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: Eamon Keane

Garden of Europe, a poem and Eamon Keane remembered the Carnegie Library when it was playhouse

Carrigafoyle castle near Ballylongford, Co. Kerry

Photo by Ita Hannon

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A Poem to raise a smile


The optimist fell ten stories

And at each window bar

He shouted to the folks inside;

“I’m doing all right so far.”

(Author unknown)

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Path to the river

This path runs beside the Garden of Europe and leads to the River Feale.

This stand of trees is relatively recent, certainly within the last 20 years.

This seat will be surrounded by wild garlic in a few weeks.

The Garden of Europe is looking very bare these days.

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When is a Library not a Library?




This building at Upper Church Street, Listowel was at one time used as a classroom. But Vincent Carmody reminds us that it was also once used as a playhouse.

Here is a quotation from Eamon Keane’s introduction to Vincent’s Not Kerry Camera;

“I looked across at the old Library Hall last week and saw again, in my minds eye, Horatio, the old yellow poster on the billboard outside:  

For one week only- Anew McMaster and Full Supporting Company, In a Season of Plays Mostly by William Shakespeare’

As an entranced fifteen year old I had seen Mac as Oedipus (by Euripides) along with Patrick Magee and Donal Wherry playing in the same hall to a spellbound audience of locals, mountainy men and well- read countrymen. Some even sat on the window -sills, so packed was the auditorium”


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Weren’t Healyracing a credit to Listowel on the telly?




I took this photo a few years ago of Cathy Healy and her beloved dad, Liam.

He would have been so so proud of her and of all his family on Nationwide.

In case you missed it, here’s the link to the programme on RTE player

Nationwide from Castleisland and Listowel

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Cranes as Symbols of Recovery


Upper Church Street late February 2018

Doran’s Pharmacy is getting there.



The view from Courthouse Road

Images of Listowel and Maidhc Dainín ÓSé remembered

A Listowel Sign

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Brendan Kennelly’s verse in Listowel Town Square

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Our Fish Shop

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Charles Street

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Maidhc Dainín ÓSé R.I.P.; the Listowel Connection


Maidhc Dainín ÓSé was the father of Daithí ÓSé. Ever before Daithí found fame, Maidhc Dainín was a well known author of several books in the Irish language. He was also an accomplished musician.

Maidhc’s day job was as a lorry driver for Kerry Ingredients in Listowel.

Maidhc was tickled pink when his autobiography, A Thig ná Tit Orm (Oh house, don’t fall on me) was chosen as a text for the Leaving Cert. Every year during a period in around the turn of the millennium Maidhc used to come to The Seanchaí during Seachtain na Gaeilge to read from his book and to play for the students.




I hope I have uploaded the little clip properly. Maidhc was describing the deal he made with the director of the Cúrsa Samhraidh. He would play for the small weekday ceilí in exchange for free admission to the Ceilí Mór. Money was scarce and the céilithe móra were where the girls were so he was anxious to try his luck there.

Maidhc was a breath of fresh air after Peig. He told his story with humour and much self deprecation. My pupils loved him.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

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Micheál Flavin R.I.P.


(Photo shared by Noreen Keane Brennan on Facebook)

Micheál lived in Church Street, Listowel. He was Bryan MacMahon’s friend and preferred bookseller. His shop is still in the Flavin family. Long may it continue to trade in his memory.

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Storm Damage in The National Park, Killarney



Kathleen Griffin braved it to work during Hurricane Ophelia. She took these photographs in Muckross on the day after, October 17 1017




Ads from the seventies a river walk and a few changes in town

Lovely paint job at The Saddle Bar




Martin Chute putting the finishing touches to a lovely sign painting job at The Saddle Bar, Upper William Street.


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The River Walk


There is no nicer place for a walk on a summer day than along the bank of the River Feale. I took this walk last Saturday with my 2 grandsons. We went onto the walk from the bridge side. The level of water in the river was really low. Very near the bridge we spotted the crane who lives there.



He was chilling out and surveying his kingdom.

The boys skimmed a few stones and trailed a twig.

The walk is quiet and sheltered from the bustle of traffic.

We came up the road at the back of the Listowel Arms.

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McGuire’s Pharmacy new entrance from Main St.

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The Light of Other Days


Eamon Keane and Babe Joe Collins with Frank Lewis

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A few ads from the seventies



These were the diocesan changes.

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In this lovely video by Denis Carroll, Mary John B. talks to her daughter Joanna about Sive and life in rural Ireland in the 1950s….a treasure.

Interview with Mary Keane

What a wise woman she was. There was no poverty when we were all poor because we were all the same.

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A Cycling Crusade through Ireland



Kerry Crusaders Cycling Club members are currently cycling from Malin to Mizen in aid of The Irish Red Cross, The Jack and Jill Foundation and Listowel Hospice. You can support their great fundraising venture by clicking HERE




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Johnny Buckley, one of the stars of yesterday’s win over Tyrone, has a Listowel mother.

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