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: Scoil Realt na Maidine Page 1 of 6

As Far as Turn Back

A Listowel Backway

Learning the Lessons of History

Those who don’t learn from the mistakes of history are destined to repeat them.

The debate in Castleisland was short lived. They didn’t even have to resort to the Listowel solution to a Listowel problem. They are going to leave well enough alone. This time the people spoke in today’s forum for people who are unhappy with a proposal to let rip. Let rip they did. Some people wanted no change. Some people were okay with change but not to O’Connell. Various names were suggested until the whole debate descended into chaos. So Main Street Castleisland will remain Main Street for the foreseeable future. In Irish it is simply An Phríomhshráid, a direct translation.

Kerry Women in Literature at Kerry Writers’ Museum

There was a big imbalance in the representation of Kerry writers in the KWM. The exhibition which opened on May 28 2025 set out to right that wrong.

On opening night Owen MacMahon told me of a conversation he heard reported when the question of gender balance was being debated in the golf club. The wise man in this conversation said that any lady who sought equality with men lacked ambition.

I don’t think many would argue that the women in this exhibition were the equal or superior to household names in Irish writing such as Bryan MacMahon, John B. Keane or Brendan Kennelly. They still deserve some recognition.

Maureen Beasley’s daughter reads what the museum has to say about her mother.

The Beasley family with the Chair of KWM, David Browne

Artist and model…The work of the writers is “reimagined through contemporary art.” Artist, Damien Daly, chose Beatrice Mannix to represent the themes in Sonja Broderick’s poem, The Best of Times.

They posed for me by the artwork. My picture does not do the piece justice.

Eamon ÓMurchú, Seán MacCarthy and Gabriel Fitzmaurice at the opening.

Listowel Literary Festival 2025

Old friends, Ned O’Sullivan, Chair of Listowel Writers’ Week and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Patrick O’Donovan. The minister endowed Listowel Writers’ Week with a grant of €25k.

(Photo: Dominick Walsh)

Some of the widespread coverage in the media. Listowel Literary Festival 2025 was a welcome PR boost for tourism in Listowel.

A Poem

This Pat Boran poem was the unseen poem in this year’s Leaving Cert .English paper.

As Far as Turn Back

After we’ve walked for long enough

the conversation peters out,

and grunts, sniffs and the occasional cough

are all that punctuate the quiet.

Now and then, there’s a heel-burst

slipstream of shingle; a see-saw

slate-flat rock taps and trembles

its morse code underfoot;

a crow caws, a sheep responds

from a clump of grass a field away.

But that’s about the size of it.

No path agreed in advance,

we’re just out walking on this lockdown day,

taking the air and, taken by it,

leaving the road for animal tracks,

heading, as my father’s phrase would have it,

‘as far as turn back’.

And who knew that not knowing

where that turn would turn out to be

would turn out to be

the thing we’d miss the most.

Pat Boran

Sunday Market

Every Sunday from now ’til October from 11.00a.m. to 3.00p.m. you can buy crafts, baked goods, vegetables, strawberries, knick knacks and more. Brew and Banter had a previous commitment last Sunday but they’ll be back.

The school principal was on hand to support the stall holders.

Lovely hand made toys and gifts

These are to lads I told you about yesterday. From their base in Tralee they are selling popular 3D printer made items.

A Fact from Ireland’s Own

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Women in Literature

The Square and St. Mary’s

Kerry Women in Literature Exhibition Launch

A new permanent exhibition honouring 13 Kerry women writers was opened on May 28 2025 in Kerry Writers’ Museum. The exbibition was officially opened by Dr. Fiona Brennan who told us a bit about some of the artists.

Some are well known to us from our school days e.g. Peig Sayers and Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill. Four of the writers are Listowel women, Cecile O’Rahilly, Bertha Beatty and grandmother and granddaughter, Maureen Beasley and Sonja Broderick.

The others are Siobhán Ní Shuilleabháin, Pauline Maguire, Mary Dowling, Anne Margaret Rowan, Alice Curtayne, Sr. Margaret Cusack and Máirín Cregan.

