Tag: The Field

Something Old, Something New

By listowelconnection

On December 5, 2022

In Listowel

Christmas Lights at Coco and The Arcade 2022

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Cyril Kelly Remembers John B. Keane’s The Field

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Celebrating 100 years of Policing

Nov 30 2022

The scene of the action was the Garda Station.

This lovely doggie was taking a day off from searching and rescuing.

Some well known local faces in the crowd

Tony and Mary Frances watching history being made

Jim, Colette and Liz on Church Street

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The Little Cheese Shop

This unusual little shop was where I lunched recently. I was at the consultant in The Kerry Clinic at the Bon Secours Hospital. I had not been in this part of town for years and I was looking forward to a lunch in the lovely Bons Café. Alas the café is no more. Well, it is still there but now it’s for staff only.

Nothing for it but to leg it to town. This was the first eatery I met. As you can see from my picture its by The Island of Geese just down the road from the hospital.

If you are dairy intolerant, don’t be put off by the name. You can have a lovely lunch without a hint of milk, cheese, yoghurt or other dairy produce.

I dined upstairs and I was fascinated by this “side hustle”, coats made from woolen blankets.

The dairy theme was echoed in the improvised furniture. The router sat on an old butter churn.

If you are in Tralee, give it a go. They are very nice.

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`Today’s Christmassy piece

A Listowel Christmas card with artwork by Michael O’Connor and verse by Bryan MacMahon.

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Glin Tragedy, A Poster of The Field, Dunlop Cup winning team 1970 and Behan’s Restaurant

By Listowel Connection

On May 25, 2020

In Uncategorized

Blennerville, May 2020

Photo: Liam Enright on This is Kerry

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Another case of death by smothering from the Limerick Chronicle 18th January 1917. Tom Donovan

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Newspaper Cutting Connecting my Two Homes

This newspaper cutting from 1991 appeared recently on the Facebook page of a closed group to which I belong.

Fr. Padraig Walshe, a priest of the Kerry diocese, was part of a fundraising effort for Romania. He secured a huge poster of the film of John B.’s The Field. He got John B. to sign it, had it framed and put it up for auction where it was bought by Geraldine O’Toole for £500.

Sadly, Geraldine passed away at a young age. May she rest in peace.

I wonder where the poster is now.

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St. Michael’s; Dunloe Cup Winners 1970

Photo; Neil Brosnan, text Kieran Fitzgerald

This is the Dunloe Cup Winning Team from 1970 . This was a hard fought but satisfying success as , though underdogs , we beat the big two, among others, en- route . I think we beat Tralee C.B.S. in the semi-final and we certainly beat the Sem in the final . I can recall is that we were 4/5 points down with about 15 minutes to go and won by 7/8 .

If memory serves me correctly , Canon Linnane was multi-tasking on final day . He was team manager for the Sem and then , immediately after the final whistle , presented the Cup to myself ( in his official role as Chairman of the Kerry Colleges Committee) .

The panel was :

Front ( Left to Right ) : Brian Hilliard , Danny Lyons , Pat O’Flaherty , Neilus Brosnan

Seated ( Left to Right ) : David Kissane , Pat Quilter , Gerard Leahy , Kieran Fitzgerald , Maurice Sheehy , Pat Stack , John Houlihan

Standing ( Left to Right): Jerry Kiernan , Tommy O’Flaherty , Eamon O’Carroll , Tom Stack , Vincent Donegan , Tom Lyons ( R.I.P. ) , P J Browne ( R.I.P.)

Tim Kennelly ( R.I.P.) wasn’t available for the photo .

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Martin Chute has painted another lovely mural

Proprietor, Jerry Behan, tells me that he is going to have the front painted in the same colour.

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First Holy Communion Day 2020

My granddaughter, Cora is a pupil of Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin in Ballincollig. Saturday May 23 2020 was First Holy Communion Day.

Since they were not to have their big day, their teacher sent each of the communicants a card and each teacher made a little video for the class and shared a photograph of themselves on their First Communion Day.

The card is so lovely that I’m sharing it with you .

WW1 Dead Remembered, Pride of Place, Kerry Crusaders, a Listowel born veteran and The Field in St. Johns

By Listowel Connection

On November 16, 2015

In Uncategorized

Nothing about War is Glorious

Yesterday, in the aftermath of Friday November 13th’s atrocities in Paris, was a good day to remind ourselves of all that was has taken from North Kerry by war. The good people atListowel Military Tattoo organized a moving ceremony to commemorate all the local soldiers who had lost their lives in WW1 and also to remember all those who had lost their lives in any conflict. We remembered too the civilians who died because they were caught up in conflict.

The flag at the memorial stone flew at half mast.

Inside St. John’s the stage and auditorium were decorated with the flags of many nations. The ceremony was a non denominational religious one. We prayed and observed silence for all those idealistic people who had given their lives for a cause they believed in.

This young lady read the poem, In Flanders Fields, in memory of her ancestor who died in WW1 and whose remains were only recovered in 2002.

