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: Sr. Consolata Page 3 of 4

Listowel, Facts and Photos

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On November 25, 2021

In Listowel, Schools

St. John’s Theatre, November 2021

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A Listowel Fact

St. Michael’s College used to be as fever hospital. In the 1940s and 50s it had a massive reputation for the teaching of Latin and Greek. A remarkable number of St. Michael’s past pupils have achieved international eminence.

Hard to believe but the first team game that was played in the college was cricket.

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That was Then; This is Now

Another premises looking for a new tenant. The first photo dates back to 2007.

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How Much is….?

A Listowel pooch in a room with a view.

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Today’s Long Read

Cyril Kelly tells us about the trials and tribulations of an altar boy in November. They were all boys before Vatican 2. No altar servers then.

Cyril brings 1950s Listowel vividly to life in this beautifully crafted essay.

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That was Then; This is Now

A then and now picture with a difference…new principal of Presentation Secondary School, Listowel, Katherina Broderick pictured with former principal, Sr. Consolata Bracken in St. Mary’s Listowel on Presentation Day, November 21 2021

(photo shared on school’s Facebook page)

Katherina is the first past pupil to be appointed principal. I wish her every good luck in her new role.

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Friday Market, Commemorative Seats, Ard Churan Concert and Revival 2019 line up

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On June 26, 2019

In Uncategorized

Ballybunion Sunset 2019



Photo; Jason at Ballybunion Prints Beach

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Music in The Square at the Friday market

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Commemorative Seats in Listowel Town Park


Donating a seat seems to have replaced planting a tree as a means of remembering a lost loved one. Here are the two new seats in the park.




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Ard Churam Concert


On Thursday May 30 we were treated to a great night of music by the people behind Ard Churam fundraising.

Photo; Ger Holland, official Writers’ Week photographer

The undisputed stars on the night were the members of the Ard Churam choir and their coach, soprano Mary Culloty O’Sullivan. Cyril Kelly took us down memory lane and reality television star, Fr. Ray Kelly sang songs from his album. The concert was a great success and helped greatly in raising funds for the planned dementia care day centre.

Mairead Slemon and Rachel Guerin congratulate Aine Guerin on a great night’s work.

Mary and Peter  McGrath were enjoying the music.

 Vourneen Kissane and Margaret Reidy were there too.

Sr. Consolata met her old friend, Jackie McGillicuddy who was singing with the choir.

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Courthouse Plaza






Courthouse Road leads to a lovely plaza area with three public buildings surrounding asome newly planted raised beds.

This is the back of Áras an Phiarsaigh.

Áras an Phiarsaigh

Listowel Courthouse



Listowel branch of Kerry Library

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Revival 2019




Saturdays’ headline act, The Coronas has been confirmed. This promises to the best Revival yet. Tickets are selling out quickly .


Craftshop na Méar, Pat Shortt and a competition winner

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On January 25, 2018

In Uncategorized

A Relic of Auld Decency


Photo; Lisa Egan, Mallow Camera Club

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Craftshop na Méar, a Resumé

This is how Kiely’s of Church Street looked.

In November 2013 Namir Karim’s craftshop moved in and set out to find a name for the new venture. In the window was a big yellow fibreglass pig who became the mascot for the early days. The name that the crafters settled on was Craftshop na Méar, using a naming method I first heard used by Clare GAA.

(There is a GAA rule that every member must be registered with the Irish version of his name. This proved a bit problematic when they had a player called Mosajee Bhamgee. Some genius came up with the nearest Irish equivalent and he was registered as Muiris Bean Sí)

Namir didn’t have an Irish version of his name so na Méar was agreed on as the nearest match. Besides in fitted well with the produce which was to be handcrafts.

A competition was held to name the pig. The late Dan Green, who was a big supporter of the shop, hit on Crubeen, the perfect name.

Namir and his daughter, Roza were very involved in their new venture.

