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
As we look forward to another extension to Presentation Secondary School, let’s look back at the last big extension in 1985.
The late Bishop Diarmaid OSuilleabháin said the official opening mass and he blessed the new building.
<<<<<<<<
Memories of a Holiday in a Horse Drawn Caravan
Horsedrawn caravan holiday were all the rage in the 1960s. The slow pace, the novelty of caring for an animal and the uniqueness of the experience attracted many overseas visitors.
One such visitor sent us this picture.
Richard Freedberg wrote
Our horse was named GERRY. and he was very rambunctious. He stopped at every pub on the way. I had to go into one pub to learn the Irish word for STOP. I kept yelling WHOA. Finally a man said to say the word “BACK” and it worked perfectly. We had campfires, went to village festvals, my wife was serenaded in a pub with Rose of Tralee, both sons loved giving Gerry peanut butter when he stuck his head in the caravan. I sort of remember Ballybunion. Is that possible? Almost 50 years ago. Thanks and thanks again. It was a charming vacation. Richard (from Miami)
<<<<<<<<<
Keep On Keeping on
<<<<<<<<<
Honouring St. Brigid in Kildare
On February 1, St. Brigid’s Day 2024, close on 4,000 pupils from Kildare schools formed a human St. Bridget’s Cross on the plains in The Curragh. Mark McGuire took the photo using a drone.
<<<<<<<
A Fact
In 1626 the U.S purchased the Island of Manhattan from the American Native people.
North Kerry sunrise photographed in January 2022 by Ita Hannon
<<<<<<<<<<<<
A Poem sent to us by Éamon ÓMurchú
John O’Donohue A Blessing For The New Year
On the day when The weight deadens On your shoulders And you stumble, May the clay dance To balance you.
And when your eyes Freeze behind The gray window And the ghost of loss Gets into you, May a flock of colors Indigo, red, green and azure blue, Come to awaken in you A meadow of delight
When the canvas frays In the curragh of thought And a stain of ocean Blackens beneath you, May there come across the waters A path of yellow moonlight To bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours, May the clarity of light be yours, May the fluency of the ocean be yours, May the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow Wind work these words Of love around you, An invisible cloak To mind your life.
<<<<<<<<
2022
John Kelliher took this marvellous picture of Listowel Town Square in December 2021
Here in North Kerry 2022 is opening with businesses closing, shops having to shut temporarily due to staff absences due to Covid and our streets at times eerily quiet as we are advised to limit social mixing. Our resilience is being tested but we will survive.
I’m back after a longer Christmas holiday than usual. Thank you to all the followers who were worried I had contracted Covid. Thankfully I have managed to avoid it so far even though it is all around me. so hopefully Listowel Connection will continue in some form for a while yet.
<<<<<<<<<<
John Stack, Dancing Teacher
My friend and former colleague at Presentation Secondary School, Listowel posted a sad message on Facebook in January 2022. He accompanied the message with this photo;
Hi All
I have informed the Ballydonoghue Cce branch of Comhaltas that It is with regret that I will not be returning as Set Dancing teacher in Ballydonoghue after 43 years. I have put alot of thought into my decision over the Christmas and due to a number of reasons including Covid-19 and the effect it has had on everything and still not knowing when we can return if at all this year.
I started classes in Ballydonoghue in 1978 and during my time I have had some very memorable ventures.
Winning our first All Ireland winners medal in Ballycastle County Antrim in 1999. We also have had much success at County, Munster, as well as other competitions all over the country.
We also travelled to take part in Sean Dempsey International competition in Manchester on several occasions having much success.
In 2008. 23members from the branch did a branch exchange with the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann – O’Neill Malcom Branch CCE in Washington DC. This was a very rare experience and we enjoyed visits to Capitol Hill, reception at the European union offices, also at the Irish Embassy, visiting Baltimore, Virginia, Maryland and seeing places we could only dream off. Finishing our trip with a performance on the Millennium stage In the Washington Dc Kennedy Centre where we were told we would have 200 to 250 attending and ending with over 1300 people watching us for an hour long concert.
Our trips to the RTE Studios for our performances on TG4 was a highlight for all our dancers.
I have to acknowledge the input Liz McNamara had on both Dolly and myself and the dancing class. She was a great support to us and always showed her support to every child regardless whether they won or not as she was always very proud that they had represented the branch.
Again many thanks to everyone in the branch for their support over the last 43 years and we would like to wish the branch much success in the future.
To Ballydonoghue GAA for the use of their clubrooms down through the years and of late their fabulous new building I would like to say thanks to all the officers past and present. Also to Jackie Hegarty and Tom in Tomasinis ye were always willing to help in any way ye could and put yer building at our disposal.
To the parents who have supported Dolly and myself and the class down through the years I want to thank you.
Last but not least to you our dancers wherever you may be. Passing through the doors of Ballydonoghue GAA clubrooms on a Satuday morning and Tuesday evening of late, I thank you all for the pleasure and joy you brought to us. We have made some great memories together and hope you will always remember your dancing days in Ballydonoghue.
John
<<<<<<<<<
It’s for the Children
Our lovely 2021 baby has had her first Christmas, her first Christmas tree, her first visit to a crib and Santa was good to her.
Aoife has brought “hope with her and forward looking thoughts.”
