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: St. Michael’s College Page 3 of 4

Bertie Ahern in St. Michael’s, Art in Pierse and Fitzgibbon

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On July 10, 2018

In Uncategorized

Sundown in North Kerry

Photo: Mike Enright

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Tongue in Cheek poem of advice for Poets


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When the taoiseach came to town


When Bertie Ahern who was the taoiseach of the day opened the extension to St. Michael’s, the media were out in force. That’s Pascal Sheehy with the furry mike.



Local politicians were out in force as well.

2010 I think

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If the cat had kittens, I’d be blamed…….

This was a favourite saying of a lovely old man I knew one time. He felt that he could never do right for doing wrong. Don’t we all feel like that some times?

I brought you last week a little summer story about the relocating of the Infant of Prague statue in St. Mary’s. Now the poor Infant popping up in a more prominent position is being blamed for the drought…..


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Listowel Visual Arts Week 2018

This was the beautiful still life installation in John R.’s window during the visual arts festival.

One of the lovely events that took place during that week was a tour of Pierse and Fitzgibbon offices in Market Street. Robert Pierse has gathered some incredibly beautiful artworks over a lifetime of collecting. We were allowed to see some of the treasures, including a replica of The Book of Kells.

This is an early mural by Olive Stack depicting a Fair Day scene in Market Street. The works of several local artists are on display on the walls and even the furniture and lighting is by Irish designers.

This beautiful celtic name plate is the work of the multi talented Paddy Fitzgibbon.

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Facelift for Church Street



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Molly at The Dandy Lodge



The Hahah, Killarney, pensions in Australia and more from Ladies Day 2017

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On September 22, 2017

In Uncategorized

Grey Squirrel by Chris Grayson

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The Hahah, Killarney


In this little corner of Killarney where the jarveys wait for a fare and feed and water their horses, there is an interesting shrine.

Around the corner from here are 2 lovely urban buildings; the town hall and the Plaza Hotel.

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School Traffic



I accompanied by little cailíni to school last week. Thank God we were on foot.

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Getting the Pension in Australia in 1899




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Ladies’ Day 2017


It’s always great to meet friends at The Races. Here I am with my friends, the O’Sullivans.

Great to catch up with Máire, Keelin and Judy

Daithí is well used to posing with pretty ladies. Imelda and Helen obliged him.

West Limerick ladies

The jazzy hat competition brought out some fabulous creations

Local ladies, Vourneen, Norah, Betty and Margaret were paying attention to action on the track.



Cliona places another losing bet.

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Farm Safety


Photo: Donal O’Leary





Two sixth year students, Padraig Hunt and Michael Murphy won the Safe Family Farm Competition for schools at The recent National Ploughing Championships 2017.

Their win was timely in a week that saw another two fatal farm accidents added to the list of such accidents we are hearing about lately.

With their Ag. Science teacher, Fiona Griffin, the boys came up with a plan to get an aerial map of the family farm and to highlight danger areas. This map would be of use to the farm family as well as visitors or farm workers




Amy Sheehy, Artist, The Convent and St. Patrick’s Day Concert in The Square

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On March 23, 2016

In Uncategorized




Another great capture from Jim MacSweeney of Kanturk, a member of Mallow Camera Club.

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I never saw a purple cow.

I never hope to see one.

But I can tell you, anyhow,

I’d rather see than be one.

(Gelett Burgess)

At the launch of Amy Sheehy’s exhibition of her latest work the cows were not purple but a fascinating shade of blue.

Amy’s show, which was dedicated to her late dad, featured cows and women and a bit of T.S. Elliot. There were some lovely paintings on show in St. Johns and I’m delighted to report that the exhibition was a great success with many of the paintings sold on the opening night.

Amy, Bernie and Ruth Sheehy in St. John’s on Sunday March 13 2016

By pure co incidence the play I attended in St. John’s just a few nights later was called Charolais and was based around one woman’s jealousy of her boy friend’s prized Charolais heifer.  It was well worth seeing so do catch it if you get a chance.

