Tag: The Seanchaí Page 1 of 3

Presidential Visit to Kerry Writers’ Museum

The purpose of the president’s visit to Listowel last weekend was to celebrate Listowel’s great win in the Super Valu Tidy Towns’ Competition 2018. While he was in the area he fitted in a few other engagements as well. On Friday evening one of Listowel Tidy Town’s hardest working volunteers, Breda McGrath was out giving the place a last sweep up when she spotted Uachtarán na hEireann in his motorcade on his way to The Seanchaí.

There were gardaí everywhere. Here are three who assured me that they have a Listowel connection.

Rambling house musicians waiting to play for the president.

The greeting party at Kerry Writers’ Museum with their VIP guests, Eoin Moriarty, David Browne, Sabina and Michael D. Higgins and Madeleine O’Sullivan

I’ll have more photos from the presidential visit after my short break.

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Ballybunion, Main Street

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Cosmopolitan Ballybunion

Eating in Ballybunion can be a very interesting experience with cuisine from around the world offered in different establishments around town. Here are a few examples.

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Writers’ Week 2019

Tomorrow May 29 2019 is opening night. Here are a few photos from last year to whet your appetite. Here’s to a great week for those who love to write, those who love to read and those who love to photograph the people who write and read.

I’ll be busy Writers’ weeking for the next while. I’ll share all the photos later.

Craftfair, Aghadoe, Bothar, Christmas in Killarney and Ballybunion Radio Station

By Listowel Connection

On December 17, 2018

In Uncategorized

Seanchaí Craft Fair

Pat Murphy was in The Kerry Writers’ Centre on Sunday December 16 2018 with some lovely new stock.

Vincent Carmody was selling his unique new book of printed materials from 1870 to 1970.

This new hair device, Dreamy Curls, curls your locks without the aid of heat. It is invented, made and marketed in Listowel. I bought one for my granddaughters. I’ll let you know how it goes when they have road tested it.

Orla has had 2 craft fairs in a row so she had enlisted some young help with this one. Her confectionary was selling fast.

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Aghadoe, Killarney

The path to the viewing spot at Aghadoe

Remains of old tower in Aghadoe

Heavenly spot.

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Sheep May Safely Graze

When I saw this pastoral scene on may way back from Aghadoe I was reminded of the hymn;

Sheep may safely graze and pasture

Where a shepherd guards them well.

So the nation ruled in wisdom

Knows and shares the many blessings

Which both peace and plenty bring.

And then I spotted the sign on the next door fence.

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Christmas in Killarney

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Ballybunion Radio Station

(Photo and text from Liam O’Hainnín on Facebook)

Despite references in several publications, Ballybunion Station was not built by Marconi, and never operated commercially. The station was built by the Universal Radio Syndicate. Construction started in 1912, but the station had not obtained a commercial licence by the time World War 1 started. The company went into liquidation in 1915. A sister station at Newcastle New Brunswick, built to the same design as Ballybunion, suffered a similar fate. The Marconi Company bought the two stations from the liquidator in 1919, mainly to prevent their use by potential competitors. The stations were not idle in the interim, however, having been appropriated by the British Admiralty almost immediately upon outbreak of the Great War and kept in constant activity as key components of the allied communication system until the Armistice of November 1918.

The Marconi Company did not use the stations commercially, and it would appear that the Ballybunion station was only used briefly, in March 1919 for a successful telephony experiment with the Marconi station in Louisbourg, and for communication with the R34 airship in July 1919.

In March 1919, Marconi engineers H.J Round and W.T. Ditcham made the first east-west transatlantic broadcast of voice, using valve technology, from the Ballybunion station using the callsignYXQ. The first west to east voice transmission had already been achieved by Bell Systems engineers from the US Navy station at Arlington Virginia to the Eiffel Tower in October 1915.

The contents of Clifden and Ballybunion were sold for scrap to a Sheffield-based scrap merchant, Thos. W. Ward in 1925.

More from The Green Guide., Living Literature, Dublin Kerry Association

By Listowel Connection

On August 6, 2018

In Uncategorized

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More from the Little Green Guide of 1965

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Living Literature at The Seanchaí

This is Angeline, the actress, with Jerry, the John B. Keane fan before the start of our Living Literature Tour on Saturday July 21 2018

We were in The Seanchaí for a tour of the rooms dedicated to North Kerry Writers. If you get a chance to take this guided tour, I’d highly recommend it. Angeline, our guide, was full of enthusiasm for the work of the featured writers. She sang, played, recited and acted to bring to life the work of the various writers. She was brilliant and we all greatly enjoyed the tour.

In the room dedicated to Bryan MacMahon she told us the story, recounted in The Master, of Bryan getting a young mahout to bring a baby elephant to the school. This seems really extraordinary to today’s young people but a photo in the John Hannon archive shows a parade of elephants through the town to advertise the arrival of a circus.

Elephants on Market Street photographed by Johnny Hannon.

Paddy stepped up to the plate to play Byrne to Angeline’s Big Maggie in the excerpt from the John B. Keane Play.

