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
Martin stopped for a chat as he was putting the finishing touches to Tadhg Horan’s sign in The Square.
The sign is top class as always. I’ll be back to photograph the finished sign soon. Martin was adding a border.
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A Few more from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Michael and Noreen Queally with Mary Browne
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Tony O’Callaghan, The Galway Connection
Dave O’Sullivan found us this story from July 1972
Tony O’Callaghan was commissioned by the owners of The Great Southern Corrib hotel to make 15 copper relief pictures in honour of the 15 tribes. The finished works hung in the hotels de Burgh Room.
The hotel was demolished in 2021. I wonder where the artworks are now.
St. Mary’s Listowel on March 24 2023, Confirmation Day
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Vehicles in St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2023
Vintage vehicles are a part of St. Patrick’s Day tradition in Listowel.
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Tony O’Callaghan, Artist in Copper
Tony O’Callaghan of Listowel had presentation pieces commissioned for many prestigious people.
David O’Sullivan found these newspaper accounts of President ODalaigh’s visit to North Kerry. He was presented with a Tony O’Callaghan copper plaque by Listowel Town Council.
Some other examples of O’Callaghan’s work, treasured by their Listowel owners;
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Daffodil Day 2023
Some of the collectors who were out and about on March 24 2023.
These look like celebrations in the Pitch and Putt clubhouse. Sorry I can’t name all the people. R.I.P. those gone from us. A big thank you to Tom’s family for sharing the photos. They brought back memories to many.
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Some People I met on St. Patrick’s Day 2023
Robert Pierse and Sally O’Neill
Peter and Mary McGrath
Mary and Matt Mooney
Dancing is always a huge part of the parade. This year, with all the schools and sports clubs taking part it was hard to put a cohort of dancers together. Fair dues to Johnny Cronin for representing as best he could the dancing community.
He also had the smallest cutest dancer of them all.
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Tony O’Callaghan, Artist in Copper
The late Tony O’Callaghan’s artwork hangs in more Listowel homes than any other artist. He is also well represented further afield.
Here is a still from a You Tube video Dave O’Sullivan found. It’s from 1984 and it is in Ballyporeen. Derek Davis, M.C. is presenting a Tony O’Callaghan copper plaque to President Ronald Reagan of the USA.
My photo of The Dandy Lodge and Gable of Pitch and Putt Clubhouse in March 2023
Toddy Buckley R.I.P., Tom O’Halloran R.I.P, Eileen Worts R.I.P. and Pat Walshe
Tom O’Halooran R.I. P. and Anne Hartnett
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Tony O’Callaghan , Artist in Copper
The Sculpture in Listowel Town Square is the design work of the late Tony O’Callaghan, a man better known for his copper plaques which are now proudly displayed in houses in Listowel and beyond.
I’m going to tell you more about Tony O’Callaghan and his work next week . Today I’m going to share with you a beautiful piece he made to be presented to Éamon ÓMurchú.
The story in Éamon’s words;
St Ciarán
Bronze plaque is of St Ciarán. I got a present of it when Principal of Scoil Chiaráin, Glasnevin (1970-2000). St Ciarán was born in 512 and was a pupil of Mobhi who had a monastery in Glasnevin – hence the connection with the locality.
His feast day is on September 9th and he was the first abbot of Clonmacnoise. He is renowned for his learning and production of books.
The impact of education and the natural world occur again and again in the stories about Ciarán. It is written that a stag wandered up to Ciarán to hold his books in his antlers and retired daily without getting his books wet – hence the depiction on plaque.
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That “Comely Maidens” Speech Remembered
(from The Irish Times)
The maiden referred to in the final paragraph is the unfortunate girl caught kissing her beau in public. She never served her sentence because she returned home to Scotland but it was left hanging over her should she ever return to these shores.
Clíona and Aoife picked a good weekend to visit. Lots going on. Aoife slept through most of it though.
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A Christmas Belief
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A Lifetime in Pitch nd Putt Rewarded
The late Tony O’Callaghan was a very talented artist. He produced a huge body of work in his lifetime and many a Listowel home treasures one of his pieces. The one above was presented to John Joe Kenny by Listowel Pitch and Putt Club to acknowledge his years of service to the club.
