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: Roger Casement

Easter Rising Commemoration in Kerry, A Party in Áras Mhuire and more Photos from Kennelly at 80

Beautiful Ballybunion In April 2016 photographed by Jason O’Doherty

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Kerry and The Rising; State Commemoration


One of the saddest events of The Rising of 1916 happened in Kerry when the driver of the car bringing 3 volunteers mistook the pier at Ballykissane for a road. All three were drowned. This event was commemorated when President Higgins came to Kerry last week.

Photo: Aisling Griffin

Aisling Griffin shared this photo too of the L.E. Niamh in the waters off Banna during the  commemorative event on April 21 2016.

It was a reminder of the ill fated Aud which hovered in the bay, hoping in vain to be able to come ashore and land the guns to arm the Rising.

Photo: Aisling Griffin

The soldiers at Banna on April 21 were drilled to within an inch of their lives. Their formation was perfect, their uniforms pristine, the barked orders, as Gaeilge, loud and clear and everyone to a man and woman proud to be there.

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The World and His Wife Was in Banna

 Owen O’Shea was an excellent M.C.

 This actor, Declan McCarthy, made a convincing Casement as he delivered the rousing speech from the dock.

 Our president , Michael D.Higgins gave a measured and crafted speech. I was so glad we elected a polished orator. He does this sort of occasion with great pride and dignity.

 Everyone I spoke to experienced the same catch in the throat and tear in the eye as the three planes flew overhead and out to sea as we sang the National Anthem.

 And the tricolor flew over it all.


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Party in Áras Mhuire

James Gould is 80 and his friends in Áras Mhuire threw him a party. They invited me.

 Danny Hannon came to wish him a happy birthday.

Noreen O’Donoghue joined in the celebrations.


 Stevie Donegan provided the music.

 This lovely lady, a visitor, sang a song or three.


Happy Birthday, James


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People in Ballylongford at the Kennelly at 80 Event

 Christy Kenneally and Rose Wall at the launch of the DVD, River of Words in The Seanchaí.

 Poet, Mary Lavery Carrig was among the attendees at Lislaughtin.

 Paddy McElligott in Kennelly’s Bar. Paddy performed two of his acclaimed Moloney sketches

Paddy McElligott’s Moloney Up and At It in Kennelly’s Bar Ballylongford

Gabriel Fitzmaurice in Kennelly’s, Ballylongford and below in Ballybunion.

Liz and Jim Dunn. Liz is organizing the bus and Jim took a few photos while waiting for the talk to begin.

Two well known Listowel ladies enjoying the day.

watching the action

Ballybunion, Myrtleville, Angels in Ballybunion and some people I met in Banna


Ballybunion at nightfall, March 4 2016


Photo; Jason ODoherty


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A Trip to the Beach

Last week I headed out with some of my Cork family for a trip to the beach at Myrtleville.

It is a rugged inlet, beautiful and unspoiled.

Unspoiled by man that is;  Nature has not been so kind. At several places along our walk we saw evidence of massive erosion caused by this winter’s inclement weather. This is someone’s gate at the bottom of a cliff and, if you look at the picture above you will see the remains of his wall.

Myrtleville has one of the finest restaurants in Ireland, Bunnyconnelan. I had not been there in years but it is now five times the size it was on my last visit. The food was bigger and better too. The view was spectacular. You have to book well in advance to get a table at the weekends.

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Society Wedding in 1939


Irish Examiner Saturday, 04 November, 1939; Page: 5

FORTHCOMING WEDDING. (Edited)

Kerry Fianna Fail T.D.’s Marriage in London. From Our Correspondent). London, Friday.

Wedding of Frederick H Crowley, Fianna Fail T. D. for Kerry, to Miss Hanora Mary Boland, eldest of five daughters of Mr. John Pius Boland, K.S.G.. MP for South Kerry from 1900 to 1918 was to take place at the Lady Chapel of Westminster Cathedral on December 2nd 1939. Mr Crowley is fourth son of late Mr N Crowley of Banteer. He has been twelve years in the Dail. Mr J P Boland who is general secretary of the catholic Truth Society of England and was one of the whips of the old Irish Nationalist party. At the Olympic Games at Athens 43 years ago, he won the singles and doubles in lawn tennis. He was involved in drawing up statues of N.U.I. Registration of national trade mark of Ireland and promoted Irish as an essential subject for entry to university. Miss Bridget Boland, sister of the bride, wrote book called Wild geese and also wrote for films.

