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 Races Page 4 of 7

Hay in Ahanagran, a New Stand at Listowel Racecourse and more about Sonny Bill



Harvesting at Rattoo




Photo; Bridget O’Connor

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Saving the hay



This lovely old photo was of a group of haymakers in a field in Ahanangran, Ballylongfond was posted line by Liam O’Hainnín.

The group, and we dont have names, is heading out for a day in the hayfield or maybe returning home from saving the hay.

I was fascinated to see the implement that they had tackled to their horse. I called it a Tumbling Paddy, Liam knew it as a slide and Elizabeth Brosnan used to call it a Haveller. I have mentioned it before because I have very clear memories of my father working with one. It was a big wooden rake like implement which the horseman pushed along gathering the hay as he went. When he had the makings of a wynn gathered he put the horses reins over his head and he tumbled the slide over, dumping the hay in a cock to be later made into a wynn by the other haymakers. He then had to side step around the heap of hay, retake control of his horse and start gathering again.

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A Brand New Complex at The Island



John Kelliher took the photos on the occasion of the opening of the new stand and food hall. I can’t wait to see it. Here are just a few of the many photos John took on the night.

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Kathleen McCarthy has a gifted Pair of Hands


Patchwork is just one of the many crafts Kathleen can turn her hand to. Every stitch in this masterpiece of 683 patches was hand sewn by Kathleen and the quilt is fully lined. Surely a heirloom to keep in the family for generations to come.

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Lest we forget



Jim Halpin recently posted this heartbreaking video from a page called Flashback .

The Grimsby Chums 1916

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Update on Sonny Bill from his new home in the U.K.



The following is from this month’s Horse and Hound




His new owner has high hopes for Sonny Bill in his future career in showing……and you saw him here first.

Ice Cream, A Quiz in 1959 and Crafts in Craftshop na Méar

Ballybunion, December 2 2015



photo; Jason of Ballybunion Prints

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The Ice Cream of our childhood

Photo; Irish Abroad

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A Memory from 1959



Vincent Carmody found this old cutting recently.  Now for the $64.000 question……who won?

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Christmas in the Craftshop


Craftshop na Méar,Church Street Listowel is a different kind of shopping experience. Inside this shop is a kind of treasure trove of crafts and creations.

Below are just a few of the things you will find there. It is well worth a visit. My advice: Don’t buy a Christmas present anywhere else without trying here first.

You could have the best dressed teddy or doll in town with beautiful couture dolls clothes from this shop. Aren’t the flat caps only gorgeous?

This crochet manger scene is perfect for a table centerpiece.

Viveca’sa vibrant pictures are selling fast.

These hang on many a tree in lands far from Listowel.

I think these fairy doors are beautiful.

All year round but especially at Christmas, the craftshop’s exclusive range of solid silver jewellery, The My Silver River Feale Collection is a popular choice with men and ladies.

This beautiful piece depicting 3 iconic symbols of Listowel, St. John’s, Listowel Castle and the River Feale is designed and made by Eileen Moylan of Claddagh Design.

Eileen grew up in Listowel but she has now crossed the border to Cork. She makes her beautiful range of jewellery in her studio in Macroom.

Eileen also makes one off pieces. She recently made me a piece which I will always treasure. The piece was a present from my daughters. They took Eileen some old pieces of jewellery and asked her to make something special for me.

From my late husband’s wedding ring and a sapphire ring which was his first present to me, Eileen designed and made this stunning piece.

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I’ve got my tickets. Have you?


Mary and Danny at Changes with my family ticket for Cinderella…great value at €25

Vintage Best Dressed 2015; the men and Big Maggie at The Gaiety

Vintage Fashion Day at Listowel Races 2015

This is Joe Broderick telling the story of his outfit to Angela Wall of An Taisce who were co sponsoring the Recycle/Upcycle event at Listowel Races 2015. Joe actually had a new suit and a lovely bowler hat. But he had a vintage accessory. On his watch chain he had a North Kerry football medal. He was recycling and reusing his corsage as well. He claimed he swiped the flowers on his way in.

This man won this competition last year. He looked just as smart this year, when he replaced the red tie with a blue one but the competition was very keen this year and he failed to make the final cut.

Paudie Moriarty was sporting a tie given to him by his late father, Gene who worked on The Island for many years. It was a lovely yellow number decorated with racehorses. His jacket was a present from his brother. It was actually a hand me down, passed on when his older brother lost some weight but it looked perfect on Paudie.

When Joe Broderick stepped up for his interview, the paparazzi were on it in an instant. I videod a bit of his interview HERE. Joe was a big hit with the judges and the audience.

