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: Mary Fagan

Opening Night Listowel Writers’ week 2018, Elizabeth Stack’s New Post and Emmetts Under 16s

Charming mosaic picture in the window of Olive Stack’s Gallery

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Photos taken at Opening Night, Listowel Writers’ Week 2018

Niall MacMonagle was here to work, but not tonight. Also working were Máire Logue, Maria McGrath, Maria Leahy, Noel Twomey and Louise Lyons.  Eddie Moylan came to support his daughter, Catherine who introduced proceedings on the night and Robert Pierce and the Walshes of Aspire Technology were there to present their prizes. The rest were heading to the Listowel Arms for a night out, one of the highlights of the Listowel season.

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Emmetts Abú


I spotted this story and photos on Listowel Emmetts’ website

Emmets U16’s choose the bog over the beach 😀

Fair play to our U16 team and mentors who spent this evening in the bog with Seamus Stack. It was all for a great cause too as the turf will be sold to raise much needed funds for The Nano Nagle School here in Listowel. 



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 Listowel Lady doing well



This is the account in this week’s Kerryman of Elizabeth Stack of Listowel and her new job.

This is what it says in The Irish Echo;

The Irish American Heritage Museum has a new director.

Elizabeth Stack has taken the helm and has plans to extend the reach of the museum beyond its physical location in New York’s state capital, Albany.

“I have lots of plans for the museum and am excited to settle in to the capital region,” said Stack, who previously worked at the Institute of Irish Studies at Fordham University.

“I am looking forward to meeting the wider community,” said Stack who indicated her intent to extend the museum’s activities beyond its home city.

The museum describes its educational mission as “To preserve and tell the story of the contributions of the Irish people and their culture in America, inspiring individuals to examine the importance of their own heritage as part of the American cultural mosaic.”

The museum was first organized in 1986 by the New York State American-Irish Legislators Society and was initially financed by the State Natural Heritage Trust, the State Council on the Arts, and private donations.

Initially, and after it opened in June, 1990, the museum was located on the grounds of the Irish Culture and Sports Center in East Durham, in New York’s Catskills region.

In 1992, the museum was permanently chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The museum was relocated to downtown Albany in 2012. The 3,250 square foot space opened on January 17, 2012 and includes the Paul O’Dwyer Library and the Ancient Order of Hibernians’ archives.

Exhibits at the museum have included: “Irish in the Civil War,” which looked at Irish Americans in the American Civil War; “The Irish and the Erie Canal,” which highlighted the contributions of the Irish in all phases of the Erie Canal construction, and “Dublin: Then and Now,” which included photographs of the streets of Dublin in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

States the museum on its website: “Our museum….provides year-round access to our exhibits, our Paul O’Dwyer Library, lectures, presentations, film screenings, book signings and other special programs and events.

“The Museum was an integral force in providing instruction in New York State’s public schools about the Irish Famine of 1845-1853.  Further, we are the first Museum of its kind here in America to have exhibited at the National Library in Dublin.”

The museum is located at 370 Broadway in Albany.

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Remembered with Love


Sunday, June 10, would have been Fr. Pat Moore’s birthday. In this age of social media, people find solace in posting messages on a dead loved ones’ page. I visited Fr. Pat’s page on his birthday and it was lovely to see the old pictures of his smiling brave presence among us.

Ní imithe uainn atá sé, ach imithe romhainn.





Easter Rising Commemoration in Kerry, A Party in Áras Mhuire and more Photos from Kennelly at 80

Beautiful Ballybunion In April 2016 photographed by Jason O’Doherty

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Kerry and The Rising; State Commemoration


One of the saddest events of The Rising of 1916 happened in Kerry when the driver of the car bringing 3 volunteers mistook the pier at Ballykissane for a road. All three were drowned. This event was commemorated when President Higgins came to Kerry last week.

Photo: Aisling Griffin

Aisling Griffin shared this photo too of the L.E. Niamh in the waters off Banna during the  commemorative event on April 21 2016.

It was a reminder of the ill fated Aud which hovered in the bay, hoping in vain to be able to come ashore and land the guns to arm the Rising.

