Tag: St. Vincent de Paul shop

The Beautiful Kingdom

By listowelconnection

On July 22, 2022

In Poem

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Church Street supporting the team.

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Irishisms by Ronan Moore

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The Kingdom

Beautiful Knightstown pier at evening in July 2022

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Getting behind the Team

Listowel is pulling out all the stops to support Kerry

Listowel Vincent de Paul shop.

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The Ghost Train

Dan Doyle remembers going to an All Ireland final in the bad old days. Dan writes essays about growing up in The Black Valley in what seems like a different age.

Dan Doyle Black Valley All Ireland

So long ago we went to Dublin for the All Ireland final. We went on the Ghost Train from all over Kerry. We went on the Ghost Train as it was the only way to get to Croke Park before motor cars. The train traveled through the night and it was packed.

It started back in West Kerry and men from Portmagee and Waterville and Sneem and Kenmare took the train. These were the pure men of Kerry, big and tough men of the land and the sea, men who carried parts of pigs heads wrapped in news paper and tied with a bit of binder twine. These men had overcoats and caps on them and big hands from digging the land and pulling in nets with fish that time.

My mom came home from the village and told me go. She handed me a 10 bob note and to this day i dont know where she got it as we never had much money. So she said go as some of the older lads were going from the village of Milltown. So down to Rathpook i went at around 7 or 8. 1955 I think this one was and I stepped into the train, They say Calcutta in the back streets are full this Ghost train had them all beat, full to the rafters, men playing 31, men sitting on the toilet playing old beat up melodeons and those great men asked if we were alone and they told us stick together when we got to Dublin. It was easy to pick these men out, they all looked alike. That was before fashion came to Kerry, big grey overcoats and big caps on their head that they put on as babies and never took off i think until God called them home. Some even wore wellingtons turned down at the top, they were a sight but one thing for sure nobody bothered them in the big city, so to say this train steamed through the night would be an exaggeration in fact some times it stopped as if to draw a breath and went backwards and stopped again and seemed to collect itself as if making up its mind if it wanted to go forward or not .

We got to Dublin finally at bright of day in the morning and we followed the big overcoats to mass. That was the way things were done that time. W e got to the field early and that day it was a big crowd 82 thousand I think. Kerry and Dublin and our neighbor down the road John Cronin played center half back. He was a friend to all of us young lads at the cross roads as he came up our road. Walking was his exercise. He was black headed and big and he was an Army man and he was no one to mess with in that time of tough men. John Dowling of Tralee was another physical man who didnt know his own strength.

As the evening sun went down it was over. Kerry won, they beat the Dubs. The men on the train going home they talked about next year already they had bottles of porter in their pockets of these big coats they still had bits of pigs’ heads and crubeens but by now the wrapping paper was long gone and they shared the last of the grub with us and it tasted great. Old turn over bread was torn asunder and passed around. We went home to Kerry and the bon fires burned as we crossed the Kerry border.

We said good bye at Rathpook station and we never saw each other again. the Ghost Train stopped soon after and the place got civilized but let me tell you all the adventure lives on. The 10 bob note from my mom makes me remember her still. She was the smallest in the house. She was special because she found a way to put us kids first. My dad was a big tough man but he stood in awe of the job she did raising us. I loved that time of my life I loved seeing Kerry win but that was only a small part of the story for me. I carry it for a lifetime ,

Good luck to Kerry against Galway on Sunday ,they are carrying on a tradition started long ago. If they win it will carry us through the winter thinking about it ,someone less known on the team will have a big game and thats the way it is. The ref will throw the ball in and the atmosphere at Croke Park will make your heart beat quickly. It is good to be from Kerry on All Ireland day . Iwill listen to Ambrose o Donovan on the radio i will listen as that is the way my dad before me did it to Micheal o Hehir and i will pace the floor like he did.

Come on the Kingdom

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Beautiful Kerry, Have a Book on Us, A Leprechaunand Some St. Vincent de Paul Volunteers

By listowelconnection

On June 2, 2021

In Ballybunion, Listowel, Schools' Folklore

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Good Idea

If you felt like a read of something while on your visit to Ballybunion, here was your problem solved. This table of free books catered for a wide variety of tastes.

