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: Listowel Arms Hotel Page 2 of 4

Asdee, The Rise of Coffee Culture and Listowel Revisited

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On January 17, 2019

In Uncategorized

Asdee church is a lovely intimate, beautifully kept place of worship. I was lucky enough to be there on Jan 1 2019 for a beautiful wedding ceremony.

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The New Irish Pub Culture


Changes in the laws around driving have driven Irish men out of the pub as their favoured meeting place. Young people had already abandoned the pub for house parties and the gym.

According to an article I read recently, the coffee shop is the new pub. People are meeting with groups of friends in coffee shops and cafes and a whole generation is growing up having a favourite coffee rather than a favourite beer.

Supermarkets used to have a holder for your shopping list. Now they have a holder for your coffee cup.

Listowel, as usual, is ahead of the curve. Long before it was a “thing”,  Danny Hannon, Jed Chute and friends were meeting in The Listowel Arms for a coffee in order to chew the fat and set the world to rights.

I interrupted them last week at their morning chin wag.

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Reconnecting




I took this photograph last week as Patricia Gordon renewed acquaintance with Judy MacMahon and other people she knew in Listowel when she lived here 24 years ago.



This is how we in Listowel remember Patricia.

The reason I have a 24 year old photo of her is because part of the purpose of her visit was to bring me photos taken by her husband, Danny, when they lived in town and he was a member of the camera club.

I will be sharing these photos with you in the coming weeks.

I photographed Patricia outside Jackie McGillicuddy’s shop because that was the very place where she was a victim of crime .

Twenty five years ago she stopped outside McGillicuddy’s and ran in to buy a card. She left the keys in the car because back then there was very little crime in Listowel and she felt safe to pop into a shop for 5 minutes.

But a opportunistic  car thief who happened to be in town on that day saw the “gift horse” outside the toyshop and couldn’t resist the temptation.

Patricia emerged from the shop to find her car gone. Her first thought was that someone who knew her had taken it to for a prank. She went around to Church Street to find it. When she still hadn’t seen it by the time she got to the Garda Station she realised that maybe it was actually stolen. She went into the station where she met Sgt. Tim O’Leary. He made  phonecalls to Tarbert, Moyvane, Ballybunion and other garda stations around about. A keen eyed Garda spotted the car in Tarbert, the thief was arrested and the car returned.

Subsequently Patricia had to appear in court and she was reprimanded by the judge for practically putting a sign saying “Take me”  on her car. 

I noticed when I met her last week she observed all the safety precautions, putting bags and valuables in the boot and locking the car. She now lives in Limerick.

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From The Kerryman of 1994







Christmas at The Listowel Arms, Manchester Martyr’s memorial and some Listowel children

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On December 4, 2018

In Uncategorized

The Big Bridge

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Christmas decorations at The Listowel Arms

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Manchester Martyrs


I am still getting correspondence about the Manchester Martyrs and their commemorative memorials.

Mark Holan sent us this;

Regarding your photos of the Manchester Martyr memorial at St. Michael’s Graveyard:

The Kerry Independent, 19 November 1883, page 3, contained a small story under the headline “Anniversary of the Manchester Martyrs.” It noted the 16th anniversary of the trios’ execution would be celebrated “Sunday next” in different parts of the county.

“In Listowel, the proceedings will be on the extensive scale, and a beautiful cutstone Celtic cross, the workmanship of Messrs. Healy Brothers staff will be unveiled in the graveyard.  … The mode of proceeding adopted by the patriots of to-day is different from that of ’67, but equally potent. We hope that the celebrations in Listowel will not only be participated in by the people of the North Kerry, but all others who can possibly attend. Already we understand a move has been made by a number of nationalists of Tralee to attend in Listowel as there will be no public celebrated (celebration) in this town.”

The Kerry Sentinel, 23 November 1883, page 3, reported that the Waterford and Limerick Railway company “have kindly consented to run an excursion train from Tralee” for the event. “It is anticipated the demonstration will be one of the largest held in Listowel for a number of years.” 

The Sentinel, 27 November, page 3 reported that Saturday evening before the event, authorities “proclaimed” the gathering … “the reason set forth for the suppression of the meeting was that if permitted to be held it would be dangerous to the public peace. … “however, the anniversary was allowed to be held without interference of the authorities. … “

The 12-foot-high limestone Celtic cross “is a finely executed piece of workmanship, delicately chiseled, and of strikingly graceful proportions. … the cross was unveiled in the midst of torrents of rain, those present standing with uncovered heads.” P.J. Murphy of Cork delivered the oration, which is quoted in detail.

