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: Lizzie’s Little Kitchen Page 1 of 2

Winners

By

On May 12, 2023

In Listowel, Poem

On Church Street

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A Primus Stove

The Primus stove was the first pressurized-burner kerosene (paraffin) stove, developed in 1892 by Frans Wilhelm Lindqvist, a factory mechanic in Stockholm. The stove was based on the design of the hand-held blowtorch; Lindqvist’s patent covered the burner, which was turned upward on the stove instead of outward as on the blowtorch. (Wikipedia)

I knew none of this when I saw one of these in every house I knew in the 1960s. The little brass stove could be used indoors or out. I remember my aunt boiling a big saucepan of blackberries and apples into jam on one of these. She used to bring it outdoors to avoid steaming up the kitchen and we, children (who had picked all the blackberries and were eagerly awaiting the jam) were shooed out of harm’s way.

The Primus was much quicker than the range for boiling a kettle. I’m told people took them camping. We never went camping.

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Listowel Tidy Towns at 30

Our local heroes had a bit of a celebration in Mike the Pies. Well deserved.

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Heartbreaking Poem for anyone who loves an addict;

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Larger than Life

Mural and text by Neil Dwyer of Irish Murals

Just completed this mural of Ireland’s legendary jockey Rachael Blackmore for MJ Buckley at his Gastrobar & Guesthouse, appropriately called ‘The Junction’. Situated across the road from Tipperary Racecourse at Limerick Junction, County Tipperary, this was an ideal location to illustrate and pay tribute to County Tipperary’s own Rachael, the first (and only) woman to win the Aintree Grand National in it’s 184 year old history. She achieved this historic and unique sporting feat in 2021 on ‘Minella Times’. Coincidentally, Rachael was aboard another winner across the road the very evening that this mural was completed (4/5/2023).

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A Fact

Beer was not considered an alcoholic beverage in Russia until 2013.

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Ballincollig, Listowel and Dromcollogher

By

On February 14, 2023

In Listowel

The Dandy Lodge in Listowel Town Park in February 2023

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R.I.P. Fr. George

When I visit the Cork branch of the family the nearest church is St. Mary and St. John’s in Station Road, Ballincollig.

Behind the church there is a churchyard where many of the priests who ministered there are laid to rest.

In front of the church there are more ostentatious Celtic Cross headstones

Fr. George O’Mahony was the most recent parish priest to die. I encountered him at family christenings and communions. He was a gentle man and much loved. His gravestone is an exact replica of four of his predecessors

The parishioners have put a seat to his memory in front of the church.

It is a fitting memorial to a man who served the parish with humility and diligence. Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a shearbhónta dilis.

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The Bard of Brandon and Listowel Food Fair

Ted Creedon was recently given the honour of the title Bard of Brandon. His poem was a humorous one about Listowel’s first food fair. The Kerryman, when covering the story, included the above few verses from the winning poem.

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In Lizzie’s Little Kitchen

North Cork visitors to North Kerry last weekend took the opportunity to sample Lizzie’s fare. The TV chef was generous with her time and only too willing to talk food. These ladies have a fair bit of food knowledge between them as well.

Lizzie, me, Breeda Ahern Lil MacSweeney and Margaret O’Connell

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Dromcollogher

Last week we remembered Dromcollogher’s darkest hour, September 5 1926.

Before the horrific tragedy that took the lives of 48 people the town’s main claim to fame was the Percy French song which wrongly claimed that there was only one street in Dromcollogher.

Kathleen Griffin was in Drom in September 18 2019. She sent us this photo.

Dromcollogher – 18-09-2019

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Saturday’s best photo

Photo shared on the internet

Jonathan Sexton celebrates with his family after Ireland’s victory over France on Saturday Feb.11 2023.

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Christmas at The Listowel Arms, A Poem, Mike the Pies shopfront update and A Book Launch

By

On December 20, 2019

In Uncategorized

Listowel in December 2019

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The Listowel Arms at Christmas 2019

It’s all red and green in The Listowel Arms this Christmas. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. It’s just another gem in our lovely Christmassy town.

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Kerryman of the Year

 by Noel Roche of Chicago and Listowel

To my brother, Tom, who makes me proud

He was born in 1945 on the third day of July

Another child for Dick and Madge, a little baby boy.

