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: Presentation Convent

Ardagh Chalice, Presentation Convent Listowel and More from Races 2019

By

On September 20, 2019

In Uncategorized


The Arcade looking good in the sunshine last week

<<<<<<<<<<<<


Mending Fences

From my vantage point at the rails I could see the damage a field of horses jumping over them can do to the hurdles.

Immediately the workforce are out with mallets repairing the fence.

Here it is, good as new and ready for the next onslaught.

<<<<<<<<<<

Presentation Convent, Listowel

As I was passing by on foot to the races I dropped in to my old workplace and I took a few photos of the dear old convent. 

The Parents’ Committee has erected a plaque to the nuns and the great contribution they have made to education in North Kerry.

The secondary school grounds.

 Looking towards the convent chapel from the school grounds

 Presentation Convent Listowel in September 2019

The old convent chapel

<<<<<<<<<<


Building in Greenville

This building is going up next door to the convent chapel.

<<<<<<<<<

Ardagh Chalice

The Sam Maguire Cup was based on the Ardagh Chalice 



The Ardagh Chalice is one of the greatest treasures of the early Irish Church. It is part of a hoard of objects found in the 19th century by a young man digging for potatoes near Ardagh, Co. Limerick. It was used for dispensing Eucharistic wine during the celebration of Mass. The form of the chalice recalls late Roman tableware, but the method of construction is Irish.



The Ardagh Chalice represents a high point in early medieval craftsmanship and can be compared in this regard to the Tara Brooch and the Derrynaflan Paten.



See it on display at the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology https://www.museum.ie/Archaeology

<<<<<<<


A Minute of Your Time



If you’d like to pre-order a signed copy, just drop me a line at listowelconnection@gmail.com The book is with the printers but as soon as I have it I will be mailing copies.

For Listowel people, the launch is planned for St. John’s Listowel on Saturday October 19 at 7.30

<<<<<<



Culture Night 2019



I ran into Aimee and Sinead from Writers’ Week as they finalised their plans for Culture Night. I met them in Listowel Printing Works where they were meeting with Paul. He has a part in the Culture Night event too.

Trip to Kanturk, Changing face of Business and and death of a local nun in 1880

By

On July 19, 2017

In Uncategorized

Photo credit: Neil O’Mullane of Mallow Camera Club

<<<<<<<<



There’s a bridle hanging on the wall

There’s a saddle in a lonely stall

You ask me why the teardrops fall

It’s that bridle hanging on the wall



There’s a horseshoe nailed above the door

It’s a shoe that my old pony wore

There’s a faded blanket in the hall

And that bridle hanging on the wall….

I was reminded of this old country song by Carson Robinson when I visited my old home in Kanturk recently. Everywhere there are horses and horse related accoutrements and memorabilia.

My brother, Pat, was putting EPA Murray outdoors for a day in the sun. Murray is a show horse so his coat has to be protected from strong sunlight which might discolour it. Hence the head to toe sunsuit. You live and learn!

<<<<<<<


Now and Then


Woulfe’s Bookshop was once Curly Connors’ pub. Maybe in microcosm this reflects the story of business life in Listowel. Once upon a time the town was full of drinking establishments. Even grocery shops had a bar at the back. Nowadays we only have a few pubs left and these also have to offer something extra like pub theatre, music sessions, comedy or quizzes to keep their customers happy. Entertainment has moved out of the pub and into the home.

<<<<<<


“She lived unknown and few could know

When Lucy ceased to be….”


She wasn’t Wordsworth’s Lucy but Sr. Clare of Presentation Convent Listowel lived a short and secluded life back in the 1880s

Kerry
Sentinel  Tuesday, October 26, 1880; 

L1ST0WEL
INTELLIGENCE. From our Correspondent.

