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

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Listowel, Ireland’s tidiest small town, Clounmacon Calling 2015 and some photos from Ladies Day 2015



Simply the Best



As someone who spends a lot of time photographing Listowel, I can say, without fear of contradiction that it is one of the loveliest towns in Ireland. I have observed the work of Listowel Tidy Towns committee at close quarters and I am in awe at their hard work and perseverance. The town is a credit to them and they can bask in the pride and gratitude we all feel at being declared Ireland’s tidiest small town for 2015.

“After 22 years in the national TidyTowns Competition Listowel is now a clear leader and all in your community
should be very proud of your efforts.”



Above is the final line of the judges’  report.


Just a few photos of our lovely town



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Clounmacon Calling


On the Saturday of their Gathering weekend the assembled Clounmacon folk took a walking tour of Listowel and then after lunch they gathered in the old school house to relive those far off schooldays. They talked of teachers and pupils, walking to school, school lunches of cocoa and sandwiches, they sat in their old school desks and through rose colored glasses viewed those bygone days.

The gang at the end of their walking tour with Vincent Carmody who was their guide.



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More Road Repair Contracts  as reported in The Tralee Mercury 1836

APPLICATIONS FOR CONTRACTS AT ANNUAL SALARIES.

 1 Maurice Connor and Richard Bunnion, to keep in repair for 7 years 802 perches of the Road from Tralee to the Cashion Ferry and Listowel between the bridge of Moybella and the East bounds of Gowrie contracted for by Michael Grady, securities James Kissane and William Collins at 4d per and by the year  for

 2
Michael and Robert Cox to keep in repair for 7 years 1356 perches of the Road from the Cashion Ferry to Ballylongford between the cross of Curraghdarrag and the Church of Ahavallin contracted for by Michael Cox, Securities Robert and Philip Cox at 4d per, and by the year for £22 12s 0d.

3 William Perryman and Thomas James, to keep in repair for 7 years 1302 perches of the road from the Sea at Ballybunnion to Ballylongford between the Chanel of Glonnacore and the cross of Curraghdarrag, contracted for by William Perryman Securities John Lawor and Cornelius Cahill at 4d per and by the year for £21 14s 0d

 4 James and Edmond Slack, to keep in repair for 7 years 111 4 perches of the Road from Tralee and the Cashion Ferry to Tarbert between Edmond Stacks house at Litter and Farranstack, contracted to, by James Stack, Securities Patrick M’Elligott and James Flahavan at 4d per and by the year.

5 Timothy Molony and Maurice Connor to keep in repair for 7 years 496 perches of the Road from Tralee and the Cashion Ferry to Ballylongford between Mrs. Tracys house at Gunsboro and Mrs, Forhan’s house at Kilgarvan Contracted to by Maurice Connor Securities Samuel Raymond and William Raymond, at 5d per. and by the year for

6 Thomas Lynch and Denis Harty, to keep in repair for 7 years 1863 perches of the road from Listowel to the sea at Ballybunnion and Kilconlie, between the cross of Moybella and the bridge of Bromore, contracted for by Ambrose Gallivan, Securities Thomas Lynch and Roger Harty at 5.5d per, and by the year for.

7 Garret Stack and Michael Mulvihil, to keep in repair for 7 years 1145 perches of the road from the sea at Ballybunnion to Ballylongford and Tarbert, between the cross of Lahanes and Garret Stack’s house at Tullihinel, contracted for by Michael Kissane, securities Richard Kissane and Thomas Collins at 3d per and by the year for

8 John Fitzmaurice and Thomas Scanlan, to keep in repair for 7 years S44 perches of the road from Tarbert to Abbeyfeale, between the cross of Tarmous and the pipers cross near Newtownsandes, contracted for by John Fitzmaurice, securities Thomas Scanlon and Maurice Walsh at 7d per and by the year for,

9 Thomas Mangan and Daniel Loonie,to keep in repair for 7 years 680 perches of the road from Tralee and the Cashion Ferry to Ballylongford between the cross of Leamsahane, and the west bound of the warren of Beale, contracted for by John Kennelly, securities Thomas O’Connor and Thomas Mangan at 4d per and by the year for.

