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 3 of 5

Fishing in the 1950s, Fealeside Players, Arkhangel and Chinese New Year in Scoil Realt na Maidine

Carrantuathail February 2016

Stephanie Johnson on Facebook

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Fishing as a Livelihood in Times Gone By


Photo: Liam OHainnín



From Shannonside Annual 1956

 A Beale Fisherman by
Mikie Hannon

“Beale Bar Herrings! Beale Bar Herrings!- at one time the
tune of most fishmongers in Kerry. The Beale Bar herring was to Kerry what the
Dublin Bay catch is to the Dublin Market. It is, however a maxim that is heard no more, for that quiet little country
place on the last bend in The Shannon as it meets the sea, is losing the fish
that made it famous and its fishermen too.

Beale Bar, that dreaded reef known to mariners the world
over, has gripped many a ship in its granite teeth, from the days of the frail
Thetis to the grand Oceanis of a few years ago. It was here the Beale fisherman
steered his currach.

The middle of the last century saw the fishermen of the
Beale coast reaping a profitable harvest from those waves, and up to The Boathouse came many a laden curragh. Those curraghs handed down from generation
to generation, their origin lost in time, have been known to brave many a
stormy night. For the Beale fisherman often rowed far from home into the night,
his fishing grounds bounded by Ballybunion in the west, Limerick city in the
east and then the Clare coast, Kilcreduan to Clonderla Bay. He could tick off
in an instant for you all those placenames in the tongue his fathers spoke;
Poll na mBó, Bun na Clugga, Portín, Poll Shuilleabháin, Barr na hArd. This was
the fishing ground of his fathers and their fathers for centuries.

And the names of those who rowed the Shannon remained
constant too from generation to generation – as constant as the placenames
themselves; Carmodys, Mulvihills, Hennessys, Kennellys and Hannons.

About six in the evening you would see them converging on
The Boathouse. There the nets were mended, the boats repaired and everything
got ready for the night. While they mended their nets, they talked the
fisherman’s talk. They were in time for the “flood time’, a quick flowing ebb
current off the Beale shore. The location of the herring shoals and the
prospects for the night were discussed. There, around the boathouse lay from eight
to ten curraghs, face downward on the sand or on their wooden stands. The
Boathouse took its name from the Guards boathouse which was near at hand.

The curraghs are lifted to the water in the traditional
manner on the shoulders of the fishermen, nets are put on board and fishermen
row to their various fishing grounds. Luck may be with them tonight. Old men
tell of seeing forty curraghs fishing the Shannon long years ago in the dusk of
a harvest evening.

The boatmen shoot their nets, one man pulling out the net,
the other rowing. Various hauls are made in different directions as tide and
counter tide ebb and flow. Sometimes the luck is good and money is made: Weeks,
however, may go by without a salmon striking. Here is the real test of patience
and tenacity. Often was an old seasoned fisherman been heard to say, after a bad season, “I’ll never go out
again.” But wait till next season comes
round. He’ll be there again. Fishing is in his blood and he must go.

The salmon has been fished extensively in Beale for well
over 100 years. The drft net was first introduced there by a Scotsman, who also
had three stake weirs on Beale Strand. The salmon fishing has followed a
pattern much the same as the herring. Years ago the local fisherman did well
and in their season from February to July they earned enough in addition to a
little home industry to give them a comfortable living. Today a visitor to
Beale strand during the fishing season will find one curragh and a crew of two
men. Once there were eight or ten curraghs
and twenty families of fishing folk.

The fisher boats are coming in out of the night to the tune
of the seagulls call and the slow steady lap of the oars. It has been a
fair-good night. The tired fishermen are happy. Their wives and families are waiting
for them in the sandhills around the shore. The curraghs are carried on weary
shoulders to The Boathouse. The Boathouse has memories for the aged fisherman
as he thinks of the bustle he saw around here in his boyhood, the men he knew
and worked with down the years, the storms braved- old times gone like the
wreck seaweed on the ebbing tide. The seagulls float overhead and give their
weird calls as if calling on time that were. And as the fishermen trudge their
way homeward, their footsteps trace a pattern on the timeless sands. So it has
been for centuries.

