Tag: Frances O’Keeffe

Listowel Castle December 2019

<<<<<<<<

Some Lovely Shopwindows

Listowel shopkeepers make a great effort with their window displays always.

Cheryl’s lovely crochet crib figures are on the NCBI window.

NCBI

McKenna’s Winter Wonderland

<<<<<<<<<<,

Work at Listowel Courthouse courtyard

They look like flowerbeds in the making.

<<<<<<,

Christmas Cleaning from the Dúchas collection

The first job always seemed to be the cleaning and painting.

Christmas Customs

It is an old custom to clean up the house the week before Christmas, to white wash it and paint all the furniture. All the old people like to go to Tralee for the Christmas.

On St. Stephen’s day boys flock together and go around with the wren. They dress up in various kinds of clothes and get a dead wren and a bit of holly. They go from house to house and sing and play and dance. The people of the house give them some money and sometimes give them drink.

The old people put up holly around the windows and mantles for Christmas. On the Eve of each holiday candles are lighted through out the Christmas.

<<<<<<<<

Christmas is a merry time for young and old. Five days before Christmas the people go to a town or village for their Christmas supplies.

The first sign of Christmas is the houses are whitewashed and the places cleaned. On Christmas Eve the candles

<<<<<<<

Mike’s Murals

Mike O’Donnell’s own photo of himself painting the old Kerryman masthead over the door of The Kerryman building

<<<<<<

Listowel Tree 2019

<<<<<<<

Christmas Craft Fair

I never got round to posting these last week. This was the Christmas Craft Fair in Kerry Writers’ Museum with some lovely things to buy.

The heavenly Elle Marie ODwyer is a new face at Listowel craft fairs. I love her new song, Christmas by the Lee. Have a listen.

Our local historian, Vincent Carmody was there with his chronicles of old Listowel and old Newcastlewest

Anne and Katie’s snowmen and candy canes were very popular.

Frances O’Keeffe is the best knitter and knitting designer I know. Her cupcake dolls are a new addition to her range and they’re gorgeous. I also love this Rhode Island Red hen tea cozy.

This lady had beautiful large or small Christmas arrangements.

Lovely Listowel people, Changing meanings, Public phones and Hair Oil

By Listowel Connection

On August 8, 2019

In Uncategorized

St. Patrick’s hall, July 2019

<<<<<<<<<

Chance Meetings

Nature lover, Carmel Gornall I met walking by the river on a sunny morning.

Frances and Edel were enjoying the sunshine and the music in the Square

<<<<<<<

Post no Bills

This sign is on an arch in Ballincollig. I suspect today’s young people have no idea that it has nothing to do with payment due.

I grew up in an age when this sign was a common sight in public areas. It means Do not affix advertising posters to this wall.

<<<<<<<

Public Phones

Working public telephone boxes are rare enough these days so when I see one I grab a snap. The above one is in Kildare town.

This one is in Kent train station in Cork. It takes credit cards as well as coins and you can make international calls.

The tariff is a bit steep at a minimum of €2 per call and calls to mobiles costing €1 a minute.

<<<<<<<,

Mattie Lennon Remembers

These were found during the dig at the site of the new bypass road at Curraghatoosane. I posted the photo last week, and Mattie Lennon has been in touch;

Hi Mary,

I remember when Brilliantine hair oil came in those phials. It cost a penny ha’penny.

( hair oil, for those not in the know, was for plastering men’s hair down so that it stayed in place.)

<<<<<<<

John Lynch Mass

Martina OGorman has emailed to tell us that the people of Ballylongford are putting on a memorial mass for the late John Lynch on Sunday next ,August 11 at 10.30.

You may remember that when John , who was originally from Ballylongford, passed away in London recently it was feared that he had no relatives or friends left to attend his funeral. The London Kerry community were rallied by Martina and friends and he had a good Kerry send off. Now Martina is hoping that the Kerry people at home will turn up to this special mass for John.