This Galway man was a kind of novelty item. He was wearing a hat made from Heineken cans. He bought it in The Phillipines for €2 and he has been wearing it to race meetings since. He was full of praise for the Tidy Town movement. He, himself has a Super Valu who are  sponsors of Tidy Towns.  In answer to the so frequently asked question; No, he didn’t drink all the beer. He is a teetotaler.

The final line up

The finalists made their way into the parade ring for the announcement of the winner.

The Races were going on as usual and Mick  Ó hUallacháin was interviewing jockeys.

There was a poignant presentation taking place. Mrs. McElligott was presenting the winning trainer’s trophy to Willie Mullins in memory of her husband who had a long association with Listowel Races and who passed away earlier this year.

The winners were announced and there were two Moriartys in the shake up. Nora won the Ladies category and her brother in law, Paudie was the runner up in the mens’.

No one was surprised when the charming Joe was declared the winner.

Joe is a man who knows how to celebrate a victory. His hand went immediately to his pocket and he ordered a bottle of champagne.

Mairead from TG4 interviewed both winners.

Oonagh Harnett of Broderick’s Pharmacy sponsored the Ladies competition and Con McCarthy of McCarthy Insurance sponsored the mens’.

Nora’s family were delighted with her win.

Joe and Nora toast their success.

Listowel Tidy Town members with the organizers and judges of the event. Well pleased with how everything went.

Back at the tent everyone lines up for a photo and the ebullient Owen MacMahon leads us all in Lovely Listowel, just to get us in the mood for the following day’s match.

“Twas more like Geneva than Lovely Listowel”

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Looking Ahead to Drama in 2016



Some of the Keane family gathered in Dublin last month for the launch of Druid’s production of Big Maggie at The Gaiety which is due to take the stage  29 January 2016 – 20 February 2016 .

It was an emotional event for the family as it came just months after the passing of their mother,Mary, widow of the late playwright, John B. Keane. In February 2015 The family accompanied by Mary were in that same theatre for the premier of The Field.



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+    R.I.P. Kevin (Geg) Sheehy    +






(Photo:Listowel Celtic on Facebook)



Our streets will be lonelier and less colorful with the sad and untimely passing of Giggs Sheehy. The above photo posted by his friends in Listowel Celtic captures Kevin’s fun loving  upbeat personality.



He is a huge irreplaceable loss to his family. Listowel too has lost a great character.

Race week 2014

September in Listowel

 Bunting, flags and broadcast music….Nothing compares to The Listowel Harvest Festival in a year when Kerry has qualified for the All Ireland.   AND the sun is shining…..Heaven!

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No matter where I take a photograph these days, a certain ferris wheel seems to make its way into the shot.

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Pity she can’t foretell the winner of The Kerry National.

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 Some People I met at Monday’s Races


Eddie Moylan, Anne and Liam Dillon and Mary Cogan

Santa brought him the jockey’s outfit.

 Mairead Devine, Mary Whelan and Beta (Whelan) O’Brien



Norella Moriarty Flynn was at the races with her husband



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The Good old Days are back


Sign at Listowel Races Sept. 15 2014



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And the winner is….


This is John Kelliher’s winning photo in the Loving Listowel Races photography competition. Joe Broderick is the subject.

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Focus Tralee this week

You’d never guess Kerry were into the All Ireland Final.

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Meanwhile in Ballyduff….



Moss Joe Browne posted this clip of Thomas Sullivan singing The Tennessee Waltz. It’s lovely to hear an older singer interpret one of the old classics.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=282186185316901&set=vb.100005765641568&type=2&theater

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PGA Player of the Year




Huge honour to cap a great year of golf.

Listowel Races, an Athea artist and Cork win the All Ireland Camogie Final

Monday, September 15 2014



Guess where I will be this afternoon ?

No prizes for guessing the answer.

But

I might win a prize because I have been chosen as one of the finalists in the Loving Listowel Races Photography Competition.  The winners will be announced at 4.30p.m. today by Mr. John Maguire, Chairman of Listowel Race Company.

Watch this space!

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They did it!



The Cork Camogie team, helped by their Listowel born physiotherapist, Aoife MacMahon, were far and away the better team in yesterday’s All Ireland Final. They won by a comfortable margin in the end even though they got off to a shakey start and found themselves on the receiving end of a few licks from the Cats.

(photo: The Examiner)

Anna Geary, the Cork captain, was this year’s Cork entrant in The Rose of Tralee

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A Brush with history


This is the writing on the paper bag containing the brush pictured below. My friend found it among her family treasures. The writer claims that the brush was purchased around 1863.

The brush is about 16 inches long. Any idea of its purpose?

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Big Wheel in full swing

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Athea mural coming along nicely

Snapped on the street in Athea, Co. Limerick last week; the artist, Jim Dunn at work on his forge mural. It is worth a trip to Athea just to marvel at the work of this extraordinarily talented artist.

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Getting behind the team

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