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
To recap for people coming new to this, Jimmy McElligott was a WW2 pilot and a native of Bridge Road, Listowel. Jimmy was a star of the Rockwell rowing team and Munster rugby. Jimmy’s plane was brought down at Dunkirk. Jimmy was not among the survivors. He was 24.
Thomas Buckley has found online the location of Jimmy’s grave in a war cemetery near Paris.
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Carmel’s Photos
Carmel has remembered a few more names.
I want to say the match was in Brosna but I could be pulling that out of the air.
Isabel Carmody, unknown boy, Kerry McAuliffe, Tommy Moore, ??, Carmel Hanrahan, Monica (or perhaps Martina) Barrett, Geraldine Browne, Maura ??, ??, Kathleen Kennelly, ?? man standing at back, Caroline Barrett, Niamh Long, ?? at back, Denise Mulvihill, ?? at back, Matty Donohue, Front: ??, Kerry’s friend from boarding school and Norma Doyle
Dermot Mahoney remembers that Kerry’s friend was Audrey Hanley.
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A Sobering Thought
I shared this before but it’s worth revisiting. I found it on the internet when looking for something else.
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Doing Anything on Saturday ?
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A Fact
In 1968 Dr. Christian Bernard performed the second ever heart transplant on Philip Blaiberg.
Red Deer in Killarney National Park photographed by Chris Grayson
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Listowel Rower and Pilot
During my Christmas break from blogging I received this letter and the following story.
Hi Mary,
I saw your piece about Jimmy mcElligott in your blog. He was a school friend of my father in Rockwell College and was part of the first crew that rowed for Rockwell, when the Rowing Club was set up. I have attached the story of the club. My father always spoke about Jimmy and how he had managed to crash-land the plane and save the crew’s lives before he died.
Regards,
Dermot Mangan.
The following letter is what I had published previously. Ita Hannon found the below letter in a box of memorabilia but she had no idea who he was or if he had anyone left.
Below is some of the long article from the Rockwell Rowing archive. Dermot sent the full article which has photographs of the rowing teams. If anyone is interested, drop me an email.
Rockwell College Rowing Club
Rockwell College has a strong sports tradition participating in a number of sports. It is for
however rugby that the school is best known, having won the Munster Schools Senior Cup 26
time and the junior title on 20 occasions. Most of those involved in rowing today are unlikely
to realise that in the 1930s and 1940s, rowing was a sport in which the school was not alone
a participant, but a leader.
The story begins in 1932 when Colman Mangan from Dublin arrived as a boarder in Rockwell
College which is located a few kilometres from Cashel in Co. Tipperary. Exploring the grounds
he quickly discovered the 23-acre lake and boathouse which contained a number of boats
used by the students during their leisure time. During the summer of 1933 he told his elder
brother Kevin of the facilities and the elder sibling, who was at the time captain of Dolphin
Rowing Club in Ringsend, Dublin, suggested that the school should form a schools crew to
compete at Dublin Metropolitan Regatta in 1934. As the regatta was to take place in Ringsend,
he offered the use of a boat and the club facilities.
On his return to Rockwell in the autumn, Colman put this proposal to Fr. Pat Walsh who was
most enthusiastic. Training commenced that autumn and a set of new oars were purchased.
It would appear that the boats had fixed seats as there is a note to the effect that one boat
was to be converted to sliding seats. After Easter, trials were held and the crew for
Metropolitan Regatta was finalised. Colman’s brother Kevin was a barrister, and when
appearing on the Munster Circuit, he helped coach the crews They were also assisted by John
Scully of Carrick-on-Suir Boat Club who became a regular coach. All were not as supportive
and Fr. White, Dean of Discipline reluctantly signed the entry form with the boys paying their
own entry fees.
At this point it is worth explaining the schoolboy rowing scene in Ireland at the time. Despite
the IARU passing rules permitting schoolboy rowing in 1910, development was slow and there
was only one race at Trinity regatta until Metropolitan also added an event for schools fours
in 1930. The crews had to be full-time students representing a school which meant that clubs
could not enter crews of their own. Since its inauguration, the Metropolitan event had never
attracted more than three entries in any year. With the crew confirmed as Teddy O’Sullivan (bow), Jimmy McElligott, Jim O’Sullivan, Coley
Mangan (stk), Phil Brennan (cox), they were ready for action. As the regatta was in July and
the school had broken up for the year, the boys assembled in Dublin a week before the race.
Two of them stayed in the Coley family home while the O’Sullivan brothers were
accommodated in Blackrock College. The crew were provided with a boat by Dolphin Rowing
Club and were coached early each morning by Kevin Mangan and again after work. There
was great disappointment when the crew learned that Belvedere College, the most consistent
school in the event were not entering a crew that year leaving them without opposition. On
regatta day, they rowed over the course to claim the title and trophy but alas no medals.