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May Jim and his former colleagues who have died rest in peace

Staff of St. Michael’s in 1979

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The Convent


Since I was in the neighborhood recently I took a few snaps of the convent. The new roof is in place and the building has been secured.


This building, the old primary school and later, Toirbheart, is for sale.

 Presentation Convent Listowel in March 2016

 The windows are repaired or boarded up.

 The trench through the front lawn has been filled in.


Ivy is creeping over the chapel.

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One Horse, One pack of hounds and a Dolphin




Ita Hannon took this photo at Béal on March 13 2016

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St. Patrick’s Day 2016 in The Square, Listowel


This year there was a concert in The Square to keep the audience entertained before the parade took off. Maybe next year beaming this concert to the Small Square on a big screen might be an option.  The big crowd that was gathered there missed it.

First up we’re Listowel Folk Group with some songs associated with 1916. They were excellent as usual.

A bigger, more sturdy stage would be another good investment before next year. This year the musicians were kind of in the next parish.

I know, I know its easy to criticize. The organizers did a brilliant job but a few tweaks would improve things greatly.

These were the Listowel Comhaltas troupe. They had a great variety of performers, singers, dancers and a young man to read the proclamation.

Aprons, Christmas, School Visits and Donie Lyons is honoured

By

On October 20, 2015

In Uncategorized

Let me see !



This unusual photo was taken by Tom Healy in Killarney.

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Do you Wear an Apron?





This is Maura Gleasure of Craftshop na Méar. If you are in need of an apron or any other table linen, Maura is your woman.

The apron has an interesting history. I found the following on Facebook;

The History of ‘APRONS’

I don’t think our kids know what an apron is. The
principle use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress underneath because
she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than
dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a
potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children’s tears, and on
occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying
eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the
warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding
places for shy kids..

And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it
around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow,
bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen
in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples
that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was
surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the
porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the
fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents
something that will replace that ‘old-time apron’ that served so many purposes.

Send this to those who would know (and love) the story
about Grandma’s aprons.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the
window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many
germs were on that apron.

I don’t think I ever caught anything from an apron –
but love
—Hawk Seeker of Truth—



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That Tidy Towns Trophy is still on its lap of honour

 Presentation Secondary School

 St. Michael’s

Coláiste na Ríochta

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More Christmas Goodies from Listowel Garden Centre


These pictures above looked absolutely lovely in a dark space.



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Presentation to Donal Lyons


A presentation was made to Donie Lyons of Ballyguiltenane in recognition of his dedication to music and singing and for his great support  of Comhaltas and local events.

The presentation took place in Fr Casey Hall, Abbeyfeale on Sunday, 18th Oct. 2015.

St. Michael’s Boys, Keane Stack’s, Ciboure, Olaf in Ballybunion and Ghost in Killarney

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On March 10, 2015

In Uncategorized

St. Michael’s Boys 

I have no idea of the year, but aren’t they all well turned out?

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Keane Stack’s

I brought you news of this new shop yesterday.

This is how this shop used to look when it was a pharmacy. This photo is from Vincent Carmody’s book, Listowel, Snapshots of a market town. According to Vincent, William Keane-Stack was born at Dromin Lower, Listowel in 1894. He qualified as a pharmaceutical chemist in 1920. His wife was Margaret McDermott of Indianapolis in the USA. He ran his pharmacy at 23 Lower William St.  The business shut in 1994. John B. Keane served for some time as a pharmaceutical assistant with the Keane-Stacks.

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First World Problem!

My family in Ciboure sent me these photos of a morning’s excitement last week. This lovely pleasure boat ran on to these rocks prompting  a call out of all the services to prevent any further damage to the boat or, worse still, any environmental damage to this beauty spot.

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Do you want to build a snowman?



I know its been cold lately but Ballybunion Prints with Olaf on the castle green: Incredible!

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Ghost in Killarney




Look who’s starring in the Irish premier of Ghost the musical in the INEC this week. It’s our very own Roza Karim. This should be a super show. Don’t miss it!

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