10 Wm- Connor and John Horgan to keep in repair tor 7 years 1716 perches of the road from Listowel to the sea at Ballybunnion, between the cross of Scortleagh and the bridge of Ballyloughron, contracted for by Wm. Connor, securities George Hewson and Gerald M’Elligott at 9d per and by the year for

11 W m. Brunskill and John Hanlon to keep in repair for 7 years 410 perches of the road from Tarbert to the harbour of Tarbert, between Mrs. Hamilton’s house and Patrick Moore’s house both in Tarbert, contracted for by Wm. Brunskill, securities John Fitzmaurice and John Hanlon at 7d per, and by the year for.
Richard Pope contract 391 perches of road from Tarbert to Abbeyfeale , between John Stacks House, Kealid and Tom Stacks House Kilmeny, half years salary £3-9-2.5d.
Surveyors; Gerard O Callaghan and Darby Conway.

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Some of the stunning hats at Ladies day 2015


Aoife Hannon

Antoinette O’Mahoney

Antoinette O’Mahoney

Antoinette O’Mahoney

Maria Stack

Philip Treacy

Philip Treacy

The lady in the middle is Bríd Hayes who won the prize for best dressed lady. Her hat was from Aoife Hannon. I don’t know the provenance of the other two.

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Round Tower revealed


(photo; Bridget O’Connor)

The scaffolding has finally been removed from around Rattoo Round Tower and it is open to the public again.

Clounmacon, road repairs in 1939 and style on Ladies Day

Clounmacon Calling


They had a great community gathering in Clounmacon on the weekend before Listowel Races 2015. People travelled from far and near to relive old times in the Community Centre, formerly the old schoolhouse.

Here is an extract from the Dáil debates of 1968.

Mr. Spring: Information on Daniel Spring Zoom on Daniel Spring asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the parents of the children attending Clounmacon school, County Kerry, are protesting strongly about the condition of the school; that a site was purchased for a new school over two years ago; and that a pump has already been sunk on this site to provide a piped water supply; and if so, if he [1731] will now give the cause of the delay in sanctioning the erection of the new school.

Minister for Education (Mr. O’Malley): Information on Donogh O'Malley Zoom on Donogh O'Malley An investigation of the future trend of enrolments at Clounmacon school, County Kerry, indicates that in a few years time the average enrolments will not warrant the retention of a third teacher in the school. I am fully satisfied that it would be educationally unsound to create through the building of a new school a position in which the children of Clounmacon would for the next 80 years or so be dependent for their primary school education on a two-teacher school.

I am prepared, however, to have temporary works carried out in the existing Clounmacon school to render it suitable for a few years until future trends are finally established. The School Manager has been notified accordingly.

Mr. Spring: Information on Daniel Spring Zoom on Daniel Spring Is the Minister aware that this school is in a shocking condition? The roof is in danger of collapsing; the ceilings are cracked. One teacher said he could not see the pupils in the back seats.

The school closed in 1975. Shortly after the building was taken over as a community centre and, as such, still serves the people of the area well.

I was in the centre for the first time on Saturday Sept 12 2015 and I met some past pupils who were on a trip down memory lane.

Meeting old friends and chatting about old times was the order of the day. There were photographs galore, a video of times past and lots of articles to read.

Clounmacon was a two room school first, then an extra room was added on and finally, when numbers declined that extra room became a store for turf. There was no central heating here. There were two open fires and in the memories of some past pupils some teachers hogged all the heat by sitting or standing directly in front of the open fire and blocking the heat from the pupils. 

Milk or cocoa was the usual beverage and the bottles in which it was brought were left beside the fire to heat. They were frequently turned to prevent them exploding in the heat..

Corporal punishment was meted out freely, even though the pupils were generally well behaved and polite.

The school had a high turn over of teachers, some remembered with great fondness, a few best forgotten.

The most famous teachers to work there were William Keane, father of the playwright John B. and Bryan MacMahon’s mother. John B. writes in his autobiography that his father walked the three miles from Listowel to Clounmacon every morning and the three miles back every afternoon.

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Road Repairs in the Good old Days


 After the recent heavy rains our roads are in a dreadful state of disrepair. I have recently learned of a scheme in former years that might be worth taking on again.

From an account in  The Tralee Mercury of 1936  it would appear that local people looked after the roads and kept them in good repair and they got paid for it:

Tralee Mercury 1829-1839, Wednesday, February 03, 1836; Page: 4

TRRAGHTICONNOR BARONY




1 Daniel Madden and Timothy Carr, for repairing the bridge of the Commons on that part of the road from the sea at Ballybunion to Ballylongford, on the lands of the Commons, contracted for by James Leonard, securities, Thomas Lynch and Denis Harty.

2 John Foley and John Casey, for rebuilding the bridge of Bromore, on the road from the Cashion Ferry to Tarbert, on the townland of Bromore, contracted for by James Leonard, securities Thomas Lynch and Denis Harty.