Then a procession of people read the names of people from their locality who had died. Some of the young people struggled with names like Gallipoli, Salonica, Ypres and The Somme.

These theatres of war were once household names.

The names of the dead were the familiar names of our neighbours and fellow townsfolk.

Jimmy Deenihan reminded us that war is not too far away in today’s world.

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Pride of Place 2015

We didn’t win. Castlemartyr did. But there was a small consolation in an award which went Kerry’s way.

It went to to Kerry Traveller Health and Community Development Project.

Listowel people take great pride in their own place. We don’t need an award to tell the world that.

A huge vote of thanks is due toListowel Tidy Towns and everyone who put in such a massive effort to win us this accolade.

Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach.

Photo from Listowel Tidy Towns shows the Listowel contingent at the awards ceremony in Ennis on Saturday.

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Kerry Crusaders Big Day, Saturday November 14 2015

These are some of the dry Crusaders who were helping with the registration on Saturday. Months of hard work went into the organization of Kerry Crusaders first competitive run in Listowel. Despite the truly dreadful weather the event was a huge success.

You will find all the details and some more photos on their Facebook page (link above).

Vincent Carmody was one of the many participants in the 10k walk on Saturday.

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Another treasured photo from Paul Murphy

Bill Kearney at the mike.

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Listowel born U.S. Army veteran

This is Jimmy O’Connor, who was born in Tannavalla, Listowel in 1935. Jimmy served in the US army . On his return home from Chicago he married Eileen from Greenville.

Jimmy’s son, Brian sent me the photo.

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The Field in St. John’s

St. John’s was full to the rafters every night last week. Such was the demand for tickets that they had to put on an extra performance of John B.’s powerful and disturbing play.

Nora Relihan and Joe Murphy serving refreshments at the interval, in St. John’s on Thursday November 12 2015.

Maria Stack, Milliner, Athea Mural and The Field in St. John’s

By Listowel Connection

On November 10, 2015

In Uncategorized

Mike Enright captured this breathtaking sunset in Ballybunion last week.

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Maria Stack in Melbourne

On the left of this picture is our very own Maria Stack of Listowel. You will remember her from Ladies Day and Recycle Upcycle Day at Listowel Races. She is also the daughter of the very talented and very stylish, Betty.

Maria is a milliner. She has converted what was a hobby into a business. I think you will agree her hat for The Melbourne Cup is an unusual and inspired creation and the perfect crowning glory for her beautiful dress. Maria was one of 100 milliners worldwide to be invited to take part in this prestigious millinery event. On the right of the photo is her model, Pearl, wearing Maria’s entry for the competition.

I think you will agree that Maria did us proud and her handiwork is up there with the best.

Her Facebook page with all the news of her trip is here Maria Stack Millinery

It wasn’t all glamour and sunshine in Australia. Maria had to improvise a rain outfit for the unexpected showers.

How about this idea at Listowel Races Ladies’ Day?

These guys were kind of roaming Rose of Tralee escort types.

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Update on Athea Mural

Anyone visiting me has to accompany me on a trip to Athea. My 2 lovely grandsons had the usual outing during their Halloween break.

First stop was Jim Dunn’s mural to view progress. I experimented a bit with colour, trying sepias and black and white. I think you will agree the old world charm of this scene lends itself to an old world medium.

Aren’t these 2 little observers beautifully captured.

The detail in this cameo never ceases to enthrall me.

Ah, perfection!

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The Field; 50th Anniversary Production

Don’t miss it! A really strong cast of local thespians has been assembled for this one. Who better to play John B.’s characters than his own people. The photos are Frances Kennedy’s.

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What a photo!

Dillon Boyer of Listowel took a super picture of a storm in Dingle and it was printed in last Saturday’s Examiner.

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Funeral of Leo Griffin

Photo: Tralee Today

Listowel Military Tattoo, Turf and The Field at the Gaiety

By Listowel Connection

On May 1, 2015

In Uncategorized

Listowel Military Tattoo 2015

It’s here; the longed for weekend is upon us.

The flags are out.

The traffic management plan is in place.

The bunting is strung.

The shop windows are decorated.

Bring it on!

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Here are a few photos from previous years to whet your appetite. I hope to have lots of photos from this year’s event next week.

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Turf to the Rescue

Another TDB poster from 1943, the push was really on to deal with the fuel shortage. At Mass, people were encouraged to cut turf by the local priests. County Councils, the Army, the TDB, all were involved in cutting as much turf as possible.

(source: Bord na Mona Heartland)

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OConnell’s Avenue last week

Beasley’s light engineering works

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These Ballybunion Beach shops are set to get a facelift

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Kerry Association in Dublin at the opening of The Field

Our own Keelin Kissane and friends from the Kerry Association met someone famous when they went to The Gaiety for the opening night of John B. Keane’s The Field.

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Listowel Emmetts Rising Stars

Conor Cox and Jack McGuire of Listowel were honored recently for their exploits on the football playing field with UCC.