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: Moments of Reflection Page 2 of 3

A Book Launch and a Schmozzle

By

On October 1, 2024

In Athea, Poem, Schools' Folklore

Finches at a feeder in Kanturk

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People at a Book Launch

Five of my six grandchildren

Robert and Eileen Bunyan with Paddy MacElligott and Helen Moylan

Clíona with Margo Spillane. Margo came all the way from Castlelyons in Co. Cork to support me on the big night. Such loyalty is much appreciated.

Anne Brosnan, Mary O’Connor, Marie Lucid and Pam Browne

John Kinsella shares a laugh with Mary McGrath and Mary Sobieralski

Cliona Cogan, Breeda Ahern, Carine Schweitzer, Bobby and Sean Cogan, Catherine Moylan and Dulce Lopez

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The Trials of the Golf Lesson

Talk about 100 things going through your head… I love John McAuliffe’s description of all the things he has to remember and all the things he is trying to ignore in this marvellous poem about a golf lesson on the links course in Ballybunion.

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Roly Chute, Legendary Coach and Painter

I met Roly out for the second of his daily walks. He is always willing to stop and chat.

Roly taught all of my children to play badminton and tennis. He gave selfless years and years to training the youngsters in the badminton club the skills of the game. Listowel owes him a lot.

A little known fact about Roly is that he is quite a skilled artist.

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Tupperware

Once upon a time every house had stacks of these plastic containers. We once learned that Queen Elizabeth kept her Corn Flakes in a Tupperware box.

Now the brand has fallen victim to its own success. Since its product is practically indestructible, sales have fallen off and the company is in trouble.

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Knockanure (from the Schools’ Folklore Collection)

Knockanure Church

The old cloisters at Knockanure Church were built in 1649. The chief man at the building of it was Father Moriarty of Castleisland.

There were five friars in it for years, the head brother was Brother James Keane.

There are two beautiful violin players buried in the old Abbey. They were drowned in the Gale on Saturday 11th June 1752. The place where they were drowned is called the Fiddlers’ Hole at a place called Tubber.

The friars lived about three quarters of a mile west of the Church at a place called Carrueragh. Father Mortimer OConner is also buried in this Church. He was born in the field that the church is built on. He died in Arda in 1781. The meaning of Knockanure is the hill of the Yew-Tree. Knockanure chapel was built in Father Sheehy’s time in 1865. The youngest Friar in Ireland at that time was Friar Toban.

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A Fact

A schnozzle is an event in a game of football or hurling. It falls somewhere on the spectrum between a few friendly thumps between friends and second degree assault.

A schnozzle can arise for a number of reasons that range from being 3 goals and 12 points down and 5 minutes left on the clock to someone enquiring into the marital status of your mother at the time of your birth.

A schmozzle must never be allowed to develop into an almighty schmozzle. This would include the subs bench, managing staff, an Maor Uisce, several members of the crowd and, if it is a Junior B hurling match, a collie cross barking.

(information for this fact from Ronan Moore’s book of Irishology.)

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Maureen Connolly R.I.P.

By

On September 16, 2024

In Listowel

Nearly there

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+R.I.P. Maureen Connolly+

Maureen and Jim Connolly on a Listowel Street on Wednesday, January 8 2020, a picture of enduring love.

Maureen, with her great friend, Una, at a Knitwits Christmas party in Scribes.

Maureen passed away on Sunday September 8 2024.

The following is her obituary as posted on the US website of the funeral director;

Maureen Connolly

Mary (Maureen) T. Connolly, formerly O’Connell nee Leahy, aged 79, of Leonia New Jersey and Trien Kilmorna Listowel County Kerry Ireland died peacefully on Sunday September 8th 2024 surrounded by her loving family.

Predeceased by her parents Timothy & Hannah Leahy, her Sister Margaret(Peggy) Horan and Brother-in-law Brendan Horan & brother Michael Leahy, husband’s Daniel(Danny/Donie) O’Connell(1980) and as of late James(Jim) Connolly(2023), and nephew Billy Leahy.

Mary is survived by her daughters Johannah O’Connell-Neu(Tim) and Teresa Turek(Mike), Grandchildren Daniel, Nicholas and Kierstyn,  brothers Willie Joe(Eileen), Teddy(Margaret), Pat(Mary) & Jerry(Mary), Aunty Phil and many nephews and nieces, cousins and in-laws.

