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: John Lynch Page 2 of 3

Listowel Pitch and Putt Course, Seán Clárach Mac Domhnaill and Rewilding

By

On July 16, 2019

In Uncategorized

St. Mary’s, Listowel in July 2019

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Listowel Pitch and Putt Course in Summer 2019


The course is in tip top condition and a credit to all the people who look after it.

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Book of Ignorance




Another pearl of wisdom for you….

Over a fifteen year period an ecologist called Jennifer Owen discovered 422 species of plant and 1,757 species of animal including 533 species never before recorded in Britain and four were completely new to science. All this in her suburban garden in Humberscome. So if you have enough time, patience and, of course, expertise, it is quite possible to discover a new species without ever leaving home. AND if you get to discover a new species, you get to name it.


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‘Sé mo Laoch……


Text and photo is a Facebook post from Raymond O’Sullivan.


While waiting and praying(?) that my old car would pass the NCT test in Charleville this morning, I jumped the wall into the adjacent Holy Cross cemetery to pay my respects to the 18th century Gaelic poet, Seán “Clárach” Mac Domhnaill. He was born in Churchtown in 1691 but lived most of his life in Charleville, and is buried there in the ruins of the mediaeval church in the centre of the graveyard. Although a labourer by trade he was regarded by his peers as Príomh-Éigeas na Mumhan or Chief Poet of Munster. He is best remembered for Mo Ghile Mear, a Jacobite ballad composed after the defeat and exile of Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden in 1746. One of our most popular Gaelic songs, it has become the ‘anthem’ of our southern neighbours in Cúil Aodha i nGaeltacht Mhúscraí.
BTW, she passed the test. Never underestimate an old man with an old Nissan Micra.

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Rewilding



That’s the new name for it. So if your lawn is going to seed and your garden looks a bit neglected, you can say you are “rewilding”. It’s the latest trend in gardening.

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So Sad




This story was all over main stream and social media yesterday so I’m sure by now people will have made out who John was. I hope he had a good turn out at his funeral.

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Good News from Ballybunion



Beach Wheelchairs

Kerry County Council have announced that there will be a beach wheelchair available on the ladies beach for the summer. The wheelchairs will be available for booking until 15th of September.

This service is free but the wheelchairs must be booked in advance and are available for up to 3-hour slots. They are available at Collin’s Seaweed bath’s phone 068-27469, Times available during weekdays are 12pm to 5.30pm and at the weekends 11am to 6pm. For further information phone 066-7162000 or email: environ@kerrycoco.ie

All Night Dance Poster, Pat MacAuliffe, John Lynch and Kathy Greaney

By

On June 26, 2018

In Uncategorized

Turf on Stack’s Mountain

Photo: Máire Logue

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An Old Poster



Violet Dalton posted this poster for an “All Night Dance” on Facebook

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Pat MacAulliffe’s shop fronts


During Writers’ Week and again during Visual Arts Week our attention was drawn to the unique and eccentric legacy of street art that is left behind by our very own Banksy, Pat McAuliffe.

Pat Mac Auliffe was a man with a wide range of knowledge, a smattering of several languages and a bravery  and flamboyance that is unmatched anywhere in Ireland’s streets.

Apparently a condition of employing him was that you gave him free rein and you accepted whatever he came up with. This appealed to his mischievous nature and he was not above the odd joke at his employer’s expense.

Seán Lynch is an artist whose work is influenced by the shopfronts of Listowel. He led our walking tour on the Friday of Listowel Writers’ Week 2018. He has made a detailed study of the work of Pat McAuliffe and he is knowledgeable and entertaining in his account of the streetscapes of our native town.

This detail over a door in The Square is modelled on worm casts.

 McAuliffe sisters learning more about their famous relative.

Listowel Travel is a good example of his craftwork, beautifully painted by the Chutes who are, in my opinion, the very best interpreters of his work.

Marvellous detail, beautifully painted at Listowel Travel.

 Lion’s were frequently depicted. This black animal might be a dog.

McAuliffe was wonderfully inventive. The nails in this horseshoe are actually bicycle tail lights. This detail is at Behan’s The Horseshoe.

Notice how the cctv camera is cleverly incorporated into the shopfront without taking from the artwork. This is a great example of how the work this local artist is respected and integrated.

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A Listowel Film maker and family

I met the Lynch family out and about during Writers’ Week. John is a man who has covered years and years of historic events in Listowel. He is a great social historian and his films will be valued and treasured for generations.

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From the John Hannon Archive



Kathy Greaney in Main Street, Listowel

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Another  Evening, Another Sunset, Another Photographer

June 23 2018, Nuns’ Beach, Ballybunion, Bridget O’Connor

Cricket, Corran Tuathail, Googling Listowel and The Sydney Rose

By

On August 2, 2017

In Uncategorized

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Oops, I turned the wrong corner




Yesterday I referred to this corner as Cain’s of the Bridewell. One eagle eyed local historian (Vincent Carmody) luckily spotted my mistake and took the opportunity to set me straight by rounding off all my corners.