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A Tall Tale from Clandouglas National School in The Schools’ Folklore Collection

Once upon a time there lived in the Parish of Ballygologue Listowel a man named Paddy Muldoon. Paddy was a bit of a ne’er do well, never settling down to any steady job but like McCawber always hoping for something to turn up. In that same district lived an old man named Johnny Sullivan. Johnny was great at telling yarns about ghosts, fairies, leprechauns, Headless Coaches, and so forth. Now Paddy having plenty of time because he did little work often visited old Johnny to hear his tales. But of all the stories the one he liked best was that about Leprechauns because that crock of gold would be no black eye to Paddy. However although he dreamed of crocks of gold, in his sober senses he gave the matter little thought. Paddy generally took a short cut to old Johnny’s abode. This path usual in country places skirted a Fort and on through a bog. One fine day in the summer time Paddy was sauntering along whistling gaily, when on raising his eyes what did he see right in front of him beside the Fort, but a wee little man seated on a stool hammering away at his shoe. A Leprechaun, thought Paddy, as he darted forward + seized the Leprechaun and shouted “I have you at last, where is the crock”. You have me all right, said the Leprechaun, but give us a chance, don’t shake the life out of me, and I will show you. The crock is in the bog beyond but the ground is very soft and you must tie your shoes very well. Look, one of your shoes is nearly off. Ah you old cock, said Paddy, that won’t do. You know old Johnny told Paddy that he should never take his eyes off the Leprechaun, for if he did the Leprechaun would vanish. Just at that moment another man Joe Cassidy came along the path, and when he saw Paddy holding the Leprechaun began to congratulate him on his good fortune. Both of them became so excited, that Paddy for a moment, took his eyes off the Leprechaun, who instantly vanished leaving Paddy standing there to mourn the loss of his crock of gold.

COLLECTOR Maureen Mc Elligott

NFORMANT Mr John O’ Halloran

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Magnificent trees on Listowel Pitch and Putt Course

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In Ballybunion

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Return of the St. Vincent de Paul shop

My friends in Listowel St. Vincent de Paul shop are back in action and would welcome donations.

The shop is located on Upper William Street.

It is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 11 to 5

Some of the helpful volunteers who run the shop are Mary, Bina, Hannah, Nancy and Katsy. I love to drop in to them. They are always helpful and friendly.

You’d never know what treasure you might find there.

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Launch of Mary Lavery Carrig’s Haiga , Listowel St. V.de P. shop and some folklore

By Listowel Connection

On February 10, 2020

In Uncategorized

Dogs in Banna; Bridget O’Connor

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People at a Launch

Here are a few photos I took at the launch of Mary Lavery Carrig’s exhibition which is currently hanging in St. John’s, Listowel

Childhood friend, Declan Downey launched the exhibition.

Jim and Susan are artists and came to lend their support.

John McGrath was Mary’s teacher back in the day.

Art lovers and artist, Mary, Matt and Maeve Mooney

Family, friends and neighbours were in St. John’s to support.

Máire Logue was our hostess and Mary provided us with a sumptuous feast. There was food for the body and soul in St. John’s on Feb. 1 2020.

I have never before got a chocolate covered strawberry at a launch! Thank you, Mary

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A Charm, a Cure and Unhappy Priest

A Tale from a Rathea child in the Schools’ Folklore Collection

Mickey Hussey was a native of Banemore. He was a charm setter. He was a small man with a hump. He used to be going round with an ass and car. He was well liked by everybody.

He always obliged his neighbours as far as he could. One night there was a woman living in Gleannaléime and she was very bad. A varicose vein bursted in her leg. The priest was sent for and he only gave her a few hours to live. After the priest was gone her son made for Banemore to Mickey.

Mickey was not inside he was at Jerr Finnerty’s house. The son had only such a limit of time and he told his story to Mickey. Mickey went out and brought in two dog-briars. He split them into two and set them apart in the table. As he was saying the words the briars were drawing close to each other. And at that moment the cock flew out through the coope and crew three times up in the table in front of Mikey. There was neigbours inside and they got in dread when they saw the cock. And Mickey said you amadán if he didn’t do that sure my work would be no good.

Before the son arrived home the Mother was alright. Next morning the priest came and he was surpised when he saw her. So they told him their story and he became very angry. He said he would excommunicate him from the Church if he would not give up this work. All Mikey said was “I saved her life and let you save her soul”. When the Fennertys went out the cock was dead outside the door.

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Vincent de Paul Shop Makeover

Listowel’s St. Vincent de Paul shop looks twice the size since its recent revamp. It still has all the same lovely smiling faces to greet you when you shop there. It’s open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Above are just some of the friendly hard working volunteers. I’ll have to call in again to catch the rest of them.

Willie Whack, Tarbert Comp, Cats will be Cats and the Friday crew in the St. V de P. shop

By Listowel Connection

On October 7, 2019

In Uncategorized

Locking Horns in The National Park

Photo: Chris Grayson

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Willie Whack

John B. Keane in The Limerick Leader

One venerable reader of our column on communications was none other than my great friend, Willie Whack Gleeson, dean of Limerick’s typesetters and a great man to utilise big words as well as small.

He is a man to whom I am greatly indebted this many a day for his priceless insight into the character and background of his fellow Limerickmen.

