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: quiz

Kerry in Christmas 1902, Ballybunion, Knockanure, Activity at the bird house and a Quiz

Charles Street, Listowel in 2016


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Nesting Birds Observed



by Tom Fitzgerald in his garden


Anyone home?


I’m right behind you


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A Moderate Christmas in Kerry in 1902

From Kerry Sentinel, Wednesday, December 31, 1902

A CREDIT TO KERRY.
Christmas is gone, and the people of the kingdom have reason to congratulate themselves on the highly creditable manner in which the Great Festival has been observed in the county. We publish elsewhere particulars of ceremonies in the churches, which speak for themselves. And apart from the religious observances, the conduct of the people was satisfactory in the extreme. In years gone by—and not so very long ago either—the notion seemed to prevail amongst a section of the populace that Christmas was a privileged time when over-indulgence in liquid as well as solid refreshments and luxuries could be countenanced, and as a consequence there were numerous scenes of drunkenness, with their attendant miseries. That regrettable state of affairs was naturally most pronounced in large towns and villages, but things have changed for the better, and in town and country alike the year now drawing to a close has broken the record in reform.

Take Tralee, the capital of the ” Kingdom,” for example; The holydays just passed have been voted the most enjoyable known in the present generation. On the whole the people seemed to enjoy themselves to the fullest advantage, but they did so rationally, tempering their festivities with moderation. Of course there is an exception to every rule, no community is absolutely perfect and a few stragglers may have seen indulging themselves “not wisely but too well,” but they are not to be taken into account to any great extent under the circumstances. Taking the town in general, there was no real disturbance to disgrace the holiest season of the year. This fact was patent to all who were around, but the best proof of it was furnished by the last Tralee Petty Sessions. The business listed for disposal there was the lightest ever known in the history of the Court, the few paltry cases listed taking less than half an hour in hearing. The people of this large and populous district certainly have reason to be proud of the fact. We doubt, if there is a town in Ireland of the same size that can show a cleaner sheet. Mr. Sullivan, D.I.., expressed his admiration of the manner in which the people of all grades of society acted during the holydays. The publicans, he said, showed no desire to take advantage of the season, and that was only what he expected from them, knowing that the vast majority of them were most respectable people. “What we have said of Tralee, we believe, applies to the other towns in the “Kingdom,” and we repeat, that the people of Kerry are to be congratulated on the manner in which the greatest season of the year was observed.

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Two Ballybunion Photos


 One evening a few years ago, as I was passing the recycling centre on the way to the beach I met this lady painting dolphins on the wall.


These toilets have been demolished. When work recommences on the new ones, Ballybunion will have state of the art facilities.

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Sobriety in Rhyme 

One of the tools that helped Noel Roche on his rehab journey was his faith. In this poem/prayer he outlines how he takes life one day at a time and relies always on God’s help.

One Day

Lead me gently through the day

Don’t let me do it my own way.

If I stumble, let me fall,

If I can’t walk, let me crawl.

If I’m in denial let me doubt,

If I’m in self pity, let me pout.

If I’m in pain and it’s real

All I ask is, Let me feel.

Please don’t let me drink today

Because that would be the old way.

Oh Holy Father, don’t you see,

It’s Footprints time. Please carry me.

Hold me in your arms

Hold me near

I have faith in you, my God

Because its stronger than my fear.

Yes my faith is stronger than my fear today

So I’ll handle anything that comes my way.

I’ve got to work the steps, do the next thing that is right.

Ask God for help in the morning,

And thank him every night.

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A Tree of Hope


The bishop and the late Fr. Pat Moore at a tree planting in Knockanure.

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A Quiz from Mattie



These 32 clues correspond to the 32 counties of Ireland. Have fun.

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Róisín Meaney is turning over a new leaf



The start of a new lockdown week,

And a better plan for my physique

I’ll yoga like crazy

I’ll stop being so lazy

And of chocolate, you won’t hear a squeak. 

Ice Cream, A Quiz in 1959 and Crafts in Craftshop na Méar

Ballybunion, December 2 2015



photo; Jason of Ballybunion Prints

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The Ice Cream of our childhood

Photo; Irish Abroad

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A Memory from 1959



Vincent Carmody found this old cutting recently.  Now for the $64.000 question……who won?

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Christmas in the Craftshop


Craftshop na Méar,Church Street Listowel is a different kind of shopping experience. Inside this shop is a kind of treasure trove of crafts and creations.

Below are just a few of the things you will find there. It is well worth a visit. My advice: Don’t buy a Christmas present anywhere else without trying here first.

You could have the best dressed teddy or doll in town with beautiful couture dolls clothes from this shop. Aren’t the flat caps only gorgeous?

This crochet manger scene is perfect for a table centerpiece.

Viveca’sa vibrant pictures are selling fast.

These hang on many a tree in lands far from Listowel.

I think these fairy doors are beautiful.

