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: Jim Dunn Page 4 of 7

More from Art in The Square 2018 and a novel event at St. John’s

By

On July 11, 2018

In Uncategorized

5a.m. at Ceann Sibéal, Dingle


Photo credit; John Hooton


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River Feale at Listowel Bridge, July 2018


Photo: Patrick Godfrey

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Ah Here!

I know the children can get on your nerves during the school holidays but…..

Seen in the NCBI window in Church Street and posted for a laugh and not as a criticism.

I know there is a limit to how many words you can put in a lightbox.

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Pecha Kucha….A First for Listowel

PechaKucha (Japanese: ぺちゃくちゃ, IPA: [petɕa kɯ̥tɕa],[1] chit-chat) is a presentation style in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each (6 minutes and 40 seconds in total). The format, which keeps presentations concise and fast-paced, powers multiple-speaker events called PechaKucha Nights (PKNs).[2][3]

PechaKucha Night was devised in February 2003[4][5] by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Tokyo‘s Klein-Dytham Architecture (KDa), as a way to attract people to SuperDeluxe, their experimental event space in Roppongi, and to allow young designers to meet, show their work, and exchange ideas.[6]

In 2004, a few cities in Europe began holding PKNs, the first of several hundred cities that have since launched similar events around the world.[7][8]As of May 2016, PKNs were held in over 900 cities worldwide.[9]  

 Wikipaedia

On June 21 in St. John’s Listowel I attended my first Pecha Kucha night and I was very

Impressed by the format.

Stephen Stack of Listowel Chamber Alliance was the host and the various presenters,

some of whom I have pictured 

below, were  some local and some visitors. They all  grasped the concept very well.

Internationally acclaimed fashion designer, model and dog breed judge now lives in Knocknagoshel.

Film maker and sand artist based in Ballybunion

Our host

Internationally acclaimed local artist

The musical entertainment was top class as well.

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Collaborative Art in The Square June 2018

This masterpiece was resting under a tree in The Square in the final stages of execution on the last day of Listowel Visual Arts Week 2018. It is the work of one man from design to finish but he kindly let us all  have  a hand in it.

Yours truly daubing a bit.

The very artistic Marion Relihan knew her onions.

Cathy Sadlier enjoyed helping out a friend.

Martin Chute persuaded the Morkan family that they couldn’t mess it up. They didn’t, but added a very valuable few brushstrokes.

Aysia O’Callaghan added a few finishing touches.

But all the hard graft, the long hours, the brilliant design, the amazing colours and overall perfection of the piece was down to one man, Jim Dunn



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Molly and I watched a spot of the Pitch and Putt





St. Mary’s, More from Visual Arts Week 2018 and some artistry in St. Mary’s

By

On July 4, 2018

In Uncategorized

*  Clarification *


I have misinformed you.  The Primary Health Care Centre planned for Listowel will NOT be located at the old Presentation Convent.


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Evening on Cnoc an Óir

Photo: Mike Enright

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Moving Statue


This is the statue of The Infant of Prague in its new location in St. Mary’s, Listowel.

This is the niche where it used to be.

The picture commemorating the sisters of Presentation Convent Listowel has a new frame.

The Morrison icon is high on a pillar out of harm’s way.

These are some of the beautiful mosaics in St. Mary’s

These stained glass windows are in the side altar

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An Artist comes to help an Artist

On the Friday of Listowel Visual Arts Week, Jim Dunn moved his work in progress to a shady spot on the opposite side of The Square. The Friday Market was in his old spot. Among the many people who came to lend a hand with the painting was local artist and sign writer, Martin Chute

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Watering Their Roots


John O’Connell and his granddaughter, Clodagh bonding over a shared love of gardening.

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Ordination in Moyvane, July 1 2018


Hundreds of people gathered yesterday in Moyvane church for the ordination of Sean Jones, the first priest ordained to the diocese of Kerry since 2007. It was an occasion to rejoice and give thanks to God. Listowel Choir enhanced the ceremony greatly with their glorious music. Following the ordination the community retired to the Community Centre for refreshements and the atmosphere was one of great celebration. Prayers are requested for the newly ordained Fr Sean Jones. This was a day which the community of moyvane was once again shown at its best, Well done all involved in making the event unique and truly memorable, Wishing Fr Sean all the best in his future ministry.