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You can still buy periwinkles on the street in Ballybunion

photo: Jason ODoherty

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Angels on my Nerves


One of the speakers at the recent Women in Media weekend in Ballybunion was Lorna Byrne, author of the best selling Angels in My Hair and a kind of angel whisperer.

Lorna Byrne with Barbara Scully who interviewed her.

Lorna sees an audience double the size of what we see because she sees each of us accompanied by a guardian angel. To the great surprise of a lady at the back of the room, she saw her guardian angel swirling around dressed in peacock robes. Apart from this over exuberant angel she did not mention any of the others present or their antics.

Lorna has a very strange set of beliefs about angels and about life in general. I found it very hard to take what she was saying seriously but my skepticism would not bother her as she is well used to unbelievers like me. She says that God does not allow her to have many friends in case she is contaminated.

In Lorna’s case I think the kindest thing I can say is that maybe the end justifies the means. She has earned oodles of cash from her book sales and her speaking tours and she spends it on charities that help impoverished children. One of her pet causes is climate change. She speaks to the angel who is in charge of the earth. He is dressed like an old fashioned professor and he wears a silly tricorn hat. He wants us to change or ways, but then, doesn’t everyone?

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People I met in Banna at The Casement event


Eoin Liston was among the familiar faces in the crowd.

There were school children there by the busload enjoying the best kind of history lesson.

Jim MacMahon and Judy MaMahon were there.

Everyone is a cameraman nowadays.

Some people watched from a perch on the sand dunes.

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An Evening of Music in St. John’s


Patrick Joy asked me to tell you all about this musical; evening with a difference.

“North Kerry College Music technology students  “The Gang” are holding their end of year concert at St. John’s Theatre Listowel on the 26th of April. This has been a combination of a years work, where the students have been studying a range of  Music Modules such as Music  technology, ethnomusicology, and music Industry studies. Students also study sound engineering each week at Tralee IT as part of this course. Tickets (5euro) can be purchased from North Kerry college or you can pay at the door. There will be an arrange of music show cased on the night from soft rock, to pop, to trad. The music Technology course is in its 5th year and the concert is always a roaring success.”

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Sunday April 24 in Croke Park, Not Kerry’s Finest Hour


(photo: Chris Grayson)



Old Listowel, The funeral of Austin Stack and the first of my Banna pictures

Rainbow over Ballybunion

Photo: Jason O’Doherty

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State Commemorative event to remember Roger Casement, Banna April 21 2016



Everyone who was in Banna on Thursday agrees that it was a great day, a day to be proud to be Irish. I was immensely proud of our army and army reserve, our National Folk theatre , our Kerry County Council who organized everything so well and I was especially proud of our president. 

Thousands of us gathered on “the lonely Banna Strand” to remember the complex character that was Sir Roger Casement and his doomed mission to arm the rebels of 1916.

I went to Banna on the free shuttle bus from Tralee.

I met this lovely lady wearing her Cumann na mBan medal.

The band was having a minute of down time before their performance.

Emergency services were out in force.

The army were beautifully turned out. Here I caught them in the moments before their big performance.

And doing Listowel proud was army reservist, Sergeant Aisling Griffin.

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Old Listowel Map

Damien Stack showed me this old map one day in town.  In the days before the drone these panoramic photos were taken from high buildings or maybe even from a plane.

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Austin Stack’s Funeral Comprehensively Covered in The Kerryman



Kerryman, Saturday, 04
May, 1929; Page: 5

IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL SCENES. HUGE
KERRY ATTENDANCE.

The remains of Mr. Austin Stack
were  removed last evening from the Mater Misericordiae Hospital to St.
Joseph’s Church, Berkeley St. There was a remarkably large assembly of friends
and sympathisers, who lined Rd. and Eccles St., and the deepest sorrow was
manifested in the sad ceremony.

The remains were borne from the
hospital to the church door by relays of Sinn Fein ex-T.D.’s and other members
of the organisation, and were received at the church by Rev. J. O’Callaghan,
C.C.

The priests present were:—Very Rev.
Canon Breen, P.P., Castlegregory; Rev. R. P. O’Reilly, C.C, Tuosisi, Co. Kerry;
Rev. G. Cleary, 0,F.M., and Rev. J. O’Mahony, C.C, Booterstown.

