Main Street, Listowel in April 2025
<<<<<<<<<<
Mill Lane Variety Store will be missed
It is really difficult for small local stores to hold out against the big giants, especially when the giant moves in next door.
Small local businesses like Mill Lane are invested in the community. It’s little things like these that make the difference. Santa will be missed too.
<<<<<<<<<<
Kerdiffstown Park
Outside Naas in Co. Kildare is one of the best playgrounds in Ireland. The playground is located on the site of an old landfill. It is just one part of a large public amenity with walks and pitches.
This is nearby Palmerstown house. The estate and studfarm have an interesting history.
As well as the modern colourful Playground equipment there is a park with rudimentary unpainted wooden play equipment.
Disabled children are also catered for.
Situated across the park is a series of 18 carved stones that tell a story of the local landscape and mythology – The Stones of the Hollow Hill. The carvings on the stones tell a story that draws on Irish mythology, the folklore of the surrounding landscape and the recent history of Kerdiffstown landfill.
The tale involves two heroic figures named Brigid and Fionn who set out on an epic quest to recover a stolen fire. The character of Brigid references traditions connected to both Brigid the goddess of pre-Christian Ireland and Saint Brigid. The character of Fionn draws on the stories of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the great warrior of Irish mythology who is said to have lived nearby on the Hill of Allen. ( Kildare Co. Council website)
Kerdiffstown Park is located in Naas, Co. Kildare. Following a 2.5-year construction programme (2020 – 2023), this exciting project remediated the former Kerdiffstown Landfill into a 30 – hectare multi-use public park. (Kildare County Council website)
Well worth a visit if you are there or thereabouts.
<<<<<<<
Well Deserved Recognition for Local Lady
Listowel native Anna Guerin has been named Creative Businesswoman of the Year at the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2025 for her unique tweed coat business The Landskein.
This is some of what Kerry’s Eye had to say about her.
<<<<<<<
Important New Initiative
Teach Siamsa Finuge will host a new series of monthly adult classes in traditional music, song and dance.
The upcoming ‘North Kerry Voices’ classes will focus on preserving on the folk traditions that have defined the Finuge area, such as the distinctive Molyneaux style of North Kerry dance, the dance music tradition of the region and the song legacy of Sean McCarthy.
The classes will be led by a team of talented and passionate tradition bearers.
Dance classes will be taught by renowned North Kerry dancers Jonathan Kelliher and Joanne Barry and instrumental music will be led by Sean Abeyta, master fiddler and archivist at Teach Siamsa.
Song lessons will be instructed by Donal Tydings and Peggy Sweeney, both exponents of the North Kerry singing tradition.
The classes will focus on sharing tunes, songs and steps in a relaxed and supportive environment and will be suitable for anyone who’s been meaning to return to an instrument, try Irish dancing for the first time, or simply connect with others through the arts.
(Jack Joy in Kerry’s Eye)
<<<<<<<<
A Fact
Las Vegas has 17 of the 20 largest hotels in the U.S.
<<<<<<<
