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: Rhona Tarrant Page 1 of 2

A Great Listowel Success Story

By

On March 27, 2024

In Listowel

Sunset in Phuket, photo; Mary Sobieralski

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Confirmation in Ballincollig

I was in the church of Christ Our Light in Ballincollig on March 19 2024 for the last of the Cork grandchildren’s Confirmation.

Cora with her dove picture

We had no bishop, just four priests. The mass was in Irish.

This is the actual Confirmation

Cora’s sponsor was her older sister, Aisling

Aoife and Cora’s Granny busied themselves with a doll dressing game while the lengthy ceremony was going on.

Symbols of sixth class in Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin, uniform, team jersey, football and a hurley

This is the legendary principal, Gabriel Ó Cathasaigh. He is holding up a sign saying “Ciúnas.” There were 90 children for Confirmation so the congregation was getting a bit restless during the ceremony.

The washing up

And the Listowel connection… I met David Bunyan who “knows” me through Listowel Connection but was meeting me for the first time in person. He too had a grandchild for Confirmation.

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Who Knew?

Sign on Baker Street, Ballincollig. Interestingly a housing development of apartments is nearing completion across the road from this sign. The apartments appear to me to have no dedicated parking spaces, so, presumably, the tenants with cars will park them in this public carpark.

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Huge Success for Listowel’s Rhona

Rhona Tarrant with Donie O’Sullivan in Listowel during Writers’ Week 2022. They started out together in Storyful, a fact checking agency for social media but have both since gone on to greater things in the U.S.

Rhona is now the executive editor of CBS News Confirmed, a fact checking initiative set up by the CBS News agency last November.

Rhona is very experienced in the area of identifying fake news and disinformation. She was perviously head of editorial for Storyful,

Rhona is based in New York, where she is highly regarded. She is described by her new boss at CBS as ‘”One of the leading journalists and editors in the world working in and breaking new ground in the area of verifying information.”

The rise of AI has made the work of journalists and editors more critical than ever. Rhona is credited with developing new tools to uncover misinformation and disinformation.

As her old teacher, I am mighty proud of her and all she has achieved. She is a credit to Jenny and Ger, to Listowel and all of us who knew her in Pres. Listowel.

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Never Forgotten

This is Jerry Ryan’s grave in John Paul 2 graveyard. It is always beautifully maintained.

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A Fact

I heard our current weather described as “whiplash weather’. That’s a fact.

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Journalists on The Front Line

By

On June 15, 2022

In Festivals, Listowel, Listowel Writers Week, Tarbert

Listowel Pitch and Putt Course in May 2022

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Donie O’Sullivan of CNN and the Listowel Connection

Donie O’Sullivan posed with his dad and the man who sat beside his dad in Primary school a good few years ago, Con McCarthy of Listowel.

Rhona Tarrant knew Donie in Storyful. She did a great job of interviewing him and the prize winning journalist, Malachy Browne of the New York Times.

Malachy was Donie’s boss at Storyful.

Rhona also interviewed another great journalist, Lara Marlowe, at Listowel Writers’ Week 2022.

Rhona posed with some of her former teachers and the current principal of Presentation Secondary School. Listowel. The photograph was taken for me by Rhona’s very proud mum, Jenny.

Mary Cogan, Lisa Whelan, Geraldine O’Connor, Rhona Tarrant, Katherina Broderick, principal, and Bridget O’Connor

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Meanwhile

In the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet an international eventing competition was taking place and my Kanturk Connection’s Enzo was having his first big day out.

Remember the naming after rugby players? That’s gone by the board now and the children are being allowed to name the horses. They know an Enzo. Like actors who have a stage name, horses have an eventing name. Enzo’s is EPA Endeavour.

Enzo was beautifully turned out and ridden by Felicity Ward who is a partner in the business. I saw them on Sunday which was day 3 Cross Country of their three day event. They jumped clear but incurred a few time faults.

This was a brilliant result for a young horse just starting out on his eventing career.

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Those Were the Days

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The Horseshoe, Launch of Emma Larkin’s Book and Behan’s The Horseshoe

By

On November 25, 2019

In Uncategorized

A Robin  close up



Photo: Chris Grayson


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A Book Launch in Kerry Writers’ Museum


This is me with the author, Emma Larkin. Her new book is really clever because her heroine can play in Cork, Kerry or Dublin colours depending on your little one’s native county. I bought a Cork book.

Half of Finuge was there to support Emma who is from a family of Cork hurling royalty.

Kerry Sevens Rugby and football royalty were there. I snapped them chatting to Billy Keane, who, for once was not  the most famous person in the room.

I gave my former star pupil a quick peek at my book. She recognised her old dancing teacher on the back inside cover.

We were entertained by these lovely ladies as we queued to have our books signed.

Another of my star pupils was there too. Rhona Tarrant works in New York and she was on a flying visit home.

These local ladies play football with the local Mothers and Others team.

The hall was packed.

Kate O’Callaghan, chair of Finuge St. Senan’s Ladies Football Club gave  a great opening speech encouraging all young girls to participate in sport. Participation in sport, particularly team sport was a theme throughout the evening.

Emma and her husband, Robbie watched attentively.

Billy Keane was the official ‘launcher”. He praised the young girls and all the volunteers and parents who give so much time to encourage young girls to play sport. He loved Emma’s book and congratulated her on a job well done.

This is the illustrator, Paul Nugent whose work brought the story to life from Izzy’s back garden to Croke Park.

This man, a neighbour of Emma’s Cashman relatives and a trainer of Cork ladies football came from Cork to lend his support.

