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: Danny Russell Page 1 of 3

Out and About in Listowel

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On May 28, 2025

In Listowel, Listowel Writers Week, Personal

Feale sculpture in Listowel Town Square

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Listowel Old Libraries

Text from Antony Gaughan’s Listowel and its Vicinity

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What a difference a Season Makes

Stuart, Pat Breen’s bull, was a surprise breakout star of my Moments of Reflection.

He was photographed by my niece in early spring, after a wet and mucky winter. He was a bit overweight from all the weather related confinement.

Here is the bold Stuart a few months later in May 2025. He is happily grazing among his ladies. He is slimmed down, clean and much more attractive to his harem.

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Out and About with Camera

The fine weather saw me out in town and I was delighted to have a few local people pose for me.

Two lovely ladies who are always a joy to encounter in the Vincent de Paul shop. Mary and Eileen are both over seventy but still volunteering and working hard.

Jean, always cheerful and energetic, rested for a minute on the Tidy Town seat.

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Lidl Yesterday

looks like the foundation of the new store

Corner of Dowd’s Road and John B. Keane Road

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A Thought

People who don’t learn from the mistakes of history are destined to repeat them.

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A Fact

Elephants are the only animals that can’t jump.

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Dollies and More

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On June 27, 2023

In Listowel

Mown and unmown areas in Childers’ Park in June 2023

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The June Flood of 2023

On Tuesday June 20th 2023 Listowel experienced monsoon like rainfall , followed by extensive flooding throughout the town.

I did not venture outdoors except to bale out my shed so I’ve gathered these photos from Facebook.

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Award for Jumbos

For the third year in a row the very popular Damien and Jade of the very popular Jumbo’s picked up the top award for best family restaurant at The Irish Hospitality Awards.

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Dolly Day

On Saturday June 24 2023, Listowel entered a new record in The Guinness Book of Records. In the sports field, the largest number of people dressed as Dolly Parton in one place ever were gathered by an incredibly hard working committee.

Every aspect of the organisation of this event was phenomenal, from the initial concept to the publicity, the marketing, the local and national buy in right through to the logistics on the day.

“I’ve ditched the wig. I’m taking my blankie and I’m outa here.”

There was even a station where you could have a few adjustments made to make your costume more Dolly like.

With everyone in blonde wigs it was sometimes hard to recognise well known local people. No mistaking these two though. Frances is a lady who could belt out a Parton song if asked.

Another group who could rattle off a Parton song if singing was called for.

Edith Maguire was one of the older Dollies present. Here she is with friends, David Fitzmaurice, Jimmy Deenihan and Jim White.

Some Dollies didn’t make it to the sports field but got in the mood downtown and made their contribution to the atmosphere on the day and ,of course to the charities as well. Stylish Eilish was everywhere.

(More tomorrow)

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Fr. Bryan Dalton RIP

His parishioners in his Florida parish of St. Ambrose in Deerfield Beach loved their Listowel born parish priest, Fr. Bryan Dalton.

Duane Miller sent us a link to this lovely video of Fr. Bryan singing at a Christmas mass. Duane says that Fr. Bryan was a great friend to the homeless and he loved children. You can see the rapport he had with the baby in this clip.

Fr. Bryan Dalton

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Local Books

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On December 7, 2021

In Listowel, Schools

William. Street

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Local Journals and Books

These are just two of the great local books I’d highly recommend this Christmas.

Some of my readers abroad have been enquiring where they can get local books. Woulfe’s Independent Bookshop is your one stop shop for books. Brenda stocks all the local books. She also has a wide selection of all the popular titles and she will post to anywhere in the world, but be warned, postage costs to places outside of Ireland are high.

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The Joy of Comics

This essay is by Declan Hassett from his lovely nostalgic book,

All our Yesterdays

( Footnote from your blogger; Many of our childhood and teenage years’ comics were published by the Thompson family referred to in this essay. The actor, Alan Cumming, worked there as a journalist and sometime model. Teenage romance comics were 64 pages long and were written as photo essays. The photos were posed by real people. Alan Cumming was one of these. In his autobiographical book, Baggage, Alan Cumming revealed that the company had a policy of not hiring Roman Catholics.)

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The Christmas Spirit

I was on my way to my hairdresser’s appointment when I saw a crowd gathered at the door of the shop.

All was shortly revealed. Danny had spotted the class of schoolboys looking at his lovely Christmas window. Danny, being Danny, grabbed his jar of lollipops and distributed them to the delighted boys.

Sometimes a small gesture can make your day.

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McGillicuddy’s Toy Shop

At the heart of Listowel Christmasses for over a century

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Memories brung back Memories

I got this email yesterday from Dave O’Sullivan.

Hi Mary,

Greetings from a wet and windy Kildare.

What a lovely essay from Nathalie this morning. Nathalie’s experience in Listowel in terms of warm welcomes and inclusion mirrors mine, one that has created a network of lifelong friendships and affinity for lovely Listowel.

I have attached a piece from the South Pacific show Nathalie references in her Listowel memoir which may trigger more memories for you readers.

Best wishes,

Dave

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Vintage Fair in Moyvane, Market St. in the 1940s and it’s panto time in Listowel again

By

On November 23, 2015

In Uncategorized

T. J. MacSweeney

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Moyvane Village Festival


In late October I visited Moyvane Festival and they had some great vintage stuff on display.

When stuff you remember using turns up at a vintage fair, then you feel old.

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Old postcard of Market Street




I spotted this recently on the internet.

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When are you too old for the Playground?






My twin grandsons enjoying the free fun in Listowel Town Park during their Halloween Break in October 2015

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A lot more than Hair and Beauty going on at Changes these days

This was the scene in Changes on Friday.  Danny was supervising operations as Mary and Yvanna stitched away at panto costumes.

Tickets go on sale Dec1st. I’ll let you now more shortly about how to get your hands on a ticket. It promises to be huge!!!!


Adi Roche in Changes and Betty Stack honoured by Comhaltas

By

On August 20, 2015

In Uncategorized

In Changes last week


Adi Roche, her sister Helen, Mary Sugrue, Margarita Morozova, Jesse Barry & Danny Russell in Changes to prepare for The Rose Ball

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Betty Stack honoured for her work with Comhaltas

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From Abbeyfeale to Sudan

“Welcome to Solo in South Sudan. My name is Helena Quinn from Abbeyfeale in Co. Limerick living in London. 

Earlier this year, I sent an email that would change my life forever. I embarked on the journey of a lifetime to Narus in South Sudan to live with Fr. Tim Galvin and Fr. John Joe Garvey and to get a taste of missionary life.

I was the maths teacher in St. Bakhita Girls primary school and on my second day was promoted to the lofty position of Headmistress of the Standard 8 candidate class.

I fell in love with South Sudan and every minute spent elsewhere will be just one minute closer to my return. 

This is my record of my life and experience in South Sudan. It is my way of sharing but also my way of remembering. “

Helena Quinn is back in Sudan. You can read all about her latest trip HERE

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In Craftshop na Méar



Liam Dillon and Helen Moylan

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At The Old Ground, Ennis


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Brother Denis Aherne




( Photo and text : The Irish Catholic)

Congratulations to Bro. Denis Aherne, OFM (centre standing) pictured following his first profession at the Franciscan Interprovincial Novitiate Friary in Burlington, Wisconsin where he went to do his novitiate having completed his postulancy in the Franciscan Friary, Killarney, Co. Kerry.

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