Mary immigrated to the US on October 4, 1964 at age 19.  Mary met Danny & Married in 1968. They resided in Connecticut  where Johannah & Teresa were born and later moved  to Inwood New York where she worked as a deli clerk at Finast.

After the passing of her husband Danny in 1980 Mary thought it best to move to Leonia NJ to be near her sister Peggy & raise her daughters there.  Mary worked at Grand Union in Fort Lee NJ
as a deli clerk for 32 years.  As she was a widow at a young age she had multiple side jobs to provide for herself and her daughters.

Mary then met Jim in the 1990’s along with his children Desmond, Corinne and Patricia.  Jim & Mary were married in 1999 and later retired to the land they both loved….Ireland.  Mary traveled frequently between Ireland and New Jersey to be with family and friends.

Mary loved knitting …..especially with her Knit Wits knitting group and she enjoyed going to the Listowel Community Center. In Leonia you would find her walking everywhere and chatting with everyone she knew.   She was a proud strong Irish Kerry woman and often showed off her Irish jigs, Irish dancing and singing her Irish songs.  She also enjoyed country music, Bingo & word searches.  But most of all she was a very proud Nana to Daniel, Nicholas and Kierstyn who she loved so  much.

The family will receive their friends on Thursday September 12, 2024 at the Frank A. Patti and Kenneth Mikatarian Funeral Home 327 Main Street “opposite the Fort Lee Library”.  The interment will take place at Ahavoher Cemetery In Knockanure, County Kerry, Ireland.  For condolences, directions, or information www.frankpatti.com or call (201) 944-0100.

The service information in Ireland is as follows:

Reposing at Finucane’s Funeral Home

Moyvane, County Kerry Ireland V31 K510

Mass of Christian Burial at Corpus Christ Church

Knockanure, County Kerry Ireland

Maureen in her happy place, among some of her Knitwits friends in Scribes.

I met Maureen on my first day at a knitting group start up in Off the Square café (now Dough Mamma) in 2011. Maureen was outgoing and friendly, a great knitter, always willing to share her skills.

The knitting group grew. People drifted in and out of the group. We changed our name from Knirvana to Knitwits. We changed location to Scribes on Church Street. Maureen was a constant.

She would often arrive, straight from Anna, her hairdresser, looking a million dollars, ready to tell us stories and to give us all a laugh.

Maureen loved Namir and Abraham and later Brigitta. She always made a point of befriending the workers wherever she was. A life in service had taught her to appreciate the people who serve us.

With Maureen and Namir in this photo is another great knitter, no longer with us. Eunice and Maureen shared a passion for knitting and giving. May they rest in peace.

Namir opened a craft shop in Church Street, Craftshop na Méar. Maureen loved volunteering there. Here she is with her two Saturday shop buddies, the two Eileens.

Maureen sitting by the range accompanied by the shop mascot, Dinny

The shop eventually closed. Then Covid came and Scribes closed. Maureen missed the social interaction and the cut and thrust of the meet-ups. I met in her town in 2020. She was still smiling despite a few bouts of ill health. She was now enjoying her trips to Ard Chúram and her new friends there. She was still travelling to and fro to the U.S. and her family there.

Her beloved Jim passed away in 2023. She had already lost her dearest sister, Peggy. Her own health was deteriorating. Her ties to Kilmorna were weakening. She couldn’t really carry on alone in her old home. She missed her daughters and family in the U.S.

I lost touch with Maureen when she relocated to the U.S. to be looked after by her dear family there. I thought of her often and the fun, the laughter and the stories in Scribes and in the craftshop.

Maureen Connolly was one of a kind. May the sod rest lightly on her kind soul.

Maureen Connolly, not gone from us, just gone before us.

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Looking Forward to Raceweek

Haven’t race cards come a long way?

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BnM and Stanley

Remember the Mona room heater? it was a collaboration between Bord ns Mona and Stanley of Waterford and it burned briquettes.

Dave O’Sullivan found this in The Connaught Tribune November 11 1961

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A Fact

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Artwork

By

On September 11, 2024

In Listowel, Personal

Painted utility boxes in Ballincollig. I love this idea.

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Fitzpatrick’s Of Kanturk

Denis Fitzpatrick of Kanturk was a very successful businessman. In the 1960s he had three grocery shops, a bakery and confectionary and an ice cream factory.

Someone sent me this pennant photographed outside a shop in Cork in the 1950s. I have no idea why it was cream ices instead of ice creams.

