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: Fr. Pat Moore Page 5 of 9

Mountcollins, The Spinning Wheel and Sex education on the farm.

By

On May 12, 2017

In Uncategorized

Jonathan Fleury of Carrigaline for The Rebel Cup Photographic competition.

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Ballybunion May 11 2017


Photo: Catherine Moylan

Mario Perez did a sand art tribute and we all gathered round to say another farewell to our friend Fr. Pat Moore. I’ll post more photos next week

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Artist at Work in Listowel Town Square




Monday May 8 2017

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The Church at Mountcollins


Here are a few more photos from my recent visit to this chapel on the hill.



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Do You Remember The Spinning Wheel?


Where Footprints now stands there once was a successful restaurant called The Spinning Wheel. James Scanlon, whose family owned this business shared with us some photographs from the 70s and 80s.

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Learning about the birds and the bees in the fifties



( from Jim Costelloe’s Asdee)

Taking a hen turkey for service was a job
for women, but, unfortunately, in our house the males had to do it. The bird
was put into a canvas bag a hole was cut in the bag so that she could stick her
head out in case she smothered. Dedending on the distance away to the cock, she
was transported either by hand, on one’s back or on one’s arm, or taken by
donkey and cart. Either way, it was a very embarrassing situation for us as
boys to be seen by our school pals taking a hen turkey to the cock. We often
went through the fields, which was a much harder journey, rather than meet one
of the school peers. Being seen taking a hen turkey to the cock was nearly as
bad as being accused of ‘trying” hens for eggs.

In general, the service did not take very
long, but sometimes the cock would be slow, especially if it was a busy time
and business was brisk. A cock turkey has very long claws and all breeddoing
cocks have their claws trimmed, otherwise they would damage the hen turkey’s
back during service. A well feathered hen would have some protection, but
breeding hens are inclined to lose some of their feathers during the laying season.
To protect them, a piece of a man’s jumper was often tied on their backs during
mating. The male turkey, always referred to as a cock and not a cockerel often did
a lot of prancing on the female during service so protection on her back during
service was essential.

As a hen turkey generally laid fifteen to
twenty eggs, she would have to be serviced three or four times to make sure all
the eggs were fertilized. This meant more embarrassing trips for us. It
happened that an odd young turkey, in her first breeding season, would not lie
first but would lay without lying and consequently the egg would not be fertilized.
That egg would be eaten by the man of the house. Turkey eggs are larger than
duck or hen eggs, though smaller than goose eggs and they are speckled.

Brides Night Out at The Listowel Arms, the 1950s in Asdee and Fr. Pat Moore R.I.P.

By

On May 2, 2017

In Uncategorized

Seán McInerney of Mallow Camera Club took this picture of People at Work

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The Wedding Saga Continues

The next step in our family’s
wedding journey saw us back in The Listowel Arms Hotel on Friday evening April
21 2017 for Brides Night Out.

We nearly missed this one as
our bride had deemed it too close to the wedding to be going to a Wedding Fair.
We already  have most of the requirements in place. Luckily as we were in Finesse
for a dress fitting, the lovely Mags and Liz persuaded us that we would be
missing a great night by foregoing this one. They were right.

Here we are, mé féin, Cliona, the bride to be, with Mags and Liz Horgan of Finesse Bridal Wear

The hotel fitted us in at
short notice and we were ready in jig time for a lovely night.

This is Clíona at our lovely sunny table

Firstly there was the wedding
fair part with lots of exhibitors and lots of 
tips. Clíona got her make up done at The Vanity Case stand and she looked a
million dollars for the rest of the evening.

We met Siobhán with her eye
poppingly artistic cake creations. They tasted delicious as well.

These ladies had a great idea
worthy of Dragons’ Den. Anyone at the wedding downloads their app. You take photos and then you load them into the app and press print. The person
who took the photo gets a printed souvenir photo/photos of their day at the
wedding and the happy couple get all the printed photos on a memory stick. I
thought this one was much better than a photo booth or the old camera on the table lark.

Brendan Landy held a pop up
workshop. He gave us loads of tips about posing for photos. Here’s a few free
for you.

Don’t lean back. It gives you
a double chin.

Bend your elbow out from your
body.

Bend your wrist back and your
hand will look better.

Don’t face full square to the
camera.  Etc., etc.

Stylish Eilish was there. We met her chatting to the beautiful Maria Keane of MK Beauty.

The Listowel Arms as a wedding venue was on show and it looked absolutely stunning. We are so lucky to have everything one needs to hold a wedding at out fingertips in lovely Listowel.

Then it was time for the
taster menu and the fashion show.

