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: Flanagan’s

Kiskeam and Tarbert

By

On April 25, 2022

In Listowel, Tarbert

Kieran Cogan, Mallow Camera Club

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Ballybunion in 1914

This photograph from the National Library was shared online by Cathleen Mulvihill.

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Aspects of Tarbert in April 2022

There is a lot about Tarbert that is old fashioned in an endearing way. One of the old fashioned features is this grotto which dominates the main street.

I dont know any other town that has a functioning public water hydrant. We used to call these fountains back in my day. Many is the refreshing drink I took from one on my way home from school.

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Bernard Casey, Comedian

I’m getting better at grabbing a selfie when I encounter a star. Cora took this one. Of course she had no idea who Bernard Casey was but I filled her in and she is now a fan.

Bernard is involved in a fundraising effort for Ukraine that sees him team up with Kiskeam GAA to promote the Dynamo Duhallow jersey.

Dynamo Duhallow

The link is to instagram. In case you dont have Instagram, here is the craic in Bernard’s words.

DYNAMO DUHALLOW BY KEOHANE ATHLETIC CLUB.

I am proud to support those involved in Kiskeam GAA and the wider Duhallow GAA community in this design initiative to raise funds for the people of Ukraine.

Dynamo Duhallow was inspired by an old Kiskeam GAA jersey from the 1940s which shared similar colours to Ukraine’s iconic football team, Dynamo Kiev. 

In the jersey designed by Paul Galvin To further unite two disparate communities, the border of the Duhallow region in North Cork is placed alongside the border of Ukraine, where a club crest would normally sit, as a symbol of solidarity, protection and community. 

The sash carries the Ukrainian word for SOLIDARITY across the front and back as translated by a Ukrainian national living in Ireland, as well as a Ukrainian symbol for memory. 

Design and sport come together to make a stand. The Duhallow division puts aside local club rivalries, wearing these jerseys in solidarity with Ukrainians suffering the pain of war.

Kiskeam is a place where if you don’t have three names you’re a blow in.

I’m told by my North Cork connections, some of them with three names, that the jerseys are selling well.

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Beware of NFTs

Remember I told you last week about crypto currency.

By now we are well used to trading with virtual money, with digital fund transfers and credit and debit card transactions but NFT’s are a whole new level of weird and require a whole new level of trust.

I read this cautionary tale in the weekend paper. I’m sharing it as a warning.

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I Met a Fan in Town

I love to meet a follower of Listowel Connection who really appreciates what I do. Such a fan is Marion Walsh, who stopped to praise and encourage me, when I met her last week.

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Our new Eating and Performance Space

I took these photo on Friday April 22 2022 as the foundations for the canopies were being laid. I can’t wait to see the finished Square. Listowel will never look the same again.

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Mr. Regan of Church Street

People remembered this man alright. He was a hackney driver and a publican. His pub was in Church Street where Flanagan’s is now. This was a new car he took to show to his relatives in Tanavalla.

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Garden of Europe, Flanagan’s, a new Art technique at Olive Stack’s Gallery and the first of my St. Patrick’s Day photos

By

On March 21, 2016

In Uncategorized

Big Name for Listowel Writers’ Week






Joanne Harris of Chocolat and Five Quarters of the Orange fame is coming to Listowel. She has written lots of other great novels as well but the above two are my favorites.

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Good Idea!


Patrick Kavanagh asked that his memorial should be “a canal bank seat for the passerby”. This always struck me as a good idea.

Flanagans in Listowel has a similar idea.

Now, isn’t that clever? The seat can be removed and brought indoors when the pub is closed.

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Great Music and singing at the monthly session in The Seanchaí



March 2016

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Garden on Europe and Listowel’s Holocaust Memorial



Recently Kerry Business Women’s Network marked International Women’s Day by inviting a very interesting special guest. Eva Schloss is an 86 year old Holocaust surviver. She is the step sister of Anne Frank. Eva has written about her time in the “camp” and the horrors that she has witnessed in her books, Eva’s Story and After Auschwitz.

Maria Leahy was in Ballygarry Hotel to hear her on March 12 2016

“Eva took to the stage and you could not hear a pin drop from the time she started to tell her story,200 or so guests were totally in awe of this woman and the story she had to tell.”

    The day after her interview with Ryan Tubridy Eva was brought to Listowel to visit The Holocaust Memorial in The Garden of Europe.

    Junior Griffin gave me these photographs from the official opening of the memorial which was attend by the German ambassador and other dignitaries.

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    New Artist in Residence


    They are always making beautiful things in Olive Stack’s. The newest artist in residence is Sheary Clough  who paints using this ancient technique. Encaustic is a paint made from beeswax, pure pigments and tree resin. The finished effect looks a bit like enamel, really colorful, shiny and beautiful.


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    St. Patrick’s Day in Listowel 2016



    As I headed to town for the parade there was evidence on Church St. that local people were preparing.

    Denis Fitzpatrick had his vintage car polished and ready to roll.

    Flags were flying on Church Street shops.

    Jim Halpin had his army jeep ready for action.

    Our local historian, Vincent Carmody was amongst women as he headed home from mass before returning to view the parade.

    Bhí go leor Gaeilge le cloisteáil agus le feiceáil ar na bhfógraí ar na fuinneoga.

    Pride of Place judging 2015, Romance and e-cars

    By

    On September 10, 2015

    In Uncategorized

    Autumn Sunset over Ballybunion




    Photo; Ballybunion Prints

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    Pride of Place in Listowel 2015


    Here are some photos of the people who came to The Lartigue Museum on Tuesday Sept 1 2015 to participate in the Pride of Place presentation to the judges.

    Pride of Place is a competition celebrating communities. Kerry County Council identifies worthy winners in several categories and then the judges come, look and listen and award the honours to the best community demonstrating pride in their home place. Listowel put on an excellent show for the judges and they certainly seemed well impressed.

    The stationmaster and others involved with the Lartigue welcomed the judges and took them for a spin on the train.

    Above are a selection of some of the business people of the town who showcased their work at the Lartigue Museum.

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    The Gym is the new Dancehall




    Once upon a time Listowel people after a week of hard work took their recreation on a Sunday night in Walshe’s Ballroom. They kept fit by cycling or walking to the dance and dancing the night away to the music of a local band.

    Today in the same location, it’s the new craze, exercise machines or Zumba or some other artificial solitary workout. There is camaraderie but the live music and the the possibility of meeting a soulmate are gone.

    Is this progress?

    Walshe’s Ballroom sounds to me like a better option than Tinder any day.

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    A Face Lift for Flanagans




    Flanagan’s is another premises getting a facelift before The Races

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    E car refuelling




    I have never seen anyone using this. Have you?

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    Scoil Realt na Maidine




    The boys national school posted a picture of Garda Frank Stafford training their new wardens yesterday.

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