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Date for the Diary

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Helping me Collect my Books

Paul, Eileen, Alice and Bridget having a first read of my book in Listowel Printing Works in Tannavalla on Friday, September 6 2024.

Listowel Printing Works is now in its busiest season of the year as they embark on the mammoth task of printing thousands of Christmas cards for schools all around the country.

These very popular cards featuring the children’s artwork are bought and treasured by most of Ireland’s schools. Designing and printing them, packaging and dispatch is a huge task for which Listowel Printing Works employs up to 50 extra staff and the facility works flat out.

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The Homecoming Symbol

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A Tony O’Callaghan Bronze

I thought that this plaque might be something to do with Writers Week. I was wrong. While O’Callaghan specialised in bespoke commissions, this is not one of them. Apparently he reproduced this one several times. The names in the book are the names of lots of writers, several of whom were dead before Writers’ Week came about.

Thanks to Vincent Carmody for clearing that one up.

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A Fact

A fingernail or toenail takes about 6 months to grow from base to tip.

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Postcards and Drama Remembered

By

On September 5, 2024

In Listowel

Áras an Phiarsaigh in September 2024

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Touching the Future

Aoife McKenna takes her first look at her Nana, Mary Cogan’s new book, Moments of Reflection.

Launch date: September 21 2024 in The Listowel Arms at 7.00p.m.

Special guest; Mary Fagan

Everybody welcome

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Old Postcards

Picture and text from the Capuchin Annual Archive

Irish Postcard Series, Valentine & Sons

A selection of some quaint images in this postcard series printed by the well-known firm of James Valentine & Sons, one of the main producers of picture postcards in Britain and Ireland in the first half of the twentieth century. These postcards probably date to the 1920s. During the ‘postcard boom’ of the late 1800s and early 1900s, postcard publishers dispatched scores of photographers throughout Britain and Ireland to capture the visual records of towns and villages (and their inhabitants). Landscape photography was also a major focus of the business with a growing demand for topographical views, particularly among well-heeled tourists of the day.

Valentine and Sons were known to make extensive use of retouching artists (by 1907 they employed 40 artists) to hand tint or otherwise improve the scenic quality of their postcards sometimes with decidedly mixed results. The two postcards on the right show distinct signs of such retouching with some of the individuals appearing to be ‘superimposed’ onto the original print. Valentine & Sons continued to be one of the major publishers of postcards well into the twentieth century but a downturn in the trade set in the late 1950s and the company ceased postcard publishing in 1970. Most of Valentine’s valuable Irish photographic archive is now held in the National Library of Ireland. The company’s British archive is held in the library of the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. The postcard series here forms part of the photographic archive of ‘The Capuchin Annual’ periodical.

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We’re in the Money … Hopefully

Both Ard Chúran and Áras Mhuire, two great care facilities  in Greenville have been shortlisted for the Regional Finals of the AIB Community €1 Million Awards . . 

Both Committees were out in force in May & June asking for public  votes. As usual, the people of Listowel and North Kerry came up trumps, resulting in BOTH Charities coming out as two of only six charities in Munster making the shortlist. 

All in Ard Chúram and Áras Mhuire have expressed thanks and appreciation for the support in getting them to this stage. 

Best of luck to all involved in meeting with the AIB adjudication panel.. 

 Adjudication is this coming Friday so hopefully one or indeed both Ard Chúran and Áras Mhuire will be €28k the wealthier by the weekend.

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1985 Junior Infants

Photo shared on Facebook

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A Date for the Diary

This will be one you won’t want to miss. In his inimitable style, Owen MacMahon will take us through the story of amateur drama in Listowel, with lots of anecdotes and behind the scenes stories peppering the narrative.

Will we ever forget this brilliant production? Like so many involved in drama, Owen has played many roles over the years, crossing over from acting to directing to producing and back again.

In Kerry Writers’ Museum on September 21, Owen will take us back to the beginning. We will relive the highs and lows of the Drama Group, remembering so many who entertained us over the years.

I remember The Shaughraun featured a real dog. At one performance the real dog wasn’t in the mood for performing so an actor had to “Woof,woof” offstage.

Barney O’Reilly who was The Shaghraun passed away recently. May he rest in peace.

Many memories will be evoked at this event on Saturday September 21 at 12 noon.. Owen MacMahon is always knowledgeable and entertaining.

The stage shall never die.

Don’t miss this one.