Photo: Aisling Griffin

The soldiers at Banna on April 21 were drilled to within an inch of their lives. Their formation was perfect, their uniforms pristine, the barked orders, as Gaeilge, loud and clear and everyone to a man and woman proud to be there.

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The World and His Wife Was in Banna

 Owen O’Shea was an excellent M.C.

 This actor, Declan McCarthy, made a convincing Casement as he delivered the rousing speech from the dock.

 Our president , Michael D.Higgins gave a measured and crafted speech. I was so glad we elected a polished orator. He does this sort of occasion with great pride and dignity.

 Everyone I spoke to experienced the same catch in the throat and tear in the eye as the three planes flew overhead and out to sea as we sang the National Anthem.

 And the tricolor flew over it all.


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Party in Áras Mhuire

James Gould is 80 and his friends in Áras Mhuire threw him a party. They invited me.

 Danny Hannon came to wish him a happy birthday.

Noreen O’Donoghue joined in the celebrations.


 Stevie Donegan provided the music.

 This lovely lady, a visitor, sang a song or three.


Happy Birthday, James


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People in Ballylongford at the Kennelly at 80 Event

 Christy Kenneally and Rose Wall at the launch of the DVD, River of Words in The Seanchaí.

 Poet, Mary Lavery Carrig was among the attendees at Lislaughtin.

 Paddy McElligott in Kennelly’s Bar. Paddy performed two of his acclaimed Moloney sketches

Paddy McElligott’s Moloney Up and At It in Kennelly’s Bar Ballylongford

Gabriel Fitzmaurice in Kennelly’s, Ballylongford and below in Ballybunion.

Liz and Jim Dunn. Liz is organizing the bus and Jim took a few photos while waiting for the talk to begin.

Two well known Listowel ladies enjoying the day.

watching the action

A question in parliament about Listowel, 1920, Sunday’s Craft Fair and Tar Abhaile

I had a busy day on Sunday. It was a big day in town with most of the shops offering discounts. In the town park the Community Centre was holding a Craft Fair. Here are a few photos I took on my visit.

These people were there to promote a fundraiser for Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue. Watch out for a great night with celebrity chef in The Listowel Arms.

Catherine Nolan had reed diffusers, jewellery etc.

Carmel and Paddy Fitzgibbon were chatting to Vincent Carmody at his stall.

Imelda Murphy and Noreen O’Connell were catching up.

 These sisters had slate products and Tilly dolls for sale.

Enterprising pupils from Tarbert Comprehensive TY class were selling Christmas wreaths.

Another happy customer for Vincent; Paddy McElligott.

Mary Fagan was admiring Maria’s diverse array of paper products.

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Neighbours, Helen, Christy and Noreen were doing a spot of early Christmas shopping.

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Nowadays we are reading of
the re ignition of an old fiery subject….. the question of Irish language
signage.  Leo Varadkar, in response to
pressure from Irish language lobbyists, is proposing to give placenames as
Gaeilge more prominence on signposts than the more familiar English placenames
that are in daily use.

Back in 1920 Listowel had its
own signage as Gaeilge controversy. Paddy Keane found this account on line.

SIGNBOARDS
(IRISH LANGUAGE).