Despite their frustration and not having a crew to race, the seed had been sown and the boys
were determined that rowing would continue at Rockwell. During the summer they were
buoyed by an encounter with some of the Belvedere boys who assured them they would be
competing the following year. Back at school, the sight of a trophy on the sideboard together
with the good publicity they had earned resulted in a change of heart regarding aquatics by
the most reluctant of the school authorities.
In 1935 training started earlier and there was a larger group of boys interested in trying out for
the crew. The new line-up was Frank Mulcahy (bow), Jimmy McElligott, Jack Deasy, Colman
Mangan (stk), P. Morrissey (cox). They competed at Galway Regatta where they were beaten
by Colaiste Iognaid but were pleased to have finished ahead of St Josephs. At Metropolitan Regatta, which was that year held in Islandbridge, Belvedere kept their word and entered a
crew which Rockwell beat easily thus retaining the trophy.
The win by this provincial school was popular and the publicity generated resulted in a number
of other schools becoming interested in competing at Metropolitan. Within a few years they
were competing against Methodist College, Colaiste Iognaid, Presentation College, Coleraine
Academical Institution and Portora who were always strong contenders. Relations with the
others schools was excellent which is illustrated by an incident during a race with Methodist
College at Trinity Regatta. Rockwell infringed on one of the bends and as a result Methodist
were advised by the umpire that they could claim a foul and win the race. The Methodist
response was that Rockwell were ahead of them at the time and as they considered they were
unlikely to have caught them, refused to claim the race.
Resulting from the increased competition, Rockwell were dethroned as Metropolitan
Champions in 1936 and were also unsuccessful in 1937. They did take some solace from
winning the Under Age Fours in Cork in 1936 and Cork Regatta Schools Fours in 1937. The
school did not participate at Metropolitan in 1938 or 1939 but came back with a bang the
following year to start a dominant winning streak in the Metropolitan Schools Cup which
involved success in 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1944. This was widely considered the
unofficial Irish schoolboy championship at the time. Part of the reason for this unprecedented
success may be explained by the rigorous training regime undertaken by the Rockwell boys.
Such was the impact on the boys that the collage power granted them an extra meal and an additional hours sleep.
(apologies for the poor formatting)
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Freeman of The City of London
“(He) took the road less travelled
And that has made all the difference.”
After over 50 years ministering to and campaigning for LGBT people, Bernárd Lynch has been honoured with the Freedom of the City of London in a ceremony on January 17 2025. He joined a roll of honour, beside approximately 2,000 other people of worth and significance. The Freedom of the City of London was first bestowed in 1237.
Has Bernárd a Listowel connection?
Yes….me
Jim Cogan and Bernárd Lynch entered the SMA seminary to study for the priesthood in the same year. They became firm friends and, because loyalty is a characteristic of both men, they remained friends for life.
Since Jim’s death, Bernárd has remained in touch and I am very proud to call him my friend.
Bernárd has ploughed a tough furrow, at times isolated and vilified. He was even falsely accused and had to stand trial. Through it all he has never feared to speak truth to power and to lead by example. Again and again he has stayed the course when it would have been easier to run away.
His native Clare is proud of Bernárd. He has already received Ennis’ highest honour. Ireland is proud of him. He was honoured by President Michael D. Higgins in 2019.
No one is more proud than Billy Desmond.
Bernárd with his husband, Billy, in London on January 17 2025.
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Remember this?
This is a gas cooker. Wouldn’t this have been a godsend in so many homes during the recent cold snap?
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Something to Ponder
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Explanation for Last Week’s Glitch
If you are reading this in an email you will probably be aware that for a few days last week the email service was disabled. Very unfortunately this glitch co incided with Carmel Hanrahan’s reminiscences in which so many people are interested.
In case you didn’t know, every blogpost that I have written for the last 12 years is available at
So, even if the email doesn’t drop, you need never miss a post.
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A Fact
Horse racing in North Kerry once centred on Ballyeigh at the mouth of the Cashen river. A vicious faction fight broke out at the meeting in 1834 and that was the beginning of the end of racing in Ballyeigh.
(This fact is verified by John OFlahery who is an expert of the history of Listowel Races.)
Ita Hannon took this super shot of Tarbert Lighthouse.
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Enduring Love
Couples coming and going in Listowel last week
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Aileen Returns as a Visitor
Thirty years ago a recently qualified young teacher made her way to Listowel to take up her new teaching post in Presentation Secondary School, Listowel.
Aileen Hayes did not arrive in town on a bike but when she returned recently and we visited the Lartigue she posed with their bike.
These volunteers were on duty on the day we visited.
During the six years she lived in Listowel, Aileen took part in several Lartigue Theatre productions. Martin Griffin was a star of these shows. She met him on her return visit in his new role as stationmaster of the Lartigue.