So the above is not Cain’s Corner but McGinley’s Corner. Cain’s is where the old ESB office was. Cotter’s Corner is where Scullys was and Chic is now. Walsh’s Corner is now McKenna’s and Dillons is the corner of William Street and Charles St. where Jackie Carmody’s was. Thank you, Vincent. When it comes to Listowel’s history, this man knows his stuff.

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Cricket in Sunday’s Well

While I was in the Mardyke area in Cork I happened on a cricket match in progress. It all looked so leisurely and slow. It was nice to watch even if I didn’t have a clue what was going on.

I think maybe it’s time to ditch the all whites rule as it is impossible to tell one team from the other and they must be a nightmare to keep clean.

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Corran Tuathail in Summer 2017



Deirdre Lyons climbed the highest peak in Ireland in the company of  one of the greatest endurance athletes in Ireland, John Lenihan.  Deirdre brought her camera.



At the summit, John signed a copy of his book, Tough as Leather, for Deirdre.

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Keepers of the Flame


I have the utmost respect and admiration for these two men. They are John Lynch and Charlie Nolan. Quietly and without ceremony or hoping for any reward this pair have recorded so many events in Listowel. Because of their dedication to recording life (human and wildlife) in Listowel, future generations will have a record of what life was like in our fair town in the twentieth and twenty first centuries. We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

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Putting Listowel on the Map

Damien O’Mahoney is doing his bit to promote Listowel. He is a local guide for Google maps. This is not a job. It’s a honorary title bestowed on someone who puts up lots of photos of their local area on Google and who contributes information to enhance the online profile of the town.

Saturday was International Google Interactive Maps Day and Damien organised a local event to photograph and improve Listowel’s online presence. I went along with my two visitors. We had a great day.

Here we go a googling. We gathered at Listowel Castle. Our first task was to photograph the castle inside and out.

Catherine Moylan helped carry the “pin”. The prop kept us on track as a reminder of the purpose of our tour. Catherine is one of the volunteer Tweeters for Love Listowel and the newly formed Business and Community Alliance. She was live tweeting our walk.

From the castle we looked down over the Feale.

Killian tried on a soldier’s helmet. It was very heavy.

Our guide, Eamonn, explained to us all the defensive elements of the castle. Let’s say it was fairly well fortified and defended. I can see why it’s still standing today.

This is the view into the Square from one of the upper windows of the castle.

This is Tomás an apa on the front wall of the castle.

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What Odds?



Our local Paddy Power shop is backing the Sydney Rose for the upcoming Rose of Tralee contest. Her name is Aisling and she looks very beautiful Her campaign slogan is a catchy Ash for the Sash. Could she have a Listowel connection, I wondered?

Google had the answer. Here is her blurb on the Rose of Tralee official site;

SYDNEY ROSE
AISLING WALSH

Hello from the Sydney Rose! My name is Aisling Walsh, I’m 27 years old from Ballylongford in North Kerrywhere I grew up with my parents, brother & sister. I broke my parents hearts and moved to Sydney four
years ago with my boyfriend on a one way flight seeking a new adventure, opportunities and live the
dream of travelling around the world.

First stop…Sydney and we never left!

I fell in love with this beautiful, vibrant & hectic city which has now become my second home. What’snot to love about Sydney the glorious weather, the lifestyle and endless job opportunities, I knew this
was where I was meant to be. I hope to become a permanent resident by the end of 2017.

I studied a Bachelor of Science degree in the Institute of Technology Tralee and graduated with anHonours degree in General Nursing in 2012. I have a real ‘grá’ for caring & helping others ever since ayoung age and all I ever wanted to be was a nurse. I currently work primarily in Oncology nursing in some
of the major cancer-treating hospitals in Sydney and I hope to obtain a post-graduate degree in Oncology
in the near future.Within the last year I’ve become a facilitator for new-graduate students as part of a
graduate program with the University of Sydney. I love being able to teach these students my Irish
nursing experience & skills. Although nursing is both a physical & emotionally challenging vocation Icouldn’t and wouldn’t do anything else!

I miss home almost every other day,but playing the traditional flute with a cup of Barry’s Tea orstrolling along the beautiful Bondi to Coogee coastline makes everything ok! I am honoured to be
representing Sydney this year and to return home to the Kingdom of Kerry for this year’s Rose of Tralee
festival. 


Kennedy’s Pet Farm, The Kingdom County Fair and a few photos of town

By

On May 13, 2016

In Uncategorized

Some Aspects of Town


Cherry tree by the river near the racecourse bridge

 Spire of St. Mary’s

 Door into The Seanchaí


2 Jack Russells in The Living History park at Listowel Military Tattoo 2016

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Can you imagine a lovelier place to live?

This is Kennedy’s pet Farm and last week  I was back for my second visit of 2016 .

The puppies had grown but they were still seriously cute.

This lamb was only hours old and just finding its feet.

 The old wooden boats are still popular.

The calves are very tame and friendly.

Rabbits and guinea pigs were probably the most popular animals with my grandchildren.

It does my heart good to see the poultry roaming free.

The children went trip trapping on the “trolls’ bridge”.

 Then it was back to the animals again.

Scenes in Kennedy’s are reminiscent of a Turner painting.

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Listowel Ladies doing business at The Kingdom County Fair


Dawn Thomas and another satisfied customer.

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A Celebration of Listowel videographers



Weds May 11 2016 was a great Listowel night in St. John’s. We were treated to a feast of local memorabilia and wildlife.


This is Charles Nolan, Listowel’s answer to David Attenborough. The big difference is that Attenborough has a team of cameramen, editors and assistants to help him. Charlie is a one man show.

Charlie knows the River Feale like no other. He is really knowledgeable about the fish, birds, insects and animals of our local river. He has filmed them over months and has spend even more months editing the film, identifying the subjects and adding a soundtrack which is mix of birdsong and music. The result is a masterpiece and a triumph for this humble Listowel man whom we are so lucky to have in our midst.

John and Noreen Lynch

The second half of the show was devoted to the work of John Lynch, our own documentary videographer over so many years. One of the gems John has recorded is the late Joe Hickey making a boot. This skill, now almost forgotten, is preserved forever in John’s lovely film.

We also saw the Fleadh Cheoil of 1973, which was shot by John. He concentrated on the human elements and the life on the street and in the camping site.

It was a joy to watch this film in the company of Listowel people who were thrilled to recognise local people as they appeared. Unfortunately many of the these old folks are now gone from us. A huge cheer went up when Jimmy Hickey in his prime dancing in The Square appeared on screen.

All in all a great night and a very successful fundraiser for Kerry Parents and Friends.



John Pierse, who was the mastermind behind the venture, is pictured here with the musicians who did a great job in matching and recording the music. The original was filmed without sound.

Mario Goetze, God’s Acre, Turf cutting and a trip down Memory Lane

By

On April 29, 2013

In Uncategorized

We knew him when he was only a lad.

This is a photo of Shane Murray(Ireland) and Mario Goetze(Germany) taken in Listowel in 2008.

This is the same Mario now aged 20 in his Borussia Dortmund colours. He is in the news because he practically single handedly beat the great Real Madrid on Weds. last.



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Last Wednesday night in St. John’s we were treated to a rare glimpse into Listowel in times past, as seen through the lenses of John Lynch and Jack McKenna.

John McKenna played some apt tunes on the the piano as we watched footage never before seen in a public setting in Listowel.

Jack McKenna has been recording life in his native town since the 1940s. He recorded the FCA in the Square as they drilled in preparation for invasion in the 1940s. He recorded Seamus Wilmot’s funeral, Dick Pierse’s wonder horse, the Feale under ice and a frosty Sunday morning in the Square in the 1950s. 

These are just some of the gems we watched on Weds. night.

The feeling was one of attending an old black and white silent movie, but one set in a familiar location. It was a privilege to watch these old movies in the company of the film makers.

I took a few photos of attendees on the night

Claire and Bernie Carmody

Liz and Marie McAulliffe

Jim Sheahan and John Lynch
Sue and Jack McKenna with Sue Taylor
Veronica Corridan and friend

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Dick Carmody took a great interest in the posts about An Teampall Bán. He shares this poem with us which he wrote earlier this year . The poem is about God’s Acre, a burial ground of unmarked graves in Ballybeggan, Tralee. This graveyard dates back to The Famine and times of other tragic sufferings.

God’s
Acre

God’s
Acre bids me enter through the well trodden stile of crafted limestone

Man’s
handiwork separating the living from the dead, the busy from the rested

Therein
repose the remains of the unmentioned, unlisted and oft forgotten

In
distant times of want, denial and inhumanity they came here for final rest

Alone
they sometimes sought it out, cold refuge against an even colder neglect

Last
faltering steps taken to meet their Maker in the soft embrace of Mother Earth

Or in
make-shift carts a final journey shared from workhouse or roadside refuge

Drawn
over limestone paths by souls rehearsing their own inevitable last journey.

In
our own time of plenty and opportunity we still seek out this relic from the
past

Stepping
inside from a world speeding by, we each find our own personal recess

Arriving
to repose the burdens of our living with the memories of those deceased

The
Stations, the Grotto, the Altar and the Cross all give us comfort on our way

Departing
we are relieved, comforted and renewed by this sanctuary to our dead

God
surely chose his Acre wisely, its great value not being of our choiceor making.

Dick
Carmody                                    January,
2013

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Lovely photo of men cutting turf on a raised bank, one sleánsman and one catcher  carrying on an age old tradition.

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I took this photo a few years ago at the unveiling of the John B. sculpture in the Garden of Europe. Billy Keane is surrounded by a bevy of local beauties.

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This was the only photo I could find on the internet of Miriam O’Callaghan accepting the inaurgual Mary Cummins award for outstanding achievement by an Irish woman working in the media. It was presented at the First Women in the Media event held in Ballybunion last weekend. The event was a great success by all accounts.

The Bog2Beach challenge was a great success as well. If I come across any photos in my research or if someone would like to send me some of photos of either event I’d love to share them.

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Yesterday I went to Kerry Parents and Friends Garden Fete. Here is alittle video I made and I’ll post some photos during the week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFLWmhd5kBY&feature=youtu.be

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