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: Kennedy Home Page 1 of 2

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

By

On May 28, 2024

In Listowel, Personal, Poem, Schools

Horse chestnut tree at the entrance to Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail

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I Love Brendan O’Connor’s Writing

From last Sunday’s Independent

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Maytime

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Crazy Hair Parade

Presentation Primary School marched through town last Thursday with their hair in every kind of crazy style. It was a great laugh and raised a few euros for the school.

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Graduation Day

Sometimes I feel very old….. My boyeens who featured here so often on their many trips to the Kingdom are all grown up. Here they are with their emotional parents as they finish secondary school and prepare to head out on a new adventure.

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McCrohan’s of 15 Main Street

This is the Kennedy home today. It was here that the last of the Listowel McCrohan’s spent his last days in the care of Dr. Johnny Walsh.

This is how it looked in 1983 when Tim and Karen visited Listowel.

No. 15 Main Street is where the McCrohan family lived.

This is how No 15 looks today.

It was Larkin’s in 1983

Look at how much more beautiful it is now, embellished by the superb paintwork of Martin Chute.

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Changes afoot

This premises, the former ESB office, has had this enormous window installed. I don’t know what is going in there but I’ll tell you as soon as I know.

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A Fact

All pet hamsters are descended from a single female wild golden hamster found in a litter of 12 in Syria in 1930.

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Convent Cross, 1916 Commemorative Manhole Cover, Kennedy Home, Holy Wells and Buying a Duck

By

On April 15, 2019

In Uncategorized

 Calvary at Convent Cross

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Manhole Cover


Because Listowel was undergoing road repairs in 2016 when these special commemorative manhole covers were commissioned we have a few of these at locations around the town. This one is on Upper Church Street.

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Kennedy Home Then And Now

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Holy Wells on the Move


( from Dúchas school folklore collection)

Local Place Names
Collector Jeremiah Clancy- Age 11-Informant, Patrick Ahern, Age 70, Occupation, labourer
In a farm in Gortdromagowna owned by Thomas OConnor there stands a well called St. Mary’s well. The field is known as the Blessed Well Field. People from this parish and the surroundings go there to pay their rounds in May.

The Blessed Well
Collector Annie Heffernan, Tarmon West.
There is a blessed well in Mr. John Buckley’s field. It is St. Senan’s Well. There is a story connected with this well. First it was situated in Kelly’s land and now it is relocated to its present loacation.

It is said that the servant of the house took water from this well to wash clothes and next morning it had disappeared.

Many people go to the blessed well during the year to pay rounds. They go on the Saturday before May, and on the Saturday before St. John’s Day.

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Buying a Duck at the April Horsefair


On April 4 2019 on Market Street Listowel I came upon this family taking a great interest in the poultry seller and particularly his ducks. He had  a variety of healthy looking young ducks for sale.

This little man was very adamant that this was the one he wanted. Even though the duck was heavier than he anticipated, he was delighted with his new purchase.

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Good Job, Firemen




Photo; John Curtin



Extensive damage was done to this Ballybunion premises on Friday night. Our hard working fire  fighting personnel did a good job and thankfully there was no loss of life.

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Women in Media



The full programme has been revealed.

official promotional photo

See what’s in store;

Women in Media 2019

Last of my Graham Norton Photos, Kennedy Home then and Now and my Favourite Ascot Photo.

By

On June 26, 2017

In Uncategorized

Make someone happy,

Make just one someone happy

And you will be happy too.

Richard Pierse made me very happy on June 3 2017. There I was manning the gate at the Graham Norton event when along came this young man. He lives in Nicaragua and he keeps in touch with his Listowel hometown via Listowel Connection. I love to hear a story like that. Richard is just one of many people who appreciate what I do but I think he must be the most remote of my blog followers. If anyone else wants to get in touch and tell me where they read the blog maybe I could put up a map and track the reach of Listowel connection.

Jennifer Scanlon made someone happy too. Here she is racing to the rescue of her friend detained at the gate. Everyone had to have a paper ticket to get past us.

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Audience on its way to Graham Norton

Eventually the wait was over. No Garda outriders to alert us this time. Graham Norton slipped into Childers’ Park  almost unbeknownst.

