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: Teampall Bán

Kimberley Mikado and Coconut Cream and a chapel at Teampall Bán

Sunset through a celtic cross; Photo Mike Enright

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Someone You Love will Love Some


This story starts here.

This is a new  business on the corner of Church Street and The Square. I photographed it during Listowel Races 2018 when it opened and I posted the photo on this blog. 

I often take a few photos from the day’s blogpost and post them on Facebook with an invitation to read the full story on Listowel Connection.

I know, because they’ve told me, that many people who read my blog regularly are not on Facebook. Let me tell you, if you are one of these non Facebook people, what happened with this photo.

It started with Liam Murphy (U.S. and Lyreacrompane). Liam/Bill used to live in the flat over this shop many moons ago.

Marguerite Wixted remembered the trips to the shop when it was Leahy’s and she remembered especially acts of generosity.

Then Liz Chute and Frankie Chute Phillips went on a ramble down memory lane remembering the biscuits they loved in their Listowel childhood. 

Eventually Marie Nelligan Shaw called a halt to the chat as everyone was getting hungry.

Here is a flavour of the reminiscence;

 In the early 60’s I roomed at the corner house, second floor overlooking the square. While working on a project with Fitzpatrick Contractor , laying underground cable in the town .

God be with the days I used to get a free packet of Rolos from Mrs. Leahy 

Is it still called Leahy’s corner?

 A nice Italian restaurant was there a few years ago.

Many colours, food rated as good. Hope he is successful. We don’t want another derelict building.

When we went home one time, it was a Indian restaurant.

 My mum would give me two pennies and I would go buy two Coconut Creams biscuits ( big fluffy biscuits ) from Bridie . There were pink ones and cream ones lol

i remember going into a shop and asking for a pack of Mickie DO wondered why every one was laughing

Sounds delicious. She used to give me free Rolos & then we’d go up to Amadie Crowley & I’d get more free sweets. Bless

the Mikados were the jam down the center. I can only get Bolands here. Not as good as Jacobs. The puffy ones were coconut creams. It was marshmallow covered with coconut. Wouldn’t mind a few now!!!



So, just for you girls, here is the full selection and you can hear the advertising song here;

Kimberley Mikado and Coconut Cream song

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Remembering our Famine Dead





Teampall Bán is a burial ground on the Ballybunion Road near Listowel Town where thousands of North Kerry’s famine dead were buried. It has been beautifully restored and maintained by Listowel Tidy Town Committee. John Pierse of the Tidy Town Committee wrote the definitive book on the graveyard and its part in North Kerry’s Famine story. I took these photos in the little chapel on the grounds. The chapel is full of pictures and religious items like those I remember from my childhood.

This depiction of Our Lady is new to me. Our Lady of Limerick. It’s a very strange picture with children at her feet where we used to see snakes. I went in search of the story and here it is from the Irish Dominicans website.

Our Lady of Limerick

The statue of Our Lady of Limerick first came to that city in 1640 as a gift from Patrick Sarsfield and his wife Eleanor. Patrick had purchased the statue on the continent and gifted the statue in reparation for the martyrdom of Sir John Burke of Brittas, Captain of Clanwilliam.  It was Patrick’s uncle, Judge Dominic Sarsfield, who had sentence Sir John to death. Sir John was a member of the Rosary Confraternity connected with the Dominicans of Limerick City. He loved the Order and promoted the Rosary in his family and locality. Each year he invited the Dominicans to celebrate Mass in his ancestral home, Brittas Castle and for having the Holy Mass celebrated in secret, he was condemned to death and his estate confiscated in the Act of Settlement in 1653.

Patrick Sarsfield donated the Statue and a silver chalice dated 1640 to the friars of Limerick and he inscribed it with his wife’s name and his own in reparation for the sin of his Uncle, Judge Dominic Sarsfield. They were presented to Fr. Terence Albert of Brian, O.P. who would later become Bishop of Emly and die for the faith in the city of Limerick on October 30th 1651.

During the siege of Limerick in 1651, the statue of the Virgin was removed and according to tradition was buried alongside the remains of the Martyred Bishop O’Brien.

