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
A very cute local puppy is wagging her tail on the double this week.
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Listowel World Centre of Celtic Art
Since attending Stephen Rynne’s talk on July 6 2023, everywhere I look in Listowel I see Celtic influence.
Carmel Fitzgiibbon with her late husband, Paddy Fitzgibbon’s beautiful artwork. There are three pieces of Paddy’s extraordinary celtic artwork on display in Listowel. One piece is in the offices of his old firm, Pierse and Fitzgibbon. This one was kindly lent to Kerry Writers’ Museum for us to see up close on the night,
My photos give only a small insight into this unique design of artwork. Remember there was no template or instructions for this. It is pure genius.
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Ballybunion Castle on the Internet
wild atlantic way castle and beach with beautiful reflections
Ireland and Peg’s Cottage
BALLYBUNION CASTLE!
Ballybunion Castle is one of fifteen cliff forts along the North Kerry coast; it was built by the Fitzmaurices in the 1300s. In 1582 the castle was acquired by the Bonyan family, which is how Ballybunion derived its name, but in 1583 William Og Bonyan lost the castle and lands because of his part in the Desmond Rebellion. By 1604 the castle was back in the possession of the Fitzmaurices and remained so until the mid-18th century.
Today, the 40 ft high east wall is all that remains of the castle. An underground passage leading from the cliff face to the castle, was discovered in 1987.
Pic. iStock, credited to morrbyte
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LWW 1974
Wolfgang Mertens kept a comprehensive folder of memorabilia from his sojourn in Listowel for Writers’ Week 1974. He developed a special relationship with Bryan MacMahon, whose work he was studying.
This is MacMahon’s postcard to Wolfgang, accepting his application to join the short story workshop.
This is the remains of the first arch in 2016, It was damaged in a big storm. You will notice the the new designer didn’t bother with the things that looked like very big ball bearing between the arch and the pillars.
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Wolfgang and Anita Mertens
in John B. Keane’s Bar, May 16th 2023
This is the house from which Maria wrote to Wolfgang.
Here are 2 letters Wolfgang kept as souvenirs of his visit to Writers Week in 1974. The first is from Maria Coffey who was, I think, writing on behalf of Writers Week and one from Bryan MacMahon with whom he had a long correspondence. Wolfgang was writing his thesis on his work.
Anita and Wolfgang can’t remember where they stayed which is surprising because they remember a lot about their trip.
On their last night they saw a production of The Honey Spike by the Carrick- on-Siur Drama Group and they were enthralled by it.
Wolfgang in his library has almost all of MacMahon’s published works, in English and some in translation as well.
While we were at the MacMahon statue we met Maggie and Mac Donald who were just returning from a visit to Kerry Writers’ Museum.
Brían MacMahon took time out of his busy day to welcome the German visitors. He told them a few stories about his famous grandfather and generally charmed them with his wit and friendliness.
We met Liz Dunn who gave them a brochure for this year’s Writers’ Week. Wolfgang promises to send me his 1974 programme.
We called to the Garden of Europe on the way home from town.
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A 1980 Visitor
Hello Mary.
I came upon your blog while searching for “Irish Horse Caravans”.
I was a young soldier in the US Army on leave in 1980 when I hitchhiked/walked through Ireland.
I have a photo in this email, which I think may possibly be in Adare or very close to it. I was wondering if you perhaps recognize this image and the signs for the roads they reference and could tell me where this may have been.
Regards from the US, Marietta, GA Bob Jewell
Is Bob correct? Is that Adare? I think so.
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Kevins
Is your name Kevin or Caoimhín?
If the answer is yes, the place for you to be is this Listowel pub on Friday June 2 in the late evening.
The first annual gathering of people called Kevin in Kevin’s is happening there.
The back story; Stephen Connolly, curator of this year’s Writers’ Week programme was, by chance, in Kevin’s on the late owner, Kevin Broderick’s, birthday and he happened to sit beside a man called Kevin. This sparked this idea; Why not have a gathering of people called Kevin in a pub called Kevin’s during Writers’ Week.
BTW you can come too if your name is not Kevin.
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On the Prowl with Camera
I was in The Square on Saturday May 20 2023
I met the lovely and very talented Eileen Sheehan as she went into Kerry Writers’ Museum to facilitate a poetry workshop.
I had a lovely chat with friends, Brian and May Griffin and Mary and Seán Comerford.
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Serendipity
The meaning of the word, good luck in finding valuable things unintentionally, refers to the fairy tale characters who were always making discoveries through chance. You can thank serendipity if you find a pencil at an empty desk just as you walk into an exam and realize that you forgot yours.
