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
Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin in Ballincollig is celebrating 40 years since its humble beginnings in an old supermarket. The school has has the same principal, Gabriel ÓCathasaigh, since its inception.
It is part of the contract for new school buildings that the contractor set aside a percentage for art. The art project funded from this percentage is Abhainn an Feasa, the Salon river in ceramic tiles depicting stories along the river and its banks.
Cora is in 6th class. She posed for me with some of the magnificent artwork on display when I visited.
The significance of the robin harks back to the poet from whom the school takes its name. Seán ÓRiordáin’s famous anthology is titled Eirbeall Spideoige. (The Robin’s Tail)
The reason Cora was out of uniform was because she had just returned from playing a Sciath na Scol football game. This is a very competitive school league in hurling and football. Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin is defending its titles in both disciplines. They would dearly love to celebrate their 40th with wins.
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My Annual Leave
It’s race week. Those of us of a certain vintage never work during race week. I’m hoping to go to the island with my houseguests and If I do I’ll take a few photos for you.
It looks like Listowel’s public toilet has finally got the green (or is it red?) light
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The Crotta O’Neill’s Fairytale
They say GAA is family and nowhere is this more true that in a small rural village like Kilflynn. I watched the game on TG4 by chance and I have been fascinated by the story ever since.
This essay by Noel McGrath from Facebook describes it well.
Glory Glory Crotta
Sometimes words failed to describe a feeling, and in this case words will fail.
What this means to Crotta people and the community cannot be put in to words.
Crotta have had 54 years of pain walking out of Austin Stacks in preliminary stages, quarter, semi and finals where each year leaves a scar on the heart. Some of us have lived through all of these, while others have lived through some due to age or have moved on to the next world.
As the great Mick O’Connell said, we play sport for fun and take a break from life for a while.
We all have a competitive side though and the will for your club to win is always there. Unless you’re from Crotta you won’t understand the hurt and pain each year has been, where you see your club and the players not getting over the line. Some of these players may have been you, your brother, son, nephew, grandson, neighbour and your heart goes out to them.
Breakthrough moments are often the result of many previous actions, which build up the potential required to unleash a major change.
With this current team, I have witnessed the huge amount of work and commitment put in by the players themselves and mentors along the journey from u6 Coiste na nOg up to senior.
A lot of mentors these players have gone through will be here today, and should give themselves a pat on the back, without your commitment this day would not exist.
The veterans on the team, the likes of Shane and Sean have shown how leadership is done. Shane, top scorer in the championship and a work rate like it was his first year at championship, Sean seamlessly transitioning from a back to a forward with sensational breaking the line plays.
The younger members of the team know what winning is from minor and u21 and have brought this mindset into the team. As an older person looking at them their mindset and drive for success is admirable, they carry no weight of the past, there is only one way forward.
Going through each player would be too much here, but a special mention on our captain Bill Keane as he is the captain. A captain should be among other things a model of excellence to his teammates. I have watched Bill playing for both Crotta and Senans and what a model, sheer hard work and 100% commitment always and no airs and graces. Delighted for him and his family.
We all have heroes or people we look up to, whether it’s Muhammad Ali, Katie Taylor, Cian Lynch and so on.
But sometimes these heroes are right beside you, and I am happy to say as a person older than all the players, they are our heroes and people to look up to and admire.
We have waited a long, long time for this day, and we should have in our thoughts those no longer with us, and we wish could be here to witness this historical moment in our club as the “new kids are in town” have arrived.
So with that, I would like to thank this team for giving us a memorable year, sometimes driving our hearts into overdrive but most importantly making our dreams come true.
The scars in the heart have healed instantaneously like magic.
2023 is the new 1968.
Let the celebrations begin.
Crotta abu
Photos from Facebook
Former @crotta.gaa Senior hurlers Pascal Nolan ,Cyril Nolan, John Joe Conway, Mike Hickey and Brendan Twomey keeping a eye on the Crotta Senior training on Wednesday evening before the final.
supporters Shane Herbert, Fr.Gerry Keane, Paddy Weir, Paul Sheehan and Paud Twomey keeping an eye on the Crotta Senior training on Wednesday evening .
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Learning from Nana
I have taught each of my grandchildren in turn how to knit. Cora is a great student and has mastered the key skills of plain and purl, casting on and casting off after just a few days practice.
Knitting requires patience and perseverance. There are no quick results with knitting. it is a great skill to learn in a world where results are mostly instant.
Killian is a bit old now for the knitting with Nana lark but back in the day….
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Kanturk, My Hometown
I had a small wander in Kanturk last week and I was well impressed.
This is O’Brien Street. Just to the right of this picture is the lovely little riverside park.
The ducks were sheltering on the sunny day I visited. If you are going to break your journey to Cork, I’d advise a little stroll here. I’ll share more pictures tomorrow.
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There is Always a Listowel Connection
My niece took the photo. Her Listowel connection, apart from me, is her husband, sitting to her right ( left in the picture). He is Michael O’Sullivan, formerly of Knockanure.
The lady in blue is Maureen Larkin, formerly of Listowel. All were in a pub on a night out in Dublin in August 2023.
Beautiful butterflies and moths photographed in Ardgillan by Éamon OMurchú.
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Teampall Bán
Teampall Bán has been undergoing some changes so I was delighted to have an opportunity to visit with my houseguests. It is always an opportunity for a history lesson and a time for reflection on our many blessings in life today.
Killian and Cora are standing at the magnificent new gate sponsored by Beasley Engineering. As you can see the painting isn’t quite finished yet.
The Celtic Cross is beautifully repainted.
Last time I visited the gable wall mural was looking a bit shabby. This time it had been painted over. The mural with its dark sky and gaunt crosses added a sombre air to the place and was very much part of the experience for me. Maybe they will be able to get someone to redo it.
The tree of contemplation.
The “scores on the doors” are blood chilling.
The quiet little chapel is perfect for prayer and reflection.
It’s hard to call a place of such awful sorrow a visitor attraction. In the manner of war cemeteries and and holocaust museums it is a reminder to us all of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. I believe we should market it more. It’s a truly hauntingly beautiful place. Credit for its upkeep goes to Listowel Tidy Towns and friends.
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Flocks of Birds
Thank you, Rose McGinty for sharing this
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R.I.P. Sinead O’Connor
A verse of a traditional song in tribute to the sweetest singer of them all
I’ve seen the lark soar high at morn, Heard his song up in the blue. I have heard the blackbird pipe his note, The thrush and the linnet too. But there’s none of them can sing so sweet, My singing bird, as you, Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah, Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah My singing bird, as you
Below is the poem Sinead’s brother, Joseph, said at her funeral ceremony. Sinead, in her internet rants, was wont to refer to her f…ing family. There is no doubt her family loved her dearly, if she could only have believed that.
This is the last part of the interview with Sr. Consolata Bracken, published in the Pres. Secondary School Yearbook 2009. Listowel is very lucky to have this extraordinary lady. I wish her many more years of ministry among us.
Photographs for this article were taken by John Stack.
With SVP volunteer, Eileen O’Sullivan in the SVP shop.
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Gone
I noticed that on William Street all sign that the EBS was ever there is already gone.
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Grandaughters
In Cork I beat Cora, the champion of Rummikub,
It wasn’t all fun and games. We did homework too, with a little help from Molly Madra.
My youngest grandchild, Aoife enjoying an outing with her grandmother and godmother.
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Looking for a Book Recommendation?
Here is the short list for the big prize. I loved, loved, loved Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These.