In 1780 when the days of persecution had passed the Dominicans built a small chapel in Fish Lane to replace an earlier church destroyed by anti-Catholic forces. The statue was recovered from its earthly grave and given a place of honour alongside the main altar. When the Dominicans opened St Saviour’s Church in Perry Square in 1816 the statue was brought in procession and enthroned on its own altar surrounded by images of the Dominican saints. In 1954 the Virgin and Child were crowned with a tiara of gold, pearls and diamonds all donated by the women of Limerick, with the result that rich and poor alike had some share in the graces that flow from the treasury of Our Lady of Limerick. The statue of Our Lady of Limerick is almost life-size. On her arm rests the Infant Jesus; while a long silver rosary, with an ancient tubular cross, stretches from the right hand. Our Lady of the Rosary of Limerick, a gift in reparation for the sins of man, watches over her beloved city and its people to this very day. A Mother’s love never ends, and we pray her intercession over God’s children in this modern and changing world.


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Ballybunion to Ourselves



The visitors have gone and the beach is ours again.

Listowel Tidy Towns win, Super Valu, Teampall Bán, a Tidy Town project

Our Heroes


The jubilant Listowel Tidy Town Committee pose with their trophies after their well deserved success.

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A Poem of Tribute by local poet, Mary McElligott


LISTOWEL

Thank you all in ‘Tidy Towns’,

For doing this for us,

Working early or late at night,

Ye did it without fuss.

We all reaped the benefits,

‘She’s a Beauty to behold’,

‘Love Listowel’, it’s easy,

As ye won for her a Gold.

Thank you for your determination,

For the long hours ye all put in, 

For being passionate about yer home town,

With a belief that ye could win.

Writers’ week and the races,

Put Listowel on the map,

And now ‘IRELANDS MOST BEAUTIFUL TOWN’,

Yet another accolade in her cap.

Be proud of yer achievement,

It will be enjoyed by young and old

Come visit us down here in Listowel,

And walk on our streets of Gold.

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Tributes from the diaspora



Since Listowel’s big win in the Tidy Town competition I have been posting photographs of the town looking splendid.  Here are a small few of the email messages I received.



Congratulations to lovely Listowel on winning the All-Ireland Tidy Town.  The good news must put some spring in the step of the John B. statue, and everyone else.



Is’nt it fantastic, so proud of that bunch.


Mary thank you sincerely for such photographic detail of our beautiful Listowel. Now through you, we and our diaspora know how blessed we are to live in Listowel and we are so grateful to you for “ broadcasting”  this globally, as you have a world-wide readership. 

Well done listowel tidy towns winner well deserved. I am so proud of you all and the town!

Thanks for the tour of Lovely Listowel 

My thanks and congratulations to everyone associated with the Tidy Towns Overall and Small Town Awards!

The Tidy Towns win is a timely milestone to say thanks to you also Mary for your great work for Listowel.

You have a great eye for a photo too.

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Garveys Super Valu and Trant’s Pharmacy Convent Street




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Teampall Bán, Listowel’s Famine graveyard



As I walked on the Ballybunion road I passed the entrance to the Sive Walk on my left.


On my right was the old Lartigue bridge

The Tidy Town sign will need to be updated.




This is the entrance to Teampall Bán.

This little statue on the pillar looks like the last supper.



The Stations of the Cross are in a circle around the chapel. The burial ground is a well kept lawn. It’s a lovely peaceful prayerful place.

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Breast Cancer Flag Day



I saw these photos on the Cancer Society’s Facebook page. Local ladies were out in force on Friday October 5 2018 selling pink badges and ribbons.

Listowel Military Tattoo 2015 and the launch of Teampall Bán, the book

Date for the Diary



Listowel Military Tattoo 2015. First schedule for 2015 unveiled.

May bank holiday weekend. Friday May 1st to Monday May 4th.

The story so far!

Friday May 1st:

‘military forces’ move in and occupy listowel.
Author and BBC military historian James Holland arrives as our special guest for the weekend.
Military vehicle owners and groups roll into town.


Saturday May 2nd:


Living history park
Military reenactors and airsoft groups displays.
Military vehicle displays
Garda Siochana displays
WWII battle reenactments
‘military patrols and checkpoints’
Wreath laying ceremony with various veteran associations, foreign embassies and dignitaries.
Armed forces representatives.
Flypasts
Military historian James Holland will give a talk on the D-DAY landings
Evening entertainment in town square- details to be announced soon.