Maureen Connolly, Mary Boyer, Eileen Moylan and Isobel Barrett were among the early crafters.

 The shop stocked a wide variety of produce.

 This photograph was taken at the official opening in 2013

Mary Keane cut the ribbon and she was one of the first customers.

Maureen, Mary Anne, Una, Eileen, Mary and Anne enjoyed the opening ceremony as well.

This photograph was taken on one of the “big days” in the shop as the crafters pose with the award for the widow display at Seachtain na Gaeilge.

I have a few more photos but I’ll keep them to tomorrow.

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Unbelievable!

Pat Shortt shared this photo of himself and Jon Kenny taken backstage at an early gig in Limerick

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A Prize wining essayist 

Strictly, Bridge Road, Brosna, Halloween Parade and the passing of another London Kerry publican

By

On October 26, 2015

In Uncategorized

Timothy John MacSweeney

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Strictly, Before the Event


I was in The Listowel Arms on Saturday October 24 2015 on a family mission. The whole place was a hive of excitement as last minute preparations were being put in place for Kerry Parents and Friends Strictly Come Dancing. I snapped a few of the nervous dancers and two of the organizers as they headed for the ballroom.



This last picture is of Julianne Galvin who, with her partner, Ian Liston, were declared the winners.

A great night for a great cause.

Pictures here:  Kerry Parents and Friends Strictly

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Dursley Boys


Recently the Dursley Male Voice Choir sang at mass in St. Mary’s Listowel. I took these photos with members of our own church choir after mass and before the choir headed up town to perform at Áras Mhuire.

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Bridge Road, Listowel, October 2015






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New Shop breathes life into Brosna






Noel Laneshared the great news on Facebook. There is a renewed buzz about the village of Brosna with the opening of a bar and a new shop. It’s marvelous to see these green shoots of recovery in rural Kerry.

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Halloween Parade Back for Another Year






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A True Blue Kerryman has passed Away in London 




The late Christy Kissane is third from right at back

“It is with deep regret that we have learned of the death of legendary Kilburn publican Christy Kissane, a towering figure in London’s Irish – and Kerry – community.

The owner of Kerry’s flagship pub in Kilburn, the Kingdom, which was itself a testimony to Christy’s love of GAA as he frequently hosted the Kerry players and the Sam Maguire Cup.

Christy’s proud boast was that he had been to every All Ireland football final since 1962 except for the one in 1968 when construction work kept him in London.

He lived in Dollis Hill.

His first pub, in the mid-1970s, was the Windsor Castle on the Harrow Road which he built into a chain of pubs and taverns across west and north west London before eventually concentrating on his pride and joy, the Kingdom in Kilburn.

As can be seen in this photo was a welcome and lively presence at last Friday’s Kerry Association London dinner in Cricklewood. He was Life President of the Association. He was also chairman of the Kingdom Kerry Gaels football club.”

(photo and text from The Irish World

All Ireland football champions 2014, Ladies Day and Class of ’94

By

On September 22, 2014

In Uncategorized


All Ireland Champions




Against the odds, they did it.


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Ladies Day 2014


Here is a taste of some of the style on Ladies at Listowel Races 2014

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Pres. Class of 1994

The ladies who made up the Leaving Cert. class in Pres. Listowel in 1994 reunited in The Listowel Arms to relive old times. It was a great night, a credit to all on the organizing committee.

One of the class, Diane Canty made this lovely cake. It tasted as good as it looked.

Una Buckley made the cupcakes decorated with the school crest.

Memories of West Side Story, the musical were relived as well as basketball matches, lunchtime clubs, the debs and much more.

Girls who were part of the class and who have passed away were also remembered.

I met up with my old principal and teaching colleagues, Sr. Consolata, Geraldine O’Connor, Bridget O’Connor and Anne Dillon.

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Roly Chute

Busy man, Roly on Church St.

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Croke Park 1929     Source; Irish Archeology

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