Rumour has it he was late, they thought he wouldn’t come at all.

When he finally did come out, he was soloing a ball.

Just like all the other boys, he always loved to play.

It seemed he was a natural when it came to GAA.

His heroes were the Kerry teams, those men so big and bold.

His dreams were that someday he would wear the green and gold.

And wear the green and gold he did in 1963.

He won an All Ireland medal and became a hero to me.

Soon he moved to England and left Kerry behind.

“Twas his body that left Kerry, Kerry would not leave his mind.

Tom can talk of anything under the heavenly sky

But when he talks of Kerry he has a twinkle in his eye.

If you want Tom to help, all you have to do

Is throw in the word Kerry and he will be there for you.

How much does he love Kerry?  To him its not a game

Tom has got a daughter and Kerry is her name.

And now I’m here tonight to cheer

As they name my brother Tom, Kerryman of the Year.

There is no better man and I will tell you why

When it comes to Kerry, Tom is do or die.

And if you cut him open this sight you would behold

There is no red inside his veins. His blood runs green and gold.

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Mike the Pies


Mike the Pies shopfront is still a work in progress.

Here is where Martin is at but there’s lots more to do. It will be mighty.

Martin Chute, signwriter, at Mike the Pies on Saturday December 14 2019.

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Launch of The Very Best of Billy Keane



A book launch is a lovely family time. It’s a time to make the people who love you proud. There was a lot of love in the room of The Listowel Arms Hotel on Sunday Dec. 15 2019.


Launching the book were Gabriel Fitzmaurice and Jerry Kennelly, here with Billy’s able assistants, John Keane and Billy O’Flynn.

Billy chatting to his William Street neighbour, Catherine.

Liz and Jim Dunn were buying a few Christmas presents.

Laura Shine read one of the newspaper columns from The Very Best of Billy Keane.

Old friends turned up to support Billy.

Fellow author, Emma Larkin, took time out from the St. Seanan’s celebrations to lend support.



Proud family, Elaine, John and Anne listen as Gabriel reads from The Very Best of Billy Keane.

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Another New Barber on Church Street


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Lunch in Lizzie’s


We are so lucky in Listowel to have so many excellent cafés and restaurants. For a festive lunchtime treat there is no better food and value available anywhere than in Lizzie’ s of William Street.

Helen Moylan, Celebrity chef Lizzie Lyons, Miriam Kiely, exiled in Dublin but constantly drawn “home” to Listowel and your blogger, Mary Cogan.

I had the Christmas pie of buttermilk-brined turkey and ham topped with puff pastry, followed by the flourless chocolate and almond dessert;  delicious food and great company on a gloomy wet Listowel afternoon.

Lizzy’s Little Kitchen, Races 2016 and jostle stones in Kanturk

By

On September 13, 2019

In Uncategorized

Lizzy Meets  a fan 



My sister in law is a great cook and an even better baker. She loves all cookery programmes but she especially loves Lizzy Lyons on a Sunday morning. When she and her two friends visited Listowel recently one of the highlights of the trip was  lunch in Lizzy’s Little Kitchen. It did not disappoint and getting to talk to the lady herself was the icing on the cake.








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Races Story from The Archives




David Looby, The Wexford People in David Looby is a journalist with The Wexford People. The photo and the essay below recount his experience of his trip “home’ for the recent Listowel Races 2016:

I’ve lately joined the ranks of the school drop parents.

You know the sleepwalking types who are half-human, half school bags and lunch boxes. The ones that look immaculate on the first day, but revert to tracksuits and bearded, red eyed grumps by day two (the men that is!).

My daughter couldn’t wait to get started and barely looked over her shoulder at The Good Woman and I as we left her behind with her wonderful teacher and all her new classmates. 

I had a week off last week and, owing to some convenient amnesia and force of habit, imagined a week of leisure, down at the Listowel Races catching up with friends from my primary schoolgoing days, throwing back pints. 

The holiday got off to a rocky start as I picked up a dose, followed by The Little Fella getting a fever. My plans were falling apart as I came to terms with the reality that I was tied to school drop off and pick up duties every day, along with toilet training and night ‘lifts’ to the toilet. Undaunted, Tuesday saw me arrive at the heart of zen-like peace in the South East, St Mullins, from where I jogged to the second lock gates and continued walking until the third lock but couldn’t make it as far as Graiguenamanagh as I had to be back from the school pick-up (and I was shattered). I drank in the sweeping views under a milk white sky, taking my time on my way back. 

