Listowel Town Square , February 2023

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A Pillar Postbox

I photographed this pillarbox on College Road, Cork

This box dates from the reign of George V 1901 to 1936.

I know that there is a decline in the amounts of mail sent nowadays and it costs to maintain them and to have someone go every day and empty these boxes but I really hope these artefacts are never removed from our streets. They are part of our history.

I photographed this more recent one in Mallow train station. It is ugly, utilitarian and as for “post office’! What’s that about?

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An Cailín Ciúin…a Listowel connection

“The apparel oft proclaims the man.”

Costume is just another way of telling the story and the beautifully evocative costumes in An Cailín Ciúin were the work of costume and wardrobe designer Louise Stanton.

Neil Brosnan shared this great connection with us.

“You recently mentioned Eibhlín wearing trousers in An Cailín Ciúin. I’m glad to say that Bray designer, Louise Stanton, is responsible for the wardrobe of the film – Louise is the sister of my partner, Gina Kelly. Louise personally made many of the costumes, including Cáit’s iconic lemon dress. The knitted and crocheted items were crafted by Louise’s 92 year-old mother, Marie Kelly, and her knitting circle friends in Castlebridge in Wexford, The Joe Heney movie ‘Song of Granite’, and Roddy Doyle’s, ‘Rosie’ are among Louise’s previous projects, along with the forthcoming RTE series ‘The Dry’. Louise is presently working on writer/director Pat Collins’s production of John McGahern’s ‘That they may face the rising sun’.”

Cáit in the iconic yellow dress running towards her happy place.

Cáit with the washing in the background, dull colourless, grey garments, symbols of her old life.

Of course anyone who saw the film will know the significance of boys’ clothes and girls’ clothes and the huge symbolism of buying the new dresses.

Then there was the poncho. I couldn’t find a picture but I recognised it well. We all had one in my young days and we thought we were the height of fashion. I think it was my first useless garment. It didn’t keep you warm so was useless as a replacement for a cardigan or jumper but we thought it was stylish. I was delighted to hear that Louise and Gina’s elderly mother and her crafter friends made this. Maybe she even once wore one.

I can’t wait to see this marvellous film again.

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Just Write

Listowel’s creative writing group celebrated 20 years together on Saturday January 28 2013.

They had cake, songs and readings, lots of chat and reminiscing and Helen Broderick took a few photos.

Helen Broderick
Some of the group’s published works

Just a few of the many contributors on the day.

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Something to Look forward to

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