Sunday May 3rd:


Living history park with military camp, vehicles, reenactment and airsoft groups. Militaria stalls and displays.
WWII battle reenactments
‘military patrols and checkpoints’
Street entertainment
Military history lectures to be finalised
Sunday night in the listowel Arms Hotel:
1940s hangar dance with the fabulous BombShell Belles and ‘frank Sinatra’ all patrons attend in full military uniform or vintage civilian dress, optional but preferred.


Monday May 4th:


Military forces withdraw from listowel and normal life returns!

ITS GOING TO BE A TRULY AWESOME SPECTACLE!!!

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Here are a few photos I took last year just to get you in the mood;

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Fundraising in gratitude






This is Brenda Doody. Many Listowel people will remember her from when she ran a beautician’s in Church Street or will have attended one of her boot camps.

Benda plans to run 12 marathons in 8 months. She is doing this to fundraise for a charity close to her heart. Mercy Hospital, Cork

Brenda’s husband, Pat , had oesophageal  cancer. He was treated in the Mercy Hospital, Cork. After a regime of surgery, chemotherapy and radium therapy, the Doodys feel that they are coming out the other end of a dark tunnel.

Brenda wants to give something back. You can contribute to her fund HERE

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Teampall Bán Book Launch

I missed the launch by Listowel Tidy Town Committee of John Pierce’s eagerly awaited book on the Famine in North Kerry. The book is a huge contribution to the history of this era in this part of the world.

I scrounged a few photos to share with you.

Historians, John Pierse and Paddy Waldron

John is giving the proceeds of his book to the local Tidy Town Committee. Here he is with some of his fellow volunteers on the night of the launch.

Kieran Moloney, John Pierse and Hiram Wood

A section of the large audience in St. John’s

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Changed




The top of Patrick’s Street in 2010 and last week

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15 minute set down



Jimmy Moloney’s proposal of one free one hour parking in Listowel was shot down but we are being given 15 minutes free set down time. Small victory.

The Famine in North Kerry: Writers’ Week 2013

Listowel and The Famine

One of the marvellous aspects of Writers’ Week is the variety of activities on offer. Friday May 31 2013 was our day for learning all about the Famine in Listowel. Below is a photo of some of the crowd gathered at the Listowel Arms to take part in a walk led by John Pierse, Michael Guerin and Kay Caball. This walk was to take us to places of interest connected with the Great Famine. We were lucky to be in the company of three “experts” in various aspects of Listowel in Famine times.

I’ll share with you a few of the more shocking facts I learned.

  • In the worst week of famine times, 66 people died in the workhouse in Listowel.  Many more died on the roadside, in their houses or in the fields.
  • The workhouse was so overcrowded that every shed and outhouse was pressed into service as an auxiliary workhouse and many more of these auxiliary workhouses were set up in the locality.
  • The people were starving, yet the river Feale was teeming with fish.
  • 3,000 people are buried in Teampall Bán graveyard. We know the names of only 3.
  • There is another Famine Graveyard at Gale.
  • The 4 Presentation Sisters did extraordinary good work sheltering, feeding and clothing the starving. Their role is often ignored by historians.
  • The present hospital chapel was part of the dining area of the workhouse.
  • Prostitutes and their children were segregated from other women and children in the workhouse.
  • The Famine lasted longer in North Kerry than it did elsewhere. It went on into 1850 and 1851.

Michael Guerin
walkers approaching the Presentation Convent
Kay Caball
in the grounds of the old workhouse

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Later on Friday May 31 2013 we continued with our Famine education with a seminar in The Plaza. If we had local experts in the morning, we now had local, national and international experts in an excellent forum, ably chaired by Mike Lynch.

Left to Right: Thomas Keneally, Kay Caball, William Smyth, Mike Murphy and Mike Lynch

The Moloney family out in force to hear one of their own do us all proud as she took her place among Famine scholars.

Between 1845 and 1852 over one million Irish people died. At least 250,000 fled the country. The authors of the Atlas of the Great Irish Famine have done us all a great service in making this truly awful episode in our history more real for us. Their maps have gone some way toward explaining why so many people died and toward explaining what determined if you would die, leave or survive.

We, the descendants of Famine survivors owe it to our brethren to remember them.

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Here are some of the people who slaved away behind the scenes at Writers’ Week .

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This is Edmond Harty of Dairymaster. This weekend he is in Monte Carlo in contention with 49  others for the title International Entrepreneur of the Year.

Go néirí an t-adh leis.

