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
Major events in the twenty years since our credit union was formed.
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Remembered with Flowers
When I posted this photo last week, people reminded me that this special walltop garden was referred to in Tidy Town circles as Eileen’s Wall because the late Eileen Worts took special care of it.
Eileen, R.I.P. with fellow Tidy Towners, Jackie Barrett and Breda McGrath. Mary Hanlon tells me that the present beautiful display here this year is planted and cared for by Breda.
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July 6 2023 in Kerry Writers’ Museum
A few more pictures from the evening
Childhood neighbours, James Kenny and Jim MacMahon in Kerry Writers’ Museum
Fr. Brendan O’Connor and Jimmy Deenihan
We were able to see The Book of Kells which was the inspiration for much of Michael O’Connor’s work up close.
It wasn’t THE Book of Kells but it was a facsimile copy
What is the difference between an ordinary copy and a facsimile copy?
Answer; Quality… facsimile looks exactly the same as the real thing with ink stains, water damage and holes just as they are in the real thing.
This is the man, Dr. Donncha MacGabhann who owns the precious facsimile copy and who explained to us what it is all about.
It was a source of fascination to everyone on the evening.
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A Timely Poem
An Post have launched their digital stamp. Before too long a book of stamps or any paper stamp at all will be a thing of the past.
On Friday July 7 2023, Tánaiste Micheál Martin was in town to officially open the new Fuchsia Centre at Árd Chúram.
This wonderful facility for older people who suffer from dementia will mean that more and more people are enabled to stay in their own homes for longer and the task of caring is eased for the family.
The committee who worked so hard to bring this project to fruition will leave an invaluable legacy to the area.
The celebration of the opening was planned for outdoors but poor weather forecast for the day meant that we were entertained indoors at the Árd Chúram Day Centre.
The HSE is a vital partner in the delivery of services to the older people in the community. Caroline Doyle of the HSE is here with Mike Moriarty of the Árd Chúram committee.
Caroline Doyle, HSE with Helen Moylan of Listowel Laundry for the Elderly and Marie Reen of Árd Chúram
Some of the friendly welcoming people who work in Árd Chúram.
Micheál Martin and Norma Foley enjoying the Cork/Kerry banter
(More photos tomorrow)
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Modern Celtic Art in Listowel
Stephen Rynne had no connection with Listowel until he began studying the work of Michael O’Connor, illuminator.
When he came to town and discovered the many many local artists working in the celtic genre, he fell in love with the town.
In Kerry Writers’ Museum on July 6th he made his first foray into opening our eyes to the treasures around us.
On the left is Stephen Rynne and on the right is a great friend of Listowel Connection, our super researcher, David O’Sullivan. Dave has uncovered many stories related to Listowel artists and their prestigious commissions.
The local connection; Fr. Brendan O’Connor, son of the artist, was delighted to meet up with his Kerry cousins on the evening.
This beautiful piece, Michael O’Connor’s alphabet, was handed over to Kerry Writers’ Museum. It is not clear to us which alphabet it is, certainly not English, maybe Irish or Latin. Any insight would be gratefully welcomed.
Cara Trant on behalf of Kerry Writers’ Museum, accepts the piece from Stephen.
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Forced Emigration
One of the dreadful results of the Famine was the devastation of the population due to deaths and emigration.
Worse was to follow in evictions and forced emigration.
Maybe your ancestors emigrated on The Nimrod or another of the ships that took so many of our fellowmen to the U.S and further afield.
Keepers of the flame, Jimmy Hickey and Jonathan Kelliher are continuing work that was very close to Bryan MacMahon’s heart. MacMahon realised the importance of collecting, recording and documenting our traditional arts. Jonathan and Jimmy are engaged in a Siamsa Tire legacy project, videoing and recording all the old dance steps, preserving them for future generations.
I read online a criticism of this year’s Writers’ Week, saying that it was more like a fleadh than a literary festival. If any of that was my doing, I make no apologies.
Lisa Egan from Kanturk Arts Festival with friends Lil MacSweeney and Breeda Ahern.
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A Return to Ballykinlar
This is Fr. Brendan O’Connor. On a recent trip to Downpatrick to present a copy of his father’s Breastplate of St. Patrick to the St. Patrick Centre there, Fr. Brendan took the opportunity to visit the visitor centre at the internment camp where his father and many Kerry republican activists spent some time during The War of Independence.
Dr. Michael O’Connor of Listowel, grandfather of Fr. Brendan, was the camp medical officer.
Fís na hÓige Productions is a film and drama group based in St. John’s. During July they held a film making course.
Kiana Breatnach sent us these photos.
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This could be the start of Something Big
This is No.24 The Square, Listowel.
Today it is home to Kerry Writers Museum.
Here is the same house in the 1950s when Dr. Michael O’Connor and his family lived there. The Morris Minor in front is the family car.
This is Fr. Brendan O’Connor pictured at the door.
He made a return visit to his father’s family home on September 19 2021.
In this photo sent to me by her grandson, Eitan Elazar, is Fr. Brendan’s grandmother at the same door in the 1950s.
This was the reason for Fr. Brendan’s visit and the “something big’ referred to in my heading.
It is St. Patrick’s breastplate, illuminated by the late Michael O’Connor, son of Dr. Michael O’Connor and father of Fr. Brendan.
Michael O’Connor had an enormous talent for illumination.
Illumination is calligraphy in the style of The Book of Kells.
Jimmy Deenihan, chair of Kerry Literary Trust presented Fr. Brendan with a copy of Bertha Beatty’s Kerry Memories. Bertha also lived in No. 24 The Square when the Creagh family owned it.
Also in the photo is Cara Trant, Manager of Kerry Writers’ Museum.
Bryan MacMahon and Michael O’Connor collaborated on several pieces. Jim MacMahon came to Listowel to meet Fr. Brendan and to see the treasures.
Fr. Brendan used his late father’s magnifying glass to show Jim some of the intricate detail in the breastplate. Michael O’Connor worked on this at the kitchen table in his Dublin home, after the children had gone to bed. He worked holding a magnifying glass in one hand and a brush/pen in the other. Under these less -than -ideal conditions he produced Celtic illumination work of the highest quality, work proclaimed by experts in this field as the best of its kind.
The hope is that after expert work of conservation, some of Michael’s work will be displayed in the house where he grew up.
Fr. Brendan O’Connor, me, David Browne , chair of Kerry Writers’ Museum and Stephen Rynne who is the driving force behind the project to bring the work of Michael O’Connor to the wide audience it deserves.
Stephen’s father, Etienne Rynne was a friend of Michael O’Connor’s and Aideen, Stephen’s mother, is willing to give her treasured piece of O’Connor’s work for display along with the other works.
Aideen is holding the piece in my photograph. It is an illuminated papal blessing scroll presented to her and her husband, Etienne, by Michael O’Connor on the occasion of their marriage.
Maybe there are other people with a Listowel Connection or not who have a piece of this original artwork in their possession. Stephen, who is co-ordinating the project is anxious to trace the whereabouts of as many original pieces as possible.
Maybe you have one of the 6 Christmas cards with words by Bryan MacMahon and illumination by Michael O’Connor that were produced by Oriel Press. The original artwork for these has been lost but maybe you have kept a card and it is now part of this extraordinary story.
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Friday, September 24 2021 at Listowel Races
Photos by Bridget O’Connor
These ladies were the finalists in the Best Dressed competition.
And the winner is….
This photo is from Listowel Races site. The lady is Maritess McCarthy.
