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: Moyvane Page 3 of 5

Ballybunion, Moyvane Time Capsule and Billy Keane’s New Book

By

On November 9, 2016

In Uncategorized

Chaffinch


photo; Chris Grayson  



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Swinging a Camán in Ballybunion

I have a granddaughter who loves to hurl. Here she is giving it a lash on the beach in Ballybunion on Sunday October 30 2016.

 It was like a summers’ day. The children were having a ball.

There were swimmers and surfers in the water, some of them without wetsuits!

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Moyvane ICA’s Time Capsule

photographs by Elizabeth Brosnan

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The Best of Billy Keane



This book is a new departure for Billy Keane. It is not a novel. It is not a sports biography. In a way, it is a bit of both and more.

Journalism, by its nature is throw away writing. Colour pieces like Billy’s weekly columns in the Irish Independent are to be read and discarded. That is the nature of the beast.

Every now and again someone recognises that writing of this calibre is more relevant and lasting than yesterday’s newspaper and thus a collection is born.

The Best of Billy Keane is a curated collection of Billy’s columns in The Irish Independent and The Kerryman.

I am a fan of this genre.  Among  my all time favourites is the late great Con Houlihan, the chatty Maeve Binchy,  Tom Humphries, Olivia O’Leary and Miriam Lord. So you see what I like; a well turned phrase, an unexpected analogy, but most of all a keen observation of people with a hint of the eccentric, the entertaining.

Billy Keane’s writing is all of the above. At times he wears his heart on his sleeve. His essay can be a mixture of self revelation, self deprecation, occasionally a bit of self indulgence, a moment to wallow in grief, or sorrow or regret. He writes about the people he admires and the people he loves. Who will forget his recent articles following the death of Anthony Foley?…..too late for inclusion in this anthology. Rarely, does he get on his hobby horse and indulge in a rant. He sometimes wanders into a bizarre world of tall tales and overwrought imaginings.

One thing I love about Billy’s writing is the randomness  of it all. When I open my Irish Independent on a Monday, after I’ve read the headlines and done the Soduko I head for Billy Keane’s column. It’s like opening a surprise present from a favourite giver. Very often it is a local issue, maybe a story or a death that has caught Billy’s fancy.

Didn’t Homer make the Iliad out of a local row, according to Patrick Kavanagh?  Like Kavanagh, Billy Keane has that ability to take the local and make it universal.

I have laughed and cried reading Billy Keane. I have learned a bit, mainly about sport or the lot of the rural publican. I have been uplifted, amused and sometimes plunged into despair by the power of his writing. I have always, always been entertained.

I welcome this anthology. I will keep it handy beside my collections of the writing of Con Houlihan and my Windharp Poems of Ireland. I think I’ll ditch The Life Changing Magic of Tidying (unread) to make room.

Billy Keane has always encouraged me in what I do. He has often told me of his high regard for my late husband. Billy was in one of the first classes that Jim taught when he came to Listowel. Before the principalship of Diarmaid OSuilleabháin, St. Michael’s more often then not employed past pupils. Billy told me that Jim was like a breath of fresh air.

When Jim died and I was finding it hard to find motivation to continue with my blog, Billy was among the many local people who encouraged me to keep going. I remember what he said when I met him one day in the small square. “We need chroniclers.” So, from one chronicler to another,

Go néirí go geal leis an togra nua seo. More power to your elbow. May you continue to entertain us for many years to come. Is ag dul i bhfeabhas atá tú.

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Some Humans




Jean, Neil, Mary and Mary on the Cliff Walk, Ballybunion

Jimmy Hickey today, Moyvane church bell in 1856 and an old cigarette card

By

On November 3, 2016

In Uncategorized

Autumn in Childers’ Park, Listowel

photo: Deirdre Lyons

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The Dance Continues



Jimmy Hickey has lost none of his enthusiasm for the dance. He is passionate about his craft and he acknowledges his responsibility to pass on the steps to the next generation.

 Jimmy teaching the young boys in Scoil Realta na Maidine recently. This is where his own dancing career began.                                                                                                          (photo: Facebook)

St. Patrick’s day parade some years ago.

