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: Patty Faley

Welcome Home!

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On February 28, 2025

In Just a Thought, Listowel

Photo: Chris Grayson

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My Maine blog followers

I met John and Patty for the first time in 2017. They were on one of their annual, and sometimes biennial, trips to Listowel, Patty’s ancestral home.

I met them again on Tuesday last, February 25 2025. Their love for Listowel, their home away from home, was undiminished. Patty loves everything about Listowel and John has, over the years, fallen in love with the town and surrounding area and more especially with its people as well.

My first interaction with this lovely couple resulted in my introducing them to Eileen Moylan who has since become their favourite jewellery designer.

This is one of the lovely bespoke pendants John commissioned Eileen to make for Patty.

Here is Patty wearing it in The Listowel Arms this week.

Another of Patty’s Eileen Moylan designed pendants, also a gift from John.

Bridget offered the visitors and everyone else in the dining room a sweet.

Jim and Liz were in the hotel as well. John and Patty had never met them before but they know them from Listowel Connection.

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An Old Post box

My postboxes website threw up this gem from William Gibb Forsythe

Albert Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow

A Irish Post box, and an odd story to the sign, it was nearly faded away, the odd part, it was black and red, which had me puzzled as it would mean it was pre revolution of 1916, 

Which didn’t make sense,

I wanted to repaint it as I thought it historical in a way, 

I found out later, after repainting it, it was first done in the 1970s ,the post office was part of a BnB then moved to the shop in the picture

My only conclusion is that it was painted in British colours for the movie Michael Collins by Neil Jordan, and the art department didn’t care about fixing it back, 

As a Scotsman living here in Southern Ireland,  

Painting it Red and Black would not be sensible 

So Cream n Green it was

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Just a Thought

Here is the link to my reflections which were broadcast last week on Radio Kerry. The texts of some of them are in my book, Moments of Reflection.

Just a Thought

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Remember These?

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A Fact

The phrase Hamlet without the Prince (of Denmark) denotes an event or occasion at which the expected principal participant is not present. It is based on the absurdity of performing, without an actor playing the title role, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (between 1599 and 1602), by the English playwright and poet William Shakespeare (1564-1616).

The phrase Hamlet without the Prince (of Denmark) apparently originated in a theatrical incident which allegedly occurred in the summer of 1775 and was recounted in September of that year, in The Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh, Scotland).

 The hero who was to play the principal character had absconded with an innkeeper’s daughter; and the director, when he came forward to give out the play, added, “The part of Hamlet will be left out, for  tonight.”

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Remembering dead soldiers, a U.S. visitor and Listowel Food Fair 2018 and Young Adult Book fest 2018

By

On November 21, 2018

In Uncategorized

Painting: Sharon O’Sullivan shared on Facebook

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Remembering Dead Soldiers


Church of Ireland folk were way better than us Catholics at centralising their war dead in their churches. Even though we held the same belief that there was something holy about giving your life for your country, we tended not to celebrate the war dead in our churches but in public monuments and memorials.

 In St. Mary’s in Killarney

 in Macroom, Co. Cork

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A frequent Visitor Returns with family


Conor and Samantha with Mike Flahive of Bromore when they visited the cliff walk.


Patty and John Faley love Listowel and North Kerry and they visit often. On this visit they were accompanied by their son, Conor and his girlfriend, Samantha. 

The Florida visitors suffered a bit in our cold weather but all in all the holiday was a success and here are the photographs to prove it.

 They stayed in MacMahon House and Patty took this photo from the window.

 Listowel Castle

Main Street

St. John’s

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Listowel Food Fair 2018



A highlight of the annual food fair is the Food Trail. The word is out that this is a super gig and on Saturday Nov. 10 2018 so many of us showed up for the trail that we had to split into two groups and take two trails. My trail went to Jumbos, John B. Keane’s and Lizzy’s Little Kitchen. Both trails started in The Listowel Arms.

Lots of local ladies enjoyed the food trail.

Patrice set us all off to  great start at The Listowel Arms.

In Jumbo’s Damien served us some delicious burgers. He buys his poultry from Larry Buckley so very few food miles here.