A guard of honour of members of
Oglaigh na h-Eireann was present at the church door.

The chief mourners were:—Mrs. Stack
(widow), Nicholas Stack (brother), Mrs. Nicholas Stack and Mrs Louis Cassidy
(sisters-in-law), Liam and Austin Stack (nephews), Nanette and Marie Stack
(nieces), Mrs. Long, Mr. and Mrs. William O’Neill, Mr. and Mrs. James O’Neill
the Misses Mary, Martha and Gertrude O’Neill, Tallaght (cousins), J. O’Dolan.,
Belcoo; Miss Margt. O’Dolan, do.; the Misses Stack, Listowel; Miss May
Quillinan, do.; Mrs Cassidy, Monesk; Dr. A. Cassidy, Ballyjamesduff; Miss
Harkins, London; M. Cassidy, Dowra; Dr. and Mrs. C. Martin, Dublin; T. P.
Reynolds, Portarlington; M. Cassidy, Ballyshannon; J. Reynolds, Dublin; Mr. and
Mrs. J. J. Galvin, Listowel; Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, Dublin; Mr. and Mrs. Lynch,
Omagh; Mrs. Doherty, Dublin; Mrs. Mullen, Omagh; Mrs. Dunne, Dublin; Kathleen,
Eveleen, Moya, Lily, Joe and Maurice Dunne, do.; Mr. and Mrs. Burleigh, do.;
Dr. and Mrs. Lynch, Omagh; P. J. Cassidy, Co. C; J. J. Cassidy, Mr. ann Mrs. J.
Byrne, Dublin. The following were amongst those who represented the Republican
organisations:—Sean O Ceallaigh (“Sceilg”), Pres. of Sinn Fein; Maurice Toomey,
Count Plunkett , M. Price, Brian O h-Uiginn , Maire Nic Shuibhne, Proinnsias
O’Riain , Sean O’Mahoney, Mrs. Cathal Brugha , Eithne Ni Chumhaill; Liam Mac Giolla
Mhuire; Domhnall O Donnchadha, Cathal O’Murchadha , Eamon Enright, L. Raul Dr.
Kathleen Lynn, Brian O Maoilliosa, Gobnait Ni Bhruadair , T. J. M’Elligott
(“Pro-Patria”), Listowel; P. J. Cahill , Tralee; ‘P. Murney, Newry; Seoirse O
Pluingcead , Jos. Clarke , Sean Goulding, J. Mitchel, Blathnaid Ni Chartaigh ,
Padraig MacAndrew, Eibhlin Ni Thobraide , Maedh Ni Fhaolann, P. Whelan, Fiona
Ni Pluingceid , Eamon Mac Giolla Mhuire, Nora O’Seaghdha, Sighle Ni Bhoinn, M
Nunan, M. Kelly, Bob Slane, P. O’Shea , B. Kelly, Newry; D. O’Brien, Nenagh;
Miss M Elroy, Miss Scully , the Misses Laidhin, T. Power, Seamus O’Neill, P.
O’Donoghue, G. Gilmore, Sean RusseII, Seamus_McArdle , Mr. Cole, Mairin
O’Moore.

Others present were: Messrs. P S
Doyle, T.D.; E Mullins ex-T.D.;D. O Briain , sec , Gaelic League; R. Stokes, P
O’Brien, M. J. Spillane (Co. Kerry); E. J. Toomey, J. Fogarty, W. Dove, J.
Burke, solr. ; T Galvin,  Prof. A. Clery, Prof. Hackett, P O Maille, J. J.
Walsh, A. McCabe, D. O’Callaghan , Con Collins , Maurice Collins, V. Doyle ,
Co. Surveyor, Kerry; Sean O’Mahony, Daithi Ceannt , D. Fawsitt, B.L.;  S.
Mac Cathmaoil, Town Clerk , Bray; Joe Berley, Liam Pedler, Gilbert Ward, the
Misses Daly, Limerick; T McMahon Miss N . Daly, Kerry; J. D. O’Connell, solr.,
Tralee; Mr.  and Mrs. P. J. Kenneally, do.; Tim Hurley, Charlie Nolan, P.
J. Murphy, solr.; P. Cabill , ex-T.D.; D. Brown, solr.; Miss K. M . Breen,
Vice-Chairman , Kerry Co. Council; W. O’Connor, Dr. and Mrs. J. Comer, Joe
Griffin, Phil Ryan, Miss Somers, D.I.D.A.; J. J. O’Cavanagh, Greg Ashe, Donall
O’Connor, Mr. and Mrs. J. Cabell, Dublin, and Mrs. Slattery, Tralee; Di.
Fitzmaurice, Castleconnell.

