Listowel Connection

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: Tony O’Callaghan

Christmas 2024 Remembered

By

On January 15, 2025

In Personal, Poem

Chris Grayson in Killarney on January 7 2025

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Molly’s Visit

I had the pleasure of Molly’s company for a few days before Christmas.

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In Ballincollig

Nothing beats a family Christmas. I spent it in 2024 with my family in Ballincollig.

Church of St. Mary and St. John

Nice touch from the 220 bus

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A Postbox Story

Chris Courtney on Facebook

P & T POST BOX

‘SE’ Saorstat Eireann (Irish Free State) post box in County Monaghan. Cast at the Jessop Davis foundry Enniscorthy sometime between 1922 and 1937. (Source: Irish Archeology). Photos also include Thomas Jessop Davis born 1864, died 1946, founder of St. John’s Ironworks and Foundry which was located in Enniscorthy, County Wexford. Wall tie plates, Manhole covers, Agricultural machinery components, ESB and P and T items testify to some of the many contracts he undertook at the Enniscorthy plant.

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Acts of Neighbourliness

The internet was alive with amazing stories of helpfulness during the recent cold snap.

Beatrice shovelling snow on Charles Street

Pat rescuing a stranded motorist

Eddie cleared my path so that I could safely go to his house for Sunday lunch.

This is a milk delivery to Centra in Dromcollogher. The internet was awash with images of good samaritans delivering milk, drinking water, vital medicines, food, post and other essentials to stranded neighbours, friends and strangers.

Bridie Murphy’s picture of her husband heading out to help a neighbour almost broke the internet and rightly so. This picture of early January 2025 in Co. Limerick says more than 1,000 words.

In the midst of it all Mattie Lennon found a laugh.

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Carmel Hanrahan’s Memories of Growing up in Listowel

Before you read today’s instalment, I have to give you an update.

Muireann O’Sullivan remembers the milkman. Here is Muireann’s comment

I think Carmel’s man on a bike delivering milk:cream was Martin Daly RIP late of Market Street ( the house now lived in by Máiréad Carroll). He certainly delivered to Charles St. on his bike. The late Tom Scannell, Skehenerin, took over the milk round when Martin retired. Our milk was now delivered in glass bottles with silver foil tops. The delivery was made extraordinarily early and, when we collected it from the window sill or doorstep, the cream would have risen to and settled on top – ready to pour on our porridge. 

If you have commented in the past, you will probably have noticed that comments no longer appear. I have no idea why. I will try to fix it. Meanwhile dont stop commenting. I can see and approve them even if I can’t upload them to the blog.

Carmel’s Story continued

… Tony O’Callaghan lived at the end of the road and I remember some of his brass works from the house especially a beautiful piece at the fireplace.  Working up the road, there were the Landers, then the Jones, Mai Watkins – sister to Aggie Nolan who filled in as surrogate mother to my sister and myself, a wonderful person and I can’t do her justice here, O’Donnell’s, Crowley’s, Us, Givens, Molyneaux’s, Nurse McMahon, Fitzmaurice’s, Moore’s, and a little further up O’Sullivan’s. (I hope I have the order right).

The Givens lived next door.  I can still remember our first morning in the new house when Seamus called to my dad through the fence enquiring if we were coming out to play.  Seamus, John and Peter were the sons of the house.  Pat had been to America which seemed a very exotic and exciting thing to us at the time.  Lisha and Pat drank coffee every day after lunch (my first introduction to that magic concoction) and I used to be given a cup also, made on milk and a spoonful from a little tin of Maxwell House powdered coffee.  Thus started my lifelong passion (some would say obsession) for anything coffee.  

Paudie and Sadie Fitzmaurice lived further up the road.  On Sundays, dad gave Sadie a lift to 12 o’clock Mass.  She used to allow several of us to come in and play with Mary’s dolls house which with retrospect was a spectacular affair and David’s Fort and his soldiers.  Personally, I remember that I preferred the soldiers.  Apologies here to Mary and David for commandeering their toys in their absence, but a great memory.  I also recall that Mary had a pair of Beetle Boots (white, if I remember correctly), the closest we ever got to a pair and a collection of Beetles records.  You must remember this was in the late 60’s when things like this were not common place.  Hilda O’Donnell also had a record collection which contained a lot of Elvis records.  I remember that Paudie went on holidays several times to Spain and returned with a gift for every child on the road.  A doll in Spanish costume was one and a Fan on another occasion.  I don’t remember what the boys got (too busy admiring my own).

