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: Garden of Europe Page 8 of 9

National Savings in 1938, Ballybunion a few more place names

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On April 12, 2016

In Uncategorized

In The Garden of Europe

A lone daffodil at the John B. Keane memorial

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Saving Money in 1938

Kerryman Saturday, 05 November, 1938; Page: 26

THRIFT MOVEMENT IN EIRE. THE SALE
OF SAVINGS CERTIFICATES

In Eire, since 1923, approximately
171 million Savings Certificates, cash value £13.5 millions, have been
purchased. There are just 4,000 co-operative Savings’ Associations at work in
the country in schools, Boy Scout and Girl Guide Troops, places of employment,
and in various religious and social groups. These Associations are operated by
over 7,000 voluntary workers, the majority of whom are members of the Irish
National Teachers’ Organisation. In the Post Office Savings Bank, at the 31st
Dec, 1937, there was approximately a sum of £8.5 million standing to the credit
of 325,500 depositors.

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Beautiful Ballybunion Easter 2016




I took these photographs on the Cliff Walk. As you can see from the last photograph, the path is succumbing to erosion and in some places the protective barrier is slowly falling away.

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Dan Keane’s Placenames 

Placenames meanings from Dan Keane’s Logainmneacha

Clieveragh: Cliabhrach; A framework of ribs. A cliabhrach is the wicker frame of a basket or a boat. In older times if there was a pot hole or soft spot in a passageway, people would place a cliabhrach over it and they would cover it with rushes.

(Maybe there is an idea here for today’s potholed roads of Listowel.

Clounmacon: Cluain Meacan. The meadow of the root or tuber. Meacan bán meaning white tuber is the Irish for parsnip. There is a field close to Dowd’s Road where parsnips were grown during the Famine. This field was known as Clounmacon

Clountubrid:The meadow of the well

Coolaclarig: The corner of the wooden bridge. The wooden bridge referred to spans the river Galey.

Coolagown: Cúl an Ghabhann, the corner of the smith, (probably a blacksmith.)




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

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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.

>>>>>>>

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.

    Wash Day, Boycott in St. Michael’s, Bill Maher, US media star and KCC appoint new communications officer

    By

    On January 20, 2016

    In Uncategorized

    In Listowel’s Garden of Europe

    The Holocaust Memorial  constructed from railway sleepers, iron bands and chains.

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    Washday Blues


    Do you remember last week I had all this talk of washing by hand? Vincent Carmody, from his huge archive of old billheads found a few for us that will bring back washday memories.

     As well as Lifebuoy soap , there was Ivy soap and carbolic soap.

    Ivy was definitely used for washing clothes. I think carbolic was for bodies. Later when flake and powdered soap came in we had Rinso, Lux, Omo and Washing Soda.

     Ah the blue bag “with five testimonials from Royal Laundresses.” No doorstep challenge here.  I wonder what the magic ingredient was that made whites even whiter.

    I don’t remember ever encountering this product. As I said before, we made starch using flour and water. This Colman’s branding looks very like the mustard people. Even in 1898 companies practiced a bit of product diversification.

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    Extraordinary Occurrence in St. Michaels in 1885




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    Bill Maher…The Causeway connection


    Bill Maher is a huge TV star in the US. He hosts a political chat show, does stand up comedy and political satire. He is described in Wikipaedia as “an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, media critic, and television host.”

    Kathy Taylor was watching a US who do you think you are type show and she learned that

    “Denis & Margaret Greany from the Parish of Killury, Causeway were in Bill’s father’s maternal line. A 1855 NY bank record was the clue to the Parish. Then Irish researchers found a church record there. Maher had been in Ireland 1999 but said he wanted to go now that he has this info.”

    All we need now is some enterprising Causeway person to invite him.

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    The New Voice of Kerry County Council




    Owen O’Shea with Radio Kerry colleagues Fiona Stack, Jackie Carlos and Deirdre Walsh at Owen’s farewell dinner in Bella Bia on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

    I saw this photo and read this story on Tralee Today which is a great site for all Kerry news. 