DEATH
OF A RELIGEUSE. Listowel, Friday. I regret to announce the death of Sister Mary

Clare,
of the Presentation Convent, Listowel, who after a comparatively short illness,
which was borne with the fortitude of a good Christian, rendered her pure soul
to Him who gave it. The good sister at the early age of 20 years, obeying the
feelings which God had implanted in her heart, consecrated her young life to
the service of heaven, and for six years laboured incessantly in the duties of
the office which her vocation assigned to her. (No relatives or surname
mentioned)

<<<<<<<


Just a Thought


If you missed me on Radio Kerry last week, my “Thoughts” are HERE

Pres. Convent Chapel photos

By

On February 3, 2017

In Uncategorized

Beautiful North Kerry





Great photo of a rain shower by Mike Enright

<<<<<<<<<<







More of Mairéad O’Sullivan’s Convent Chapel Photos from 2007



<<<<<<<

Adare is still like this today

This Ireland XO photo shows girls at a water pump in Adare, Co. Limerick

<<<<<<<



Looking Ahead to St. Patrick’s Day 2017


John Relihan of Duagh and Holy Smoke, Cork has been to London to prepare for another big street party to mark the saint’s day.


This is Seán Spicer, the U.S. Trump administration Press Secretary (he of the alternative facts fame) who is, no doubt, preparing to celebrate as well. The CNN photo from 2016 shows Sean, whose emigrant ancestors came from Co. Clare, sporting his rather unusual St. Patrick’s Day attire.

<<<<<<<



Then and Now….       a loss for design






This is how a post box used to look.




This is how they look today


Presentation Chapel in 2007 and a short history of Pres. sisters in town and a big win in badminton for a Moyvane family

By

On February 2, 2017

In Uncategorized



St. Brigid’s Day






Celebrating St Brigid at her Well near the Cashen River between Ballyduff and Ballybunion in North Kerry

(Photo and caption: Diocese of Kerry on Facebook)



<<<<<<<<<<





Presentation Chapel, Listowel in August 2007


Mairéad O’Sullivan shared some of her really beautiful pictures of the convent chapel with us. Here are the first few.

<<<<<<<

Hard Times come again no more


Frances Kennedy found this photo on a site called Ireland Long ago. It shows a young woman whose home has been destroyed in a Black and Tan reprisal attack. The atrocity took place in Meelin Co. Cork.

The Black and Tans (they got the name from the colours of their uniforms) were as feared in Ireland in the 1920s as The Taliban. They went around the countryside spreading fear and exerting their own brand of rough justice. This young woman appears broken but unbowed. Hopefully the menfolk of her household had found safety somewhere before this photo was taken.

<<<<<<<



Presentation Sisters in Listowel



Photos of the convent in 2007 by Mairead O’Sullivan and text from Sr. Éilís Daly

Sr. Eilís with a tree with the names of the sisters who had gone before her up to 2002.


As we celebrate our tradition of Presentation Catholic education in

Listowel, we take inspiration from the lives of the Four Presentation

Sisters who began Catholic education in Listowel in 1844.  On the 7th

of May 1844, Sr. Mary Augustine Stack- a native of Listowel and three

sisters from Milltown, Sr. Mary Teresa Kelly, Sr. Mary Francis

McCarthy and Sr. Mary Francis Brennan founded a convent and school in

Listowel.



During the Famine of 1845-48, the sisters had to close their school.

They opened soup kitchens to feed the starving people. The Famine resulted in

the deaths of many families and of some of the young sisters. Sharing

their meagre resources with the poor, over the course of twelve

months, the sisters supplied 31,000 breakfasts to the starving

children. The Convent Annuals read of the Sisters baking bread to feed

so many, eventually being reduced to rye and black bread. The Sisters

also initiated groups to make garments for the women and shirts for

the men in the workhouse closeby – so that people could earn wages.



A significant event in the life of the early Listowel Presentation

community was the ‘Battle of the Cross’ in 1857.  The Sisters were

ordered to take down the Cross from the gable end of their school by

the Education Board. In spite of dire threats, the sisters refused to

do so, and defied the Board. Eventually the Board yielded.



