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 Relihan

People at the Fleadh in Listowel in 1986 and Crazy Golf in Ballybunion in 2015

By

On August 25, 2015

In Uncategorized



Sunset in Ballybunion

(Photo; Ballybunion Prints)


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1986

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Crazy Days with the Grandchildren



I had a great day out a few  weeks ago with my two lovely boyeens at Ballybunion Crazy Golf

Ballybunion Crazy Golf is situated on the road to the real golf course in the grounds of Ballybunion Holiday Homes.

Despite a few arguments, the boys enjoyed playing Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy for an hour or more.

The “course” is beautiful, featuring many well known Ballybunion landmarks. Here the boys are resting on a feature modeled on a Ballybunion street scene.

When they tired of golf they played a game of chess, outdoors and with giant chessmen.

I do not know the rules of chess so I could settle no arguments but there were surprisingly few in the boys’ game.

The little café on the site is called Checkers. You can see why.

The boys enjoyed the picnic we brought. This recharged the batteries for the next activity.

This is Football Pool. There is a big outdoor pool table/ pitch. The boys knew the rules of pool and these are the same for this game except instead of poking the balls into the pockets with a cue, you stand on the “table” and kick the football to hit the coloured balls.

The boys had a great few hours entertainment in Ballybunion Crazy Golf. I would definitely recommend it. It is also surprisingly inexpensive.

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Meanwhile in Dublin




John Relihan and his mother MaryAnn from Duagh were enjoying the very successful Big Grill in Herbert Park. John was one of the headline chefs at this food festival and his proud mother was enjoying the festival.



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Still Painting




Emily  and Kerry are still manning Olive Stack’s gallery in Main Street.

 One of their new best friends is Mary O’Flaherty of Chic. She was in the gallery when I called and I persuaded her to pose with her portrait painted by Emily (on left)

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Heritage Week

This is Heritage Week so a great time to visit Listowel Castle or to take a tour of the writers’ museum at The Seanchaí.

John B.’s, Cahirmee 2015 and Listowel people on The Shannon in 1959

By

On July 21, 2015

In Uncategorized



All the Fun of the Fair



Finbarr Crean took some great photographs in Buttevant at Cahiramee Fair 2015.








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St. Patrick’s Hall, July 2015




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A Night Out in Listowel

Look at that famous person in a photograph with John Relihan!

Thursday night is Theme Night in Allos. This dining experience is very popular with Allos patrons and you’d never know who might turn up there on any given Thursday.On Thursday week it was Duagh’s most famous chef who was dining out with his family…and he recognized me!

This young man is going places so I predict we’ll be hearing more of him in the future. The brilliant and extraordinary event he brought to Duagh last August will Iive long in folk memory.

 You can relive it for a moment here   Duagh Summer Festival 2014

Barbecue at Duagh Summer festival 2014.

John’s next big adventure is the Big Grill Festival in Dublin’s Herbert Park from August 13 to August 16 2015.

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John B.’s



 After Allos, we headed across town to John B. Keane’s for a night of music and drama. Mickey MacConnell was our musician and singer for the night.

Paddy McElligott was there to provide the drama.

 David O’Sullivan was not officially on the bill but his song which combined Percy French’s ode to the West Clare Railway with our own Lartigue went down a treat.

Maura MacConnell was enjoying the craic.

Kathy Walshe enjoyed Paddy’s dramatic rendering of John B.’s account of a hurling match in the churchyard.

Sean and Deirdre Lyons were enjoying the entertainment.

Paul Manning was a special guest on the night.

He was reunited with his old friend for a song.

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From The Advertiser



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Do you live in Australia?

Do you play or wish to watch GAA games?

If the answer is yes to both questions the below site has a list of all the G.A.A. clubs in Oz

The Irish in Oz

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A Big Milestone


This is my 1,000th. post.

Easter 2015

By

On April 6, 2015

In Uncategorized

Easter Sunset in Ballybunion


(photo:  Mike Enright)

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Darkness into Light



Organisers of the fundraising walk for Pieta House are delighted with the response. Here are a few photos from their registration day on Easter Saturday 2015. Photos from Darkness into Light, Listowel

Listowel Emmetts
Tarbert GAA

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Duagh Bell Restored



Some people hold a raffle, others push a bed but Duagh set a new standard for fundraising with a marvellous food festival that set The Mall and half of North Kerry talking for a memorable weekend in Summer 2014. All in aid of their church bell.

A proud son of Duagh and master chef, John Relihan assembled a band of chefs, barbecue specialists and assorted volunteers and they provided a festival that will be talked about in North Kerry for many a long day.

John Relihan, Fr. Pat Moore and Nina Hayes

Amateur chefs taking part in a hilarious “Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook style cook off.

Ta Dah!  Behold the newly restored bell!

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Party, Party, Party


Two Listowel businesses celebrated in style on Easter Saturday April 5 2015

Listowel Garden Centre opened their awesome new store with a party for the town. Listowel Garden Centre is a family affair for Nick and Liz Roberts. Here are some photos of this very enterprising family who have truly enhanced our town with this beautiful new centre.