When Aileen arrived in town for the first time in 1978 she was dismayed to find that there was no accommodation to be found. The fleadh cheoil was in full swing and every bed in town was occupied. Aileen and her dad were wandering the streets in despair when they ran into Bryan MacMahon. They told him of their plight. Bryan invited them into his home and he made a few phone calls on their behalf. Bryan found Aileen a bed for the 2 nights until things had quietened down and the fleadh crowds had departed. Aileen never forgot the great man’s kindness to her in her hour of need. She got to know The Master better when she came to work and live in town and whenever she ran into him in the street he always stopped for a chat and a catch up. So, on her recent return visit, Aileen was happy to pose for a photo with her first Listowel friend.
We took the tour of the castle with Dianne Nolan.
Aileen was fascinated by the reworked confession boxes in St. Mary’s. She hadn’t seen anything like this before.
We visited the Garden of Europe.
When she lived in Listowel, Aileen lived in Church St. in a house owned by Pierse Walsh. Pierse invited myself and Aileen for a coffee and a scone in his lovely welcoming Café Hanna and they reminisced about times past and the changes in both their lives in thirty years.
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When a whole generation was wiped out…
Dunkirk ………Despite staggering
losses, the airmen clambered aboard their woefully outclassed Fairey Battles
and Bristol Blenheims again and again to embark on doomed missions to stem the
German advance.
This
culminated on May 14 when the RAF launched a series of desperate raids around
Sedan to aid their French allies and attempt to destroy key bridges being used
by the Germans.
The
results were catastrophic.
Of 71
aircraft, 39 were shot down, the worst reversal of its type in the history of
the RAF.
Wireless
operators Michael Millar, from Dublin, and William Nolan, from Rathkeale, Co
Limerick, both died that day in Fairey Battles; wireless operator Patrick
Aherne, from Youghal, Co Cork, went down in a Blenheim.
The RAF
continued to go out.
Five days
after Sedan, pilot officer Jimmy McElligot, from Listowel, Co Kerry, took his
Fairey Battle out to bomb targets in the Ardennes.
As he
carried out the mission his aircraft was swarmed by no less than six Me109
fighters.
Despite
putting up stiff resistance, the result was inevitable.
The
battle came down in a wood, and Jimmy died from his injuries.
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Sr. Roch Kissane
The Kissanes are gathered this weekend to celebrate their family. This illustrious clan are to the forefront in business and education today. Their ancestors were farmers who, from a farm in North Kerry, send its offspring far and wide to be leaders of their communities in the U.S. and Australia.
One of these famous offspring was Sr. Roch Kissane.
It was my great privilege to meet Sr. Roch in her later years..a truly extraordinary woman.
This is Sr. Roch with her sister in religious and real life, Sr. Chrysostom. A huge tragedy that befell Sr. Roch early in her life in her new home, Australia, was the tragic death of her sister. Hannah Kissane was drowned while swimming at a beach near their convent. A local man and his son who were in the water nearby made valient but vain attempts to save her. That man was also drowned. His son kept in touch with the Kissane family and came to visit them years later when on a trip to Ireland.
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It was Roses Roses All the Way
On Tuesday last, Aug 15 2017, I was planning on taking my young visitors to their favourite Kerry visitor attraction, The Kingdom Greyhound Stadium.
This was no ordinary night at the track as the Roses were to attend. We got to town early and learned, by chance, that the Roses were due at the Rose Hotel at 4.00 p.m. We took a stroll through the park, which was looking resplendent in preparation for the festival, and we called to look at the new mural.
Along the way I told the boys something of the history behind the festival. I told them the two sad stories, of Mary the inspiration for the song and of Dorothy, the 2011 Washington Rose who died so young.
We headed back to the hotel in good time to get a good viewing point for the entrance of the lovely girls. The Texas delegation had a huge charm offensive going on. They plied us with flags, badges and keyrings. My two young charges were sorely tempted to change allegiance. I had to remind that the Florida Rose was the Rose with the Listowel connection.
The Texas Rose’s dad, Mr. O’Lopez himself gave every child a token and soon he had a crew of local children holding his big banner and waving Texas flags. In the battle of the fans, Texas won hands down.
The Carlow Rose wiped away a tear as she spotted her crew with their massive banner. The girl in front of her in my photograph is Teresa Daly from Kanturk who is the Chicago Rose.
There was something unsettlingly military about the uniformed ranks of young men forming a guard of honour as the Roses entered.
The Roses also wore a uniform of red dress and black shoes.
Family and friend cheered and applauded.
Then we spotted her. Our very own Listowel connection, Elizabeth Marince, proud granddaughter of Tom O’Donoghue of Tannavalla, delighted to be back in Kerry doing her Listowel family proud.