John Hinde’s Ireland, genealogy and Teampall Bán and Boston

I love donkeys. This John Hinde one is a lovely specimen, young and energetic yet placid enough to be handled by children. This postcard photo has been in the news recently since the death of Paddy Lydon, who was photographed as a young boy with his sister, Mary, bringing home turf in Connemara. I have heard words like romantic and even idyllic used to describe the image.

I know better. There was nothing romantic about tramping through boggy ground, stooping and rising to fill two creels with turf and then coax a stubborn ass to plod his way back to the cottage. Once Paddy and Mary had unloaded the turf, they would set off straight away for another load.

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This is one for all you amateur genealogists

Judy
Walkman, a professional genealogy researcher in southern California , was doing
some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that Senator Harry
Reid’s great-great uncle, Remus Reid, was hanged for horse stealing and train
robbery in Montana in 1889. Both Judy and Harry Reid share this common
ancestor.

The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows
in Montana territory. 

On the back
of the picture Judy obtained during her research is this inscription: ‘Remus
Reid, horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887,
robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted
and hanged in 1889.’ 



So Judy recently e-mailed Senator Harry Reid for
information about their great-great uncle. 

Believe it or not, Harry
Reid’s staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy
research:

 

Remus Reid was a famous cowboy in the Montana
Territory . His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable
equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in
1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally
taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key
player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency.
In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his
honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.”


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Teampall Bán

About a half kilometer from town is a famine burial ground called An Teampall Bán.

Day one of the Tar Abhaile adventure was Sunday April 7 2013. I had arranged to meet the Red Pepper crew at Teampall Bán to do a recce for filming the next day. This was as near to the workhouse as we could get since there is nothing of that old building left.

The ever so hard working and obliging Mary Hanlon of the Tidy Town Committee prepared the place for our visit and it was a credit to her and the other volunteers.

The Red Pepper advance troops, Martain, Michelle, Áine and Tom  chat to Mary and Joe Hanlon.

Tom checked out the oratory. It looks beautiful.

John Pierse brought a pot of paint and a brush and Martain, who was an artist in a previous life, put the finishing touches to an inscription.

Some curious cows in the neighbouring field kept watch over it all.

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The Irish Times glowing review of Pilgrim Hill

A myth still permeates that Irish
cinema is a little too concerned with the rural and the miserable. Quite the
opposite is now the case. We don’t see nearly enough about disenfranchised
agricultural communities on our screens.

The extraordinary debut feature
from youngGerard Barrett, a determined Kerryman, sets the record straight in stirring
style. Shot in unhurried, cautious fashion – making occasional gestures to the
mock documentary genre – Pilgrim Hill offers a quietly devastating
portrait of Jimmy Walsh (Joe Mullins), a bachelor farmer eking out his life in
a lonely farm on a windy outcrop. He spends his days taking care of the cattle
and tending to the needs of his ailing, unseen father. At night, he allows
himself the occasional pint at a distant pub.

There are shades of the great
French documentary Modern Life, a study of farmers in the Cévennes, in
the sequences where Jimmy talks directly to the camera. But the film gets at a
very Irish class of misery: the wretchedness of being stranded with the
previous generation while one’s contemporaries surge into the modern world.

None of this sociological
observation would matter if Pilgrim Hill lacked cinematic juice. As it
happens, Ian D Murphy’s cinematography has a limpidity that soaks up the damp
landscapes to beautiful and mournful effect.

Barrett choreographs the slow march
towards an expected catastrophe with rhythms that are positively Russian in
their leisurely grace. The decision to hold back on non-diegetic music until
the final searing denouement speaks of an impressive degree of maturity (and restraint)
from a young film-maker.

Barrett is also to be congratulated
for drawing such a disciplined performance from his lead. A farmer and
occasional amateur actor, Mullins has a steadiness and commitment that cannot
be easily faked. But it takes real talent to make effective use of such
authenticity. The moment where Jimmy speculates about dying and meeting the
“person he could have been” fairly takes the breath away.

Don’t let Pilgrim Hill pass
you by.

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Yesterday was confirmation day in town.

The confirmandi had done a great job in decorating the church. I’ll bring you the fruits of their hard work over the next few days.



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One of the many iconic images emerging from Boston overnight.

Listowel Connection has many friends and followers in the Boston area. Our sympathies are with them and with everyone affected by the awful tragedy.

In an example of the triumph of hope over experience, the London marathon will go ahead on Sunday.

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