Owen MacMahon, Jimmy Deenihan, Kay and Arthur Caball and Mayor of Listowel Municipal District, Jimmy Moloney at the launch.

Boards like this tell us a bit about the writer.

Relatives of Alice Curtayne were there to honour their illustrious ancestor.

Historic Photographs Facebook Page

The grave of legendary ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev, known for his electrifying stage presence and groundbreaking defection from the Soviet Union in 1961. The grave appears to be draped in a richly patterned carpet, but it is actually a meticulously crafted mosaic tombstone. Designed by Ezio Frogerio Italian artist.

Did you wear one of these?

They were actually a great idea.

Speaking of skirts, I was at Lakewood Tennis Club’s open competitions recently.

The competition here is as keen as Wimbledon but the dress code is relaxed, any sports clothes will do.

In a competition where ladies could wear anything many of them chose to wear skorts.

Family support, Killian, Aisling, Anne, Bobby and Colm all in Lakewood supporting Carine on Friday evening for the semi finals and the barbecue. Anne lost both of her semi finals. The food was delicious.

Scoil Realta na Maidine Market

I was back in the schoolyard yesterday for the Sunday market. This week there were a few very welcome new stalls.

I met Carmel Hanrahan, great friend of Listowel Connection. It was lovely to finally meet in person.

I bought this from some lovely enterprising young men. They made it using a 3D printer. It’s a fidget spinner, very popular with young and old. Their company is called

It’s at

https://3dandme.ie/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKzbDlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETB2blZJb1pFbkZONjU3QW1pAR5MnzfFlELWjeOJwq8TcgWpCVywSmmEQl09fB5r6QETkPtM3Ej_QHClk3EmpQ_aem_1a7sqWG5dwaf2dJK4LvTQw

A Fact

Peppa Pig, the sassy two dimensional cartoon pig who talks and walks on two legs was originally conceived as an antidote to the pretty palace dwelling princesses of so many children’s stories.

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Dowd’s Road

St. Mary’s with communion day flags in May 2025

That was then….

This photo of the meadow beside Lidl is in my 2009 Listowel Through a Lens

This is the same field on May 13 2025, The field is now owned by Lidl and is being developed as part of their Listowel store revamp.

Patrick Godfrey on Facebook remembers when things were different.

Forever Childhood Memories in this field & photo!!! Spent my entire Childhood in this one field. The stories this field could tell growing up at the back of Ballygologue Park!!! Lots of fun times mischief tears devilment & craic!!!Hard to believe it’s all built up now with houses!!!It used take us to town down through Dowds Road/Old Road. And Now with the works happening on Dowds Roads / Old Road it’s gonna change forever one of the days!! love to go back just one more time.

 (photo taken in the late 80s)

Scoil Realta na Maidine Food and Craft Fair

Sunday May 11 2025 was the first day of the new Sunday attraction.

The venture got off to a slow start. Starting something new is always a challenge and on this particular sunny Sunday there were lots of competing attractions to draw the crowds.

Brew and Banter were there with refreshments.

The Keanes were out supporting their old school. Billy remembered all his old teachers as he tripped down memory lane in the schoolyard.

It’s a week later and I’m back in the schoolyard.

I have Clíona and Aoife for the weekend.

There are more stalls. There is music. Brew and Banter are doing a steady trade. News of the Market is spreading and people are adding it to their Sunday schedule.

I met lovely people.

Kerry was manning the stall for her craft group. They are raising money for a trip to Belfast for the knitting and craft show.

Clíona and Aoife met Anne Marie and Keith.

Invitation from Kerry Writers’ Museum

Join us in Kerry Writers’ Museum on Wednesday 28th May at 6pm for the official opening of Kerry Women in Literature—a bold new exhibition honouring the trailblazing women who shaped Ireland’s literary heritage through the lens of Kerry’s unique cultural landscape.

Kerry Writers’ Museum proudly launches Kerry Women in Literature, a new permanent exhibition supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media.