“Sir,” he opens in characteristic fashion, “in recent contribution of yours to the Leader, you referred to the use of long words by yahoos, gombeen men, TDs and long-winded buffoons.”

“If I had my way, I would apply the following as a fair reading test for all drunken motorists and self-styled intellectuals and comprise city and county councils.”

“Promulgating your esoteric cogitations or articulating your superficial sentimentalities and amicable, philosophical or psychological observations demonstrate a clarified consciousness, a compact comprehensibleness, no coalescent conglomerations of prejudical garrulity, jejune bafflement and assinine affectations. Let your extemporaneous verbal evaporations and expectations have lucidity, intelligibility and veracious vivacity without rodomontade or Therspian bombast. Sedulously avoid all polysyllabic profundity, pompous propensity, psittaceous vacuity, ventriloquial verbosity, and vaniloquent vapidity.”

Shun double-entendre, obnoxious jocosity and pestiferous profanity, observable of apparent.”

“In brief, say what you mean, J.B. Don’t use big words.

Yours till Niagra Falls

Willie W. Gleeson”

How does one react to a letter like this from a man, who as far as I am aware, was never once intoxicated by the exuberance of his own verbosity nor given to inflated or fustian tumidity?

I imagine the sensible thing to do would be to have a shave a haircut, and if practicable, a shampoo, after which a refreshing bathe in the milk of ass mares is to be recommended.

American papers, please copy.

Exclusive

Sometimes at race meetings, I stand aside to watch the passing scene.

At the dog tracks, it’s different.

One is at once caught up in the proceedings such is the nature of the sport.

Recently at a well-known race meeting, I stood near to the owners’ and trainers’ bar.

From time to time, men and women with binoculars draped across their shoulders came and went.

Occasionally the doorkeeper would extend his hand to stop people who did not show proof of ownership.

Some of these were somewhat disgruntled and argued their cases heatedly.

Sometimes the doorman would reconsider his decision and admit them.

With others, he was adamant.

He held them firmly at bay; a cross look on his face, his shoulders belligerently squared under his white coat of office.

There was one particularly noisy exchange during which a couple of young bucks attempted to push the doorman aside.

They moved off, however, when the doorman threatened to call the Guards.

Next to arrive was a North Kerry publican with a party of friends.

None of the group had ever owned or trained an ass not to mention a horse.

The publican in question shook hands with the doorman and entered the bar.

Then, with the magnanimous gesture, he indicated to the remainder of his party that it was alright for them to enter.

The doorman made no attempt to stop them

Immediately after the last of the party had entered a decent-looking man with a pair of binoculars was held at bay by the doorman.

Puzzled, he retreated and sought another bar.

Nothing like this applies at dog tracks nor at football matches have you a special bar for players and trainers. I am tempted to ask who are owners and trainers above everybody else that they should be given a special bar?

I saw some of them in a special enclosure in the stand, and there was nothing about them to indicate that they were different from other race-goers.

This story first appeared in The Leader on October 2, 1976.

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Down Memory Lane in Tarbert

This photo from the opening of Tarbert Comprehensive School was posted on Facebook by

The Swanky Bar

Click on the link and you will find some of the people named in the comments.

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Bird watching

This predatory cat waited for ages but that bird knew better than to come down from the tree.

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My Friday friends in St. Vincent de Paul shop

Helping the customers on Friday October 4 2019 were Nancy, Liz, Bina and Eileen.

Carrauntoohil, tennis players, a Brampton Cocktail and Hansel and Gretel and NEWKD workers

By Listowel Connection

On February 13, 2019

In Uncategorized

Photo: Kerry Climbing

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There is always someone who knows

Last week I posted this picture of an old bottle from a Listowel Pharmacy. The ingredients looked pretty lethal to this untrained eye.

Liam Grimes solved the mystery for me. This is a Brompton Cocktail. It was given to relieve the pain of terminally ill patients. It got its name from the fancy London hospital where it was first dispensed.

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Juvenile Tennis Players in Action

Photos; Danny Gordon

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Friends in the St. Vincent de Paul shop

Three of the lovely volunteers who work so hard in the best charity shop in town.

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When Pantomime Tickets Cost 50p

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One for the Diaspora

If you like an evening of music with a great Irish tenor, then you should try to get to hear this young man who is fast making a name for himself. You can see all the dates of his 2019 U.S tour on his website. He could be coming to a church or other venue near you. You’ll enjoy him.

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North Kerry Home Maintenance Service for Older People

NEWKD Maintenance Service for Older People operates from the old post office building in Upper William Street.

I have had these three lovely men powerwashing and painting for the last few days. I feel so blessed to have this reliable trustworthy service available to me.