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: MOYA

A Big House and Some Tents

By

On May 14, 2025

In Listowel

A corner of Listowel Town Square in May 2025

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Kerdiffstown House

Máire MacMahon has been in touch to fill us in on this house which I featured last week but knew nothing about.

Dear Mary,

Read with interest today’s blog. The picture of the house which you feature I understand to be known as  Kerdiffstown House . (https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/11812025/kerdiffstown-house-johnstown-kildare )

That property was previously owned by the Charity St. Vincent de Paul, and due to its location, was an ideal spot for National Council meetings when SVP members from around the Country would meet.   I have mixed memories of it, it was where I first attended a National Council meeting. Some parts of the building were very old and the new wing was very cold, I learned very quickly to bring two hot water bottles for my bed when staying there at weekends! . 

The Society used it as a Holiday Home and would bring people on holidays there for a week, and during the winter, it was often used by community groups, such as Scouts, et cetera.

In recent years it was sold by the SVPas patterns have changed with people going on holidays. 

It is now owned by the Peter McVerry Trust who run a social enterprise from it.  

regards

Máire 

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Sunday Market at MOYA

I went with Reggie and family to the Sunday market.

If you want that special handmade gift for a baby, look no further that Josephine Kennelly. Once the Ballybunion market starts up for the summer, she’ll be there every week.

She will be in the Listowel Market in Scoil Realta na Maidine as well with her vintage ware

Reggie was a great hit. He loved the fair and all the attention.

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Stamps

Will we see the end of postage stamps as we know them in our lifetime?

Letter writing is only practiced by a few hardy souls nowadays and even then the stamp is often digital.

I was given lots of old stamps by a lovely lady. I have now given them to a charity that makes up packets of stamps for stamp collectors. Before I passed them on I photographed some of the huge haul. I was struck by how lovely these little miniature pictures are.

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First Holy Communion

The sun shone gloriously all day on Saturday May 10 2025 as the local children received their First Communion.

John Kelliher took the photos

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A Fact

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Indianapolis, here we come

By

On May 12, 2025

In Ballybunion, Listowel, Personal

Corner formerly known as The Custom Gap

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One door closes….

New business in Church Street

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Fancy a Trip to Indianapolis?

Indianapolis, colloquially known as Indy, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County. Indianapolis is situated in the state’s central till plain region along the west fork of the White River. (Wikipedia)

Indy has a thriving American Irish community and they have just got a step closer to us.

Joe Cahill brings us the story.

Aer Lingus inaugurated direct flights between Dublin and Indy with a big gala yesterday evening.

We were there for the festivities – Céilí band, Irish Dancers, swag, fantastic spread of Irish hors d’oeuvres & more.  I’m guessing 300 people (+passengers) were there at the gate.

1 minute on local TV station shows LAOH members Lucy & Susan a couple of times.

Nice touch – the plane flying the American and Irish flags from the cockpit windows as it approached the gate.

Susan happy to see the new destination.

The LAOH welcome party

Joe adds, “Somewhere I heard that over 500 people leave Indy airport for European destinations each day.  Aer Lingus is hoping to capture a lot of that market channeling it through Dublin.

Indy has one of the nicest – and most efficient – airports.”

“We have several nice Irish pubs – and of course, those fantastic, huge breaded pork tenderloins.”

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Ballybunion for the MOYA Weekend

Reggie is cosying up to me as he sees Listowel as his home away from home in the fine weather.

Sunday morning on the beach was sunny but a bit chilly.

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In Kilcullen

On my Kildare trip I took in Kilcullen, a truly lovely little town.

Intriguuing piece of street art

I’ll be back in daylight to explore more.

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A Coincidence or Synchronicity

Sometimes two things happen at the same time. The two things have a relation but there is no obvious reason why they occurred at the same time. This happened last week.

My granddaughter, Róisín, went with her TY class on a pilgrimage to Knock as part of her wellness programme. The event was being held in memory of the late Donal Walsh. His father was one of the speakers.

Róisín is not particularly religious but she was very impressed by the events of the day. She prayed for me and she brought me holy water and prayer cards. I am the most religious person Róisín knows.

While the young people were in Knock the papal conclave was in progress. The young Irish pilgrims prayed that the cardinals would make a good choice. Then, the new pope was confirmed, Leo XIV.

On Saturday I read this in the Irish Independent.

Staggering coincidence surely?

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A Fact

The first International Women’s Day was obseved in 1911.

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