Mass will be celebrated at 10
o’clock this morning, and the remains will be removed to Glasnevin for
interment at 2  p.m.

MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY.

The messages of sympathy received
by Mrs. Stack included:—Daly family, Knockane; P. Power and family, Tralee ;
Father O’Reilly, Kilgarvan ; Canon Breen , Castlegregory; Kate Breen,
vice-chairman, Kerry Co.C; Domhnall O Dalaigh, Liostuathail; Padraig O
Ceallachain, Liostuathail; Judge Mc-Elligott, Limerick; P. Hogan and family,
Tralee; MacElligott (Pro Patria), Listowel; W. Mullins , Tralee; John and
Bessie Galvin, Listowel; O’Donnell, Brosnan, O’Connor, Duhig, Kennedy, Bohan
and O’Shea , Castlegregory; — Shanahan, Valentia; S Ruttle, Adare; Dan and
Kathleen Flavin, Listowel ; O’Riordon family , Caherciveen ; T. and Mrs.
Griffin, Caherciveen; E. and Nora Dore, Limerick; J. and Kathleen MacCarthy,
Dunboyne; Seamas Mac Guill, Dundalk; Mrs. M. O’Callaghan, Limerick.

Madge and Maura Kidney, Tralee; T.
O’Shea, solr. , Killarney; B. and M. Gleeson Killarney; M. P. Culivet,
Limerick; Frances, and Con Casey , Tralee; P. C. O’Mahoney and Kathleen,.
Killarney; Mr. and Mrs: Lynn, Tralee; Annie and Terence Liston, do.; Father
Behan, Killorglin; Stokes and Slattery, do.; J. MortelI, Tralee; Teresa
O’Brien, Tralee; Rita Lucey, Tralee.

Mossy and May Sheehan, Tralee;
Gearoid MacAuliffe, Newcastlewest; J D. O’Connell, solr., Tralee; W. Mangan, Caherciveen”,
Rev. Joe Breen, C.C..; Kenmare; Mr and Mrs. Joe Harrington, Tralee. Hannah
O’Connor, Tralee; P. O’Sullivan, Caherciveen; R. J. Woulfe, Abbeyfeale; P .
Fahy, T.D.. P O’Sullivan, .solr., Limerick; Dr. and Mrs. Quinlan, Tralee;
Muinntir Ui Dhalaigh , Luimneach; Mr and Mrs. Maurice MacCarthy, Tralee; Mary
Anne O’Donnell, Annascaul.; Liam Healy, Ardnacrusha; Annie Leahy and family,
Listowel; M. Giffin, do.; Mrs. Barrett and family , Tralee; The Enright family,

Tralee; J. K. Fyfe, Rathkeale; Tom
Fitzgerald ,Tarbert; Mrs. Brady, Tralee ; Supple family, Ballyheigue; R . C.
and Miss Barton, Annamoe; Ciss and Katie Green, Fenit; Wm. and Kit O’Doherty ,
Tralee;  Kirwan , Limerick ; P. Kenneally, Tralee; The Misses Stack,
Listowel; P. O’Brien, Tralee; P. Rosney, solr., Caherciveen.

Mrs  Slattery, Tralee; P.
Murphy Brosna;  Walsh, Ballyheigue; J. Mc-Carthy and family, Tralee; Lena
Kavanagh Shoreditch,London.

Mary C. Kearney, Limerick; Denis
Bunyan and family, Tralee; Bridie O’Connor, Tralee; Killarney Cumann Sinn Fein
, J. Sugrue, Listowel; Ashe, Devane , Dingle; Miss Noirin O’Reilly, Waterville,
T. Golden , Caherciveen; Fitzmaurice, Castleconnell; Jack Collins, Currane .

Messages of sympathy were received
at Sinn Fein H.Q. from:—M. Mac-Grath , Ballina; Peadar Murney, Newry; Mary
Brady, sec , Cavan S.F. Executive; Sean Glynn, Williamstown; Tipperary I.R.A.
Memorial Committee; J Babington, Carrick-on-Suir; Dan Hanley, Pres., New Ross
Sinn Fein; E. T. Keane “Kilkenny People.”