St. Patrick’s Day Céilí

Jimmy with Canon Declan O’Connor at last year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade

The link below is to a clip from St. Patrick’s Day 2014 when Jimmy danced with two of his pupils, Patrick and Mairead Brosnan

St. Patrick’s Day 2014

Like all good teachers Jimmy accepts that he can also learn from his pupils. He told me that he often taught a child a step one week, only to have that child come back the following week with a completely different interpretation of the same step. “And it was often better.”

Long may Jimmy Hickey, master dancer and dancing master, continue dancing, teaching and learning.

Now to finish with, Charlie Nolan has prepared a compilation of his videos of Jimmy Hickey and his dancers down through the years from 1985 to 1991. This video includes feiseanna, St. Patrick Day Ceilithe in the boys school, Jimmy dancing with two of his star pupils, the late Mary Murphy and Mary Hartnett and, the icing on the cake, the Liam Dineen Ribbon Dance.

Dancing Down the Years

Jimmy wears his fame lightly. It was my great pleasure to tell his story.

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Moyvane; A Bell and a Well

Moyvane’s 160 year old church bell and a recently rediscovered well.

 Below is from The Freemans Journal  20.03.1856

The novel and interesting pontifical ceremony of blessing of a Church

bell was performed in all its solemn forms on Palm Sunday, at the

chapel of Newtownsandes, in the North East of County Kerry, by the

Right Rev. Dr Moriarty. The bell, which was manufactured by Mr John

Murphy, of Dublin, is a very beautiful one. It was placed on a

platform before the altar in the Sanctuary. The local clergy and a

large multitude of people, who seemed to take the deepest interest in

the proceedings, were in attendance on the occasion. The Bishop

addressed the congregation a touching and suitable discourse, which

was listened to with almost breathless attention. It was the first

ceremony of the kind performed in Kerry since the reformation and the

bell is the first Church bell tooled in the parish of Murhur since the

same period.

Dublin’s “freedom bell”, the first Catholic Church bell to ring in

Dublin in breach of the Penal Laws 200 years ago,

Fr Michael Blake defied penal laws by tolling the bell in 1811, 18

years before Catholic emancipation. He faced charges, but was

successfully defended by O’Connell, then a young lawyer.

Legend has it that O’Connell rang the bell to celebrate emancipation

in 1829, creating the crack which remains visible today.

Moyvane is quiet these days

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Mike Enright found these great cigarette cards online. He thinks they date from 1924.

Sunday October 30 2016

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A New Career Beckons for your Blogger



No, not really …more like a minute of local fame.

My moments in the sun will come courtesy of Radio Kerry. Next week from November 7 to 11th at 7.30a.m. and 12.00 noon I will be bringing you Just a Thought. Next week my “thoughts”  will be available online.

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A Sad Old Memory



Does anyone remember a tragic house fire in 1965 when a lady by the name of Kitty Reidy was burned to death?

Junior Griffin remembers it because on that night, in Nurse Chapman’s lying in hospital in William Street, Junior’s late sister, Patsy, was giving birth to her son, Sean Breen. She remembered the commotion and sirens as the house fire was in a house on Charles St. next to Carmody’s corner.

Telethon, Cork, Killarney National Park and another Buckley visit to Listowel

By

On September 7, 2016

In Uncategorized

Do You Remember the Telethon?



The telethon was a fundraising drive that took place ever second year in the late 1980s and 90s. It was televised and raised thousands of much needed pounds for small local charities.

In 1992 in Listowel, the local branch of the M.S. Society decided to spearhead this fundraising drive in our area by organising a local event.  The way the telethon was organised was that money raised locally was sent to Dublin and then it was channelled back to local charities. Anne (O’Connor) Brosnan came up with the idea of organising the longest Conga line in Ireland. The aim was the get 2,500 people to Conga around The Square. Other local organisations came on board with ideas for other fun events and soon it became a night of fun in Listowel Town Square. It was a great success.

The late Derek Davis with one of the baseball caps which was one of the promotional materials sent to those taking part.

Stickers with the People in Need logo were distributed to all the participants in the Conga line. There were 2846 people in all.

Recently Michael Guerin resurrected a video of the night which was shot by Patrick Guerin and Mike digitised it and uploaded it to Youtube.

Listowel People in Need fundraiser, May 7 1992

The singer is Louise Morrissey who kindly travelled from Tipperary to be the special guest on the night. She is still going strong. Louise is performing in the INEC, Killarney on Oct 1 2016.