The lighting in John B.’s wasn’t great for photographs but the food and the craic were mighty. Now John B.’s is not a place known for its food but for Listowel Food Fair 2018 Billy enlisted the services of local chef, David Mulvihill, so, ironically, in a premises not known for food we got some of the best food of the trail. While we munched, Billy entertained us with his “Atin House” story. Such was the generosity of our host that everyone in the pub, regardless of whether they were on the food trail or not, was treated to some delicious Leah’s black pudding on apple purée.  Then we washed it all down with some delicious craft beers….all part of the deal,

Like last year’s trip to Mike the Pies, the pub stop proved to be the surprise hit of the day.

It was no surprise that Lizzy Lyons served us up some delicious fare in he little kitchen restaurant. Rice pudding is her family’s comfort food of choice for generations.

She also served us Bailey’s hot chocolate. This was new to me but I’ll definitely be having it again.

Here is Lizzy after a hard day slaving in her restaurant on Saturday Nov. 10 2018.

Here is Lizzy later on the same day. She is all dressed up for the Gala dinner at which she received a well deserved local food hero award.

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Older Adults at Young Adult Bookfest 2018


Writers Week helpers, Jim Dunn, Eilish Wren, Sinead Mc Donnell and Maria McGrath

Ensuring the day ran smoothly were Bernie Carmody, Eilish Wren, Catherine Moylan, Mike Lynch and Rhona Tarrant.



Above Listowel and below Tralee teachers

Christmas in Maine, Athea in the 17th Century and Library in Bridge Road

By

On January 16, 2018

In Uncategorized

Rossbeigh, January 2018


Photo: Chris Grayson

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Christmas in Arizona and Maine




Patty Faley who is very proud of her Irish roots and is a frequent visitor to Listowel answered my call for news of how some blog followers spent Christmas 2017.

Here is what she wrote…

“John and I spent a wonderful Christmas in Mesa, Arizona with our son and his family. We took an evening walk around the neighborhood and took some pictures. A few day after the holiday, we flew home to Maine. We had to dig the car out of the snow around the parking spot and we have had over a foot of snow since then. It has been very cold since we returned with a temperature last night of -20°C. “


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Athea in the 17th. century



(Yesterday we learned that during the Cromwellian period in Ireland, Athea was relatively safe because its people were poor and its terrain virtually impenetrable.)


That English soldiery did pay occasional visits to the place, however, is certain. One summer day a body of troopers, under the command of a renegade Irishman, rode westwards from Rathkeale to Athea. At that time a church stood where the graveyard at Temple Athea is now situated, and it was in this building that the people for miles around used to attend divine worship. As can be seen from the ruins, the walls of this structure were of stone, but it appears the roof was of thatch. On seeing the approach of the troopers, a number of people fled for safety to the shelter of the sacred edifice, and perceiving this, the officer ordered the door to be fastened on the outside and the building put on fire.

The crucifix at the graveyard at Temple Athea as it is today

This appalling and barbarous crime, the commission of which is regarded as authentic, was of frequent occurrence in those evil days throughout the land, and it serves to furnish us with a sad illustration of the savage methods adopted in the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. The people were without a church for a long period after this, for during the penal laws the celebration of Holy Mass, or attendance thereat, was regarded as a crime, punishable by death. In the Iong years that ensued after the death of Cromwell, when priests were hunted like wolves and had a price put on their heads, the people of Athea heard Mass in glens and woods.

The affable Fr. Bohan whom I met with my granddaughters in 2016 when i visited the church at Athea.

During this woeful period of our country’s history, it is known that nunbers of youths were quietly sent abroad to be educated for the priesthood. When these were ordained, they returned secretly to Ireland to minister to the spiritual needs of the poor people at home. Among them was the son of a lady named de Lacy, who resided near Bruff. This lady, who was a widow, owned considerable property in Eastern County Limerick, but on account of her faith she was obliged to abandon everything and flee with her life to Athea, where she found refuge in an humble hut in Coole or Knocknaboul.

Eventually, this lady’s only son was ordained priest abroad, and after the lapse of some time, owing to his great sanctity and talents, he was created Bishop. Bishop de Lacy then returned to Ireland, where he took up his residence in the humble home of his mother, from whence he looked after the spiritual interests of his scattered flock and discharged the duties appertaining to his sacred office.

(Continued tomorrow)



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Saturday, January 13 2018



This group of fair ladies were gathered at Garveys for their Saturday morning walk.