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                    Date for the diary




“Fealeside Players present “WIDOWS PARADISE” for 6 nights commencing on Tuesday the 23rd of February 2016 to Sunday the 28th of February 2016. Tickets available from St. John’s Theatre Listowel on tel no. 068 22566.
Ticket Pricing €12 and Concession price €10.”


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Then and Now



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The Year of The Monkey



Photo: Scoil Realt na Maidine on Facebook

Scoil Realt na Maidine invited a local family to come into school and talk to them about the Chinese New Year. The boys learned about Chinese culture and they learned a few words of the language.



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Another Win for Clodagh



Thirteen year old Clodagh Murphy won a silver medal in the Under 16 Scór competition at the weekend.



Harvest Festival 1971, Canvassing in General Election 2016 and planning for the tourist season

Nature’s Songster






Ita Hannon’s Beale robin

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Harvest Festival 1971


Kerryman  Saturday, 09 October, 1971; Page: 24; Listowel

THE fast pace of Listowel Race Week is over for another months and now
It is possible to see things in their proper perspective and in so
doing pride of place must be deservedly given to the Ballybunion Girls
Pipe Band It’s contribution to the festive spirit of the occasion was
considerable. The quality and rhythm of their martial tunes as they
paraded gracefully through the town was o say the least most
impressive

FINIS— Originality was the key note on Sunday the concluding day of
Listowel Race Week festivities, when a galaxy of our local stars
brought into the homes of a weary footed public a delightfully
entertaining variety show which had been recorded earlier in the week
by Radio Eireann.

Dr John Walshe chairman of the Harvest  Festival Committee opened the
show with an interesting history of the Pattern Day in Listowel, which
had its roots back 150 years ago. Larry Gogan was an excellent
compere.

One of the Dowling sisters gave a fine rendering of a very suitable
timed song entitled. “The Blackbird of Avondale”. Mrs Nora Relihan as
an artist of considerable achievement, needs no introduction to the
people of Listowel, had them “literally in Stitches” with a poem
entitled “cowdung” while dealing at some length with its rich
potential. And then came the irrepressible John B who sang the side
splitting number ”Matt Flavin You’re the Man”, accompanied by Phil
Flavin on the bodhrain. A number of other items brought the programme
to a close

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Are you 85 years or older and living in rural Kerry?

If the answer is yes or if you know someone who answers yes to these two questions, a man called John Hastings has a proposition for you

MALE
INTERVIEWEES NEEDED FOR STUDY ABOUT RURAL DAILY LIFE

Hello, I am looking to meet with men
who are aged 85 years or over to talk about their daily life in rural Ireland.

This involves:

·    
Three meetings with me so
I can learn more about your everyday activities.

·    
We will meet in a quiet,
comfortable location wherever you wish.

·    
Your involvement is
confidential and this will be explained fully to you before deciding to take
part or not.

·    
If this study interests
you please leave your contact details below. I will ring you to tell you more
about the study. Thanks.

Name: _________________________________________

Phone number:
_________________________________

This study has been reviewed by, and
received ethical clearance from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee
associated with University College Cork.

Contact details:

John Hastings,

University College Cork.

021- 4205308.


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Canvassing the knitting vote



I was in Scribes with my fellow Knitwits on Saturday last when John Brassil and his election team called to canvass our votes.

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Passing on the Smiles


Scoil Realt na Maidine, Listowel, February 2016

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Festival Workshops




Photo: Tralee Today


Pictured in Main Street Listowel are Joan McCarthy Head of Tourism, Kerry County Council, with Damien Stack, Eilish Wren, Cara Trant and Máire Logue. They were gathered to promote a Kerry Festivals and Events Workshop. 

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Planning for Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan


photos; Facebook

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A Listowel Man in Abu Dhabi



Third from left in this picture (which I sourced on Facebook) is Tadhg Flahive, formerly of Church Street, Listowel.