Another special guest was Big Bertha, the oldest cow in Ireland who came from Kenmare to be part of it all. Bertha was a big celebrity at the time and raised thousands for charity.

Anne Brosnan, who filled me in on the details, is having a rummage for photographs of the night. If anyone else has photos or memories, it would be lovely to share them.

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The People’s Republic





I spotted these recently by the side of St Augustine’s church in Washington Street, Cork. I don’t know who did it or what it’s all about. I’m curious though.

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Heaven Reflects Killarney


Muckross on a glorious Summer Sunday.

Beautiful sleek Kerry cows, “the silk of the kine” shelter from the sun under one of the demesne’s ancient trees.

We walked from the great House to Torc waterfall.



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A Listowel Connection



Recently I received this email from another of the extended Buckley family of Upper William Street.

“My name is Bill Boyle. I saw your recent post about John Carpenter’s recent visit to Listowel in your blog.



Patrick’s first cousin is Regina Moore Boyle (daughter of Johanna Buckley). I am Regina’s grandson by way of her second oldest son, John.



Last May, I came over to Ireland as part of a college trip. We spent time in Dublin and Cork. Luckily, I was able to make an excursion to Listowel with my then fiancé (now my wife), Lauren.



We took the train from Dublin with Vincent and his wife. I’ve attached a few photos of our visit.



Regina turned 90 back on July 27th. We had a large group of Buckley descendants on hand to celebrate.



We weren’t able to get a picture during the party (very poor weather), but I have a picture of Regina with her children and grandchildren at my wedding at the end of this past May. She is center right in the gold jacket.”

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A Sporting Connection for the Moyvane class of 1989




Junior Griffin looked at this photo here the other day and he saw many people he  recognised. He got to know them as adults and he knows of another connection between many of these youngsters and their teacher. Here is what he says;

Looking at the names of that lovely photo of the 1989 Moyvane class which you posted last week I realised that I got to know several of them in later years as members of the very thriving Moyvane Badminton Club.


You mentioned that 4 of the class were married in recent times. Just to say that another member of the class was married last December  and I was an invited guest at that wedding.That was Timmy Hanrahan who married Catherine Murphy of the Castleisland Badminton Club. This was another romance that blossomed through the sport of Badminton and I have seen many of these over my 50 plus years in Badminton..


Another in the photo is James Sheehan. James has won the Kerry division 3 mens doubles County Championships for the last 3 years, each time with a different partner which is a rare achievement and he is the current secretary of the Kerry Badminton Association..


Their teacher, Mrs Goulding is the former Rita Groarke and she was an outstanding Badminton player also. She won a Munster under 15 mixed title with Listowel’s Mike Kirby in the late 1970’s and both were selected on the Munster team at that time. She also went on  to win Kerry titles at the division 2 and 3 grades.


Indeed her son, Jack Goulding, was a member of the Kerry panel that won the All Ireland minor football final in 2015 and this year, 2016, saw him starring on the Kerry senior hurling  team who had a great year on the hurling front.. Indeed, he is a valued member of the Ballyduff hurling team who will contest the Kerry County hurling final in Tralee on Sunday next.


Election Posters, A Ration Book, Moyvane Men and a Doodle Frolic

By

On February 12, 2016

In Uncategorized



Imogen in Ballybunion February 8 2016


Photo: Mike Enright

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I Knew It

Election Posters on Charles Street and everywhere. Now we have a new candidate, Danny Healy Rae, we can expect even more canvassing and postering.

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WW2 Ration book

(Photo and text by Vincent Carmody)

Ration books were issued to people during the war years ( the emergency) and some years later. Rationing food and other goods was required to overcome the shortages of imports into the country. I have spoken to people, born in the late 1930’s, who were amazed when they saw banana’s for the first time in the early 1950s. 
The ration book photographed was issued to my cousin, Johnny Buckley, he of 26 William Street, in 1948.

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Poundlaners

Photo and text: Vincent Carmody


The group photo is from the very early 1959’s, this was taken outside Kennelly’s Cloth Hall, and includes, all true Poundlaners, the aforementioned, Johnny Buckley, John Kennelly, Joe O’Sullivan, Matt Kennelly, Maurice Kennelly and Tommy Sheahan.

The centre of our youthful universe.

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Some Moyvane Men



At a GAA social in Moyvane.