Pic Credit; Diocese of Kerry  Text: Moyvane on Facebook


Lartigue Theatre, Jim Dunn’s Mural in The Square and an old play

By

On June 29, 2018

In Uncategorized

Listowel Town Square, June 21 2018

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Many Hands Make Light Work

Jim and Liz Dunn work well as a team. But I don’t think Liz would really claim to be an artist. To illustrate that this was a project in which anyone can have a go Liz took up a brush and coloured in a bit.

From the wife of an artist to the mother of an artist, Helen Moylan chanced her arm at painting in a section. She did a good job too.

In between interruptions/assistance, Jim took the opportunity to advance his project a bit.

 Next up was Seán Comerford. Seán displayed an amazing (to me anyone) aptitude for this kind of thing. He is actually a quite good artist.

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Listowel’s Millennium Arch in 2018

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Friends’ Meeting

Summer in Kerry is a great time for meeting up with old friends

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From the John Hannon Archive

The late Eleanor Moore and Mark Walsh

Seán Moriarty

The play was in The Lartigue. Seán told me that he remembers a matinee dress rehearsal for children to iron out any glitches in the production. At one stage Seán’s character tells Getta Grogan’s character that he would like a brandy. As she is pouring the drink, he overhears one child saying to another, “She is giving him whiskey and he asked for brandy.”

Seán also remembers Mark Walsh’s character is shot. In rehearsal they just made a gunshot noise but in this final dress rehearsal, they had a genuine sound effect and Sean says he saw the fear in Mark’s eyes as he feared that the very real looking gun was an actual loaded firearm.

Happy days in the old Lartigue.

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Opening Soon

At 53 Church Street

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His Dream Job for a Genial Listowel Young Man



Story and picture from Mark Boylan of Racing Post

A familiar voice will greet racegoers in the post-Dessie Scahill commentary era with Jerry Hannon set to become Ireland’s primary racecourse commentator.

Scahill will depart from the commentary box on July 26 following an end to his contract with the Association of Irish Racecourses (Air).

Hannon said: “My dream has become a reality. I’m very grateful to the association for recognising the hard yards and sacrifices made over an 18-year period to get to this point.

“It’s on days like these that my late dad and the late Liam Healy are very much in my thoughts.”

The 37-year-old, who began his commentary career in pony racing in 1999, said of Scahill’s influence: “He’s been an inspiration of mine and I wish him all the best for his retirement.”

Paddy Walsh, chief executive of Air, said of the decision: “The model we have operated off in the past has been with one full-time worker for the association who looks after most of the commentaries and that has historically been Dessie. Jerry has been absorbing that role over the past number of years and he will now take over that function.”

Scahill’s retirement and Hannon’s increased role will lead to opportunities for new faces to join the commentary roster, according to Walsh, with Gary O’Brien expected to feature on the schedule, although plans have yet to be finalised.

Walsh added: “We have a panel of commentators to choose from when we have double meetings, holidays and other events. Peter O’Hehir and Richard Pugh have been members of the panel for a long number of years and they will continue to fulfil roles with us. We hope to be adding another couple of names to that group.

Saturday will mark Scahill’s final commentary of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and the 69-year-old said that although he felt he could have continued on a reduced schedule he had no complaints about the decision.

Walsh said: “I can’t get into the details of arrangements we have with Dessie or any of our other employees but all I can tell you is that arrangements for Dessie’s retirement were all done in full consultation – and agreement – with himself.

“I’d like to wish him all the best on his future as he’s been a great contributor to us for a long time, giving us great service.”

Moloney’s. A Letter from Listowel in 1897, Gurtinard Wood and Art in The Square for Listowel Visual Arts Week 2018

By

On June 27, 2018

In Uncategorized

Baby deer photo by Chris Grayson

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Moloney’s Garage, Market Street

Moloney’s of Listowel had the Ford dealership when many Irish people and particularly Munster people drove a Ford. Ford had an assembly plant in Cork.

Same building today

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A Letter from Kerry



This story is brought to us by Deborah Cronin. This is what she wrote;

My great grandfather, John J. Fitzmaurice, was from Listowel.  He was born in 1861 to James Fitzmaurice and Mary Dee.  John J. went to Chicago where he became a police officer and Detective. Eventually John married Deborah McAuliffe of Croughcroneen.   I am attaching a letter from James to son John written in 1897 that I thought you might find interesting.  Also attached are photos of John J. & Deborah.



It tells of a reliance on tillage farming, oats and potato harvest are of concern and there is also that blind faith in God to provide despite the evidence that there are hard times ahead. There seems to be a bit of trouble with a Mrs. Stack but it’s not too clear what that is.



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Gurtinard Wood


The walk through the woods is leafy and inviting these days.