More tomorrow

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A Poem for all the stressed parents with children under their feet for too long

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A Fact

Food rationing was introduced in the UK in 1940 due to shortages brought about by WW2.

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In Newmarket

By

On September 12, 2024

In Listowel

Róisín Darby riding Eclipse on the avenue at Lee Valley Equestrian Centre

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23 Years on

Sand art on Ballybunion beach on September 11 2024.

Alice Moylan sent us the photo and she also did the research. The number 343 is the number of New York fire department personnel who died in 9/11.

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Something Old

We all had this beautiful old cutlery in the days before the dishwasher.

Bone used to be used to make the handles. Bones of cattle or deer which were available locally and cheaply were used. But then came plastic and I think our knives were faux bone. They were warm and comfortable to hold.

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Cora and Molly

Cora read a reflection from Moments of Reflection to Molly. She didn’t show much interest. Molly’s nose is out of joint because she is not in this book.

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Newmarket

Scarteen Street, Newmarket, looked picturesque in the September sunshine last week.

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Tony O’Callaghan Bronzes

Liz Kearney, daughter of the late Bill, shared these photos of two beautiful pieces presented to her father. The first was from Listowel Pitch and Putt Club. It is replete with symbols of Bill’s life, his family and friends.

This one from Listowel Drama Group, celebrated his involvement with their production of Our Town.

Owen MacMahon will remember Bill and other stalwarts of the drama group in his talk in Kerry Writers’ Museum at 12.00 noon on Saturday, September 21.

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From the Archives

The Sydney Herald

May 4 1840    Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

TEMPERANCE REFORMATION IN IRELAND. The intelligence we have communicated from time to time, respecting the rapid diminution of drunkenness, and its concomitant evils, crime and distress, in various parts of the South of Ireland, has given to many a heart an impulse of pure and benevolent pleasure. Thousands in this country have panted for the amelioration of Ireland, but have almost despaired of realising, even in distant prospect, the accomplishment of their desires. The wretchedness and degradation of Ireland seemed curable and hopeless, and hung as a dead weight the neck of British philanthropy. A brighter day is at length dawning. A movement, doubtless proceeding under a special blessing from above, has commenced, having for its object the extinction of drunkenness. Already have thousands of the Irish population risen as one man, and freed themselves, by a single fart, from their hereditary bondage to an appetite which entailed upon them almost the total sum of misery and degradation which human nature was capable of sustaining. Not the least pleasing feature in this incipient social revolution is, that it is self – originated and self sustained. It is from first to last an Irish movement, and therefore promises to be both thorough and permanent. In introducing the following extracts, it may be desirable to remark that they are called both from Orange and Catholic journals. So far as we see, this glorious cause redeemed from the bitterness of sectarianism and partisanship, being carried on by true lovers of their country, of various sentiments in religion, and of diverse opinions in politics. ” We have heard, ” says the Dublin Evening Post, from authority which cannot deceive, and which has no object in deceiving – good Protestant authority too – that in almost all the small towns of Cork, Kanturk, Bandon, Middleton, Mill-Street, Fermoy, the progress has been so extraordinary that the whiskey shops are in the process of being shut up and soap, coffee, and tea houses are establishing generally. In the small town of Listowel, in the county of Kerry, seven or eight of these have been closed within the last two months. In the county of Clare the progress also has been very great, and we expect that we shall speedily have Galway to add to our list.

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An Artist Paints at the Gallery of another Artist

Martin Chute at Olive Stack’s this week.

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A Fact

In the US in the 1940s a chicken lived for 18 months without a head. His jugular vein and his brainstem were left mostly intact.

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In Cork and Kildare

By

On August 19, 2024

In Listowel, Poem

A corner of his garden photographed by Mick O’Callaghan

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From the Archive

In the final days before the convent closed, a group of former colleagues went to say goodbye to the sisters.

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A Listowel Connection

Last week fate found me in The Bon Secours Hospital in Cork.

As I walked towards the Xray department, I was fascinated to see some familiar artwork on the walls…the unmistakeable work of the late great Tony O’Callaghan.

There are 6 scenes depicted in the bronzes, featuring saints associated with Munster.

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In Kildare Village

The only purchase I made on my recent trip to Kildare Village was ice cream.

Eating this delicious confection requires concentration.

Since most of the shops are not really child friendly (lesson learned on my Christmas visit!) we contented ourselves with strolling around outdoors.

Yes, that is a wasp heading straight for the child. There are all kinds of hazards to be encountered here.

The seat was wet. Aoife enjoyed the simple pleasure of drying it before we sat.