3 Same for repairing the bridge of Lisloughtin, on the road from Bdllylongford to Tarbert, on the townland of Lisloughtin, contracted for by John Casey, securities John Foley and Richard Kissane,

4 Garrett Stack and Mchael Mulvihill, for repairing 331 perches of the road from the sea at Ballybunnion to Ballylongford and Tarbert, between Garrett Stack’s house at Tullihinel and the old cross road at the bog of Ahanagan. contracted for by John Finnerty, securities John Fenoughty and Michael Grady at 6s per.

5 John Fitzmaurice and James Kissane, for repairing 191 perches of the road from the Cashion Ferry to Ballylongford and Listowel, between the bridge of Gortagurrane and the bridge of Moybella, contacted for by John Fitzmaurice, securities James Kissane and James Kissane, at 5d. per.

6 Wm. Sweeny and Patrick Breen. for repairing 436 perches of, the road from the Cashion Ferry to Ballylongford and Listowel, between the Cashion Ferry and the bridge of Gortagurrane, contracted by Patrick Breen, securities Eyre M. Stack, and Thomas Stack, at 6s per, £130 16s 0d.

7 Daniel Madden and Timothy Carr, for repairing 330 perches of the road from the sea at Ballybunion to Ballvlongtord, between the bridge of Ahafona and the cross of Lyre, contracted for by Daniel Madden, securities Wm. Collins and Michael Kissane, at.3s 9d

8 William Connor, for keeping in repair 1716 perches of the road from Listowel, to the Sea at Ballybunnion between the Cross of Scortleigh and the Bridge of Ballylouglin, his half years salary.

9 Dennis Golden, for keeping in repair 1593. perches of the road from Ballylongford to Abbeyfeale between the cross of Leitrim and the cross of Gortaglanna, his half years salary

10 James M’Elligott, for keeping in repair 725 perches of the road from Ballylongford to the Harbour of Carrigafoyle between the cross of Ballylongford and the West Bounds of Carrigafoyle, his half years salary.

11 Cornelius Quin, for keeping in repair 1327 perches of the road from Abbeyfeale to Ballylongford between the cross of Leitrim and the cross of Ballylongford his half years salary.

12 Patrick Enright, for keeping in repair 936 perches of the road from Listowel to Glinn between the cross of Newtownsandes and the bounds of the County Limerick, his half years salary.

13 Peter Fitzell, for keeping in repair 712 perches of the road from Listowel to Ballylongford and Tarbert between the Widow Scanlon’s house at Puleen and John Enrights house at Kilcolgan his half years salary.

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Some local People at the races on Ladies’ Day 2015



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Thought which crossed my mind at a Train Crossing




I took these photos while stopped at the level crossing near Glenflesk. Have you ever wondered why the signs feature a steam train? Are the signs that old?

A walking tour of Listowel and summer fun with the next generation.

What a pleasant way to spend a summer evening in Listowel! The committee of Listowel Writers week took a walking tour of the town with the acknowledged authority on the history and people of Listowel town, Vincent Carmody. Here we are on the steps of The Seanchaí as we set off. I’m behind the camera.

 Máire Logue is one of the hard working administrators of the festival so she never gets to enjoy any of the events. She was delighted to have the opportunity to take one of the very popular walks with Vincent Carmody.

 Here Vincent is telling us about Bertha Beatty.

 We are outside the house that once belonged to Dr. Dillon, father of the great female aviator.

Time to tell us about Tom Doodle and the great rally held in The Small Square.

 We are across the road from Galvins and Vincent is telling us about shop names and the lovely mosaic work discovered during renovations.

 You’d never know who you’d run into on the streets of Listowel.  Tom Hickey was in town to play The Gallant John Joe in St. John’s.

Vincent always keeps faith with a man who contributed much to the town but who is now largely forgotten, Robert Cuthbertson. Bob , as he was known, was the printer who printed many of Bryan MacMahons’ ballads. He was the recipient of extraordinary generosity from a Listowel woman who allowed him to live rent free for over 50 years in her house in William Street.

Poor Bob suffered from that most destructive of diseases, alcoholism, and he died in penury. Vincent remembers his funeral as the first he attended in the protestant church. The local schoolboys were encouraged by Bryan MacMahon to attend to pay respect to an adopted son of Listowel.

Here Vincent told us about another classical scholar and and teacher who is also largely forgotten in his native town.

some of the appreciative audience.

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Family in Kerry Summer 2015


These are my grandchildren on their way to Summer Camp in Listowel Community Centre:

Verdict: Brilliant.

The old games are the best. I suppose Hangman is now electronic but in our house we have an intermediate version; not pen and paper but not on a screen either.

winner alright!

Remember Róisín?  She is still in love with comics. Beano is her favourite.

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Calling all Clounmacon People




Clounmacon, a brush dance and times of last mail collection in Listowel

The following is from an old commemorative journal published to celebrate the opening of the GAA sports field in Clounmacon, near Listowel


HIGH
DRAMA IN CLOUNMACON

By
Gabriel Fitzmaurice

Arguably
the first time I heard of Clounmacon was when they won the North Kerry Senior
Football Championship in Tarbert in 1954. Footballers to me in my youth were
gods and duly took their place in my youthful pantheon when they were
celebrated in Dan Keane’s famous ballad, “Ball, Battle and Bucket”. Football and
poetry ..the poetry of football  ..the
football of poetry   .. Clounmacon.

The years
went by and I qualified as a National Teacher in 1972. I took my first
teaching  post in Avoca. Co. Wicklow.
Another poetic (and local) connection: Thomas Moore’s famous “meeting of the
waters” is in Avoca where the Avonmore and Avenbeg  rivers meet to flow together to the Irish Sea
at Arklow, a few miles distant. Thomas Moore’s father, John Moore, is reputed to
have hailed from the banks of the Annamoy in Clounbrane, Moyvane, and to have
been educated at John Lynn’s hedge school at Trien, Knockanure about 1750. From
Avoca I came south to Limerick City in 1974 where I taught for a year in
Caherdavin. And, in 1975, the year Dwyer’s Babes won their first All-Ireland, I
was appointed assistant teacher in Moyvane N.S.

I duly
began to involve myself in the community – training under-age football teams,
being a selector for the senior team, becoming chairman of Knockanure
Comhaltas, involving myself in local development etc. All that was in the
Moyvane/Knockanure parish.

Then one
day an invitation came to attend a rehearsal for a John B. Keane one act
play(its title now eludes me) to be performed in Clounmacon. We were to meet at
Toddy and Maureen O’Sullivan’s and to proceed from there to Clounmacon N.S., the
Community Centre for rehearsal. Margery Long was to produce. Having assembled
and having been assigned our various roles, we met regularly thereafter for
rehearsal.

Jackie
Carmody of Listowel had the major role of the tramp in the play – and a very
good tramp he made! However, on the eve of the first performance, he fell ill.
Consternation. What were we to do? Who would (and could) fill in at such short
notice? Liam Hanrahan of Kilbaha, of course. The redoubtable Liam, a seasoned
Thespian, agreed at once and, in a Herculean feat of  memorization, had the part off on the night.

One
incident from that play sticks in my memory. Liam Hanrahan’s character dies on
stage and had to be borne off in great solemnity by my character and another –
played by Liam Keane of Gale Bridge, Clounprohus (I’m almost certain). Liam
Hanrahan, a fine sturdy specimen, duly ‘died’. The solemn moment of his removal
arrived. Tragedy turned to comedy as Liam Keane and I, two scrawny striplings,
caught him by the arms and legs and staggered gingerly across the stage barely
able to make the wings! Still, the play went down well and I had acquitted
myself competently in my first adult stage role.

After that
we had many concerts and Irish nights in Clounmacon. I remember them with
affection, driving to Clounmacon School, meeting old friends, singing and
playing till morning. Those were the days! I cut my teeth as a performer in
places like Clounmacon Community Centre. For which I am truly grateful.

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Happy Days!



The Brush Dance at a Parents’ Dance in Pres. Secondary School, Listowel in the seventies. Innocent fun!

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Books Now, Pints then

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Our new postal arrangements


You can still post a letter at the old post box outside the old post office.

The collection time for mail posted at the old post office is 4.15p.m.


At the new post office, mail will be collected at 5.30

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Thought for the Day



If your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care;

Of whom you speak, to whom you speak and how and when and where.

Christmas in Kerry


Christmas Greetings




Listowel artist, Olive Stack’s beautiful Christmas card



A Very Happy Christmas to all my blog followers and collaborators. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who helped me during the year by sending or giving me photos, stories, encouraging emails and helpful suggestions. I am grateful to everyone who interacts with me about the blog but I also appreciate all the “followers” who just use the blog to stay in touch with Listowel. 

This is the last blogpost for 2014. I look forward to getting back to work in 2015. Do remember that I can’t do it without help so keep rummaging in those old photo boxes.