All year round but especially at Christmas, the craftshop’s exclusive range of solid silver jewellery, The My Silver River Feale Collection is a popular choice with men and ladies.

This beautiful piece depicting 3 iconic symbols of Listowel, St. John’s, Listowel Castle and the River Feale is designed and made by Eileen Moylan of Claddagh Design.

Eileen grew up in Listowel but she has now crossed the border to Cork. She makes her beautiful range of jewellery in her studio in Macroom.

Eileen also makes one off pieces. She recently made me a piece which I will always treasure. The piece was a present from my daughters. They took Eileen some old pieces of jewellery and asked her to make something special for me.

From my late husband’s wedding ring and a sapphire ring which was his first present to me, Eileen designed and made this stunning piece.

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I’ve got my tickets. Have you?


Mary and Danny at Changes with my family ticket for Cinderella…great value at €25

Quiz answers

From Vincent

Answers to our quiz,

(1) What family occupied the Central Hotel before the Galvin’s?

(A) The Potter family, who the Galvins married into.

(2) Where could you see “a local Squire being entertained in Listowel ©1842 “?

(A) The original painting is on view at the Urban Council Office, or anyone with

      Listowel and its Vicinity, the colour plate is between pages, 256 and 257.

(3) There were two hotels in Listowel, known as Commercial, where were they?

      (not the Listowel Arms)

 (A) (1) in 1867, James Collopy had a Commercial Hotel in The Square, where

       Jimmy Deenihan has his office.

        (2) O’Connor’s Commercial Hotel was in Market Street, where Pierces had

        their veterinary practice.

(4) There was also a commercial club, where? Who was the secretary?

(A) Where ‘Footprints’ is now in Main Street, John Cahill was secretary.

(5) James Butler was a watch and clock repairer, where did he live?

(A) He lived and worked at 23 Upper William Street.

(6) Where did the Young Ireland Society have their meetings?

(A) At 63 Church Street, Tarrant’s or The Bon Ton (the name was painted on the

     plinth in the overhead wall)

(7) Where was Listowel’s last Private Hotel?

(A) Lawler’s, afterwards Ashes in Church Street.

(8) Two of Listowel Pharmacies and part of another one originally had something in

      common, nothing to do with dispensing medicine, what were they?

(A) 3 Public Houses. Wm. Keane Stack’s, (now Aidan O Connor’s) was a pub ran by

       Jeremiah Foley in 1911. Broderick’s Pharmacy was a pub ran by Edward Cain in

       1901. Thirdly, the William Street addition to McGuire’s Chemist shop (Justin

       Stack’s) was a pub ran by a William McCarthy.

    

 (9) Listowel residents, John McCrystall, George Rice and Gabriel Thorpe had           

      something in common, what?

(A) They were three Listowel physicians and surgeons in 1846.

(10)  Listowel’s Royal Hotel was owned by whom?

(A) Patrick J. Houlihan, 1880s

      Miss Hannah Roche, 1890s

(11) If I was to meet you for a drink in Listowel’s, Hotel Brendan, who’s home would

        we have been in?

(A) The home of Robert M Danaher, father of Tim Danaher (Gift of Ink). Afterwards

       John Joe Kenny’s and the Castle Bar.  

Thanks to all those who took the time to contribute, I got some very funny answers, nobody got them all right, even remotely near it!!, I suppose there will be some who will say,”I knew that” however having read the answers they would say that, would’nt they?

Here to the next one,

Vincent.

The much anticipated quiz

 Guess who has set us all a quiz to test our knowledge of Listowel?

Since the quizmaster believes me to be too knowledgeable on the subject, I am debarred from taking part. So off you all go and delve into the annals and the brainboxes of local denizens and see if you can come up with some answers. last time this quiz ran we had a great time solving the riddles. Hopefully this time round it will be just as enjoyable. May the best man win!

Question time,

To keep the readers on their toes, and their minds sharp, I have decided to set a few questions with a Listowel flavour.

(1) What family occupied the Central Hotel before the Galvin’s?

(2) Where could you see “a local Squire being entertained in Listowel ©1842 “?

(3) There were two hotels in Listowel, known as Commercial, where were they?

      (not the Listowel Arms)

(4) There was also a commercial club, where? Who was the secretary?

(5) James Butler was a watch and clock repairer, where did he live?

(5) Where did the Young Ireland Society have their meetings?

(6) Where was Listowel’s last Private Hotel?

(7) Two of Listowel Pharmacies and part of another one originally had something in

      common, nothing to do with dispensing medicine, what were they?

(8) Listowel residents, John McCrystall, George Rice and Gabriel Thorpe had           

      something in common, what?

(9) Listowel’s Royal Hotel was owned by whom?

(10) If I was to meet you for a drink in Listowel’s, Hotel Brendan, who’s home would

        we have been in?

Answers to emmetsabu@gmail.com by twelve midnight on Friday 21ST October.

 

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