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: Stylish Eilish

Mosaic Artist, A Listowel Style Icon and a Hurricane in 1961 Remembered

Schiller in Listowel’s Garden of Europe, July 2019

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Because I’m Worth it…….

I bought myself this absolutely gorgeous mosaic piece from a visiting artist in residence in Olive Stack’s Gallery. The artist is Diane Mendelson and here we are, happy customer and happy artist.

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Listowel Writers’ Week Bids Goodbye to Máire Logue


It’s not really goodbye. More like,  “See you in a minute.” Máire’s new job is across the Square in St. John’s. The vibrant Listowel Arts scene is not losing this massive talent at all.

July is not a good time of year for farewell parties. Despite so many people being on holidays, a goodly crew turned out in The New Kingdom on Friday evening, July 26 2019 to give our darling girl a great send off.

The lighting wasn’t very good for photographs but here are a few that look half okay.

A final hug from Catherine Moylan, Chair of Listowel Writers’ Week for departing Festival Manager, Máire Logue.

David Browne had many kind words to say in praise of Máire

Eilish Wren and Normalla Moriarty

John McGrath

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In The Small Square

All of Listowel’s people seem to pass through the Small Square at some time during any given day. I met Damien Stack and Christy Walshe there one morning last week.

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Stylish Eilish Living up to her nickname

Eilish, looking gorgeous as always stepped outside her place of work for my photo.

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Hurricane Debbie


Vincent Doyle, formerly of Listowel, wrote;

Hi Mary,

               With your knowledge and connections of Listowel I wonder if you know anyone who remembers Hurricane Debbie that hit Ireland in 1961.I was working in Maloneys garage in Market St.when it hit Listowel ,I remember the back wall of the garage was blown down and slates flying off the roofs of the shops opposite. It was scary at the time as we never witnessed anything like that before.

                            Hope you can find someone with a better  memory than me as I was only 17 then.        I also want to thank you once again for your wonderful blog.

                         All my best wishes.        Vincent Doyle.

I decided to write to Kay Caball (formerly Moloney of Moloney’s garage ) to see if she could shed any light on this destructive weather event.

Kay replied;

Mary, I only vaguely remember it myself, looking out the window at it.  Didnt know anything about the garage but I would say Vincent Doyle is right.  It was Saturday 16th Sept 1961 and 16 people were killed (none in Kerry)  according to the Kerryman 23 Sept 1961.  See the snips from that Kerryman attached.  


Listowel History Festival, The Square, 3 Good Friends And Stylish Eilish prepares for Ladies’ Day 2018

Chris Grayson took this photo of a dipper dipping a toe in the river Maine in Castleisland.

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A Last few from The History Festival 2018

Here are just a few more photos I took at the commemoration ceremony to honour the war dead and veterans in Listowel Town Square in May 2018

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Photograph posted online by Patrick Godfrey

We should be able to date this photo because it is between the time when there was a wall and railings all round St. John’s and modern times when there is no wall.

Once upon a time mass going Catholics used to tie their horse and trap to the railings of St. John’s while they attended mass in St Mary’s.

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Sand Sculpture in Torremolinos

Julie Evans who is a loyal follower of this blog was fascinated by the recent sand art festival in Ballybunion. When she and her husband, Glyn, were on holiday in Spain they saw these marvellous sand sculptures. Beside the sculptures was a locked box chained to a railing for people to put a donation into.



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I’m Still Researching




Morning coffee and a chat in The Listowel Arms with these three friends as I research my walk around Listowel Town Square on June 2 2018. Jed Chute, Danny Hannon and Joe Murphy, thanks for all your help and the great stories.

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Stylish Eilish is Busy Preparing for Listowel June Bank Holiday Ladies’ Day




I met Eilish as she was racing around collecting prizes for her great Best Dressed Ladies event at the June Race Meeting in Listowel.

It promises to be a great day of style and craic and the prizes are amazing. Eilish has a great knack of mobilising everyone behind an event.

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