Finesse Bridal opened and
closed the fashion show and their stunning dresses set the scene for the Mother
of the Bride or Groom and wedding guest style which followed. There were some
really  glamorous outfits on show. If I
hadn’t bought mine already I saw lots that I would have liked.


The food and wine were top
class.

If you have anyone in your
family getting engaged this year, tell them to go to this before they make any
decisions. It’s an annual event and a great night out.

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The 1950s  as remembered by Jim Costelloe and told in his book, Asdee in the 40’s and 50s


… At that time in Asdee there were no Costelloes- they were
all Custelloes, MacMahons were Mickmahons, O’Connors were simply Connors,
McElligotts were Elligotts, Ruddles were Riddles and Moriartys were Maraartys.
There were no cars then, they were all motors, a barrel of stout was a quarter
tierse, hayforks were pikes and a dung fork was a four prong pike. There were
high shoes and low shoes and we didn’t know which were boots. A stripper was a
cow, a gallon was a container for sweets and a muller was an aluminium pot. We
also had the skillet, the black pot with its three legs which hung over the
fire with the pot hooks. The bread was baked in the oven which was placed on
the brand over the coals.

These were the days of the settle beds, the po ( politely
known as the chamber pot), the ticks of feathers, the straw mattresses and
the iron beds with the brass knobs at
the four corners. The parlour was the sitting/dining room which was rarely used
except on the morning of the Station when the priest dined there. It usually
smelled of dampness and had old, decaying furniture with limp curtains and
wallpaper with a flowery border which was almost always discoloured at the
corners.

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eCar Parking and recharging



In the Square in Listowel there is this car charging station and it now has a dedicated parking bay for your  electric car.

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“…the best labourer dead, and all the sheaves to bind.”




Fr. Pat Moore, R.I.P. and yours truly in happier times

Fr. Pat with his great friend, Mary Fagan

Fr. Pat in his element among his own at the great barbecue in Duagh

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North Kerry will be a duller place without him.

This is the poem Fr. Pat wrote after his mother died.

This Much I Will Remember   _______ for Peg



It was a bright August morning, sunlight filled the kitchen.

I sat next to you remembering my birth.

Your heartbeat the first sound I heard.

A home you made around us, people you are now welcoming,

Alive and some dead.

And as I look past your shoulder at the glass on the windowsill,

That captures the sunlight inside the garden you once tended,

Which also drinks in the light.

Everything I see converges into a random still light,

Fastened together by colour.

It is fixed behind the foreground of what’s happening around you

As you are now being looked after.

And I can feel it being painted within me,

And brushed on the wall of my skull.

Then all the moments of the past begin to line up behind that moment,

And all the moments to come assemble in front of it in a long long row.

It gives me reason to believe that this is a moment I have rescued

from the millions that rush out of sight

into the darkness behind the eyes.

When I forget I will still carry in my skull

the small coin of this moment

Minted in the kingdom that we pace through everyday.

Ballybunion at Night, Life on the turnstile, Neodata Remembered, a return to school and a Book Launch

By

On November 21, 2016

In Uncategorized

Spooky Photos of Ballybunion during in the early morning on the nights of the Super Moon



photos by Mike Enright



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Memories, Memories



Liz Galvin, who worked in Neodata, has very kindly opened her photograph album to us. Here are some of her photos from the good old days in the Bridge Road.

The girls relax during a break from typing

If you see yourself here or if you see someone you know be sure to share a memory.

Noreen Mc Mahon Mary O’Connor Sheila Hanafin and Liz Galvin.





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The Life and Times of a G.A.A. Stilesman   a.ka. Junior Griffin


The Talk at the
Turnstiles  John Griffin’s article, written for the souvenir programme of the County Final in 1999 and published in The Irish
World (London)

December 3 and December 10
1999

Quite rightly, the players on
duty in today’s eagerly awaited  county
final will be the chief focus of attention as they do battle for that coveted
county championship medal.

Perhaps decisions by the
referee or by his umpires or linemen at some stage in the game will also give
rise to comment.

But have you ever given thought
to the function of the  man who more than
likely,  will be the first official you
will encounter at today’s final- The Man Behind The Wire.

The whole structure of our
games has changed a lot over the past 30 years. Facilities for boith players
and spectators have improved tremendously with the whole country now dotted
with some wonderful stadia.

Finance, of course, is a fact
of life in the GAA and whilst sponsorship is much welcomed and needed, the most
important contributions come from you, the patron, by your attendance at our
games.

Hence the role of the
stilesman. The work of the stilesman is not as easy as some may think and, indeed it carries a lot of responsibility. I look on the stilesmen as the
front line troops of the GAA.