James Connolly Workers’ Club, 41
Parnell Sq. , Dublin; Cait Ui Ceallachain, Limerick; Miss Mary B, Dowling,
Drogheda; D. O’Connor, chairman, Portlaoighise F.F. Cumann.

SYMPATHETIC TRIBUTES. The National
Executive of Fianna Fail, on the motion of Mr. de Valera, seconded by Mrs .
Pearse , recorded their deep regret at the death of Mr. Austin Stack, tendered
sincere sympathy to Mrs . Stack, and adjourned as a, mark of respect.
Resolutions of sympathy with relatives of Mr. Stack were also passed by
Limerick City Cumann na nGaedheal and Wexford Corporation. Donnchadh O’Briain,
Secretary, Gaelic League , has arranged for a Mass to be celebrated in St.
Joseph’s, Berkeley St., on Sunday next at 8 a.m. Thursday. Impressive scenes
were witnessed in Dublin yesterday when the remains of the dead patriot, Austin
Stack, were laid to rest in Glasnevin Cemetery. The body lay in St. Joseph’s
Church, Berkeley Road, overnight, and at 10 a.m. Requiem Mass for the eternal
repose of his soul was celebrated at 10 a.m. The Rev. J. O’Callaghan, C.C, was
celebrant of the Mass, assisted by Very Rev. John Canon Breen, S.T.L., P.P.,
Castlegregory; and Rev. R. F. O’Reilly, CC., Tuosist , County Kerry. A large
congregation was present in the Church, including representatives, of the
Standing Committee of Sinn Fein, Fianna Fail Deputies and Kerry sympathisers
who had made the long journey to Dublin to be present at the obsequies.

Mrs. A. Stack (widow), Mr. Nicholas
Stack ((brother), Mrs. Nicholas Stack and Mrs. Louis Cassidy (sisters-in-law),
Liam and Austin (nephews), Nanette and Marie Stack (nieces) and other near
relatives and friends occupied seats in front of the Altar.

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Fundraiser for CF at The Well on April 15 2016




Well done to the hardworking volunteers

Farran Wood and Art in Newcastlewest and an artist’s sketch especially for Listowel Connection.

Art and Artists in Newcastlewest in Spring 2016

Billy Keane, who opened Colourful Spirits’ art exhibition in Newcastlewest on March 3 2016 reminded us that North Kerry and West Limerick are really a close unit. We sound the same, we are equally creative and we have a mutual understanding. West Limerick people opened their doors to Kerry artists on March 3 2016 and they turned out in numbers to view what their neighbors had to show them.

This is one of the great pictures on display in The Red Door. It’s called Human Nature. It was among my favorites on the night.

 Susan Hitching is one of the artists in Colourful Spirits. Her friend, Vincent O’Brien, was on hand to lend his support on opening night.

Jim Dunn can surely capture the rapture of a musician engrossed in his art.

 This picture was inspired by Liam Brennan’s memories of being an altar boy in St. Mary’s, Listowel.

Artists and friends listen to Billy Keane in The Red Door Gallery, The Square Newcastlewest .

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Casement



Roger Casement is a man who will be commemorated in Kerry as one of the biggest heroes of The 1916 Rising. Mike O’Donnell has written about and sketched Roger Casement for some time now. He sent me this super study of Casement which he sketched especially for Listowel Connection.

Muskerry Local History Society will hold the below lecture in Ballincollig Rugby Club on Monday March 21 2016

Monday, 21 March,Casement and the Aud

A talk given by Philip Johnston who
has dived on the wreck of the Aud for the past 20 years. The talk will include
Casement’s trip to Germany, the transport of 25,000 guns for rebellion and the
arrest and scuttling of the Aud on its approach to Cork Harbour.

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Farran Wood


If you have ever gone to Cork through Macroom you will have passed a sign for Farran Wood. Farran is one of the woodland areas that Coillte have developed as a visitor attraction.

It’s early in the season yet so the zip wire attraction which lets you swing like a monkey from tree to tree was not yet in operation for 2016.

A trip to Farran is a walk through woodland and by the lake and the river. It has a playground and picnic area and the place is alive with animal life and birdsong.

A walk in the woods

 Many of the attractions are made from recycled materials and wood.

 Hang in there, Róisín.

 Skimming pebbles

The picnic area

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At Listowel Races




Photo; Shannonside Annual

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