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Dublin Kerry Association

I missed this one earlier in the summer when Fr. Anthony Gaughan was presented with an award and the Kerry gang in the capital came out in force

Fr. Gaughan with Miriam O’Callaghan and Keelin Kissane

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Seán Keane in Finuge

The highlight of the Seán Maccarthy Memorial Weekend was Seán Keane in concert Neil Brosnan was there and he met Brendan Kennelly with his sister and niece.

Photo; Neil Brosnan

This photo and caption are also from Neil Brosnan on Facebook.

Sean McCarthy ballad competition sponsors, Mike and Sue Nilsson, with prizewinners: Joe Harrington, 1st, Caroline O’Callaghan, 2nd, and myself in 3rd place

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Yesterday, August 5 2018 in Listowel

Macra na Feirme 1968, a new Social Service at Listowel FRC and Full Museum Status for The Seanchaí

By Listowel Connection

On July 17, 2018

In Uncategorized

Littor earlier in summer 2018 photographed by Elizabeth Brosnan

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Macra Dance 1968

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A New Service at Listowel Family resource Centre

This new service is for anyone who is feeling lonely. It will help everyone but most especially people who might feel a bit at a loose end and in need of company.

This service is called “social prescribing” and the social prescriber will help put you in touch with local groups and activities that will help you integrate into the community.

Your GP might refer you for this programme or you can refer yourself. Just call the Listowel FRC 06823584 and ask for MayEllen or drop her an email maryellenfrc@gmail.com

Mary Ellen will organise a chat with you and if you need company going to one of her recommended activities she will come with you and support you every step of the way.

Some of the groups you might like to join are

Man’s Shed

Park Run

Active Retirement

Tidy Towns

Knitting group

etc.etc.

Mary Ellen has set up a new walking group which meets on Mondays at 7.00 p.m. at the Convent Primary School. That’s a good place to start, some gentle exercise and chat and absolutely no pressure.

If you are feeling a bit lonely or stressed just now this service might be just the thing for you. If you know someone who could benefit from a chat with Mary Ellen do encourage them to make the call. She is lovely, really approachable and understanding. I felt better for talking to her.

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Sunset in Ballybunion: Summer 2018

It’s just like the good old days with crowds on the strand at 10.30 p.m.

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Finding Shelter

Dogs are good at finding a shady spot. A man who appeared to know told me that fish are good at finding shade too. The fish in the Feale will be sitting out the drought in deep holes.

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Exciting Times at The Seanchaí

Cara Trant and members of the board of The Seanchaí travelled to Kilkenny recently to receive the award of full museum status for Listowel’s Writers’ Centre which is going from strength to strength.

This week is a big week in The Seanchaí with the festival to celebrate what would have been the 90th birthday of John B. Keane.

Here is the programme;

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Say (Swiss) Cheese!

Holidaying in Listowel with her dad, Cliff Gore, is Helen Mitchell and her family. I met them on Courthouse Road just after they arrived.

Images of Listowel and Maidhc Dainín ÓSé remembered

By Listowel Connection

On October 23, 2017

In Uncategorized

A Listowel Sign

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Brendan Kennelly’s verse in Listowel Town Square

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Our Fish Shop

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Charles Street

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Maidhc Dainín ÓSé R.I.P.; the Listowel Connection

Maidhc Dainín ÓSé was the father of Daithí ÓSé. Ever before Daithí found fame, Maidhc Dainín was a well known author of several books in the Irish language. He was also an accomplished musician.

Maidhc’s day job was as a lorry driver for Kerry Ingredients in Listowel.

Maidhc was tickled pink when his autobiography, A Thig ná Tit Orm (Oh house, don’t fall on me) was chosen as a text for the Leaving Cert. Every year during a period in around the turn of the millennium Maidhc used to come to The Seanchaí during Seachtain na Gaeilge to read from his book and to play for the students.

I hope I have uploaded the little clip properly. Maidhc was describing the deal he made with the director of the Cúrsa Samhraidh. He would play for the small weekday ceilí in exchange for free admission to the Ceilí Mór. Money was scarce and the céilithe móra were where the girls were so he was anxious to try his luck there.

Maidhc was a breath of fresh air after Peig. He told his story with humour and much self deprecation. My pupils loved him.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

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Micheál Flavin R.I.P.

(Photo shared by Noreen Keane Brennan on Facebook)

Micheál lived in Church Street, Listowel. He was Bryan MacMahon’s friend and preferred bookseller. His shop is still in the Flavin family. Long may it continue to trade in his memory.

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Storm Damage in The National Park, Killarney

Kathleen Griffin braved it to work during Hurricane Ophelia. She took these photographs in Muckross on the day after, October 17 1017

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: The Seanchaí Page 1 of 3

President Michael D. O hUigínn in town, Ballybunion Dining, Writers’ Week 2018

Craftfair, Aghadoe, Bothar, Christmas in Killarney and Ballybunion Radio Station

More from The Green Guide., Living Literature, Dublin Kerry Association

Images of Listowel and Maidhc Dainín ÓSé remembered