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A Sad Poem

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A Definition

From The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce

dentist n. A prestidigitator, who, putting metal into your mouth pulls coins out of your pocket.

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A Fact

Marjuana is legal and is not classified as a drug in North Korea.

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Cork, Kinsale and Listowel

By

On September 4, 2024

In Listowel

Áras an Phiarsaigh, September 2024

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For One Night Only

On the evening of the launch of my new book, Moments of Reflection, I will have a few copies of my previous books, Listowel Through a Lens and A Minute of Your Time available to buy at 10 euros each.

Launch in The Listowel Arms on Saturday, September 21 2024 at 7.00 P.M.

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Jeanie Johnston

Picture and text shared on a Facebook page, Holocausd na nGaedheal

Holocausd na nGaedheal

The Remarkable Voyage of the Jeanie Johnston

In the heart of the 19th century, as the Great Famine gripped Ireland, the Jeanie Johnston became a symbol of hope and resilience. This three-masted barque, built in 1847, was far more than just a ship—it was a lifeline for those fleeing the desperate conditions of their homeland.

The Jeanie Johnston made 16 transatlantic crossings, carrying nearly 2,500 passengers from the shores of County Kerry to the promise of a new life in North America. What made this ship truly remarkable was that, unlike many of the “coffin ships” of that era, not a single life was lost on board. This was largely due to the extraordinary care taken by her captain, James Attridge, and the skilled crew who prioritized the safety and well-being of every soul on board.

Life below deck was far from easy. The passengers were packed tightly into cramped quarters, with four people often sharing a space barely large enough for one. The air was thick, the light scarce, and the constant rocking of the ship made every meal a challenge to keep down. Yet, despite the hardships, the Jeanie Johnston’s passengers clung to their hope for a better future.

During one of the ship’s earliest voyages, a young woman named Margaret Reilly gave birth to a baby boy while at sea. In honour of the ship and its crew, she named him Nicholas Johnston Reilly, bestowing upon him 18 names in tribute to the ship’s captain, doctor, and crew members. This baby boy was a symbol of new beginnings, born amidst the trials of the Atlantic crossing.

The Jeanie Johnston’s legacy is one of resilience and survival. As she sailed into the harbours of Quebec, New York, and Baltimore, she brought with her not just passengers, but stories of hope and endurance. The ship’s perfect safety record, maintained even when she eventually sank in 1858 with all crew saved, stands as a testament to the care and commitment of those who sailed her.

Today, the Jeanie Johnston is remembered not just as a vessel, but as a beacon of light in one of Ireland’s darkest hours—a story of compassion, courage, and the unwavering human spirit.

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Some Random Aspects of Kinsale

We had brunch in The Old Bank. This wall display kept me entertained while we waited for a table.

This is where we were going to eat but we didn’t book in time.

Isn’t this a nice touch?

The Old Bank was doing a steady take away business as well as the sit down teas and coffees.

A feature of a visit to Kinsale now is a trip to this mobile sauna. You can jump out of the sauna and into the sea. Seems to be very popular. I didn’t try it for you.

I spotted an Edwardian post box.

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A Comment about Comments

The experience of reading Listowel Connection is different, depending on the platform you are reading it on. If you are reading it on a PC or laptop there is a box at the end where you can leave a comment. Comments do not appear at once as I moderate them to filter out spam or inappropriate stuff.

Since people leave comments after they have read the post, the comments don’t appear until later in the day, or sometimes not for a day or two. It is good then to check back.

Unfortunately, the comment box does not appear with the post on the phone. So people reading Listowel Connection on phones don’t see comments or get a chance to comment themselves. They also dont see a search box or the links to all the past posts.

So, for the full experience, you will have to read this blog on the desktop or laptop.

If any techies reading this know how to fix this, I’d welcome your help.

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The Greening of UCC

On my recent trip to UCC I spotted a conscious effort to let Nature have its way. The quad was fenced off. I’m presuming this was in order to let the lawns prosper and look their best for conferring.

The president can hardly see out his window it is so overgrown .

The creeper on the wall is so dense, I would fear for the wall.

There is another window behind all that greenery.

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From the Newspaper Archives

Richard McElligott R.I.P of Bridge Road, Listowel.

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A Fact

Ireland’s first ever Olympic medal was won by Jack Yeats, brother of William Butler. From 1912 to 1948 painting was an Olympic event. In 1924 Jack B. Yeats won silver for his painting “The Liffey Swim”.

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