The group left the graveyard quite satisfied they had “outwitted the authorities,” but the ceremony took place before the arrival of the Tralee excursion train with “a very large contingent.” Extra police drafted from the outlying area, numbering over 100 men, marched to the center of William Street and distributed themselves throughout the town, including the train station and graveyard, according to the Sentinel. While there appears to a some shoving between police and nationalists, there was no large scale violent confrontation.


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Local Children Photographed by John Lynch


For years John Lynch has been filming local events like the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Corpus Christi Procession and other local events.

Earlier this year he took a few screen grabs of some local children at St. Patrick’s Day parades in 2003 to  2007.

If you see yourself I hope it gives you a smile.

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Sixty First Wedding Anniversary




John and Lilly Lenehan of Florida and Moyvane, whose happy marriage is a inspiration to us all are still going strong.




More from Brendan of Kerry, All Ireland final in 1940s and Parnell in Listowel

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On August 21, 2018

In Uncategorized

By the River Feale

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Greaneys and Careys in Brendan of Ireland



This is Frank Greaney’s grandmother, Mary Greaney, nee Carey. She loved to play Patience and played it every day. Frank remembers her just like this in this very navy blouse with the white polka dots. She took snuff and she was partial to a Baby Power. She was in bed by 10.00 every night.

This is Frank’s mother, Bridie.

 This the Greaney family around the table.

Here they are all saying the family rosary. Pidge is on the far right in the photo. The little girl kneeling by the small chair is Frank’s sister, Máire. His younger sister was not born when the picture was taken.

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John Brassil’s Constituency Office in Church Street



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Up for the match


Photo from North Kerry Camera….Vincent Carmody

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Parnell in Listowel




I have been told recently that Parnell did not speak from the hotel window at all but from a platform in The Square. Could it be that he addressed the crowd twice?

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Update on Molly



Some of her fans have been asking me how Molly is doing. She is doing fine and dandy. She is just back from her holiday in Rosslare and is settling down to her last weeks before  back- to -school life in Ballincollig.

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Nuns, The Green Guide to Listowel in 1965, Knitwits have a Visitor

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On July 27, 2018

In Uncategorized

St. John’s Listowel in July 2018

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Remembering the Nuns

I am very aware that I belong to the last generation of women who were taught almost exclusively by nuns. I went to a Mercy school. Most Listowel ladies were educated by The Presentation Sisters.

We owe them a lot.

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1965 Guide to Listowel


These are some of the advertisements in the green guide sent to us by Aileen Skimson


It looks like you could hire almost anything in Mckenna’s

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A Very Welcome Visitor to Knitwits

Una Hayes has been through a tough few months with ill health and bereavements. We were all thrilled to welcome her back for a visit recently. She was only socialising this time but it won’t be long now ’til she is back knitting with us in Scribes.

Mary Boyer, Mairead Sharry, Mary Cogan, Maureen Connolly, Kathleen McCarthy, Patricia Borley and Una Hayes. We had two other young visitors as well on the day of Una’s visit.




Nobody missed Una more than her great friend, Maureen. It warmed my heart to see the friends reunited.

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Tidy Towners take a breather




Everyone agrees that Listowel is looking in tip top shape these days and it’s all down to these and all the other volunteers at Tidy Towns and, of course, Kerry County Council outdoor staff who all do a fabulous job.

Painting the Community Centre, Changes at Bank of Ireland and Olive Stack’s mural

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On July 20, 2018

In Uncategorized

Morning in Listowel Pitch and Putt course

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Molly is still enjoying her trip to Listowel


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Painting work continues at Lisatowel Community centre



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I Met the Hannons in The Square



Danny, Eileen and Maurice out for a stroll in the July sunshine

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Aspects of The Listowel Arms Hotel

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Changes at Bank of Ireland



They’re changing the interior layout of the bank. I’ll keep you posted.

Olive Stack’s mural is still intact.

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The First of the Beal Spuds



Photo: Ita Hannon


Do you remember when the first of the new potatoes would come into the grocery shop and the grocer would boil a muller of them and plonk them outside the door?

 There was no better advertisement.

Ita Hannon’s photo took me back to those days and I just know that there is many an emigrant mouth watering at the sight.

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