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
St. Michael’s College used to be as fever hospital. In the 1940s and 50s it had a massive reputation for the teaching of Latin and Greek. A remarkable number of St. Michael’s past pupils have achieved international eminence.
Hard to believe but the first team game that was played in the college was cricket.
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That was Then; This is Now
Another premises looking for a new tenant. The first photo dates back to 2007.
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How Much is….?
A Listowel pooch in a room with a view.
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Today’s Long Read
Cyril Kelly tells us about the trials and tribulations of an altar boy in November. They were all boys before Vatican 2. No altar servers then.
Cyril brings 1950s Listowel vividly to life in this beautifully crafted essay.
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That was Then; This is Now
A then and now picture with a difference…new principal of Presentation Secondary School, Listowel, Katherina Broderick pictured with former principal, Sr. Consolata Bracken in St. Mary’s Listowel on Presentation Day, November 21 2021
(photo shared on school’s Facebook page)
Katherina is the first past pupil to be appointed principal. I wish her every good luck in her new role.
In 1800 a flour mill was built on The Feale behind the castle. When milling ceased there the building became a creamery and later a sweet factory.
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Sunday July 29 2007 Church Street, Listowel
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A Kanturk Memory
Kanturk Railway station
I belong to a Facebook group called Kanturk Memories. Recently Richard Norton added this gem. It is a goods train steaming into Kanturk Station in Percival Street with empty wagons before a Kanturk fair.
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Her Smile
A poem by Cyril Kelly
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That was Then; This is Now
This premises is soon to change its use again. In 2007 it was an Art Gallery.
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Christmas Windows
Listowel businesses are excellent at embracing a window display challenge. This Christmas Listowel.ie has chosen Toy Story as a theme for the festive windows.
It is lovely to stroll around town and look at all the various displays.
Here is Doran’s
I met Ryanne and she told me that the reproduced letters are genuine and the toys are the ones Santa brought as requested in the letters.
A nun walks home to the convent in 2007. A lot has changed.
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A Listowel Fact
Lord Listowel visited the town in 1814 and he handed over sites for two churches, one Catholic and the other Church of Ireland. Both were built almost ten years later. St. Mary’s was built in 1829. The spire and porch were added in 1865. Initially the congregation stood during mass as there were no pews. The seats were added and side aisles built in 1910.
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Pixie has made a Calendar
If you’re looking for a gift idea for a Covid bound emigrant, this could be the answer to your prayers.
Pixie will deliver or drop for you to collect if you are local.
You can contact him with your order at the email address below.
pixieskingdom@yahoo.com
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Santa at McKenna’s in 1959
Were you one of the lucky children who visited Santa in Listowel in 1959?
Kathy Reynolds has put a lovely collection of Santa photos from that occasion up on line. The link is here;
https://vimeo.com/647951277
If you recognise yourself or someone you know please email Kathy. The photos are numbered and you can give her the number and the names of the people in the photo. Kathy’s email address is on the video. She asks that you respect copyright.
Taken on a rainy day in Mount Usher Gardens by Éamon ÓMurchú
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In Gurtenard Wood in Winter 2021
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Staff of Presentation Secondary School in 1986
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Tom Linnane’s memories of Fireside stories in Littor Long Ago
(From Shannonside Annual 1956)
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Tae Lane
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November, The Month when we Remember
Cyril Kelly’s poem remembers his parents, a devoted couple. and his mother’s inconsolable grief when, without warning, she lost her “heart’s best treasure”.
This lovely little spot by the playground is set out with tables and benches complete with chess or draughts grid. It is a godsend in these times of outdoor living.
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Headstone on my maternal ancestors grave in Knawhill in North Cork.
The author of the poem is unknown but it speaks to anyone who dabbles in genealogy
BTW I asked Kay Caball about the symbol over the names on the stone and here is the meaning of it.
The Christogram IHS is a monogram symbolizing Jesus Christ. From Greek it is an abbreviation of the name ΙΗΣΟΥΣ (Jesus). In Eastern Orthodox Church the Christogram is composed with letters X, P, I and X arranged into the cross. They are the first letters of one from two words in Greek language: Christ and Jesus Christ Kay
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Listowel Writers Week 2019
Back when we could do things in a gang, this crowd of us congregated on the steps of Kerry Literary Museum to show off some award LWW had won. I’ll credit Maire Logue with the photo simply because she is not in it and I can’t imagine who else would have taken it.
In response to enquiries, here is David Kissane’s account of what happened to Mossie Walsh and the famous leaping frog when they got to RTE.
Off went Mossie, wife Nodie, a number of friends and relations, and the champion frog in a biscuit tin with holes and a leaves, to Limerick by cars to catch the train to Dublin. Introduced to Gay Byrne and then lights, camera, action. The frog jumped higher and further than ever and became the first and only frog to jump on the Late Late Show. Fame forever for Guhard Man and Mossie.After that, the frog retired from jumping to a river hole in Guhard and Mossie retired from frog-coaching with a European title in his CV.
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North Kerry’s Sarah Fitzgerald’s New Business Featured in Saturday’s Irish Independent
What a surprise to open the newspaper and see an account of a brave new business in these parts.
The photoshoot for the launch took place in the Listowel Arms Photo: Rubistyle
If a preowned vintage dress is your dream wedding attire, be sure to check out Sarah’s rent and return option at https://thesustainablebride.ie
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When I was a Muse
Very briefly on a happy morning last week I felt like a muse.
Cyril Kelly, formerly of this parish, wrote Listowel Connection (me) a little stanza of greeting on my return to blogging.
Waiting
’twas like waiting for swallows and swifts in April,
’twas like waiting for Brent geese in September,
’twas like the fisherman waiting for Mayfly,
’twas like the gardener waiting for the January snowdrop,
’twas like woodlands waiting for the call of the cuckoo in April,
’twas like the children waiting on the conker-plop in September,
natives in distant domiciles waiting on listowelonnection’s return.
