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: Hannah O’Donoghue

Bust of Brendan Kennelly unveiling, A Doctor’s Sword and Listowel people in Lourdes in 1924

Brendan Kennelly….plaque unveiling


 It was a chilly August evening, Friday August 21 2015, when we gathered in the grounds of Ballylongford church to unveil a bust of the celebrated local poet, Brendan Kennelly. Local musicians kept us entertained while we waited for the great man himself. Brendan Kennelly has not been well and it is a few years since he has returned to his native Ballylongford.

Above are some photos of people who had come to honour one of our greatest living poets and teachers of modern English Literature. Brendan Kennelly has taught in Trinity College Dublin for 42 years and for 32  of them he was professor of modern English.

These big smiles of greeting from Brendan and his daughter, Doodle are for Brendan’s only sister, Anne.

Brendan’s niece, Mary is master of ceremonies and she calls us all to order.

Jimmy Deenihan tells us why it is fitting that Brendan Kennelly be honored in his lifetime. He outlines his importance to literature and his great and abiding love and pride in his North Kerry/West Limerick upbringing and education.

Ta dah! Jimmy and Kate, who is Kerry Co. Council Arts officer and coincidentally is Brendan Kennelly’s niece perform the unveiling.

The extended Kennelly clan pose for photgraphs.

This is it.



This is the poet with two of his brothers



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Dr. Aidan McCarthy….War hero

If you get a chance to see the film A Doctor’s Sword, do go. It is the extraordinary war story of a doctor from Castletownbere in west Cork who was captured as a prisoner of war in Japan during WW2. If you ever doubted that truth could be stranger than fiction, doubt no longer. This is the best war story I have ever heard.

There is a Kerry connection. The producer and driving force behind this film is Bob Jackson who works in IT Tralee.

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Beauty Queen with a Listowel Connection

This is Hannah O’Donoghue from Pittsburg whose grandfather came from The Six Crosses, Listowel. She recently travelled north after a visit to  her Listowel ancestral home to take part in The Maiden of the Mournes Festival

Hannah didn’t win but I’m sure she did us all proud and, who knows, she might be back next year for The Rose of Tralee.

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Lourdes 1924

This is a group of Listowel people on pilgrimage in 1924. Anyone recognize anyone? Maybe someone has an ancestor on the pilgrimage and has seen the photo already?

Craftshop na Méar, a teacher contract and St. Patrick’s Day of yesteryear


St. Patrick’s festival in Pittsburg



In Pittsburg they do our national holiday in style. On the far left is Hannah O’Donoghue who is Miss Smiling Irish Eyes. Hannah’s grandad was one of the O’Donoghue’s of Tannavalla and she is very proud of her Listowel heritage. Listowel can justifiably be proud of her too as she has a very impressive cv for such a young lady.

Next to Hannah in the photo is Pat O’Brien, parade chairman and a frequent visitor to Listowel where he stays with Nora Sheahan.

Hannah with her proud parents, Patty and Jack O’Donoghue.

Patty with St. Patrick

 with her two proud Listowel aunts, Maggie Cloonan and Eileen Curran

with her lovely niece, Ruby O’Donoghue.


Hannah will be visiting Ireland in August to take part in the Maid of the Mourne festival and after that she will be coming with her Dad to visit the Listowel branch of the family.

Methinks I see a future Rose of Tralee contestant or two here.

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St. Patrick’s Days  of Yore


To whet your appetite for this year’s Listowel parade here are a few photos from former years



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Craftshop na Méar gets ready for the national holiday 2015

Karen and Viveca dress the shop window for St. Patrick’s Day.

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St. Patrick’s Day blessing for tomorrow

Lucky stars above you,

Sunshine on your way,

Many friends to love you,

Joy in work and play-

Laughter to outweigh each care,

 In your heart a song-

And gladness waiting everywhere

All your whole life long!

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In Ohio in 1923 Teachers truly had something to complain about!

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New Kid on the Block

Frances O’Keeffe welcomes Jean Thomas to Craftshop na Méar

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The photo of Keane Stack’s from Vincent Carmody’s book brought back happy memories to many people. Hilary Kelly remembers the barley sugar sticks and Cathy Dunne remembers Mr. Keane Stack in a bowler hat and from Liam Murphy in the USA came this memory;

” More of long ago memories recalled,  from the age of four to fourteen I wore prescription glasses that were filled by Willie Keane- Stack. I remembered young John B behind the counter on right when you entered the shop and getting  from a tall jar “Barley Sugar” that as I recall was only sold in chemist shops. But have clear memory of them when I went with my late father there early 50’s.”     

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