From Peig Sayers to Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, discover the stories of thirteen remarkable women whose writing reshaped Irish cultural life.

Featuring newly commissioned artworks by five contemporary artists, this exhibition bridges past and present through visual storytelling.

The exhibition will be officially opened by Dr. Fiona Brennan, a leading expert on Kerry’s literary women and long-time supporter of the Museum.

Curated by Louise Lynch, with thanks to Executive Director Cara Trant, this is a landmark moment for Kerry’s cultural legacy.

Because it’s Silly Season

A Fact

President Donald Trump is a teetotaler. He has said that he decided to abstain from drinking alcohol after seeing its effects on his older brother Freddy, whose alcoholism led to his early death at the age of 43.

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Young and Old

Main Street, Listowel in August 2022

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People I Met

Mark and Sheila Hewitt made a welcome return to Listowel after their Covid absence.

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At the School Gate

Scoil Realt na Maidine has got a new school gate.

I learned on Facebook that the gates were made and fitted by Beasley Engineering, Listowel

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The Oldest Man in Listowel?

Is Peter McGrath the oldest man in Listowel? He is 95.

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Neighbours at a Wedding

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I Know for a Fact

Elvis Presley wore a cross, a Star of David and the Hebrew letter chi around his neck. He explained this choice of jewellery thus. “I don’t want to miss out on Heaven due to a technicality.”

Presley died on August 1977, in the bathroom of his Graceland home.

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Barbara In Galway

St. John’s Listowel in August 2022

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Beloved Kerry Footballers

The man who posted this image on Twitter assures us that David Clifford is in there somewhere. Whenever his team, Fossa, play nowadays he is likely to be mobbed by admiring fans as soon as the final whistle is blown.

No mob here, unless its puffins or gannets. The great O’Sé’s on a trip to Scellig.

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The Griffin Family, Bridge Road. This old photo was shared online by a family member.

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Barbara’s Road Trip Takes her to Galway

When we got to Galway City, we had the evening to ourselves.   Knowing the area well, what do I do?  I walk almost 4 miles out to Salthill.  One of my favorite promenades in Ireland!!  

 I walked to the amusement park and then took the bus back to Merchant Street and shopped in the shops.   I shopped at Faller Jewelry.  Back in the 80’s, I was with my mother and got my first claddagh ring.   I misplaced my last one and I had to get a new ring.   I got one with my birthstone on it- a ruby stone!  A trip down memory lane.  

Inis Oirr

Next morning, we head to the seaside town of Doolin, one of my favorite towns along the Wild Atlantic Way.  Did you know there are 168 signs along the Wild Atlantic Way?   You could do a separate blog about that one! 

Inis Oirr

We boarded the ferry to Inis Oirr, the most easterly of the Aran Islands, which translates to East Island!  Ferry ride back treated us to the majestic beauty of The Cliffs of Moher, truly breath-taking. 

Cliffs of Moher

The best way to see the cliffs up close!  After that, we spent the night at The Lahinch Coast Hotel with the stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, not my room.   A beautiful walk that evening was well worth it and of course, the 1st ice cream 99 cone!

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1940’s Listowel boys

Picture from The Advertiser shared by Mike Hannon

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Wedding of Mary and Dave

I had a lovely day at Mary and Dave’s wedding. The music as expected was out of this world. Thank you to Mary’s friends from Listowel Folk Group.

Members of Listowel Folk Group at the recent wedding of Mary Moylan and Dave Murphy; Denis O’Rourke, Mike Moriarty, Cathriona O’Neill Eileen Leen, Mary Moylan, Emer O’Neill, John Kinsella, Tina Kinsella and Mary Fagan

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A Fact

A horse’s age is determined by looking at his teeth. The term ‘long in the tooth” meaning old came about because of this fact.

As horses age their gums recede so their teeth appear longer. This gave rise to the assumption that the teeth were growing. They weren’t.

So a horses age can be determined by how much his gums have receded rather than by how much his teeth have grown.

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