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: Ladbrokes

A National Treasure

John Hooton shared this image of Slea Head on Facebook

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Michael O’Connor. Illuminator: an update

Quick recap; in 1965 The Jewish Community in Ireland gifted President Eamon De Valera a forest in Israel. To mark the presentation of that gift they gave Dev a beautifully illustrated book in thanks for his peace making efforts during WW11 and his welcoming of displaced Jews to Ireland.

The book was illuminated and calligraphed by Michael O’Connor who is on the far right of the picture above.

Stephen Rynne is making a study of O’Connor’s work and he is helping Kerry Writers Museum round up some of the scattered artworks to bring back to O’Connor’s childhood home at No. 24 The Square, now the home of Kerry Writers’ Museum.

Stephen visited the Book of Honour in the De Valera archive and he took a few photos for us.

The book is 31 pages and many of them list the names of Irish Jews who contributed to the project. The pencil is to give an indication of size.

The book is a magnificent piece of artwork. Michael O’Connor was a massive talent. I’m looking forward to seeing Kerry Writers’ Museum bring him the recognition he deserves.

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An Art and Writing Project

Kathryn Crowley is an artist. She lives in Listowel and this is her latest project.

On the Wings of Creativity

It’s a writing and photography competition on the theme of birds, feathers, flight.

The above link will give you all the details.

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Comings and Goings

Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Optometrist is the new kid on the block on William Street Lower.

Ladbrokes has gone online.

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Autumn in the Cows’ Lawn, Then and Now and Listowel people in Lough Derg in 1954

” The Trees are in their autumn beauty.

The woodland paths are dry.”



All photos taken in the Town Park, Listowel in October 2014.

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Time and tide wait for no man

Is there a message for our times in the replacement of a bank by a betting shop?

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Another look inside Michael Kennelly’s album 


Michael’s caption on this group of photographs is  “Lough Derg Trip 1954”.

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Listowel Properties getting a facelift

Emilia
Allied Irish Bank

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Listowel Girls Night Out 2007

(photo credit: Mike the Pies on Facebook)

Front: Marie Kelly, Jackie Roche, Aine Sloan, Eileen Roche

Back: Matilda Sweeney, Kitty Behan, Mary O Connor, Mag McDonagh, Hannah Sweeney, Phil O Connell, Dolores O Connor,Marilyn Kelly and Kay Downey

Update from town

This is the colorful Mc Auliffe’s Gift Shop and Little Secret Ladies clothes shop on Church St.

A few doors down Listowel Printing Works, soon to be Easons, is nearing completion. I peeped in. It looks huge.

 

A little further down the street is Ladbrokes. This is the building that was ACC Bank, then Bruce Betting and now Ladbrokes. In a previous existence it was a school and before that a hatchery. What tales these old walls could tell!

Only a few days left!

Update on my update; I just received the following clarification from Vincent. I bow to his superior knowledge of Listowel. But I do know a bit more about Fitzpatricks than he does.  Fitzpatricks hail from Kanturk, which is my home town. In fact I worked for a summer in Fitzpatrick’s Hatchery in Percival Street in Kanturk and have very happy memories of my time there.

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It does not give me any great joy, however I must correct you, what is now Ladrokes was not a hatchery, the house above it, now a closed clothes shop, belonging to the Scully family, a business  was ran here for years by the Fitzpatricks of I think Kantoher (right or wrong spelling), County Cork. This place operated as a fowl and egg store, not a hatchery.Prior to this they also had a store above in the backway at the back of my place. Among those who worked at Fitzpatricks were Johnny Riordan, Kevin Sheehy, father of the present Kevin (the eggman) and most famous of all, during his early fowl buying days, our own, the late and great John B.

Now Mary I hope you don’t have egg on your face.

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