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

Gurtinard walk and new tour guides’ office at Listowel Castle

Signs of summer

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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World Cup in Brazil

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

Jimmy Moloney with Knitwits, Killarney and Dan Keane’s Listowel Castle

Jimmy Moloney, Fianna Fáil local election candidate visited the Knitwits on his campaign trail.

Left to Right: Joan Carey, Anne Moloney, Namir Karim, Mary Cogan, Kelly St. John, Jimmy Moloney, Patricia Borley, Maureen Connolly, Una Hayes and Pat Barry.

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In Killarney for Mothers’ Day I encountered this yoke in the grounds of Muckross House. A butterfly, apparently.

Killarney National Park never disappoints. It is the perfect place for a family day out.

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Listowel Castle by Dan Keane

Grey edifice, piercing the dark

With your bare bony limbs

And shielding from searing sun

The grassy mounds.

What other use art thou?

Silent, grey, dim

Amid such sweet surrounds;

Or art thou not aware of vigiling so long/

And yet I hear thy walls

Throw back the song

Of river sweet

And every other voice

In which your playful echoes

Just rejoice.

What hands raised

Your grey skeleton so tall

Hast thou known the tramp of men

And buglers’call?

They tell me chieftains dwelt

And great men here kept guard.

That thou hast known the strum og harp

And song of bard.

I called upon your storied walls

To pour their knowledge out

And all your echoes answered back

Was, “Out”.

And out I went and out again

And do not know

The mystery of your grey wall

And so,

I brood, a child again

And in my heart

The love and mystery remain.

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Do you remember playing hopscotch?    (photo from a collection called Photos of Dublin)

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On tomorrow night, April 10 2014 Séan Lyons will be reading from his new book of poetry in John B.’s at 9.00 p.m. The performance will be recorded for a cd to accompany his book. All welcome.

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Date for the diary

Thurs April 17 2014

7.00p.m.

The Seanchaí

Official launch of the 2014 Writers’ Week programme

All welcome

Books, ads and photos from 1965

A picture and apt caption for everyone who loves books.

The photo was posted on Twitter by Limerick 1914 and its from Dublin Opinion 1935

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Some more old ads from 1965

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Here are 2 photos from the same publication

Listowel Castle

Listowel Courthouse

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Mike Flahive of Bromore Cliffs photographed the Devil’s Castle sea stack to show us that it had survived the 100mph winds of the recent storm.

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R.I.P.

Listowel, and particularly Church St. is the poorer for the tragic passing of Dan Green. Dan who ran his internet business from Church Street was a regular in Scribes. One of the best dressed men in Listowel, his genial and stylish presence will be missed. May he rest in peace.

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