The abuse hurled at referees
often hits the headlines but it pales into insignificance at times with what
the stilesmen have to endure. I know stilesmen who have been hit, kicked and
even spat at. Indeed my own shinbone bore the brunt of many a well placed kick
on more then one occasion.

Definitely some people have a
Jekyll and Hyde personality when they go to a match. If the entrance fee is
considered dear- blame the stilesman.!

If there are no programmes
available- blame the stilesman! The festival of Kerry Sunday was a nightmare.
For many years, County semi finals were held on that Sunday and traffic and
parking was chaotic. Did people make allowance for delays/ Yerra- no! Sure
we’ll blame the stiles man!

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1916 Commemorative Garden in Listowel Town Park



The box hedge has been planted and the heathers are in. It’s looking beautiful. I hope the surrounding hedge does not grow too tall and cut off the lovely view we have of it currently.

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Like Old Times




Today is Presentation Day, a kind of Irish equivalent of Founder’s Day. In the good old days all Presentation schools closed on November 21, the pupils got a holiday and the sisters celebrated in their convents. Then the school year was standardised and everyone had to take the same school holidays. So the day was celebrated during the school day.

This year in Presentation Secondary School, Listowel, all the retired staff were invited back for a little get together. Here I am among my old school colleagues as we reminisced and reconnected. I think we were all delighted to hear that it is planned to make it an annual event.

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A Book Launch to Cap all Book Launches 


On November 18 2016, John Kelliher was among the many photographers and videographers recording for posterity the biggest book launch the Listowel Arms has ever seen and it has seen a good few. The outpouring of goodwill and support for one of our own as he made his first big public appearance since his tamall grappling with serious illness was uplifting to behold. The ballroom was heaving and there were hundreds more waiting to get in.

Fr. Pat was surrounded by friends helping him to celebrate this great night. The success of the book was never in any doubt. The event in the hotel was more a show of support and affection and  a rejoicing that a beloved priest had dodged another bullet.

Many of his friends were on hand to entertain us as well.

Sonny Egan opened the evening’s entertainment.

Jer Barrett, well used to being behind the camera, was recording the event for social media.

Joe Costello, Fr. Pat’s great friend and supported sang his song.

This was our super M.C.



The highlight of the proceedings was a duet of Ballybunion Town from the above two.

Mary Fagan sent me the following great memories of the night to share with you.

Looking for Barry and Lynch Relatives,A Book Launch for Fr. Pat Moore and some good drama in store for us

By

On November 15, 2016

In Uncategorized

Shadows Lengthen as the Sun declines



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Looking for Barry and Lynch Relatives

I have been in email correspondence with Jeff Carney from the U.S.A. He is anxious to find some living Kerry relatives before his planned visit. Will you kindly read the following extracts from Jeff’s emails and see if you can help him.


“I  have been studying my family tree for years, but I must say that I have run into a wall in my Kerry connections.  My siblings and I are planning a visit to North Kerry in September and was hoping to find someone who can help with some research as we prepare for our visit.  There are wonderful resources online such as 1901/1911 census and Kerry burials which have been helpful.

My ancestors are Edmund Barry and Honora Mangan Barry married in 1844 in Ballybunion parish.  Edmund is from Coolkeragh.  I believe he lived in Ballyegan.  My great grandfather, Thomas Barry married Molly Lynch  from Asdee East, and emigrated to US around 1887.   His brother, Edward also emigrated. Thomas’ siblings, John and Patrick, as well as daughter, Ann lived in Ireland at the time of Thomas death in 1914.

It would be wonderful to know if there are relatives still in Kerry.  I’d also be very interested to learn where Edmund and Honora lived, when they passed, and where they are buried.





My grandfather, who was born in Utica, NY in 1900 told the story of his father, Thomas E Barry and mother, Mary (Molly) Lynch Barry, coming to America with “babe in arms”.   The babe was the oldest daughter, Nora, most likely named after his mother, Honora, or Molly’s mother, Nora Sweeney Lynch.  Online marriage records show Thomas and Molly were both lived in Clounamon in 1887.  I believe they emigrated shortly after marriage.  They were well respected as parents of 10 children, with 9 born in upstate New York.  Thomas died at age 48 due to complications of an injury suffered while at work at the brewery. At the time of his death, he had a sister and two brothers living in Ireland. Another brother, Edward died in Waterbury, CT IN 1917.  I have quite a bit of info on the American side.”




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Upper William Street


This old picture has gained a new lease of life on Facebook. Apparently the ass and cart are not those of the late Mamie Gunn. The clue is in the steel bands around the wheels. Mamie’s cart had rubber wheels.  The things you learn on Facebook!

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Don’t forget




Friday November 18 2016 in The Listowel Arms.



Fr. Pat’s book is written, produced and printed in Kerry, and €1 from every book sold will go towards the Kerry Cork Link Health Bus Service.



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Good News on The Christmas Shopping Front


Parking in Listowel will  be free of charge after 1pm each day from the 1st to 17th of December, and will be free for up to two hours between the 19th of December and 2nd of January.

Councillors in the Killarney Municipal District will finalise parking arrangements for Christmas at their next meeting on the 23rd of November.

In Tralee, parking will be free from 1pm in all areas where pay and display currently operates, both on-street and in Kerry County Council car parks from the 5th of December to the 7th of January.

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Annual Active Retired November Mass



Listowel Active Retired members will have their annual mass for their dead relatives at 3.00p.m. today. They will remember in a special way Micheál OSuilleabháin R.I.P. who did so much for the older members of our community.



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Local Play in St. John’s this Week





Poor Jimmy promises to be a good one and then we’ll have a Listowel biggie, Jon Kenny and Mary McEvoy in The Letters of a Successful T.D.

Church St., Poverty in Kerry in 1898 and The Manly Barber on Charles Street

By

On August 23, 2016

In Uncategorized

Church St. Listowel Sunday August 14 2016

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Now and Then




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When Times were Hard



Kerry Sentinel  Wednesday, February 16, 1898

FLAVIN, M.P.

Speaking on the distress in Kerry on Friday night, Mr. Flavin said he did not desire to needlessly prolong the debate, but at the same time he might say that he had little hope of obtaining anything like generous treatment or anything in the nature of a remedy from the Chief Secretary (hear, hear). 

He had made complaints before about the condition of the poor people, and he received no response from the Chief Secretary. He appealed to the right hon. gentleman last year at a time when most of the labouring population in the Listowel Union were in want of work, but nothing came of it. They were told to fall back upon the union for relief. But the fact was that the poor rates now in the Listowel Union were as much as 15s. in the pound, and the ratepayers could not bear any additional burden. 

Unless the Government stepped in to prevent it, there would be great distress in Kerry. There were no seed potatoes and no seed oats, and what seed there was in Kerry and Munster had come from the North of Ireland and from Scotland. So long as the Chief Secretary preferred the statements of his own inspectors to even those of the landlords in Kerry, and the representatives of the people, there was little hope of anything of a beneficial character being done for the people of the poorer districts (hear, hear)

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I Met him on William St.



Pat Walsh favours pedal power. Pat was cycling before it became a fashionable means of transport.

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Manctuary is now The Manly Barber


This shop has pinned its colours to the mast. In case there was any doubt; It is now clearly men only.

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Strange Things in the Sea off Kerry this year


First it was jellyfish, now this is reported in Afloat Magazine

A miniature unmanned
sailing boat has been reported off the Kerry coast after nearly three years in
the North Atlantic.

The boat, named
West, is part of the Educational Passages project by the Middle
School of Westbrook in Maine, USA and is one of five boats the Sebago School
Alliance sent out in the autumn and winter of 2013-14.

West was launched off
Georges Bank along with one other boat by Bro Cote, a lobsterman out of
Hyannis, Massachusetts. Several others were launched about the same time off
the Mid-East coast of the United States and off the Canary Islands for the marine science
project.

“We had hoped the boat
would make the complete circle of the Atlantic Ocean. It has and then some,”
say the project organsiers about West, which has been spotted 32 nautical miles
from the Kerry coastline.

West could arrive in
the Kerry area over the next few days or, depending upon weather conditions,
may go further northwards towards the Galway coast.

Previously West made
landfall in November 2014 when it crashed on rocks in rough seas off Portugal,
where it was recovered by local authorities and repaired with the help of local
companies and relaunched from Lisbon in June last year.

Four months later, it
was recovered entering the Mediterranean, refurbished again and put on a cargo
ship to Madeira and relaunched from there on 28 January this year.

The project
co-ordinators have asked for assistance to help rescue the boat when it arrives
in the coming days

“It would be great if
the boat could be recovered at sea or shortly after landing to avoid
damage.”

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Coming Soon to a small screen in your living room

Gerard Barrett’s Smalltown promises to be one of those close to the bone series. It will be the rural equivalent of Love Hate, holding the mirror up to  aspects of today’s Ireland we may all recognise.

I heard about Smalltown first from Fr. Pat Moore who wrote about it in his very thought provoking blog. Read it here:  Strength within, Support without

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Knockanure Vintage Day 2016


Knockanure Local went to the vintage day and here are his photos

https://youtu.be/VMO4E7ig-Vg

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