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: Hospice

Books, Cards and Candles

By

On November 6, 2024

In Listowel

Used now only as an ornament

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Our Recent Dead

This list in St. Mary’s remembers all those who have passed away in the last year. We remember them and all our dead loved ones and during the month of November we can light a candle at a special shrine in their memory.

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Comings and Goings

New art studio, shop and classroom on Market Street

Frank Coffey Shoes in Main Street is closing shortly.

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What I’m Reading

My table on a November morning 2024; My neighbour’s newspaper waiting my attention; Candle lighting for the holy souls; Left over Halloween treats, a cuppa and my new book complete the tableau.

I am reading this book because I want this brave lady to get to Number 1 on the bestsellers list for Christmas.

I had never heard of Emma Heatherington until I heard her interviewed by Claire Byrne on her morning show on the morning of the launch of her latest book.

This photo from The Belfast Telegraph is how she used to look.

Emma was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, in March 2024 as she was nearing the end of her first draft of her Christmas novel.

I’ll give you the bones of her story as told to Claire Byrne. Many lesions in parts of her body, chemotherapy, recurrence of lesions, much pain and sickness, hospitalisations etc but she soldiered on and got the novel finished.

Fast forward to launch day and she is being interviewed in her hospital bed as she awaits the latest procedure to try to buy her a few more years. Her healthy stem cells have been harvested and now after more chemo to kill any remaining cancer they are being put back into her body. The procedure was happening on October 29 2024 as the book was being placed on the shelves.

Emma will never see it on those shelves for she will have to be in isolation for 6 weeks in order to let the stem cells take root without any risk of infection. She will not see her 4 children as she is only allowed one named visitor in case of emergency.

By the time she is better and back home, her book will have had its moment. So I did my small bit by buying it in the hope of getting it to number 1.

Maybe Next Christmas is a feel good love story, very readable.

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Very Last Hospice Coffee Morning Photos

The morning ended with a raffle for some marvellous prizes kindly donated by local businesses.

Next project; the Christmas cards. They look lovely again this year.

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A Fact

In 2005 , the singer, Adele’s song, Hello, became the first song ever to reach more than one million downloads in its first week.

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Lovely People

By

On June 11, 2024

In History, Listowel, Poem

Collecting for the hospice on Friday June 7 2024. The amount collected was €11,028

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When I called to Carroll’s last week I was served by my lovely smiling past pupil, Máire. She is home and helping her dad in the shop as she builds up her make up artist’s business.

Lovely to see the next generation in this iconic local business.

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A Picture of Friendship and Love

This is Kevin Sinfield, carrying the limp body of his friend Rob Burrow over the finish line in the first Rob Burrow Marathon in Leeds.

Kevin and Rob were friends and team mates in their Leeds Rhinos rugby team. When Rob was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2019 at the age of 36, he had a wife and three young children. Kevin stepped up to help his friend, encouraging him to write an autobiography, organising fundraising events, writing a children’s pocketbook about friendship and generally being there for him.

Rob passed away on June 2 2024.

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At The Flemings

On the Sunday of Writers’ Week, one of the events on the packed schedule was a chat with Derry and Tadhg Fleming. Earlier in the festival, they had been awarded a prize in the new category of digital storytelling.

Peggy and I were a bit surprised to find ourselves awaiting admission alongside Fr. Antony Gaughan.

Mystery solved. Fr. Gaughan is not actually a TikTok fan. He was there to meet Deirdre Walshe who was there to interview the Flemings.

Friends, Noreen and Marylyn were on their way out of the Barbara Scully event as Bridget went in to The Flemings.

Derry and Tadhg were relaxed guests chatting about family, trolls, the growth of their online following, where they get inspiration from (Tadhg’s head). The vibe was just as it comes across in their videos, a close happy family helping each other out in a fun way.

Maureen and Derry posed with me and my friends Bridget and Peggy…lovely people.

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From the Papers

New York NY Irish American Advocate 1916-1918 pdf

Mr. James J. O’Neill, Librarian of National University of Ireland, in a series of monthly lectures at the Carnegie Library, Listowel, Co. Kerry, read an interested paper on some distinguished Kerrymen.”

Mr. O’Neill after a rapid survey of Ireland’s ancient scholars, and their merits said that Kerry had just cause to be proud of its place in its countries roll of fame. In view of the fact that Irish born dramatic writers and Irish born players have contributed so largely to English  dramatic literature, and to acting on the English speaking stage is not surprising to find the name of a  Kerryman prominent among the writers of that literature. Hugh Kelly,? the Kerry dramatist was born in Killarney in 1739. At an early age he removed to Dublin with his course he was apprenticed to n stay maker during his apprenticeship the family, and after the usual school made the acquaintance of many of the players who performed In the Old Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin.

Others:

Richard Cantillon, the political economist, sprang from a Kerry family He was born at Ballyheigue.

Among the writers in English we have the names of Bartholomew Dowling, Mrs. Mary Downing and Maurice O’Connell. Bartholomew Dowling was born in this town ? emigrated to Canada

 ballad “The Brigade at Fontenoy,” appeared without any signature. In 1848 Dowling went to France and from, thence he sailed to America, where he engaged in farming In 1858 he became editor of the San Francisco Monitor. ——————————————- Died in institution run by Rev. Mother Russell, sister of Lord Russell.- ———————————-

Mrs. Mary Downing was the daughter of Daniel MacCarthy of Kilfadimore, near Kenmare.

Henry O Brien, one of the most celebrated antiquaries of the early 19th Century, was born in Kerry In 1808. He was educated, at Trinity College ——————–

and we find some very scathing references to Moore, and the Royal Irish Academy, who refused to grant O’Brien the price for his essay ——————————-

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A Fact

King Charles 111 image is featured on the front of British banknotes since June 5 2024. The back of the notes remains unchanged.

The £5 has Winston Churchill on the back.

The €10 has Jane Austen..

The £20 has the artist JMW Turner

The £50 has Alan Turing, the computer pioneer.

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Ballybunion Sea Rescue, Coffee Morning for The Hospice and Noreen Lynch R.I.P.

By

On September 30, 2020

In Uncategorized

Thought for Today from Tralee Garden of Contemplation

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Visitors and Local People in Main Street on Saturday 18 2020

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Sea Rescue Training on a Sept. Sunday in 2020

Paddleboarder enjoying a sunny September Sunday on the water. No rescuing necessary.

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Hospice Coffee Morning in Listowel Arms

September 24 2020

Here are a few of the generous people I met in the ballroom of Listowel Arms at the hospice fundraiser.

Mary complying with contact tracing guidelines.

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 Noreen Horgan Lynch +R.I.P.+


This September we lost one of Listowel’s most charming ladies. When I came to town in 1975 Noreen was a happy presence in her shop in 97 Church Street. She was ever smiling and welcoming.

Two of my early internet “friends” were the late John and Marty Sheehy. They both loved Noreen and spoke often with great fondness of their old Church Street neighbour. 

At her funeral mass, in his lovely eulogy to his wife of 59 years, John told us that when he married her, her neighbour, Peig Murphy of Courthouse Road told him that he got the “nicest girl in town.”  He learned that she was right.

May she rest  in peace.



John and Noreen at a film show of John’s local films in St. John’s a few years ago.

John and Noreen and daughter, Deirdre, at Listowel Arms

 


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