Lower Courthouse Road in April 2023
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Pitch and Putt
My 2 eldest grandchildren are all grown up now. Visits to pet farms and fairy trails don’t cut it anymore. They have found a new passion, Pitch and Putt. They played the Listowel course three times on their recent visit and pronounced it an excellent course.
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A Poem by Listowel’s John McAuliffe
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An Emigrant Remembers
John Leahy wrote to us again. His Listowel Connection, I’ll remind you, is with the Leahy’s of Leahy’s Corner Shop. John’s father was Sean Patrick Leahy. His grandather was Jack Leahy.
John is a poet and publishes his poems on The Kemptown Verses website
Here is his recent email;
Dear Mary
Thank you so much for including my poem and picture in your beautiful
magazine.
I was so proud. I seldom write love poems, but that one was specifically
for Carina and means a lot.
This has really brought out deep emotions and memories for me.
On a trip home when I was about 13 or 14 my cousins took me to a
restaurant in the Square;
one of them nudged me and said with great satisfaction “look on the next
table, that’s John B. Keane”
Some days later one of his sons came to Tralee with us to see a band.
It was my late farther who got me into writing because of his great love
of literature.
He passed away in 2005 at the age of 93, I really wish he could have
seen your magazine.
Mum came from Donegal in a small holding near Killybegs. Her maiden name
was Callaghan.
I lost her in 1993.
Kind Regards
John
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Listowel Writers’ Week 2023
If you are in town on Saturday June 3 2023, why not come and join me and my band of able assistants on our morning walk. We’ll have songs and stories and not much walking.
There’s a Writers’ Week Parkrun at 9.30 for the more energetic.
Charlie Nolan’s video of the walk in 2018 is here;
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I was at a Birthday Party on Saturday
Mary Boyer is 85.
Mary with her two sons in Namir’s in Ballybunion on Saturday April 22 2023. Mary was joined by family, friends and neighbours to celebrate the milestone birthday.
Mary with Mairead Sharry
Mary with Patricia Borley
With Maria Leahy
With Ruth OQuigley
These are just some of the friends Mary has made as she engaged in her many activities. If ever there was a poster girl for lifelong learning it’s Mary Boyer. Mary’s skills include, knitting, crochet, macramé, flower arranging, cooking, jewellery making and creative writing. A little bird told me she is learning the keyboard.
Mary with her old friend, Namir Karim, who opened his doors on Saturday especially to host Mary’s party.
Mary has that enviable ability to make friends and to keep them for life. We’ll be back for the 90th and for many more le Cúnamh Dé.
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A Fact
The first ever safety feature for a car was invented in 1908 by John O’Leary.
What was it?
He patented a large net like a giant shrimp net to be attached to the front bumper to scoop pedestrians out of harm’s way before they could be run over.
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