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 Castle Page 3 of 4

Robert O’Shea’s New York, Listowel Castle Visit and Kissane Photo Exhibition

By

On August 11, 2017

In Uncategorized

Visitors in Listowel Town Square in Summer 2017




<<<<<<<

At Listowel Castle with my granddaughters


If you have children to entertain, a tour of the castle is the ideal way to pass away an afternoon. The tour is free. The tour guides are excellent. This lovely lady gave us the ladybird version of the tour and patiently answered all the little ones’ questions.

One of the benefits of the tour is the the great vantage point for overlooking the town.  From the castle steps and from the windows you can see over the countryside, the river Feale and the town Square.  You’d never know who you’d see.

Another benefit is that you get to meet some lovely fellow tourists.

<<<<<<<<<

More of Robert O’Shea’s Photos


Robert O’Shea, formerly of Charles Street and now of New York sent us these. The first ones were taken on the roof of the building where Robert works and the others are of The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage.

<<<<<<



The Kissanes are gathering

Eily Walshe is an avid family historian. Following on from her comprehensive history of her own Kissane line in photos and story, she has now traced her cousins’ Kissane line and she has put together a book and a comprehensive photo gallery and timeline.

All of this will be revealed this  evening in St. John’s

This is what Eily says :

An August Treat at St. John’s Theatre!

All photos are in black and white and mostly pre 1960. Some have been taken before 1900 and are of normal family events and celebrations. They say “a picture tells a thousand words”!! Well we have 92 pictures in total on view from 11th August for a full three weeks!


Listowel Castle, Aoife Hannon, Milliner, a poem for the late Mary Keane and a Broadway star with a Listowel Connection

By

On May 18, 2016

In Uncategorized

At Listowel Castle, May 2016

Bryan MacMahon statue in the castle grounds.

The Master with his beloved Square in the background. Bryan MacMahon walked around this square practically every night that he spent in town.

Listowel Castle

<<<<<<


Flowers at The Kingdom County fair 2016




<<<<<<<<

Aoife Hannon Hats and Headpieces on Display in Main Street

<<<<<<

Second Anniversary for Mary

The late John McCarthy, poet and mad pride activist wrote this poem for Mary Keane as she approached the second anniversary of John B.’s death.

She was always

backstage, producing

keeping it all together,

pub, finances, royalties.

enquiring when writing

their final draft as to

who would exit first?

She replied laughingly,”Sure

that was always my part, all

he did was sit in

the night and write.

They were a perfect

pair, a buttress foreach other.

The gentle character

lines of her face spoke

volumes, of how she had

survived the pregnant pauses,

the standing ovations of

what had gone before

handled the  traumas and

joys from behind the scenes

while he had taken

the bows at the curtains of

life but still when asked

“How are things?” she replied wistfully,

“Aragh, I’m fine, but I’d be better

if John was here.”

<<<<<<<<<<<

Ballerina with a Listowel Connection

Hennessy Sheehan is the daughter of Broadway singer/actor Ciarán Sheehan whose ancestors hail from Upper William Street Listowel. Hennessy is now blossoming into a star in her own right.

Listowel Castle, new Garda Station in Castleisland and success at Newcastlewest Show

By

On July 22, 2015

In Uncategorized


Beauty on our doorstep


Ita Hannon took this haunting picture of Littor Point, Asdee.

<<<<<<<<


Back in the Saddle


Johnny Joy and Finuge Freewheelers out for an evening spin.

<<<<<<<

Daniel O’Donnell on Tour


Daniel O’Donnell is on a tour around Ireland for a TV show he is making. Here he is having a game of draughts with his Donegal neighbor, Hughey Sweeney who is 104.

<<<<<<<


Listowel Castle




May Langan pictured earlier this summer at Listowel Castle.

The castle is open every day to visitors. It is one of the many great Listowel attractions that every Listowel person should visit at least once.

<<<<<<

Song of the Sea

Have you ever heard of  a selkie?

No?

Well, they are mythical creatures who are women on land and seals at sea. Song of the Sea is a film all about selkies. It is a lovely Irish made animated full length family film.  The dialogue is lovely and you will recognize many familiar voices, the animation is simple but forceful, the pictures are lovely and the music superb. You will never look at a seal again without wondering.