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People love to hear this old Bryan MacMahon poem at this time of year

Kerry
Candlelight

1

I am
standing here in Euston, and my heart is light and gay,

For ‘tis soon I’ll see the
moonlight all a-dance on Dingle Bay. 

So behind me, then, is London, with the
magic of its night,

And before me is a window
filled with Kerry Candlelight.

Chorus

‘Tis the lovely light of glory
that came down from heav’n on high,

And whenever I recall it,
there’s a teardrop in my eye.

By the mountainside at
twilight, in a cottage gleaming white,

There my true love sits
a-dreaming, in the Kerry Candlelight.

2

She’ll be waiting by the turf
fire; soon our arms will be entwined,

And the loneliness of exile
will be lost or cast behind,

As we hear the Christmas
greetings of the neighbours in the night,

Then our hearts will beat
together in the blessed Candlelight.

3

Now the train is moving
westward, so God speed its racing wheels,

And God speed its whistle
ringing o’er the sleeping English fields,

For I’m dreaming of an altar
where, beside my Breda bright,

I will whisper vows of true
love in the Kerry Candlelight.

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More Innocent Times    



                  

This Christmas story comes from a Listowel emigrant who remembers happy times growing up in Kerry…

Now the tradition of Christmas and
Santy Claus evidently is different in every house, but in the Stack house it
was, is and always will be a big deal.

When I was a little boy Santy Claus
personally delivered my presents every year. That didn’t happen to all the boys
in my class . And despite the strict criteria for the year of not being naughty
and being nice,  which I might not always
have adhered to, he never left me down. He would always call between 9 and 10
on Christmas Eve.

We would have all been washed and
have the new Christmas outfit on and most years about 7 the whole family would
take a drive and see all the lovely Christmas lights , That is a lovely single
white bulb in the every window of every house and the odd posh one might have a
red bulbs.

We would return home and instead of
going to the living room we would retire to the sitting room  which we used to migrate to for the two week
Christmas holidays. The rest of the year it was reserved for priests, guards or
water bailiffs ( nothing to do with me) . 

We then would chose what to watch on
TV1 or 2 but we were always a little anxious as we knew a special visitor would
be calling. At some point either my mother or father would say “Be quiet. Was
that a knock ?”  We would all freeze ,
then turn down 1 or 2 and listen and we might hear a faint bell or another
knock this time much louder. We would run to the door, turn on the outside
light and see large bags of presents spread all over the lawn. When we were
very young Santy would be by the door and as we got older, I suppose he was
getting older as well he would be further away each year until I remember him
being at the front gate waving . While we were always grateful, as children we
were normally more interested in the contents of the bags on the lawn than
Santy himself.

Christmas 1983 the world changed
forever. Despite several doubts there was always an explanation ! , Santy would
always come to our house on Christmas Eve but people on our road could be
Christmas Day. Santa doesn’t use roads !!

At 6 o clock that Christmas Eve my
father said he wanted to talk to me.

I was curious as we walked down the
hall , to see what I had done wrong cos I’d usually pull up a couple of weeks
before Christmas . We sat on my bed and he told me Santy wasn’t real . Reeling
from the shock as a 12 year old would I enquired was I still going to get
presents this year. He said yes. That made me feel better and when I enquired
who was the fellow calling to my front door banging windows and ringing a bell
for the last few years he just said JET.

That was when Christmas began. As I
had a younger brother and sister still not in the loop Santy was expected as
usual. My father and I sneaked out of our house and went next door to Jet’s
house , where it was like the The North Pole with bags of presents for different
houses within a 10 mile radius.

Now at 12 I got to see Santy face to
face. First he had granny’s pinkish dressing gown on with a big pillow inside
and a mask that was more like Freddie Kruger than Santy but a big red hat,
plenty lipstick on the cheeks a bit of white paint for a beard . He was perfect.
Unless there was a full moon then you’d want to stay well back from the front
door. His first call that night was our house and after that I had the job of
riding shotgun on Santa’s  sleigh, a Renault  9 at the time, of
calling to about 9  or 10 houses in my locality, where there was small
children waiting for Santy .

Years later after Jet , one of his
neighbours and someone Jet had played Santy to, revived it and did a great job
for a few years and when he went on to have his own family he roped some of his
friends into the position . 

Sincerely 

A relative of Jet Stack 

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Christmas in Clounmacon


(Photo;The Advertiser)

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Fungi at Christmas




His friends at Fungie Forever visit the Dingle dolphin almost daily so be sure to check in with them over Christmas.

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