HC
Deb 25 November 1920 

Mr. ALLEN
PARKINSON
asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Miss Kearney,
Messrs. John F. M’Guire, John Kean, John Quigley, James Crowley, all of Church
Street, Listowel, Patrick Buckley, Jeremiah Foley, Thomas Beechinor, all of
William Street, Listowel, Edward Moran, Market Street, Listowel, have within
the last fortnight obliterated their names in Irish character on their
showboards; whether this was done because of threats made by police constables
in case they refused to do so; whether any of these are licensed traders;
whether he is aware that Messrs. Timothy D. O’Sullivan, Michael Fitzmaurice,
James Lynch, John Relihan, Michael O’Connor and Edward Gleeson, and Mrs.
Michael Stack, Mrs. J. J. Keane, all of William Street, Listowel, Miss Katty
Stack, Main Street, Listowel, Messrs. Morgan Sheehy, James Bunyan and John
Began, and Mrs. Counihan, all of Church Street, Listowel, licensed traders,
have, within the same period, also obliterated their names in Irish characters
on their show boards; whether all these have, and prior to such obliteration
had, their names in English characters over their doors as required by Section
25 of The Licensing Act,
1825
; whether this obliteration was done under similar threats;
whether, on Friday, the 12th instant, Constables Cahill and Beiman called at
the premises of Mr. Flavin, a newsagent and flour and meal merchant, and
threatened Mrs. Flavin that unless the name in Irish was taken down within 24
hours the premises would be blown up, and if the same constables
on Wednesday night repeated this threat to Mr. Flavin’s assistant, giving her
until midnight to have the name removed, otherwise the house would be burned;
whether in consequence the women and children were afraid to sleep at home that
night; whether the same constables made a similar threat to Mrs. John B. Walsh;
whether, when Mr. Walsh produced a letter from his solicitor as to the law on
the point, they informed him this law was out of date, and that he must have
his name in English letters six inches long, under Section 10 of TheLicensing Act,
1864
; whether there is such a Statute, as alleged by the police;
whether there are still several traders having their names in Irish over their
shops; and whether any assurance will be given to these that their property
will not be destroyed in consequence by the police or other forces of the
Crown, and that these traders will not be further molested in reference to this
matter?

Sir H. GREENWOODI am making inquiries
into these allegations, and shall be glad if the hon. Member will repeat on
Thursday next this question, of which I only received notice yesterday.

Mr. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary
for Ireland whether he will make further inquiries into the statement that only
licence-holders were compelled to withdraw from their signboards their names in
Irish; and whether traders may now be assured that they will be free in the
future from interference of that character?

Sir H. GREENWOODIn view of the specific
allegations in a question put to me to-day by the hon. Member for Wigan (Mr.
Allen Parkinson), I am having further inquiry made into this matter.

.  
 

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I am looking forward to Tg4 on Sunday Dec. 1  at 9.30 to revisit a happy time last spring with Julie Evans and the Mahalicz  family.




The film crew went to Sydney to film Julie “at home”. Here she is Hyde Park Barracks with her cousin Barbara.

Julie at work

Filming at Hyde Park Barracks





The Tg4 programme will also feature this lady. She is Angie Mihalicz from Canada. NKRO found her Irish roots in Asdee. 







Angie brought some of her family with her. 

The connection with Peter McGrath? They are trying to make a family connection on Peter’s family’s vast family tree.


Buíochas; Thanks

A very heartfelt thank you to everyone who contacted me since Jim’s death. I greatly appreciate your kind words and I especially appreciate the sentiments of people who only know me through the blog and who have never contacted me before. Knowing that so many people are thinking of me and praying for me has been a small consolation to me at this very sad time in my life.

I intend getting back to blogging in September. In the meantime, I’m sharing with you a link to the programme Mary Fagan did with me on Radio Kerry. I have had such a good reaction to the interview that I thought you might like to hear it before it disappears from the Diocese of Kerry website.

http://www.dioceseofkerry.ie/page/communications/horizons/listen_now/

If anyone has any material suitable for inclusion on this blog,  I’ll be delighted to receive it .  I’d love to include photographs of events I missed over the summer.

I’m looking forward to reconnecting with you all very soon.

FCA, Horizons and Connect 4 in Berlin

Canon Declan shared some of his old FCA photos with us.

The quality of the pictures is not great but the memories are priceless.

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This is Fr. Pat Moore P.P. Duagh and Mary Fagan, presenter of Horizons.

What are they doing on today’s blogpost?

On Friday last, Mary recorded a Horizons’ programme with me as the subject. Since chattering away is a forté of mine, it all felt very easy and enjoyable. Maybe it was down to Mary’s skill as an interviewer, but the time flew and I felt that we had just had a friendly chat.

 I’ll alert you to the broadcast date when Mary gives it to me and you can hear for yourselves.

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Above is Listowel Town Square last week and below the same place in the 1940s. I have no idea who the people are but if you know, do let me know. They look to me like visitors posing with a local lady.

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My daughter, Clíona, went to Berlin recently for a  holiday and she found this marvellous bar in which the customers were encouraged to play board games.

Here she is channelling her inner child with her friend, Philip, and a good old game of  Connect 4.

Seán takes on the winner. Notice behind them the shelves lined with every boardgame you could imagine. Would it catch on in Listowel I wonder?

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