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The Simple Life

Ode on Solitude

BY ALEXANDER POPE

Happy the man, whose wish and care

   A few paternal acres bound,

Content to breathe his native air,

                            In his own ground.

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,

   Whose flocks supply him with attire,

Whose trees in summer yield him shade,

                            In winter fire.

Blest, who can unconcernedly find

   Hours, days, and years slide soft away,

In health of body, peace of mind,

                            Quiet by day,

Sound sleep by night; study and ease,

   Together mixed; sweet recreation;

And innocence, which most does please,

                            With meditation.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;

   Thus unlamented let me die;

Steal from the world, and not a stone

                            Tell where I lie.

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A Fact

A fun fact from a wag…

Irish motoring hazards; Funerals, speed cameras, pot holes, learner drivers, horses loose on the M50 to name but a few.

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Listowel Police Mutiny in 1920

By

On April 5, 2023

In Ballybunion, Listowel, Personal

Photo; Éamon ÓMurchú in Malahide

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Family Time

One of my Ballincollig grandchildren attends Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin.

I attend their show last week. It was hard to believe that they were just primary school fifth and sixth class pupils. They were superb.

There is my little Cora giving it socks as an exotic dancer.

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Tony O’Callaghan and the Listowel Police Mutiny

This is the Tony O’Callaghan plaque on display in Listowel Garda Barracks. It is a record of the names of the mutineers.

“On June 19th 1920, fourteen rank and file members of the Royal Irish Constabulary in Listowel defied the order of their superior officers and refused to hand over the control of the barracks to the British Military, and to adopt a shoot to kill policy against the local community. This incident – forever more known as the Listowel Police Mutiny – was a seminal event in the Irish War of Independence.” Kerry Writers Museum.

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Then and Now

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A Ballybunion Sunday

Essential training and practice for this vital service takes place on Sunday mornings in Ballybunion. My daughter-in-law took the photos.

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A Fact

A jiffy is an actual unit of time. It’s 1/100 of a second.

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Listowel statues, Listowel men and a meeting to set up a Limerick Kerry Railway line

By

On March 7, 2016

In Uncategorized

Some Listowel Public Sculptures

This artwork in The Square depicts the River Feale which runs through the town and a ring fort or lios from which the town takes its name.

A constant reminder of the contribution of nuns to the  the town.

Bryan MacMahon, Údar agus Oide, a Patrician, whose influence is still felt in Listowel and further afield.



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Two Men I met on the Street on Friday



Denis Walsh of The Advertiser has a busy day on Fridays, delivering his very popular publication to North Kerry businesses.


Denis took a minute to pose for me with his friend, Martin McCarthy, star of Widows’ Paradise.

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Then and Now




Some places change and some stay the same.

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From The Tralee Chronicle of 1879……the start of the line



A meeting of the Directors of the Limerick and Kerry Railway Company
was held at Mr M’Elligott’s Hotel, Listowel, on Tuesday last, the Earl
of Devon presiding. Other Directors present   George Sandes, VC, Major
Crosbie, F Sandes, George Hewson,Edward Curling, Messrs Michael Leahy,
Newcastle West; Denny, Tralee, Solicitors to the Directory;Mr
Barrington, CE, and Thomas Nunan ?, Secretary, were also present.

The meeting was chiefly for the disposal of preliminary business and
to organise the taking of shares, for which purpose local committees
were appointed. Lord Devon headed the share list, and subsequently
paid the usual deposit on same into the bank. It was stated at the
meeting that if the people most interested in the project subscribed
at once for the shares on the favourable terms they are now offered at
the Directors would be in a position to invite tenders from
contractors on favourable terms so as to allow the contractors of the
line being at once proceeded with. It was also said that a large
number of shares had been subscribed for. Among the most prominent
shareholders is Lord Listowel, from whom a letter was read expressing
regret that he was unable to attend the meeting. After leaving the
meeting Lord Devon in passing through Abbeyfeale, came in for an
ovation, the inhabitants turning out en masse to greet him, headed by
the local brass band.

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Colourful Spirits at the Red Door


I was in Newcastlewest on Thursday last for an Art Exhibition by our local art group, Colourful Spirits.

The opening night was really well attended. I’ll bring you more photos in the next few days.

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The Drama Group are on the Road



Listowel Drama Group made a great start to their festival tour in Knockaderry on 

Friday Mar. 4 2016. 

They posted a few photos of the scene backstage on their Facebook page.

Taken from the wings before curtain up

The stars are in make up

Chief cook and bottle washer, John Kinsella, gets a rare moment of relaxation.

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