The occasion of the photo was an interview with RTE radio presenter Damien O’Reilly. Damien was in the Middle East to record a show about Irish food, business and culture for Country Wide. The show featuring Tadhg and others from Abu Dhabi na Fianna GAA club was broadcast on Saturday last February 20 1016. You will be able to catch it on the RTE radio 1 player.

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Preparing for Summer in Town



Joni Mitchell sang “It’s comin’ on Christmas, They’re cutting’ down trees….”  

Well, Christmas is well gone and they’re pruning trees in The Square, Listowel in preparation for new growth and abundant foliage come summer 2016.

 It can’t come a day too soon.

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Meanwhile in Montreal…



Padraig O’Connor (in the centre with glasses) is a young man already making waves in the world of marketing. He is a final year Commerce student at UCC and this week he is in Canada as part of a team of 4 who are taking part in an international business competition for undergraduates.

Padraig is the son of John and Bridget O’Connor, of Bishopscourt, Ballyduff. 

Definitely one to watch!

Writers Week team, Horans and The Brogue and a wet day on Church St.

 The North wind doth blow and we shall have snow

And what will the robin do then, poor thing?

He’ll hide in a barn and keep himself warm

And hide his head under his wing, poor thing.

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The power behind the throne at Listowel Writers’ Week 

Maria McGrath,  Éilish Wren and Máire Logue show off their new reading mittens as they work away in the basement of The Seanchaí , putting together another great programme for June 2016.

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Down Memory Lane




John Keane with the late Gerard Relihan a few years ago  (photo; Ita Hannon)

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Horan’s was a Great Venue in its Hayday



Historical Tralee shared this old one. The Horan Centre is here in Tralee today. Gone but not forgotten by many.




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Kirby’s Tralee, Maybe a Tad Overdecorated for Christmas 2015?





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A Wet Morning stroll in Listowel, early December 2015

Come with me down Church Street in early morning, December 4 2015. Storm Desmond is on the way and the streets are wet and empty. The Christmas lights are trying bravely to add a bit of festive cheer to the scene. This was to be the day we switched on the Christmas lights and partied in The Square but that was all later cancelled due to the usual spoilsport; the weather.



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Change in Main St.


A new sign….a new tenant?

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photo: Scoil Realt na Maidine

Junior and Senior Infants helped Mrs. Sheehy with on the Christmas lights.

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A Collectors’ Item


A message from Knockanure Parents Association:

“Scoil Chorp Chríost Parents Association 2016 Calendar. Our fundraiser for this Christmas. €10 per calendar. Loads of pictures from 1966 onwards. School will be 50 years in September 2016. Celebrations ahead! 
For Sale in School (9.30 – 12.30 from secretary), Flynns Bar, Knockanure, Holly’s Gala, Moyvane, The Parish Office, Moyvane, The Flying Saucer, Cafe, Listowel or enquire from Parents’ Assoc Committee members.”

Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue and Healyracing’s tribute to A.P. McCoy


in Listowel Square


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Signs Old and New on Courthouse Road

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Look who I met in Changes




Jean Quille of Kerry Businesswomen’s Network with Norah Casey who was in town for Listowel Food Fair and Danny Russell of Changes who had just styled Norah’s hair.

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Healyracing tribute to A.P. McCoy


One of the really nice local events on this year’s Writers’ Week programme was Healyracing’s photographic tribute to A.P. McCoy. I was lucky to be there. Here are a few photos I took at the launch.

Three generations of the Kelliher family
John Maguire, Kevin Sheehy, Maurice Hannon, Aiden O’Connor and John McAulliffe
Liam Healy with his granddaughters
Junior Griffin, Cathy Healy and Danny Hannon
John McGuire, Maurice Sheehy, John Keane, Kevin Sheehy and Junior Griffin
Old stock: Junior Griffin and Liam Healy
Liam with Mr. Carey
Sally O’Neill and Michael Lynch
Lisa Healy and son
Marion Relihan
Pat Healy
Liam with Owen and Maura MacMahon
Seán Lyons and Christy Walsh
Christine Dwyer Hickey and Máire O’Connor
Sean Lyons, Máire Logue and Joe Stack



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Heroes All

Ballybunion Sea & Cliff
Rescue was founded in 1986 to provide a rescue service to the locality of North
Kerry and West Limerick.