In 2007 the sisters closed their convent, after 163 years of service

in Listowel. The tradition of Presentation Catholic education is still

alive in Listowel.  Our school is now under the trusteeship of CEIST

which is committed to continuing the great tradition of Presentation

Catholic education in Listowel into the future.

<<<<<<



Badminton in the Genes ?




Junior Griffin has a long list of Kerry badminton families. This family must be the most high profile at the moment.

“A pair of very proud parents, Breda and William O’Flaherty of Moyvane with their daughter Niamh and son James who created their own bit of Kerry Badminton history at Killarney on Sunday last, January 29 2017 by both winning Kerry senior singles championships; Niamh at 16 years of age is the youngest ever winner of the ladies senior title and they are the first brother and sister div 1 title holders to do that double since 1996.

For both it was their first senior title. In the mens decider James overcame 10 times title holder Tom Bourke in a three set final that was a pure joy to behold. Indeed, it has been acclaimed as one of the greatest Kerry finals ever.” Junior

<

<<<<<<

Grandparents’ Day



Yesterday, February 1 2017, feast of St. Brigid  was Grandparents Day. My photo shows St. Michael’s boys on their way to mass in the parish church. Pupils and staff from Scoil Realta na Maidine also attended. On behalf of all grandparents, “Thank you, boys.”

Fathers’ Day and Presentation Convent Listowel then and now

By

On June 17, 2013

In Uncategorized

Yesterday was Fathers’ Day.  In honour of the day I bring you this photo of Jim Cogan and family and this “thought for the day”.

Photo by John Stack

‘It’s good to be blessed.
It’s better to be a blessing. ~Author Unknown



So often we do not realize what a blessing we are to others. We might
not think we make an impact, but often we do make a huge impact in someone
else’s life. The following story is just one example. 

In the faint light of the
attic, an old man, tall and stooped, bent his great frame and made his way to a
stack of boxes that sat near one of the little half-windows. 

Brushing aside a
wisp of cobwebs, he tilted the top box toward the light and began to carefully
lift out one old photograph album after another and his old journal. Opening
the yellowed pages, he glanced over a short reading, and his lips curved in an
unconscious smile. 

His eyes brightened as he read the words that spoke clear
and sweet to his soul as he read the inscription for June 14th . It stood out
because it was so brief in comparison to other days. In his own neat
handwriting were these words: ‘Wasted the whole day fishing with Jimmy. Didn’t
catch a thing.’

 With a deep sigh and a shaking hand, he took up Jimmy’s journal
and found the boy’s entry for the same day. Large scrawling letters, pressed
deeply into the paper, read: ‘Went fishing with my dad. Best day of my life.’

From  http://www.todayismygifttoyou.ie

>>>>>

Presentation Convent, Listowel

Now

I took these photos on May 28 2013.

Then

A picture paints a thousand words.

<<<<<<<

Update on our 7 little chicks of three different breeds.  See how they have grown!

<<<<<<<

Fungi taken from a Baltimore boat last week

<<<<<<

Alas, no more!

<<<<<<

They have a lot to answer for.

1947!!

<<<<<

As an addendum to last week’s article about Cyril Kelly and Writers’ Week, Martin Sheehy, all the way from Phoenix, Arizona sent this comment:

“Hats off to Cyril Kelly and honour to his late mother-Mai Naylor ( Mrs. Kelly) and her friends from Upper Church St., all of whom brought joy to my boyhood-Babe Jo Wilmot ( Mrs. Collins), Masie Gleason ( Mrs. Sweeney), Maureen Horgan ( RIP), Noreen Horgan ( Mrs. Lynch), Marie Kiely, Moira Madden ( my late mother, Mrs. Sheehy), Josie Madden ( my late aunt, Mrs. Flynn), etc. Before and after Vatican II, with or without Mai’s hats, they were and are a memorable crowd. ”

<<<<

June 15 2013 in Ballylongford

Page 3 of 3

Previous

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén