church Street.

This Listowel solution to a Listowel problem has been puzzling a few people since I raised it here.

Will you look at this one? The Púca is the devil who would catch you if you were out late and not minding your own business. How come he shares a name with Convent Street.

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Ballybunion, Listowel, Lyreacrumpnane and Moyvane

By

On July 29, 2015

In Uncategorized

Tiger on the rocks at Ballybunion

Photo;Ballybunion Prints

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From Time Travel Kerry

The link above will lead you to a great site which has then and now photos from all over Kerry. I’ve put just two of the many Listowel ones here. The site is on Facebook and I know that many of my blog followers “don’t do Facebook” and so might miss these treasures.

Apart from the demolition of the house in white above, little has changed archictecturally in The Square.

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Bord na Mona: a Lyre Connection



“We had a request for items about the former Turf Development Board and BnM works at Lyrecrumpane in Kerry. This photo was taken at the retirement of Harry Starken of Boora in 1958. Harry Starken, second left front row, was a German who brought the first machinery to the Turf Development Board in 1936. The machinery was used in Turraun, Co. Offaly. While assembling the machine, he fell in love (bet he didn’t expect that to happen) and married a local girl, Elizabeth Cloonan from Leabeg. He remained in Ireland and was transferred to Lyrecrumpane in Kerry. “



photo and text from Bord na Mona Heartland



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GAA Nostalgia



From Twitter the 1972 Kerry Football team



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Moyvane Historical Walk



Despite the inclement weather, the planned historical walk through Moyvane went ahead on Sunday evening July 26 2015. Gabriel Fitzmaurice with the help of many local walkers relived old times in the village. People reminisced about characters who once enlivened daily life in Moyvane, shops and houses now closed up, blacksmiths, old schools and church, businesses selling all sorts, owners fondly remembered, and stories of life in a different era. 

I missed it but Elizabeth Brosnan took some great photos. Below are just some. Elizabeth has lots more on Facebook.

Theft today and yesterday ; more tales of the turf

By

On September 20, 2012

In Uncategorized

When was this?

1913

Today robbers are more subtle in their methods. Listowel traders are being cautioned to be vigilant during Raceweek for very high quality forged €50 notes which are in circulation locally.

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loading turf on to the bog train.

Matt Dillane’s Vision

On a warm August day in or about the year 1908, Matt Dillane
from Glountane walked down from his home to Listowel and back again, a round
trip of 22 miles. When about a mile from home on his return journey, he left
the road and entered Quills mountain to take the short cut. When he was a half mile on his way he sat
down to take a rest. He fell asleep. He was awakened by noise and on opening his
eyes he saw men around him working. He
saw houses, and he saw what made the biggest impression of all on him – a
railway train complete with wagons. When
telling his story afterwards which he did nearly every day of his life, he laid
most emphasis on the train. 

  Naturally, nobody
believed him, least of all his own family. But he told his story so often and so earnestly that people began to
think there might be something to it. Years passed. A new generation
grew up and heard the strange tale for indeed it was often recalled at the winter
fireside. Matt died about 16 or 17 years
after his experience but still the story continued to be told from time to
time. Then came the year 1938, and we
all woke up to the fact that what Matt saw in a vision on that sunny August
evening thirty odd years before, was now there in reality. For where he had sat down to rest was now the
headquarters of Lyreacrompane Bord na Mona Works. Men were working there, there were buildings
there; a forge where machinery was repaired, an office and a store. And there was a railway train running on
tracks, just as it should be. It was in
fact, a diesel locomotive pulling fourteen wagons of turf to the roadside for
delivery to the waiting lorries.

( from the Lyreacrompane Journal)

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I was on The Island on Tuesday and I took a few snaps.

The bookmakers ring was fairly busy.

These boys were putting the spare bookie stands to good use.

There were lots of cars but I did not see even one helicopter.

Anne and Mary O’Connor were there with Anne’s family.

We met some of my old neighbors on their annual Kerry pilgrimage.

More tomorrow……..

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Yesterday’s crowd of over 25,000!

Lyreacrompane Bord na Mona

By

On September 13, 2012

In Uncategorized

Tom sent me this great press  photograph of the BnaM workers in Lyre in 1956. I’d love if anyone of these men or any of their descendants would get in touch to tell me stories from their days in the bog in the employ of Bord na Mona.

The photograph below is from Barna but I remember a building just like this in Lyre.

These following photos are also from Barna.

Here BnaM workers are filling a lorry with turf

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This is the Galway mail car pictured at a cross roads in Connemara.

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Be sure to watch this one from Jer. It takes me back home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3g8wWduQGc

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Lovely photograph from about 1960

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