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 Writers Week 2014 Page 2 of 4

I was with John Boyne in Knocknagoshel and in Athea with the fairies

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On June 11, 2014

In Uncategorized

In Knocknagoshel with John Boyne




My regular readers may remember that I visited Knocknagoshel some time ago. I was on a recce mission for my job during Listowel Writers’ Week 2014, i.e. to escort John Boyne of Boy in Striped Pyjamas fame to talk to his fans in their own community centre in a glorious corner of North Kerry.

It is one of the triumphs of Writers’ Week and particularly The National Children’s Literary Festival  that it brings big name authors to small places to meet their readers.

This year Knocknagoshel hosted two authors, Alan Early and John Boyne. They talked to an appreciative audience of children from local schools.

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While we were in Knocknagoshel I met two busy local ladies. One of them was making 21 dinners for her Meals on Wheels friends and the other lady was busy in the laundry beside the hall where we had our event. This local community is exemplary in its efforts to care for its vulnerable people  and to look out for everyone.  

Arise Knocknagoshel, Take a bow; A truly inspirational place. 

I’m glad I got to go there.

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Out and About in Listowel


While Michael Guerin was in town with his camera during Writers’ Week he took a few snaps of local people.


He also recorded a few good memories at Kay Caball’s launch



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Some Fairy lore


Fairies have to be 12 years old and they have to sit three exams before they are responsible enough to collect baby teeth. Our baby teeth contain all our childhood memories, dreams and wishes.

Animals can see fairies and talk to them

Fairies are nocturnal.

They love shiny things.

Fairies are multilingual.

These and other fairy “facts” I learned from The Irish Fairy Door Co

When I was at the Kingdom County Fair I met a man from Sneem who was making lovely fairy and elf doors, but any half handy carpenter could make you a door for your very own fairy. I’d recommend you get one. They are great fun.

Here are some more photos from my trip to Athea, home of ten fairies:

Entrance to The Giant’s Garden
Flags of many nations
Sign on a seat along the walk
Fairy post box; you can leave a letter for the fairies here.

Rustic paths through lush undergrowth.

Lú is the local Athea fairy. It was she who helped the giant in his distress after the accident with his mother’s remains on the way to the graveyard which lies at the top of Fairy Mountain.

looking down from Fairy Mountain
Some of the Tidy Town Committee who developed the project

A fairy loving birthday party group from Duagh ready to investigate the fairy trail

Our M.C. for the day
Our story teller

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Magnificent White Lion
Source; Get inspired

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Listowel Celtic U14 Premier League Champions & Cup Finalists 2014    (photo; John Kelliher)



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Ah, lads!




This is not funny. Someone has stolen this sign from outside Asdee.

These signs are expensive, informative and decorative. They advertise our pride of place and are meant for everyone visiting the area.

Writers’ Week, Children and Fairies

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On June 5, 2014

In Uncategorized

More photos from opening night Listowel Writers’ Week 2014


Abigail Bernard who has just become an aunty for the fourth time with her mum and her beau.

 Canon Declan O’Connor and his cousin, Kay Caball

Bert, Paula and Vincent

Eliza Buckley, whose heavenly voice provided the musical entertainment on the night.

Carmel and Nuala

Old friends, Jimmy Moloney and Anne Brosnan

Noel Twomey opened the night for us.

The hall was full and the rest of the audience had to go to the overflow room.

Paul Durkan wowed the audience with wit and poetry.

President of Listowel Writers’ Week, Colm Tóibín did not disappoint.

This is Mark Piggott who sponsored the big prize for a book of poems.

This is the man who received the prize., Matthew Sweeney



Eileen Battersby………does one dare criticize a critic?

She was a bit rambling and disjointed and she did give away the ending.  It is safe to say that no one was in any doubt whose name was going to come out of that envelope.

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The National Children’s Festival 2014

Fun events and lots of reading

Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Willy Wonka event

Read me a story, Daddy

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Away with the fairies in Athea

Anyone who has any dealings with little girls will know that fairies are the new princesses. The good people in Athea Tidy Town Committee are right on trend here with their newly opened fairy trail.

The trail is absolutely beautiful and a big credit to all concerned. My only criticism would be the positioning of the fairy doors. I know that fairies can fly high into trees but little girls can’t and I have little people in my family who love to knock on fairy doors and to have conversations with fairies through their doors. They know that if the fairy were to come out she would lose some of her magic. so they are happy to have a one way conversation and to leave their gifts on her doorstep. Unlike Derrynane which has a marvelous fairy trail with lovely individual fairy houses, the doors in Athea are tiny and inaccessible.

Above are some of the fairy doors.

Lovely touches like this flower vase were everywhere in evidence.

This is an inviting looking bug hotel.

I think this might be a birds’ maternity hospital.

A crow’s nest which fell from a tree is displayed for us all to learn from.

Happy animal sculpture

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An old one

A fire at Suttons in Cork in 1963   (Random Cork stuff)

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Happy Gardaí

On the beat in Listowel May 3 2014

Writers Week ’14, Fairies and Races

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On June 4, 2014

In Uncategorized

Opening Night Listowel Writers’ Week 2014



Opening night, May 28 2014 was a balmy evening. The Square buzzed with anticipation. Local people rubbed shoulders with celebrities and indeed some local people were celebrities.

Great night!

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June Weekend Races


(photos by John Kelliher and Pat Tobin via Upfront PR)

Deirdre Kissane
Best Dressed lady, Joan McCarthy and judge. Marietta Doran
Aisling McCarthy
Some stylish ladies
Betty McGrath and Nollaig McEnery
Finalists and judges

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Very sad to see this close its doors



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You can take the girl out of Kerry….


Look who Rhona Tarrant is taking selfies with in New York!