He posed for a few snaps and then took his place on stage for his interview. Nice man.

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Bachelors’ Walk

Do you remember this show? I know he has done loads of work since, but I thought of this when I saw Simon Delaney turn up as Phil, the unlikely Irish jeweller, in Coronation Street.

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Then and Now




Upper Church St. the old Kennedy Home is now a  Family Centre.

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Healy Racing of Listowel and the World of Horse Racing




Horse trainer, Aidan O’Brien is at the top of his game. He recently won the accolade for champion trainer at Royal Ascot 2017. He was presented with his prize by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, herself a knowledgeable horse owner and horse racing enthusiast. Healyracing captured the moment. The photo tells a story of respect and understanding. If I were Aidan O’Brien, I’d be hanging this one.

The Lartigue in 2000,Trees in The Park and a fair day in old Listowel

By

On May 26, 2016

In Uncategorized

A Corner on Church St.

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The Early days of The Lartigue Project.


Kerry’s Eye

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Turf Cutting the old Way



These photos of turf cutting in the old way were shared on Facebook


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Michael Collins Funeral




A brother and sister of Michael Collins pray at his graveside.

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A Walk in the Park in May 2016


Poems are made by fools like me

But only God can make a tree.

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Lovely Job being done on the former Kennedy Home





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Squad Cars Back at Base




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Fairday




Ita Hannon found this old one.



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Names….at last!


I posted this photo in September 2015 and asked for names.  Now Magella McGregor has come to the rescue. Here are the names she supplied;

First Row across left to right Joan Marie Vaughan, Marie Greany, Christina ODriscoll, Majella Maher
Second Row left to right Maureen Ahern, Eileen Lane, Breda O’Connor, …….., Mary Moran,…..
Third Row left to right Breda OConnell, ……Muireann Moloney, Marian ORouke RIP, Marie Buckley, Geraldine Buckley (sisters), Sheila Moloney and Teresa Lyons.

The Very last Ladies Day photos, a Christmas shop opens in Listowel and a fire in Greenlawn

By

On October 14, 2015

In Uncategorized



Photo;   Timothy John McSweeney


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Saturday Oct. 10 2015



Yes, I have the date right. Bank of Ireland Listowel was open last Saturday for a mortgage event. Could the Celtic Tiger be creeping back on to our streets? If so, let’s hope we have learned the lessons of history.

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Some more well dressed ladies at Ladies’ Day 2015

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Where did you get that hat?






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Big Houses in Tralee in the 19th century


IN the early to mid 1800 s The principal gentlemen’s seats in the Tralee area were :

  • Ballyseedy, the finely planted demesne of Arth. Blennerhasset, Esq., occupied by Sir Edward Denny, Bart.; 
  • Oak Park, the residence of John Bateman, Esq., situated in grounds well wooded with oak, among which are some trees of singular size and beauty, and open to the public; 
  • Belmont, of the Rev. A. B. Rowan; 
  • Ballard House, of Fras. Crosbie, Esq.; 
  • Spring Lodge, of F. J. Martelli, Esq.; Lower Cannon, of J. Eagar, Esq.; Magh, of W. Seely, Esq.; 
  • Chute Hall, of W. Chute, Esq.; 
  • Spring Hill, of Captain Chute;
  •  Arbella, of Fras. Feet, Esq.; 
  • Plover Hill, of George Gun, Esq.; and 
  • Frogmore Lodge, of the Rev. Barry Denny.

fromHistorical Tralee

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The countdown has begun

All the elves at Listowel Garden Centre have been really really busy. They opened their Christmas shop on October 7 2015. Every year I think their display just can’t be better than last year’s and every year it is. Do drop in and see for yourself.

Danny Russell tells me that he has seen Christmas displays in Harrods and Brown Thomas and he thinks that Listowel Garden Centre Christmas Shop 2015 is better.

I dropped in early to take some photos before all of this beautiful stock starts to walk out the door.

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What a Shame!



Greenlawn Nursing Home has been vacant  and neglected for some years now. On Thursday last, October 8 2015 it was extensively damaged internally by fire and smoke.

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