Wednesday was a doctor’s appointment for The Little Fella, followed by a morning enjoying the cafe life of Wexford with him, during which I picked up a new book before going home and lapping up the sunshine. Thursday was a walk from Slade to Hook Lighthouse and CD shopping.

Determined to get away at the weekend I hatched a plan to visit friends in Dublin, my first trip to the city in three years would be amazing, I told myself, only to discover via Whatsapp that said friends were heading to Kerry. 

With a daunting list of work to do around the house ahead of our children’s birthday party this weekend, I started to feel the walls closing in around me. The holiday was half way over and drinks needed to be organised to cap it all off, but where?

For years I’ve been trying to get back to Listowel for the races. Every year growing up in Listowel, the races and Fleadh Cheoil meant a week off school and the arrival of ‘the bazaar’ in town, along with a colourful host of characters, enjoying marathon sessions. Back then the town was buzzing and there was a wonderful atmosphere as you crossed the bridge over the River Feale to the racecourse, to the lilting sound of ‘throw me down something’ from Travellers who enjoyed the good fortune of (some) punters. 

Such sounds could not be heard over the thunderous Feale river on Saturday when, accompanied by my financial turf adviser, (my Dad), I returned to the race track on a glorious Autumn day. My tactic of backing horses with fun, quirky names was abandoned on the advice of my father so I went with ‘good’ each way prospects, all of whom came nowhere. After the races we walked the streets of the lovely north kerry town stopping into the institution that is The Shebeen pub, where people were relaxing in the great company of its owners, chatting about this year’s festival, which had a record crowd for Ladies Day on Friday. I returned to Wexford on Sunday night exhausted after a great escape (and a few too many) in Kerry.

Wexford People

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Jostling in Kanturk


A loyal blog follower was visiting my hometown of Kanturk and he photographed a few jostle stones for us.

The stones were in a laneway leading to the back of the old RIC barracks, later a Garda station and now a furniture and carpet shop.

Horses and carriages would have gone down this lane to get to stables at the back of the barracks. These stables were later used as cells for prisoners.

Mid Term Break with na cailíní and Healyracing on Nationwide

By

On February 20, 2018

In Uncategorized

Portmagee

Ita Hannon is a super photographer. This is her picture of Portmagee last week.

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Mid Term Break


My little granddaughters made a welcome trip to The Kingdom during their spring break. If you have grandchildren who come to visit, enjoy them while they are small. All too soon they become busy with their own activities and there is less time for Kerry visits.

Aisling, Cora and Róisín are growing up fast.

When they are in Nana’s house they do Nana type activities like knitting and baking.

Aisling loved my old beater. She thought it was much better than a whisk for making pancakes. The above picture is of Aisling making pancakes for Shrove Tuesday and when she returned home she made her parents cupcakes for Valentine’s Day. (picture below)

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Healyracing on telly



I have a cohort of Listowel people who have always welcomed me to Listowel and treated me like one of their own. They have shared stories and photographs with me and extended extraordinary kindnesses to me when I felt in need of “local” family. One of the first among these was the late Liam Healy. We shared a love of charity shops. While in search of a rare or beautiful pen, Liam would always take time to chat. He was a great man for stories, none more fascinating than his own life story, which was filled with tragedy but also with hope and success which came with making the most of talent and hard work.

There was never any mistaking that the most important people in Liam’s life were his family. He was enormously proud of all of them and there was no man more delighted to have them all around him and involved in the business he grew from humble beginnings in Listowel.

I am delighted that Liam’s memory is going to be kept alive with a Nationwide programme on tomorrow evening, February 21 at 7.00p.m. on RTE 1.

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A Specialist for everything



Do you remember when we had a jack of all trades mechanic who could do everything your car might need to be done to it?

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Listowel’s Lizzie Lyons on TV3




Lizzie of Lizzie’s Little Kitchen, Listowel, is forging a career for herself as a TV chef. Her easy relaxed style and clear instructions are endearing her to her Sunday morning TV audience. She has a great future ahead of her in the cooking business.

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