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: Joanne Dillon

Joanne Dillon, Fred Chute and a few small changes

Joanne Dillon of NY got an opportunity recently to spend time with some cousins and she sent us these photos.

Tommy Larkin, who hails from outside of Ballybunion, Joanne and Tom Dillon – at O’Hara’s Pub, near the World Trade Center Memorial, Lower Manhattan, NYC.

In this photo are (seated) Beverly & Tom Dillon from BunburyWestern Australia. Tom is Joanne’s first cousin. His father, John Dillon was originally from Dromerin, Listowel,  Tom’s mother was Catherine Nolan (originally from Coilbee, Listowel). John & Catherine emigrated to Western Australia roughly in the late 1930s.  They were with Joanne at John’s Italian Restaurant, East 12th Street, in Greenwich Village.


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Fred Chute, master painter, did a lovely job of repainting at Altered Images on Church St. His work throughout the town has contributed hugely to the much commented on charming appearance of Listowel today.



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I took this at the bridge on Tuesday last. There appeared to be  bit of reconstruction underway.


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The cinema seems to be getting a bit of an overhaul too.



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James Kenny sent me this picture of Tadhg Kennelly dancing a jig on the platform  in Listowel to celebrate Kerry’s All Ireland win in 2009.



St. Patrick’s Day in other places

After that flurry of activity over the weekend I am now returning to my normal pace of one post per day. I have lots of photos which I took over the weekend and I will share some of them in due course. But today I am sharing with you some stuff that people were kind enough to send us.

Our friend, Joanne Dillon was at the New York parade and she sent us this Smilebox of photos

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Thank you Joanne.

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I am posting Ed. O’Connor’s email in its entirety

For those from Listowel who may have connections to western Massachusetts, particularly Holyoke, check out the following site for reports of yesterday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Holyoke….just for information, Holyoke was once called Ireland’s Parish….it is a small city of about 40,000 souls which dramatically increases in size during parade weekend….they crown a colleen who wins a trip to Ireland as part of the prize…

Although Boston, New York and Chicago are much larger cities, the Holyoke parade is impressive especially if the weather is good as it was yesterday…..there can be up to half a million folks who watch the parade and the organizers always have a large number of floats and marching bands…

Check out www.masslive.com

Enjoyed watching your parade….

Ed O’Connor


Ed. is a good friend of listowelconnection and NKRO and he is coming to our festival this summer.

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I’m glad so many people are enjoying the video clips of the Tea Dance. It was a great success. Kay O’Leary, the driving force behind the venture has sent me some photos and I took a few as well on Saturday. I’ll share them with you during the week.

Meanwhile an old photo from a bygone St. Patrick’s Day; Dublin 1939

I found the photo on the internet. The writing is indecipherable. I don’t really know what is going on with those planes.

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http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2012/0320/sport/aussie-rules-hero-stynes-loses-cancer-battle-544124.html

Very sad news breaking from Melbourne this morning. Jim Stynes, who blazed a trail for young Irishmen like our own Seán Whyte and Tadhg Kennelly has passed away at the age of 45. He is being awarded a state funeral, such was his status in his adopted city.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal dílis.

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/03/20/goodbye-jim/

Posters, New Look Church St.

Here are a few things to do in Listowel over the next few days.

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This end of Church St. has had a bit of a face lift recently. Mrs. Quin’s has rebranded as NCBI ( National Council for the Blind of Ireland)

Eason has opened next door.

Ladbrokes is in situ in time for Cheltenham

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Some more from John Pierse

Members of TABLE hard at work.

This looks like the Town Council of a few years back but where and why?

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Joanne Dillon from Brooklyn sent us the following account of mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan last Saturday,



Celebrating at New York’s Other St. Patrick’s Cathedral


Most people, New Yorkers included, are not aware that New York City boasts not one — but two — St. Patrick’s Cathedrals.

The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, on Mott Street, near Little Italy, Chinatown and the trendy SoHo district in lowerManhattan, was built in the early 19th century. It served as the seat of the Archdiocese of New York until 1879, when the Cathedral of St. Patrick on Fifth Avenue and 50th Street was completed and became the center of the Catholic Church inNew York.

For almost 200 years, St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral has flourished as a church serving immigrants. Irish, Italian, Haitian, German and French communities have all worshipped there as they worked to gain their foothold in America. Today, the parish serves an active congregation of Chinese, Mexican and Dominican immigrants.

Over the years, however, the Basilica has maintained its ties to the Irish community. And on Saturday, March 10, it recognized the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday by celebrating an Irish language Mass. As New Yorkers began their St. Patrick’s Day festivities in earnest, about 200 people turned out for the Mass, which was cosponsored by the New York Irish History Roundtable and Glucksman Ireland House of New York University.

Fr. Andrew O’Connor of Holy Family Parish, Castle Hill Avenue, in the Bronx, and Fr. Aidan O’Driscoll, who hails fromCounty Cork, served as concelebrants. An honor guard from New York’s famous Sixty-Ninth Infantry Regiment of the Irish Brigade — “The Fighting Sixty-Ninth” — led the processional. Following the Mass, the Washington Square Harp & Shamrock Orchestra provided some lively music, while attendees enjoyed a traditional corned beef and cabbage buffet luncheon.

Photos Attached:

§         Fighting Sixty Ninth Honor Guard

§         St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral

§         Members of the Washington Square Harp & Shamrock Orchestra




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