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: Buckleys

Honan Chapel, UCC, Race week 2018 and style from Ladies’ Day 2018

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On September 19, 2018

In Uncategorized

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Honan Chapel, UCC



On my recent walking tour of UCC I visited the Honan Chapel and I learned about a Listowel connection.

 The magnificent mosaic of the River Lee teeming with fish was executed by the mosaic artists of the firm of Oppenheimer, the same company which did the mosaics in our own St. Mary’s.

The much admired stained glass windows are the work of two artists, the great Harry Clarke and the lesser known Sarah Purser. Harry Clarke’s work  totally overshadows Sarah Purser’s windows. The Clarke windows, while magnificent in themselves, are dark and leave in very little light. They are characterised by their deep deep blue glass. Purser’s are refreshingly lighter  and in my humble opinion function better as windows as in they allow light into the building.

St. Gobnait is the patron of the nearby village of Ballyvourney. She is depicted in her window surrounded by bees.

Sadly, beside the door there are two blocked out windows, victims of the penal window tax.

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Upper Church Street, Race Week 2018



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Ladies’ Day Sept. 14 2018



Some of the ladies I spotted as i made my way around the course.


Not all fun and games. Helena Halpin was off to work when I ran into her.

Niamh Kenny looked every inch a winner, but she didn’t win.

The lady on the right with her gorgeous Aoife Hannon headpiece was the first runner up.

This lady was also a top 10 finalist. Isn’t her hat fabulous?

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Credit Where It’s Due 



Yesterday I had some photographs of this seat with its verse to the memory of the late Paudie Fitzmaurice.

I have since learned that the verse was written by his good friend of many years, John (Junior) Griffin.

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Possible Identification



The first black and white photo looks like it was taken at Buckleys. If my memory is correct the boy at the back is Buckley and the girl on the right  was his sister. They had a bar, and I can remember that they sold ice cream. I would love to know if I am correct

Is Maria correct?




Daughters and Mothers, Turf in times of War and some emigrants

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On April 30, 2015

In Uncategorized

Robin  in April (Timothy John MacSweeney)

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More from Behans of Bunaghara

Andy Ross sent me the obituary of his gr. gr.grandaunt.  This is what he wrote:

“Here’s a obituary for John Behan’s other daughter, Agnes Behan Murphy, our great great grandmother’s sister.



Referring to John Behan as a “pioneer Syracuse salt manufacturer” is a bit misleading in that he, along with many fellow Irish immigrants at the time in our city, was more likely a hard working laborer.



I can only imagine how he and his fellow Kerry relatives handled the long brutal winters we’re known for in Syracuse – nationally, we consistently rank at the very top percentile for snow accumulation (this past winter was particular frigid with temps not going above freezing the whole month of February).”

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A Long Shot


A follower of the blog is anxious to make contact with an old friend. Details are a bit sketchy but maybe someone might recognize her. She is Margaret or Peggy O’Shea from Listowel who worked in the UK in the 1950s. She has  4 children, two of whom are named Conor and Rose…Any ideas?


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The Daughterhood


 Billy Keane introduced Róisín Ingle and Natasha Fennell to us at WIM in Ballybunion on Saturday April 18 last. Róisín, who famously has a very dependent relationship with her mother and Natasha have written a book from the stories of some Irish women and their varying relationships with their mother. The book is called The Daughterhood. Billy has a very close relationship with his own mother. His love and admiration for her is apparent in much of what he writes and says.

Aisling and Carmel from Easons were working at the event.

Mother and daughter; Keelin and Vourneen Kissane



Mother and daughter; Anne and Mary Cogan with Róisín Ingle.



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Old Post Office




(photo: Boards.ie)



This is a photo from the internet of the old post office undergoing roof repairs.



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Black Gold



During WW2 there was a dire shortage of fuel to keep the home fires burning here and in Britain. Look at this from Bord na Mona Heartland

This is an Irish version of one of the posters from 1943. Turf cutting in Ireland was in decline by the early 1930s. Turf cutting competitions were set up, to encourage people to go back turf cutting. The easy availability of coal meant that people cut less turf.

The stark warning says; Cut turf now or be cold next winter.

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