I have so often experienced serendipity at Listowel Writers Week. I have gone to a book launch by someone I had never heard of and find the writer or subject so fascinating that I can’t wait to read the book.
Let me point you in the direction of a few opportunities for serendipity coming up for us in Listowel.
I have never read either of these authors but it looks like lots of people have and loved them.
Friday June2 in The Listowel Arms
This handsome dude is well known to everyone in Kerry. As well as being one of Kerry’s all time great footballers, he is also a clothes designer and now an author.
Confession here; I considered buying this book at Christmas and dismissed it without knowing what it was about. I presumed wrongly that it was the story of how a footballer turned into a fashion designer.
I should have looked more closely and, if only to honour my weaver ancestors, I should have bought it. It’s not too late to make up for lost time.
Join me in Listowel Arms on Saturday at 3.00
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I Love this One
Published in The Irish Times on Saturday May 20 2023.
I have a god daughter who I can just imagine spending her old age (which is a long way off yet) reminiscing about horses.
This marvellous old snap is one of the great photos shared by Mike Hannon on Facebook.
In the centre of the photo is the late Ned O’Connor of Convent Street.
Ned was the first Listowel man I met on my first visit to town. The year was 1972 or 1973. I was a very young teacher and on my first big assignment. I was to examine the Leaving Cert. class in Presentation Secondary School in oral Irish.
I had never been to Listowel before.
I looked up the Bord Fáilte book for a suitable Bed and Breakfast for the week. (There was no internet in those days)
I think it was the Convent Street address that prompted me to choose Ned O’Connor’s premises. I figured it was surely within walking distance of the school. It was.
I arrived on the Sunday evening, to begin work on Monday. Ned welcomed me and showed me to a very comfortable room. He told me that the week before the “Padre Pio priest” had stayed in that very room.
The next morning after my breakfast, Ned gave me an orange to bring with me to school. He told me that he thought my voice would be sore from all the talking and oranges were great for relieving a sore throat. I had never stayed in a B and B before but I knew that this level of caring couldn’t be the norm.
As an ambassador for Listowel, Ned did an excellent job.
May he rest in peace.
By the way, the Leaving Cert girls did excellently well in their oral exam.
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It’s Done and It’s Lovely
And who are the two men enjoying a chat and admiring the newly unveiled area?
Billy Keane and Aidan ÓMurchú were relaxing in the sunshine in the new facility.
Necessary but a bit unsightly in our lovely new meeting, performing and eating space
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From 2002/03 Pres. Yearbook
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Dáithí Óg
Back in the day Dáithí ÓSé used to be a weatherman on TG4
Last week I included this photo from Vincent Carmody’s Snapshots of a market town book. I was using it to illustrate the point that the street names have changed.
But it isn’t just the streets names that have changed. Our whole vocabulary has changed utterly. The concept of a General Draper or General Outfitter is alien to today’s young people.
A General draper sold everything for the house, curtains, tablecloths etc, he sold haberdashery which was pins, needles, buttons, sewing thread etc, everything necessary for making and mending and smaller items of clothing like underwear and nightwear.
The General Outfitter sold clothes for both men and women, as well as hats bags, scarfs and what we now know as accessories.
Millinery and mantles are words rarely seen nowadays.
Hats and coats to you.
Look again at the bill. I don’t know what an S.P. coat could be. It cost 4 times as much as an overcoat.
There used to be a jacket called a sports coat but I can’t imagine that being more expensive than an overcoat.
Another interesting aspect of Mr D. J. Flavin’s bill is that he was given two months credit. In 1926 it was not unusual for people of standing to be only presented with a bill for goods bought three or four times a year.
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Listowel, the very Place for a Shopping Spree in 1959
The town was buzzing; Santa, a Bazaar, Dances , a local Radio Station and transport laid on.
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Farming Life in North Kerry in 1974
A lovely little film of life in these parts, milking the cows, shoeing the horse and walking the dogs, all narrated by the unmistakable voice of Eamon Keane..
Thank you, Jim Ryan, for finding this one.
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Beautiful Hand Made Cards
I make no apologies for including these again. They are made locally by a very talented artist. They are available at Kerry Writers’ Museum, Listowel.
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A Sad Note
Fr. Kevin MacNamara who passed away unexpectedly yesterday was a popular priest when he served the parishes of Moyvane Knockanure. He will be missed by his many friends in North Kerry. May he rest in peace