Industrial Schools, Castle Hotel, Ballybunion, Abbeyfeale, a Craft Fair and a Sand Art Festival in Ballybunion

By Listowel Connection

On May 21, 2018

In Uncategorized

Chris Grayson’s robin

<<<<<<<<

Numbers in Reformatory Schools 1939

<<<<<<

Old Ballybunion

The Castle Hotel; a photo posted on Facebook by Ballybunion Prints

<<<<<<

Abbeyfeale

After my recent trip to Abbeyfeale I received this email from a loyal blog follower;

Welcome to Abbeyfeale, Mary!

This year marks the Golden Jubilee of the new Church in Abbeyfeale. Celebrations are planned and a commemorative magazine is in preparation.

The traditional Stations of the Cross are really eye-catching and artistic. No wonder, for they were donated to the Church in recent years when the Sisters of Mercy closed their Convent across the road form the Church.

Originally, the Stations of the Cross were a gift to the Convent in 1900 from a local man who made good in the USA.

The following report in the Freeman’s Journal of 1 September 1900 gives the history of the generous gift:

“MUNIFICENT GIFT TO A CONVENT.

Mr. John M. Nolan, a wealthy citizen of Lowell, U.S.A., who emigrated from Abbeyfeale some years ago, has just presented the Sisters of the Mercy Convent, Abbeyfeale, with the Stations of the Cross for their chapel, the order being executed in Paris at an estimated cost of £250.

The carving and tinting of the figures is most elaborately and artistically executed.

Freeman’s Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 – 1932)

· · Sat 1 Sep 1900

· · Page 4

· · MUNIFICENT GIFT TO A CONVENT. “

I wonder what the 1900 amount of £250 would represent in today’s money?

The Stations are priceless in many ways, and the Sisters were most generous and far-sighted

to ensure that such a treasure will always be part of the heritage and the daily religious faith experience in Abbeyfeale Church.

They will also be a beautiful and commemorative tribute to the good work of the Sisters of Mercy in Abbeyfeale.

There are but two Sisters residing in Abbeyfeale now- once there was a host of them in the thriving Convent Community.

The times and the changes!

Regards,

Nicholas.

<<<<<<<<

I was at a craft Fair in The Seanchaí on the May weekend

Maria Leahy was minding her father’s stall. He makes these hand made replica wagons at his home in Buttevant. Hours of patient hard work goes into every one. They are all made to a unique design.

Frances O’Keeffe is still making her gorgeous tea cozy creations.

<<<<<<

Friends Reunited

Childhood friends in Listowel, Jean, Hilary and Eileen met up for a chat and a catchup.

<<<<<<

Sand Art in Ballybunion on Saturday May 19 2018

This is a marvellous new festival. I wasn’t there myself so the photos are from various Ballybunion photographers

These are just some of the creations by sand artists from different parts of Ireland.

Christmas Craft Fair, some photos, a poem and a sugar tax in 1901

By Listowel Connection

On November 23, 2017

In Uncategorized

May you have a happy, safe and thankful Thanksgiving all U.S. friends of Listowel

<<<<<<<<<<<

Christmas is coming

And the goose is getting fat,

Please put a penny in the old man’s hat

If you haven’t got a penny

A ha’penny will do

If you haven’t got a ha’penny

God bless you.

<<<<<<

Sive Revival

In a week that saw Mickey McConnell’s Lidl and Aldi exceed 6 million views, John B’s ‘Sive’ launched in John B’s bar in the Gaiety Theatre.

The Druid Production will run from the 26th Jan to the 3rd of March 2018

<<<<<<<<<

Today’s November poem from Irish Stories of Love and Hope is from Rita Ann Higgins.

Our Mothers Die on
Days Like This

Rita Anne
Higgins (Irish Stories of Loss and Hope)

Where there isn’t
a puff

And the walk from
the bus stop

To the front door

Isn’t worth the
longed-for

Out-of-the-question
cup of sweet tea

She can never have

Because doctor
do-little-or-nothing

Told her face to
face

It was the sugar
or the clay

The choice was
hers.