    Owen O’Shea is taking up a new role as Communications Officer with Kerry County Council. He will now be responsible for bringing us news of any decisions the council makes.




    Listowel in The Fall, Christmas Shop and John R.’s accommodation

    By

    On October 23, 2015

    In Uncategorized

    The Garden of Europe in Autumn


    It is lovely to walk through The Garden of Europe at any time of year. It is particularly beautiful in Autumn. You have heard of Vermont in The Fall and how it attracts so many visitors. Give me Listowel any day.



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    Your Daily Dose of Christmas Goodies





    If your Christmas theme calls for white decoration, Listowel Garden Centre has them in abundance.

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    Luxury Accommodation in Listowel Town Centre


    A family prepared to invest in the future of the economy in Listowel is the Walsh family who have traded on Church Street for generations. They have converted their accommodation offering to a top class bed and breakfast option for visitors to Listowel.


    The business is located next to and over John R.’s and Café Hanna.

     Marion gave me the guided tour.

     There is a literary theme throughout. At the top of the stairs is this limited edition John B. Keane picture, a present from the Keane family.

    These framed posters celebrate local and national stage performances.

    An old fireplace is cleverly adapted as a showcase for souvenir Writers’ Week brochures.

    The ultra tasteful tea and coffee nook is kitted out with this beautiful vintage tea set.

    The three bedrooms are tastefully furnished.

    There is a charming mixture of the vintage and the modern.

    This sofa space in the communal area invites you to sit and read or just get away from the family for a while.

     This beautiful Dresden lamp is one of the many luxurious touches here.



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    Namir has given a home to this lovely little kitten…..soon to be named as soon as sex is determined.

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    Nice Gesture


    A bunch of flowers was left at the door of Listowel Garda Station last week. It was a thoughtful token of support for the Gardaí who are still mourning the death of Garda Tony Golden who was murdered as he went about his duty in Omeath.

    Christmas Lights, A Stroll through The Garden of Europe, Some Craft Food and Frances Brennan in town

    By

    On November 28, 2014

    In Uncategorized

    Christmas Lights




    I went to the switching on of the lights ceremony last Saturday. Unfortunately I couldn’t get the setting right on my camera to cope with the light in The Square.  You get the drift though.

     The Millsiders entertained the large crowd.

     Mulled Cider, Cupcakes and other confectionery was on offer.

     Billy Keane was M.C. Kelly OSullivan Browne was one of the organizers.

     Jennifer Scanlon, another organizer was there with her family.

    The crowd in The Square.  Again my apologies for the very bad photos.

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    Lovely Listowel in autumn 2014

    I took all of the above photos on the morning of November 18 2014 in Listowel Town Park and The Garden of Europe. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful town.

    As they say on Facebook; feeling blessed!

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    On Sunday Nov 23 2014 I went to the Craft Fair which is held annually in conjunction with Listowel Food Fair, in the The Community Centre. Here is what I bought.

     The quiche from The Mixing Bowl was a spinach and olive delight. I would definitely recommend the trip to Ballybunion just to try it.  The mince pies from there were delicious as well. They were a bit pricey at €2 each. 

    The Mint and Pea soup was the best I’ve had ever. The brown bread was perfect as well. Sell done to the local new producer.

    Finally is this really interesting product. The little jar on the right contains Dandelion Flower Preserve.

    It is from The Wild Irish Foragers and Preservers who make these delicious confections from hand- picked wild produce which they cook  using old recipes. The Dandelion Preserve is delicious with goats’ cheese and the lovely lady who sold it to me told me that it is also  a brilliant natural cure for a sore throat.

    I heard later that it had won the Food Fair prize for best upcoming food product.

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    At Your service, Listowel



    Francis Brennan snapped in the company of some well known locals.

    The hard working people in the Love Listowel marketing group brought Francis Brennan to town to talk us all into shape. The meeting  in The Seanchaí on Tuesday evening Nov 25 2014 was very positive . Frances was full of praise for how the town presents itself to the visitor. He had no magic bullet to solve the problems of Listowel’s traders but he got everyone talking and that is a great start.

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