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: Cluain Doire

Fair Days, Turf and Lovely Cluain Doire

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.

Cluain Doire, Brendan of Ireland and Knockanure Vintage Day 2018

Montbretia on the John B. Keane Rd.

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A Beautifully Kept Corner of Listowel

Cluain Doire is in Cahirdown.

This is the absolutely perfect avenue leading in to the estate.

There is a little planting like this one around every tree.

This is how it looks as you face towards Cahirdown. It’s a credit to whoever puts in the hard work to have it looking so marvellous.

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More From Brendan Of Ireland

Frank Greaney, whose family modelled for the photographs in the book brought me his copy for a read and he told me the story of how the book came about and how the Greaney/Carey family got the gig.

Bryan MacMahon was a great friend of Eddie Sheehy of Charles Street. Bryan told Eddie about the project and how they were looking for a thatched house in the countryside, a photogenic family with three generations and a child who was willing to pose for lots of photographs. Eddie used to visit his cousins in the Carey house every second Sunday. He often brought Bryan with him so Bryan knew the family well. He realised that this house and this family would be perfect for the book.

This house which was Brendan’s home was situated up from The Six Crosses in the Tournageeha/ Behins area. It is no longer standing. Frank reckons the year was 1958 or 59 because the photographer drove a Ford Anglia from that era.

The thatched house with the lean-to for the donkey cart was the home of Paddy Carey, known in the family as Paudín. He was Frank’s granduncle. Paud lived with his niece, Pidge Trant. This lady had been twice widowed and now devoted herself to looking after her uncle.

Paud plays the role of the grandfather in the book. He and Brendan head to Listowel for a harness maker to repair the straddle. The way is long and they get a lift in a donkey and trap from a neighbour.

 They head to Listowel where they visit the shop of Moss Scanlon. They stop outside “the hotel”

This picture also made a reappearance in Vincent Carmody’s Snapshops of a Market Town. In the picture Moss Scanlon is shaking the hand of Paud Carey. With him is his grand nephew, Michael Greaney. The man with his hand on the window is John Nolan. Frank remembers John Nolan as a fish seller.

( to be continued)

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Knockanure Vintage Day and Tractor Run 2018


All photos taken by Elizabeth Brosnan. She has shared these and many more on Facebook


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