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Listowel Visual Arts Week 2018


Listowel Visual Arts Week is a great addition to the plethora of festivals now taking place in Listowel. For one week, everywhere we looked there was Art on display. The festival was blessed with glorious sunshine and doubly blessed with generous artists and art collectors who shared their talents and treasures with us.

Readers of this blog will be familiar with the work of Athea based artist, Jim Dunn. He is responsible for the two enviable murals depicting Athea people and Athea life that adorn the village.

During Listowel Visual Arts Week, not only did we get to see Jim’s work, we also saw Jim at work. We saw how he does it and we even got an opportunity to “help” him create a masterpiece.

Jim paints with his right hand and in his left he holds a maul stick as an aid to keeping his hand steady.

You may recognise the local amateur artist painting a piece of the artwork.




I took these photos on day one. The painting went on for three days. So I’ll bring you more tomorrow.



Athea in the time of Cromwell and Now

By

On January 17, 2018

In Uncategorized


Godwits at Blennerville in November 2017


Photo by Chris Grayson

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Knitwits in Scribes


Brigita Formaliene, the new proprietor of Scribes in Church Street, did not forget her friends when she reconfigured the seating in her new café. She put Knitwits centre stage in a cozy intimate location.

Our numbers were down on Saturday January 13 when i took my photo but there will be plenty of room for us all when we are all back from our holidays and winter breaks.

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A New Book of Newcastlewest History


My friend, Vincent Carmody, gave me a present of a lovely book last week.

Newcastlewest in close up is a sister publication to Vincent’s splendid, Listowel, Snapshots of a Market Town. It is full of old photos, billheads, posters and history…another collector’s item.

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Athea in the 17th Century  (Continued)


as described in an account in The Kerry Reporter in 1933

.……During all this time (Penal Times in Ireland) the people were obliged to hear Mass secretly and by stealth, for if anybody was discovered openly exercising his religion, they were ruthlessly slaughtered on the spot. After some time, however, when the rigours of the penal laws abated somewhat. Bishop De Lacy managed to have a modest church put on that piece of ground where the national schools were afterwards erected. Up to this period, and ever since the burning down of the old church in Temple Athea, many years before, Mass was usually celebrated in the cave or hollow in Colbert’s Hill, where a Mission cross now stands. Particular place was selected for the celebration of Divine Service, this sheltered position protected the Mass candles, and its elevation prevented the priest hunter from stealing unawares on the congregation. The church which Bishop De Lacy put up on the site lately occupied by the old schoolhouse continued to serve the people as a place of worship until the present very fine structure was put up in 1864. Bishop De Lacy’s remains were interred in a tomb in the churchyard at Ardagh. Portion of the slab which guards the entrance to the tomb has been broken for many years, and through the aperture thus formed it is possible to see the coffin which encloses all that Is mortal of this, sainted and patriotic churchman.

Athea’s fairy trail is in a wooded area beside Con Colbert Memorial Hall. The signs are all first as Gaeilge and then in English

In Bishop De Lacy’s time, the people of Athea spoke only Irish, and it was this language that prevailed amongst them nearly right up to the middle of the last century. The village at the time was a very different place to what it is now, consisting as it did for the most part of a number of isolated thatched buildings, and shops, as we understand them at the present time, did not exist in the place. In the Gaelic tongue the name of Athea signifies the “ford of the mountains.” As already stated, in former days the Gale must have been a much larger stream than it is today, and this appellation means that people were able to get across it at Athea without undergoing the risk of being swept away by the current.

Athea continued to be merely a collection of thatched houses until about the middle of the last century, when better and more pretentious buildings began to make their appearance, and gradually the place began to assume its present neat and somewhat picturesque appearance. The village is situated, as it were, in the lap of the mountains and lies at the base of a range of low, purple hued hills. During the past quarter of a century It has grown considerably in size and is now a place of considerable business importance in the district. Athea possesses concreted streets and asphalted footwalks, and has in addition, an abundant water supply. The houses and shops are well built, and there Is a plentiful growth of timber about the village, which imparts to it a very pleasing and picturesque aspect.

 People who visit the Fairy Trail may leave their worries behind with Cróga, the brave fairy who takes on board everyone’s troubles.

 This footbridge runs beside the river and offers a great view of the native ducks and wild birds.

 To this day , the remains of the dense woodland of old can be seen around Athea.

One of Athea’s most famous families, the Ahern brothers is commemorated in this sculpture.

One of today’s most famous residents is Jim Dunn, whose stunning artwork is one of the main attractions in Athea today.

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