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Correction



Last week when I posted Barry O’Halloran’s photo of The Dandy Lodge I said that it had once been a library.  

Not so according to Vincent Carmody’s Snapshots of Listowel in he 1850 to the 1950s

The library was further up the street where the Tyre Centre is now.


Lawlors Cake Shop, An Heirloom with a Listowel Connection and Train Station in 1969

By

On July 17, 2017

In Uncategorized

Photo Credit; Pauline Dunlea of Mallow Camera Club.

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Listowel Food Fair


The Food Fair will take place from November 9 to 12 2017. Bookmark their page HERE and you will be able to keep up to date with all that’s planned. The organisers are gathering information and photos about food related businesses in Listowel and North Kerry. Below are photos shared by Áine  MacGuinness of Lawlors Cake Shop. These brought back happy memories to me. I remember Sheehys delivering trays of fresh eggs and the creamery bringing buckets of fresh cream. No wonder everything was usually sold out by 4.00p.m. Good old days!


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A Precious Present



Patty Faley wrote to me recently all the way from Maine to share a photo of her treasured pendant with a Listowel Connection

Patty is married for 40 years to her husband, John. John wanted to buy her something special to mark their ruby anniversary. He knew she would like nothing better than something from her spiritual home, Listowel

Above is the very special piece made by Eileen Moylan of Claddagh Designs. Eileen worked with Patty on the design and she incorporated Patty and John’s initials into the finished piece. I’m sure Patty will be wearing it when she visits Listowel again in the near future.

The photo is of me with Patty and John on their last visit.

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Bastille Day 1992






Marguerite and Seán Wixted




Marguerite sent me these photos which were taken in Panissieres, France on July 14 1992. The Listowel twinning group were on their annual visit to the town.

Bridge Road,Scoil Realta na Maidine and some visitors

By

On March 7, 2017

In Uncategorized

Beautiful Kerry

Derrycunnihy photographed by Catherine Moylan in Winter 2016

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Bridge Road



Mike Hannon’s photos show how Bridge Road used to look.

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Scoil Realta na Maidine Fundraising


On April 14th, 15th and 16th we are hosting a fundraising/reunion event with something to suit everyone.

We are looking for old school photos to include in a timeline display which can be seen during our Easter Weekend  celebrations at Scoil Réalta na Maidine. You may like to take part in our 20k walk along the Feale from The Cashen in Ballyduff to Listowel (this can also be done in relay). We are also looking for people to help with stewarding and general organisation or you may sponsor a walker (sponsor cards are available from the school).

On Sunday we will have a reunion of the ever popular and exciting Town League, featuring the Country, the Boro, the  Ashes and the Gleann. There promises to be a great party atmosphere with food, stalls and live music.

If you can help in anyway please contact Bernie (087 2140645), Brian (087 2396085 or the school office 068 21994

All help will be greatly appreciated

Source: The Advertiser

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A Thank You Meal

I know people are grateful to me and appreciative of all the work I put into bringing you Listowel Connection. I know because people send me emails, letters and cards. Some people pray for me or thank me in person and I’ve had the odd cuppa paid for by a grateful blog follower.

Last week I had a first. A lovely couple from Maine in the U.S. who only know me as their blogger bought me lunch in Allos during their recent holiday in town.


Here I am with my hosts, Patty and John Faley. Patty’s grandfather came from Listowel and both she and John are in love with the place. This was their 16th trip to Listowel. John describes their attraction to Listowel as a blessing and a curse. Since their first trip to the town of Patty’s ancestors, they have never seen another part of the world. Every holiday is spent here. They love everything about Listowel and John B.’s is their local when they are in town. Something tells me that they they may fulfil their dream to retire to Listowel in the not too distant future.

Such lovely people would be an asset to us.



While we were in Allos, we met Alice and Elaine Sheahan who just might be related to Patty since they too have a Faley/Fealy ancestor.




Patty bought this sign in Craftshop na Méar on one of her many visits and now it hangs proudly in her Maine home.

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New Artist at Olive Stack’s Gallery




Damien Stack introduced to Amy, the first artist in residence of 2017 at Olive Stack’s gallery. Amy’s first creative endeavour since coming to Listowel is the Feale fish hanging in the window behind her in my photograph. Her fellow artist in residence, Caroline, had popped out when I popped in but look out for her drawing classes starting shortly.


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