The unit, manned by 35
volunteers, is situated on the Ladies Beach in Ballybunion and operates as a
declared resource to the Irish Coast Guard. BSCR operate on 7 minute readiness
for the D Class and 12 minutes for the Atlantic 75, always available on 24 hour
pager alert. As a declared resource we form part of a group of voluntary rescue
boats collectively called Community Rescue Boats Ireland. This is made up of 13
units around the country (listed below)

Although maintaining the name Sea
& Cliff Rescue, cliff rescue was taken over by the Ballybunion Unit of the
Irish Coast Guard in 1991 (then the Coast and Cliff Rescue Service). The Irish
Coast Guard unit based in Ballybunion is a separate organization and should not
be mixed up with BSCR.

Equipped with a D class
inflatable boat, & a new Atlantic 75 RIB, BSCR covers the coast and Shannon
Estuary from Ballyheigue, Co Kerry to Foynes, Co. Limerick, and inland to
Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick. Having a declared night time capability also means we
overlap with neighboring services to cover that area in the hours of darkness.


As well as providing 24×7 Sea
& Cliff Rescue, the volunteers also provide First Aid and Ambulance
assistance at a handful of horse races and other events around the Ballybunion
area.

We rely on public donations and
all year round fund raising to raise the €45,000 needed to keep the service
afloat each year. None of our members are paid and all give their time freely.

The crest of Ballybunion Sea
& Cliff Rescue Service is made up of an anchor in the centre, a ring buoy
around a figure of 8 (for climbing) and a plan view of a D Class boat, all of
which is outlined by a gold rope.

The words “Watch for ye know not the hour” is the units motto
and comes from Matthew 24:42. It reminds people to always be
careful…….because you never know when you may need us.


Photo and text from Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue 

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An Gleann 2015 Scoil Realt na Maidine champions




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Billy Keane’s great article about Limerick Tipperary rivalry on the field of play and a heartache closer to home is

Here

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We have a Winner




Maria Stack of Listowel (on left) was declared the best dressed lady at Cork Summer Show at the weekend.

Writers Week and a US wedding in St. Mary’s

Opening Night Writers’ Week 2015

It may seem that I did, but I did not take everyone’s photo who attended opening night.

 I did take quite a few!

Children’s author, Philip Ardagh, looked an imposing figure at the door of the Listowel Arms.

 Some of the following people I know well and some I have no name for so if you recognize someone, do tell them that they feature in my blog today.


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Full Circle

Andrea wrote to me from the U.S. to tell me that her daughter is to be married in St. Mary’s in summer 2015. The wedding will see this bride back in the church where her great great grandmother was baptized.

The ancestor is Catherine McCoy, known in the family as Kate. She was 1 of 8 , John, Patrick, Mary, Margaret, Joanna, Daniel and Ellen all born between 1857 to 1868. Their parents were Lawrence McCoy and Margaret Collins. Margaret was born in 1827 and had a sister Mary  born in 1825. Their parents were John Collins and Mary Lynch. Kate  came to the states at 18 and met up with her sister Joanna. They settled in Albany Ny. Kate married Oliver English.  They had 5 children. Andrea’s grandma was the oldest, Margaret. She lived to a ripe old age of 103 and was very dear to Andrea. 

Ellen McCoy stayed in Ireland and lived to a good age, but Andrea is not sure if she married. Kate’s family lived in a area of Listowel  called Coolnaleen.

This is all the information Andrea has and this was got from the records in Listowel. If anyone knows anything else about this family, do drop me an email please.


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Jason at Ballybunion Prints posted this great photo of goats on the cliffs at Ballybunion.



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Meanwhile in Scoil Realt na Maidine




Boys are gardening, running in the park, going on outings as well as playing a football league, all part of their well rounded education.



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Adare Now. June 7 2015




It is so sad to see this image of Adare. It was taken last Sunday by Knockanure Local.

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