Louise Galvin is living a dream she didn’t even dare to dream. For women, playing sport professionally, especially rugby or football was unheard of in Louise’s youth. She is delighted now to be earning a living doing what she loves. She is an excellent ambassador for women in sport. She told us her idol is Katie Taylor.

This is the author of Izzy’s Magical Football Adventure. Emma Larkin is also fulfilling a long held dream of becoming a writer.

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Looking around in Behan’s Horseshoe Restaurant


I was in The Horseshoe recently and I took a few snaps of what was on the walls.


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+ R.I.P. Toddy Buckley +



I took this photo of Toddy and his beloved Noreen on St. Patrick’s Day 2016. May he rest in peace.

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Racing Photographer making the news rather than reporting it




I’m glad to report that Pat Healy of Healyracing is making a good recovery after his accident in Navan yesterday. Pat is a man with a lifetime’s experience of horses and particularly those most unpredictable of all horses, thoroughbred racehorses. He was standing working beside the finishing post yesterday when the second placed horse in the first race took a notion to break through the plastic railing, knocking Pat to the ground.

If you’re going to be knocked over, a racecourse is probably the best place to be. Medical personnel attended to Pat at the scene and an ambulance was on hand to take him to hospital.

I wish him a speedy recovery and I’m looking forward to seeing his familiar figure back on track very soon.

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

WW1survivor, John Moore, Café Hanna , Young Adult Bookfest 2018 and Ballydonoghue Parish Magazine

By

On November 19, 2018

In Uncategorized

Photo: Jim MacSweeney

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A Soldier of the Great War and many other wars as well (and with a Listowel connection)



On the centenary of Armistice Day, Tom Dillon, who is our local war expert, gave an entertaining and educational talk on some local aspects of WW1.

Present at that lecture was another local historian, Martin Moore. Martin had contributed some of his family memorabilia to the exhibition that accompanied the talk. On Facebook I found that he had talked to his dad on Armistice Day about the family hero of the war.

Here is what Martin wrote on Nov. 11 2018

“First World War ended 100 years today, one of the greatest conflicts of humankind. This was remembered tonight at a most dignified event organised by historian Tom Dillon and hosted by Cara. It was nice to sit down with my dad who is nearly ninety years. His uncle John served with the New Zealand forces in those eventful years ..from Gallipoli, Egypt and France. He survived the War even though wounded in 1917. One of the lucky ones. John Moore’s army life brought him to the 5 Continents and he was decorated by the King of Serbia along the way!! 

Remembered on this day by his family”

Martin Moore’s picture of his father, Michael holding photographs and medals of his uncle, John.

It sounds to me like there is material for another history talk in that man’s life. 


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Lovely Old Photo


(Taken by Johnny Hannon R.I.P.)


I’m sure there are people who immediately recognise these ladies.

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Listowel Food Fair 2018



Listowel Food Fair is going from strength to strength. This year I had lunch for the over 50s in Allos, brunch in Café Hanna, a demonstration of Lithuanian cooking in Scribes, the food trail to Jumbos, The Listowel Arms, John B.’s and Lizzies and on Sunday I enjoyed the craft and food market. I only got to a faction of the many events organised for this year’s event.

If you like getting dressed up, there was a gala dinner in The Listowel Arms with a kind of Oscars of the food world. There was a grand opening too and all kinds of talks and demonstrations. If you missed it this year be sure to put it on your list of marvellous festivals in Listowel for 2019.

I met Carol and Phil at the brunch in John R.’s Café Hanna.

Cliona McKenna was my dining companion.

This was the super menu. We both had the eggs Benedict and pancakes, me blueberries, she red velvet.

Here is Billy McSweeney telling me yet another tale.

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Listowel Writers’ Week Young Adult Bookfest 2018

This marvellous one day event began life a s part of Listowel Writers’ Week June festival. The timing was not ideal for secondary school students who were usually doing end of year exams at this time. It was decided to change the date and this new stand -alone one day event took place for the first time in 2017. It was such a success that this year’s event sold out in jig time.

On November 16 2018 over 800 secondary school pupils, mostly Transition Year and Fifth Year students gathered in Listowel Community Centre for a feast of educational and entertainment.

Máire Logue is seen here commissioning two of the outdoor volunteers for their traffic duties. As you can appreciate buses and cars had to be marshalled into position to make sure everyone got to the venue safely and on time.

John Kelliher took this photo of the outdoor crew, Jim Dunn, Mike Lynch, Rose Wall and Tom Dillon. They did a great job in fairly showery and cold conditions.

 Liz and Elma were busy directing the audience to their allocated seats.

Seán McCarthy and Joanna O’Flynn helped early arrivals to take a selfie.

 Eilish Wren and Mairead Costelloe were busy meeting and greeting.

Rhona Tarrant was MC for the day. Here she is looking over her notes on the running order.

Teachers, Mary Twomey and Gerard Tarrant were enjoying the day.

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Ballydonoghue Parish Magazine 2018









Saturday morning November 17 2018 and Eason Listowel gets its first drop of Ballydonoghue Parish Magazines



The people behind this magazine have brought us another cracker. Parish magazines are becoming a rarity. It’s hard to find dedicated people to collect the stories, take the photographs, edit, proofread and lay out the journal. And then they have to launch and distribute it. Its a mammoth task. I take my hat off to the great people who keep Ballydonoghue Parish going year after year.

Each year’s publication is eagerly awaited by the Lisselton diaspora. Postage charges have gone through the roof and it means that to buy a magazine and post it is now costs the bones of €30. I beg you to continue sending it. It means a lot to people missing home.

I caught up with the delivery detail again as they made their drop in Flavin’s of Church Street.

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+ R.I.P.  Weeshie Fogarty+




Photo: Radio Kerry

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