The choice was no
choice

He knew it, she
knew it.

When the heavy
bill on the hall floor

With the final
notice reminded her

Once and for all
she must turn out the lights,

Her Angelus bell
rang and rang.

<<<<<<<

Photos from a Craft fair

I was at a craft fair in The Seanchaí, Listowel on Sunday November 12 2017. I photographed some of the lovely fare on offer.

Stephen Pearce, Louis Mulcahy, Nicholas Mosse and a slew of others have made their fortune as potters with a distinctive style. In Listowel we have our very own local potter with a beautiful product and a distinctive style.

Pat Murphy’s Woodford Pottery is based in Woodford, Listowel. His pieces are available in black, dark blue and green. They make an ideal present for anyone who loves Listowel and likes to have a piece of home close by at all times.

AND by comparison with the big names mentioned above they are very reasonably priced. Pat is a one man operation so he obviously doesn’t produce huge quantities. My advice is get to him before the world discovers him.

Woodford Pottery

Beautiful hand knitter nativity by Ella O’Sullivan

Eileen O’Sullivan makes these and other ceramic pieces to order.

Listowel’s best knitter and tea cosy designer is Frances O’Keeffe. Her charming creations are still available at Craftshop na Méar and at local craft fairs.

<<<<<<

A Sugar Tax…..in 1901!

My friend, Nicholas wrote us the following;

” I came across this little piece in the British Parliamentary Papers. It concerns a sugar tax proposed in c1901. The fuller debate is fascinating as it goes into the ramifications of all types of sugar and associated products- honey seems to have been exempt from the intended tax.

Extracted from The Debate on the proposed Sugar Tax in the House of Commons on 29^th April 1901:

‘… MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

said that as an Irish Member he desired to enter his protest against this tax because it pressed severely upon the poorest classes of the population. He had listened with amazement to the doctrine laid down by the Hon. Baronet opposite, who said that he welcomed this tax because it would tend to discourage the unwholesome custom of using jam and marmalade and sugar, instead of porridge and milk.

‘In many parts of the country the poor people could not get milk. The working classes of Ireland were unable to give milk to their children because they could not afford it, and consequently they had to fall back upon jam and marmalade. There was no more necessary food than sugar for young children if they could not get plenty of milk and butter. Milk contained a good deal of sugar, and if they could not get the natural sugar contained in milk they were driven to buy sugar, and to supply it in that shape.

A tax upon sugar was a tax upon one of the prime necessities of life, and that was a departure from the traditional policy of this country for the last fifty years, which was to remove all taxes from all the necessary articles of food. If they agreed to tax sugar he could not see why they should not tax corn…’

I think O tempora O mores! is appropriate in the light of the current sugar tax proposals, and the complete change in Irish nutritional circumstances and health standards.”

<<<<<<<

New Windows for the Gardaí

Maybe they are getting the fancy new ones with the Garda logo in them

Photos and more photos

By Listowel Connection

On December 23, 2016

In Uncategorized

Happy Christmas to all followers of Listowel Connection. Thank you for all the support and good wishes in 2016.

I’m taking a short break to recharge the batteries. With your help, we’ll do it all again in 2017.

<<<<<<<<<

Humans of Listowel

Some lovely Listowel people, mostly in pairs, who I photographed in Listowel Community Centre on November 25 2016.

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: Frances O’Keeffe

Shop windows, Flowers at the Courthouse, Christmas Customs and A Christmas Craft Fair

Lovely Listowel people, Changing meanings, Public phones and Hair Oil

Industrial Schools, Castle Hotel, Ballybunion, Abbeyfeale, a Craft Fair and a Sand Art Festival in Ballybunion

Christmas Craft Fair, some photos, a poem and a sugar tax in 1901

Photos and more photos