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Athea Tidy Town’s grand opening of their fairy trail

This is the official photo. I’ll post my own ones tomorrow and I’ll tell you about the fairies.

Writers’ Week 2014 and Athea Fairy Trail

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On June 3, 2014

In Uncategorized

Some photos from opening night of Listowel Writers’ Week 2014. The event was well supported by local people.

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Sign at The Star and Garter. One for my former  English pupilst; “There is a rat in separate”

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Aisling Darby enjoying her first Writers’ Week

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Sliabh na Síoga

Athea Fairies  June 2 2014

This is the “back story” as they say on reality TV.

A long, long time ago when Athea was just named, a small, busy fairy was flying home to fairy valley when she heard a really loud sob.

Curious Lú stopped and looked around to where the sound had come from.  She flew from tree to tree and up a huge mountain (well a huge mountain to a little fairy!). In among the trees she could see a giant! Unsure whether to approach him or not Lú did feel sorry for him when he started to sob again.  Carefully she flew over and stopped beside his huge foot.  A tear dropped from his eye and only just missed Lú but causing a tidal wave of water which almost drowned her!

She flew up to his face and asked him what was wrong. He looked up, surprised to hear such a little voice. He blinked his eyes a couple of times and finally focused on Lú. She smiled politely and offered him her handkerchief.

“What are you?” he asked.

“I’m a fairy, what are you?”

“A Giant” he smiled. “You’re tiny!

“And you’re huge!”  Lú laughed and she got a fright when the giant laughed too and his laugh echoed all around them both.

“I have been so sad” the Giant sadly explained, wiping away a tear with Lú’s tiny handkerchief and soaking it!

With a little encouragement from Lú, he told her all about how his mother had died and whilst carrying her to the graveyard her body had fallen apart and her bones had been scattered throughout the parish. Lú felt so very sad for him.  Sitting on his finger she hugged her tiny knees and thought. She so wanted to make him feel better.

Lú knew that this giant was a good, kind giant who had been trying to do the right thing. She was an excellent judge of character. Suddenly, she had a splendid idea. In order to make him feel better, Lú made a promise to the giant.

That very night that she would invite nine of her very best fairy friends and they would make the mountain their home in honour of his mother. The giant was so delighted he almost squashed   Lú as he clapped his hands together with joy! His face broke into a huge smile and Lú  knew she had made the right decision.


Below is a word from the Athea Tidy Towns’ Committee:

ATHEA Tidy Towns Committee new Fairy Trail is located behind the Memorial Hall and Giants Garden in Athea. It will be home to 10 fairies who will each have their own fairy door and a purpose which will be displayed on a plaque beside their door along the trail. There will also be a worry tree called ‘Croga’. This will take away any worries you may have if you place your hand on the plaque attached to the tree. At the end of the trail there will be a Fairy Post Box where you can post any messages to the fairies.

This will be a fantastic addition to our village and will be open to the public all year round for free. On June 2 2014  we will also be raising 7 new flags at the Giants Garden – the Irish, Munster, Limerick. Athea GAA, Athea United, Athea Basketball and our very own Athea Tidy Towns Flag.

( I’ll have photos from my visit tomorrow)

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International Cancer Survivers Day 2014



Derek Dalton organized a 5k walk around Listowel in honour of his neighbor and friend, cancer surviver, Noel Roche. Another neighbour and friend, Denis O’Carroll filmed it and here is is for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIWvcZilUxk&app=desktop 

  

Listowel Writers Week and some photos from Árd Cúram sod turning ceremony

By

On May 22, 2014

In Uncategorized

From Kids’ Programme to 

The National Children’s Literary Festival 2014

This is the Writers’Week Children’s Fancy Dress Parade in 1991. Mary Robinson performed the official opening of Listowel Writers’ Week and the theme of the parade was Mná na hEireann.

That was then; this is now.

The Children’s programme at Writers Week has grown and matured into The National Children’s Literary Festival.

A programme of readings, workshops, Treasure Hunt, Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Baby Boogie, Puppet Show, Science Experiments and so much more is on offer.

Just one of the many exciting events is taking place in Craftshop na Méar on Saturday morning May 31st. at 11.30 a.m.

Sarah Murphy is a Ballina born, Cork based teacher and art therapist. She has just written her first book, What if?

The premise behind What if? is that it provides a fun way for a parent to introduce personal safety topics to young children.

The workshop is for parents and children and aims at helping them explore topics like

What if a stranger offers me sweets?

What if my ball ran on to the road?

The workshop is free but booking is necessary as places are limited. Ring Nuala on 068 21074.

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Ard Čúram sod turning ceremony May 16 3014


Micheál ÓSuilleabháin

Marie and Mike Moriarty

Ring of Kerry cyclists with Mayor of Listowel Jimmy Moloney

Canon Declan O’Connor blessed the site

Isobel MacDonagh with some Listowel older people who avail of the day care service

Finbarr Mawe, a driving force behind the project

 Olive and Roibeard Pierse

Tom Pierse

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Busy Weekend ahead

 Local and European elections Friday May 23

M.S. Busking Day  May 23 2014

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Ta Dah!

This is the beautiful Silver River Feale piece designed in Macroom by Listowel born silversmith, Eileen Moylan and made in her Claddagh Design Workshop.

Orders are now being taken in Craftshop na Méar for the following pieces from the range;

Sterling Silver Pendant on 18′ chain………€85

Sterling Silver Bracelet on 7′ chain………….€75

Sterling Silver  cuff links………….€130

Sterling Silver Tie/ Lapel pin………..€60

All of the items come in a beautiful presentation box.

We will have a small supply available on the night of the launch which we will sell to people who attend. These handmade pieces take a while to produce so order now to avoid disappointment.

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