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: Kilmorna

Big Houses

Egmond House, Kanturk, February 2023

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Those Lazy, Hazy Crazy Days of Summer

A few years ago Carmel Sweeney Gornall shared these two photos with us. They are well worth a revisit. Happy days!

1988 Summer Camp in Listowel Community Centre

1987 Summer Camp in Listowel Community Centre

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The sad end of Kilmorna House

This is how Kilmorna house is pictured and described in Kerry Writers’ Museum site;

Kilmorna House, known locally as the Great House, lay four miles south east of Listowel and six miles north west of Abbeyfeale. In 1834 the house was purchased by Pierce Mahony. It incorporated the original house that had been built in 1700, but Kilmorna House was of a much greater scale, much grander. It comprised three floors, 20 rooms, a library of books, a chapel, wonderful walled gardens and terraces with granite steps, all overlooking the river Feale as it flowed and meandered its way through the north Kerry countryside below.

Pierce O’Mahony had a step son, Arthur Vicars who loved Kilmorna and spent a lot of time there with his half brothers

Vicars had a glittering career. “In 1896 Arthur Vicars was knighted, in 1900 he was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) and in 1903 he was elevated to Knight Commander of the order (KCVO). He was also a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a trustee of the National Library of Ireland.”

However he became embroiled in scandal when “The Irish Crown Jewels” which were in his keeping were stolen. The gutter press of the time had a field day with him, raising questions about his sexuality and his faithfulness to his wife and his suitability for high office. He refused to resign and protested his innocence of any wrongdoing.

He fled to his place of sanctuary, Kilmorna House.

In 1921 The War off Independence was being bitterly waged in these parts. Any Englishman, particularly an aristocrat who fraternised with members of the British Army was suspected of spying.

Vicars was shot on the grounds of Kilmorna House on April 14 1921 and a placard placed around his neck with the words ‘SPY. INFORMERS BEWARE. IRA NEVER FORGETS’

Kilmorna house was sacked and burned. His widow fled to Listowel to Gurtinard House.

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Former Presentation Convent, Listowel

This is how I like to remember the convent.

This is how it looked on Saturday February 4 2023

The good news is that the building is to be refurbished. The owner of the derelict building spoke to Donal Nolan of “The Kerryman”.

“Owner of the Convent John Whelan has informed The Kerryman that the refugees bound for Listowel will comprise women, children and elderly people in the main.” ………

“Mr Whelan said he was moved on humanitarian grounds to help accommodate Ukrainian people; in the building he owns that was once home to generations of nuns.”….

“This is purely for Ukrainian refugees, mostly women, children and elderly people. The building is there and it’s empty and it would be a shame not to look after people there in this way. I hope there will be a welcome extended them by the people of North Kerry and Listowel,” Mr Whelan added.

Asked as to how many would be accommodated in the old Convent, Mr Whelan replied: ‘In and around 50’. (The Kerryman Feb. 2023)

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Listowel Loo by John B., April Horse Fair 2019 and a Well in Kilmorna

Ballybunion Sunset by Bridget O’Connor

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John B. Keane joins the debate about the Loo


I hope you can enlarge this to read it. It’s worth it.

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Horse Fair April 4 2019


Some more photos from last week’s horsefair

Horses are now only part of the story

Fairs …from the Dúchas collection


Collector
Éamonn Ó Corradáin
Informant
Éamonn Ó Corradáin

Listowel and Abbeyfeale are the fair-centres at which the sale of local livestock is transacted. Formerly buyers came to the country buying calves but this has discontinued.
The fairs are held on the streets in Abbeyfeale, while in Listowel they are held in the market and the square. Toll is paid at the rate of sixpence per animal at all fairs in Listowel and at the June and September fairs in Abbeyfeale. It is paid to Lord Listowel and William Broderick respectively.
Luck money or “luck” as it is called is given after the sale of an animal and is estimated according to the price;







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A Well in Kilmorna


from the Duchas folklore collection

Old Ruins, Kilmorna . Collector- Máire Bean Uí Catháin,

Informant Kathleen Brosnan(1) Gallán standing alone 3 1/2″ by 3″ by 1 1/2″ situated in the property of Mrs. Nora Brosnan, Lacca East, east of Kilmorna. It was an old burial-place.

Folklore.
The hill, on which this stone is situated, is called Pilgrim Hill.
According to the old people engineers, who visited the place fifty years ago, said it was the second oldest Church yard registered in Rome.
There is a well in the recently called an tobar mór and it was regarded by the old people as being a “blessed well”.
Beside the well there was a big mound of earth.


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