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 Hospice

Autumn in Kanturk and Listowel

By

On November 5, 2024

In Listowel, Personal

Lower Church Street

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Lost Souls

I found this sad poem on the internet

LOST SOULS

Sitting alone at the bar in Kilburn

Mid afternoon on a mid Summers day

Wearing a suit stained with blood, sweat and booze

Drinking the last of this months rent 

He took the boat in 57

Leaving behind Mayo

Full of hope and fear

An address in his pocket

For a ganger and a start 

Money for a week to tide him over

Sunday best on his back 

New shoes squeezing his feet 

No Irish need apply

Lodgings hard found

Working every hour god sent

Paid in the crown at the weekend

Missing home, laughs to hide the pain

Another from the top shelf 

Saving for the summer holiday

Putting a little by 

Back home for a week to the old sod

Buying pints for the lads

Bragging about the wages

Gold chains around the neck

Bought from a suitcase

When did you get home?

When are you going back?

Back to back breaking in blighty

Years passing on

Body getting tired

Drink taking hold 

No money for the holidays

Or the funerals at home 

Nights in the doss house

Sleeping on the rope

Days on the streets 

Dreams of a long gone family

Passing away in the cold

(C) Kevin McManus

This sculpture, The Crying Stone by Colm Brennan

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A Few More Hospice Morning Photos

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Brehon Laws

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Tidy Town Work

The Tidy Town organisation is about so much more than litter picking and tidying up. The replacement of these important tourist information signs is just one of their many unsung contributions to making Listowel the lovely place it is to live in, to work in or to visit.

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Book Promoting in Kanturk

Kanturk looked very autumnal on my recent visit.

Noreen O’Sullivan has a keen interest in local history.

I met Alison Murphy in Presents of Mind. My book is now available in this lovely gift shop on O’Brien Street.

Eilish O’Connor in the beautiful welcoming Olde Worlde Alley Bar bought 3 books to give to family at Christmas.

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A Fact

After its catastrophic collision with the iceberg it was a full 2 hours and 40 minutes before The Titanic sank.

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Hospice Walk 2019, Rás Mumhan and Molly is in the Doghouse

By

On April 22, 2019

In Uncategorized

Calvary in Mallow

I took this photo in the grounds of Mallow church in Holy Week 2019





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Hospice Walk



In glorious weather on Friday April 19 2019 a big crowd turned out to walk the walk. This annual fund raising walk for The Irish Kerry Hospice is organised with the help of the O’Connor family in memory of Eamon O’Connor of Mike the Pies. Each year it goes from strength to strength. Well done all.

Photos from Mike the Pies and Edel O’Connor’s Facebook posts

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Tarbert Walk


Big turnout for the Good Friday Hospice Walk in Tarbert too

And they had a soup kitchen too

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Rás Mumhan in Listowel



April 20 2019




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The Dog Who Ate Milkman

You’ve heard of the dog who ate the homework, the dog who ate the car keys and lots of dogs who eat postmen.

Our Molly would probably eat all of the above but her worst offence in my eyes was she chewed Milkman. This copy of Milkman was not my own. It belongs to the library. It has a long waiting list of readers queueing to borrow it. I was the first person to whom it was issued.

There she is looking all innocent in the protection of one of the people who love her unconditionally.

Milkman is a brilliant book in case you were wondering and this copy is still readable

AND

 Molly is now forgiven.

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Still More from Opening Night LWW 2018, Listowel Hospice fundraising and Edna O’Brien’s award

By

On June 19, 2018

In Uncategorized

Photo; Graham Davies



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Three ladies who starred on Writers’ Week Opening Night, May 30 2018

 Catherine Moylan, vice chair of Listowel Writers’ Week was first up. She conquered the nerves and we all relaxed along with her.

 Elizabeth Dunne, in her final year of her three year stint as chairperson, played a blinder as usual. She has worked tirelessly at this job and it’s a tribute to her professionalism that she insisted on mastering the Irish bits herself. She could so easily have called on the services of a native but that’s not Liz’s way.

The star of the night was Edna O’Brien who received the Lifetime contribution to the Arts award. She was a worthy winner and proved a big hit throughout the festival.

The magnificent silver piece which is presented to the recipient of Listowel Writers’ Week John B. Keane Lifetime Achievement Award is designed and made by Listowel silversmith, Eileen Moylan.

Each year, Eileen designs a bespoke piece uniquely relevant to the recipient. The photos don’t really do this piece justice. It is engraved all round with the titles of Edna O’Brien’s books. 

Not only is the award a singular honour, much to be desired, but the silver trophy is a unique piece of Irish silverware, to be treasured and valued.

Photo by the official festival photographer, Ger Holland

There was to be another strong woman doing the official opening. Poet, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill was ill and unable to perform the task. In her stead, American poet, Billy Collins took on the job at short notice.

Billy Keane told us that, when he met the prince of Wales in Killarney, he did his bit in securing a really big name to open the festival next year. Wouldn’t Camilla be perfect for the role?

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A Few More famous and not so famous people who attended Opening Night Writers’ Week 2018 and a few lucky volunteers who were ‘working’ on the night

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Hospice Flag Day


I met these volunteers last week out collecting for the Listowel branch of Kerry hospice.

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