McAuliffes were out in force to support Liz and Nick. At the door I met Barry, home from the U.S. for the occasion. He was celebrating the grand opening with one of his cousins. Inside I met Nick and the entire Roberts family, busily serving customers. Barry’s family were also there  in numbers. I missed the big moment when Mrs. McAulliffe, Liz’s mum, cut the ribbon but Kelly McAuliffe kindly sent me her photo of the family at the door.

Listowel Garden Centre has passed a great vote of confidence in Listowel’s economy. Everyone wishes them well in their new venture.

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Perfect Pairs


The other party on Saturday was in the always stylish premises of Perfect Pairs on Church St. where Mairead and Martina were celebrating ten years in business.


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Easter Hope


Billy Keane has written  poem for our friend Fr. Pat Moore.

LINES FOR FATHER PAT MOORE ON EASTER SUNDAY MORNING 2015

The morning’s light

Was cueing outside

The black -out blinds

And men with cows milked,

Broke bread for a second time.

The sad choir sang the song of despair

But Our Moore’s prayers

Are the daily resurrection.

“We must peel life back to the essential,”

Of love and hope, the love of our time”

And the hosts of the Easter light

Shine through

In wafer lines.

Soon enough, they’ll be spraying our friend again.

He’ll be tired then from the rays of the gun,

But Our Moore knows as surely as anyone,

Even among the thorns and weeds,

Small flowers sing a te deum.

Billy Keane.

Duagh Summer Festival 2014, a war story and some successes

By

On August 12, 2014

In Uncategorized

John Relihan, Fr. Pat Moore and Nina Hayes

When Duagh put on a festival, they do it in style. I was at their summer festival on Saturday last, Aug 9 2014 and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The festival was all about food and particularly about a local lad, John Relihan, who has made a name for himself as a chef. We were told that he was on Eastenders too, but I don’t know in what capacity he appeared in the soap.

This was the scene at the school gate where hundreds of people were queueing to get in. For €10 (all money going towards the restoration of the church bell tower) you got a wristband that entitled you to all you could eat of the barbecue, cookery demonstrations, competitions, face painting, balloon twisting, a craft fair and a chance to meet up with friends and acquaintances.

I met Marie, Ena and Catherine and we hung out for the afternoon.

My friend, Helen O’Connor was very proud to be photographed with her famous godson, The Jamie Oliver trained chef, John Relihan.

This was the Duagh schoolyard with chefs everywhere and animals cooking everywhere you looked.

If you look closely you will see that the chickens have a can stuffed where the sun doesn’t shine!

Above is the production line. I was snapping away as I queued for my dinner.

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Can’t Cook;Wont Cook

The three Ready, Steady Cook contestants  get some last minute instructions from Brendan O’Connor of BBQ Joe’s.

Is Jerry getting a little helping hand or is it a case of the blind leading the blind.

Duagh Cooks get down to business.

Brendan keeps the contestants on track.

Jerry seems to be very pally with this judge.

 Fr. Moore is interviewed about his cooking credentials. He tells a few tall tales of early rising and bread baking before breakfast.

How does it taste?

Should I add an egg?

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Demonstration


John Relihan and Brendan O’Connor gave food demonstrations and we got to taste.

The festival went on late into the evening and there was a second day of festivities on Sunday. 

Well done to everyone involved. It was a huge success.

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Duagh is also famous for footballers



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War Story

From Kerry’s Eye

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Then and Now

2010
2014
2010
2014

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River Feale August 9 2014

The level of water in the river is very low.

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Rory McIlroy in heaven


(Photo from the internet)


Definition of VALHALLA

1

:  the great hall in Norse mythology where heroes slain in battle are received

2

:  a place of honor, glory, or happiness :  heaven <an academic’s Valhalla>


These are the two definitions of Valhalla in Miriam Webster Dictionary. Both are apt for the players in Valhalla, Kentucky after Rory’s super win on August 10 2014.


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Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann Sligo  2014



Tomorrow night (Tuesday) in the Clarion Hotel Sligo the very talented Singer from the Ballydonoghue/Lisselton branch of comhaltas Karen Trench (Walsh) will receive prestigious Bardic award. We congratulate you Karen on your award and shows how highly you are thought of in Comhaltas. We hope you enjoy your night and we have no doubt that you with your children Aoife,Tom, Fionnuala, and Meabh will put on a beautiful performance and fly the Kerry Flag with pride.
Comhghairdeachas Karen from the Kerry County Board of Comhaltas and everyone throughout Kerry.

Bardic Awards
Comhaltas honours a number of significant performers from the traditional music world at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann every year.
This year eight people are receiving these prestigious awards. The awards will be presented in the Clarion Hotel and the concert will involve performances from each ceannródaí and guests.
Receiving Bardic Awards are
Brian Conway, U.S.
Paddy Mc Donagh, Sligo
Neansaí Ní Choistealbha, Galway
Pat Mc Cabe, Monaghan
Con Herbert, Limerick – button accordion
Karen Walsh, Kerry – singer
Mary Kelly, Kilkenny – harpist
Willie Fogarty, Tipperary – button accordion



(photo and caption from the official CCE webpage)

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