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More Doodle Mania



They left the talk on how to lay a table and behave at social functions until a bit late in the day.

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A Change on Church Street



NCBI have moved up the street from their old location in Bunyans to the premises that used to be Mac Aulliffe’s Gift Shop.

Storm Imogen, 1960 GAA, North Kerry Toffees and Sr. Maura Carmody R.I.P.

By

On February 9, 2016

In Uncategorized

Imogen: the worst storm of 2016 so far

Ballybunion February 8 2016     (photo; Jason at Ballybunion Prints)

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The Viking

photo; Ballylongford Snaps

This carving is on the roadside on the way to Carrigafoyle Castle.

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G.A.A. Celebration in 1960

Photo from Junior Griffin

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A Historian Found These




Kerryman  Saturday, March 27, 1920; Page: 3

ESTABLISHMENT OF A SWEET FACTORY. ‘ To the pleasure and satisfaction


of the people of  Listowel a sweet factory, which bids fair to develop


into an industry of far reaching importance, has been established in


Listowel by Mr T Armstrong, J.P., the well-known creamery proprietor,

Gurtinard House. The enterprising promoter has refitted and converted

into suitable premises for the purpose the creamery run by him up to

recently on the Castle Inch, and under the manager ship of a highly

competent sweet manufacturer  in the person of Mr Postlethwaite the

business of the  factory has been conducted with most satisfactory

results, and benefit to the community, for though but recently set in

motion there are  a number of hands employed, principally young

respectable girls, who from the start  and without any previous

experience entered the very fascinating and light-laboured business at

very good wages.

Freemans Journal 25 -11-1921 p 8 reports death at Listowel of Mrs
Thomas Armstrong  wife of owner of the North Kerry Sweet Factory. She
was daughter of Mr B Johnson of Rathmines , Dublin, he was also
manager of Bank of Ireland in Listowel for many years. Funeral Service
was conducted by Canon  Adderly. Chief mourners were Mr. Thomas
Armstrong(Husband) Walter (son)Mrs Dr. Crosbie (sister) Dr. Cox Dublin
(brother in law)

Kerryman of 2-2- 1924 reports that George Gleasure and Mr. J Medill of
William Street, have purchased the Mill Premises by the river off the
Square from Mr Tom Armstrong, which was used as a sweet factory called
N K M.

Examiner of 17-4-1924 page 4 reports

Promoters of Listowel Toffee Factory held meeting in the premises of
the old factory. Mr Medill presided. Present were George F Gleasure. P
Browne, J J Walsh, P Landers, E Stack, T Corridan, T F Cotter, T O
Connell, assistant clerk of the union, William Elder, H Larsson, T T
Cronin, Etc. They hoped to open the business to provide employment, a
deputation was to canvass businesses in the town to enlist support,
could open within a month or six weeks.

Kerryman, Saturday, May 09, 1925; Section: Front page, Page: 1

There are rumours in circulation latterly that an attempt is to be
made to restart the  North Kerry Sweet Factory in Listowel. It is to
be hoped that there is some truth in such reports, as the North Kerry
capital—like almost every Irish town at present—could do with a little
employment.


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Do you remember this?



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Obituary of Sr. Maura Carmody of Listowel



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Some Winning Teams in the recent Credit Union Schools Quiz




U11 1st Dromclough National School
Leo Daly Listowel Credit Union, Aisling Leahy, Tadhg Galvin, Ashling Neville Teacher Thomas Kelly, Grace Linnane.

3rd Knockanure National School
L-r Paddy Mulvihill Listowel Credit Union, Katie Keane, Tadhg O’Connor, Rachel Horgan, Megan Large, Mrs Kiely Teacher, Betty O’Sullivan Listowel Credit Union

U11 3rd Listowel Convent Primary School
Mary Hennessy Teacher, Casey McCormack, Ellie Ava Liston, McKenzie Mulvihill, Lily Twomey, and Denis Dillane.


U11 2nd Coolard
Front L-r Stephen Cunnane, Brian Dalton, Ciarán O’Connell, Seán Mahony.
Back L-r James Kenny. Listowel Credit Union, Elizabeth Kissane Teacher, Leo Daly and Denis Dillane Listowel Credit Union


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One to watch



This is Mark Hennessey from Ballybunion who came first in his competition at Feis Maitiú


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