What’s not to love about Song of the Sea?

 Bring the whole family.

<<<<<<<



CastleIsland have a new Garda Station



On Ftiday last, July 17 2015 Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan and Minister for The Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan opened a new Garda Station in Castleisland. The following photos are from the Garda Síochána Facebook page.


members of the Garda band at the opening
Garda Commissioner, Nóirín O’Sullivan
Minister Deenihan inspects a guard of honour



<<<<<<


Latin in Kerry Catholic church registers



Above is a link to Kay Caball’s site. It has a translation of some of the most common names as they are entered in Latin in Kerry parish records. This is very useful if you are researching online through the old registers now available at National Library of Ireland Catholic parish registers

<<<<<<

Newcastlewest Agricultural Show 2015



I had a great day out last Sunday at Newcastlewest Show. I took lots of photos. Here are a few. When news is in short supply next week I’ll post a few more.


This minion, created from 2 round bales and tyres greeted us on arrival.

My brother, Pat and my niece, Elizabeth won the champion’s cup for the best ridden hunter with their horse, Sonny Bill.



There is always a Listowel connection. I met Mike Laffan of Kerry Group and his wife, Margaret supporting their local show by showing a bullock.

Listowel lady, Kelly St. John had a beautiful array of crochet goods for sale.

Listowel Castle and some Listowel success stories

By

On July 16, 2014

In Uncategorized

Listowel Castle…a great visitor attraction

Diane Nolan C.C. at her day job as tour guide in Listowel Castle.

 I visited the castle with my two young visitors. They enjoyed the tour and they learned so much from our guide, Mike Moriarty. They were particularly fascinated with the gory and disgusting details of toilet facilities and the siege in 1600 when,  18 soldiers  held out throughout the siege, only for 9 of them to lose their lives at the hands of the victor.

 This massive door is actually a double door with the planks on one side lying horizontally and on the other side vertically. The original door was hung as the walls were being built. This reproduction hangs a few inches off the floor.

Mike pointed out to us that there were three different types of window in the castle. There was no glass in the windows. They were glazed with animal intestines.

This is the primitive toilet. There was one on each floor. They were used as wardrobes as well since the ammonia in the urine was good for killing off fleas and other bugs. 

Sean is standing beside a cubby hole. These were in every room. They were used for standing a candle out of a draught or for putting any goods that you didn’t want sitting on the floor.

Views in one direction over the river and in the other over the town are an added bonus of the tour.

For native and visitor, a trip to the castle is a must this summer. The tour takes about 45 minutes and it’s free.

<<<<<<

Round Ireland sailors

Father and son team, Derek and Conor Dillon took part in the Round Ireland yacht race and….they won their section!

<<<<<<<,

Sinead O’Hanlon from Listowel is the current Miss Kerry

<<<<<<<<

Listowel Cúl camp 2014

The kids are having a great time in Listowel Emmetts grounds.

Gurtinard walk and new tour guides’ office at Listowel Castle

By

On June 18, 2014

In Uncategorized

Signs of summer

Dolphins playing near the shoreline in Ballybunion yesterday  (photo; Ballybunion Prints Beach)

<<<<<<

The woods at Gurtinard

One day last week I took an early morning stroll in the woods at Gurtinard. It’s a beautiful peaceful place full of birdsong.

This is a pedestrian gate at the entrance to Listowel Golf Club.

This is a path among the trees, one of the many recently developed ones.

The woodland path is now tarred and very welcoming for walkers and runners.

Another new path into the wood.

One of the many nesting boxes

Growth is luxuriant after the recent heavy rainfall.

Cut off tree stump, just the place to rest your weary bones.

You never know who you might run into.

<<<<<

This charming house always reminds me of the house in which my mother grew up and where I spend many happy holidays in my youth.

<<<<<<<

Relocation, relocation, relocation

 Castle tour guides, Annette MacAuliffe and Mike Moriarty in the new tour booth at the front of the castle.

Diane Nolan is the other tour guide. She was not on duty on the day of the taking of this photograph.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<

World Cup in Brazil

Brazil watches football! The Esplanade of Ministry in Brasilia two hours before and during today’s game

Page 3 of 4

Previous

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén