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’Connor

John O’Shea 1942, Jellyfish, Chum Moloney and friends, and St. Michael’s

A bee friendly wild flower and herb border in our community garden.


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Tony O’Connor

My goddaughter is mad about horses. Her house is adorned with photographs of horses, sculptures of horses and paintings of horses. This recent acquisition is one of my favourites. She hasn’t found the perfect place for it yet but I suspect it will hang in her home office. I know she will want to look at it every day. The painting is by Kerry born artist, Tony O’Connor, the best Irish equine artist, bar none.

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Reminders of a Country Childhood



These old farming artefacts remind me of the hard work of farming in my youth in the Ireland of the 1960s.

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Jellyfish in Portmarnock in 2020


2020 has seen many Irish beaches plagued with jellyfish and weaver fish. Some beaches have had to be closed temporarily. Eamon ÓMurchú took this colourful collection on Portmarnock recently.

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Home is the sailor, home from the sea

And the hunter home from the hill.

 

I miss Helios now that he’s returned home.

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Photos from Maeve Moloney Koch in South Carolina

 

This photo was taken outside Dr. Enright’s dental surgery in The Square Listowel. It shows Dr. Enright, his wife and daughter, Chum Moloney who was Maeve’s dad. Mr. Moloney worked as a dental technician for Dr. Enright.

Jimmy (Chum) Moloney and Pecker Dunne

This old postcard, from Maeve Moloney is dated 1966


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A New York O’Shea, with a Listowel connection

New York NY Irish American Advocate 

10 Oct 1942

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An Irish Veteran of the Indian Wars, John O’Shea, Dies at 90. 

The Greenville N.J. News says-

 One of Greenville’s oldest residents, John O’Shea, veteran of the Indian Wars, died at his home last week. Mr.  O’Shea, who was 90-years-old at the, time of his death, served with the Sixth Infantry from 1872 to 1877 and I fought against the Indians in the Western part of the United States, Many of his friends took part in General Custer’s memorable last stand at the Little Big Horn in 1876. The deceased is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Ella Moran, a teacher at Henry Snyder High School.

—————————– See paper for more

“Romantic Hidden Kerry” you so kindly sent him your personal copy of the book by special messenger. He never forgot that. My father was the eldest of three sons. His father (Roger O’Shea) attended a hedge school as did his three sons which he afterwards sent to the Monastery School in Killarney. Two of the sons taught school in Kerry for many years. Timothy O’Shea was schoolmaster in Lough Kitlane for many years before his retirement and Roger, the youngest, was schoolmaster in Tullamore, North Kerry. My father was a lifelong student and continued his reading and studying of Gaelic.     ——————–

‘Mrs.’   Ella  O’Shea   Moran,   213  Wilkinson   Ave.,  Jersey  City  – Oct.  1st,  1942. 

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Changes at St. Michael’s

When I visited to take a few photos of the launch of the Golf Classic, St Michael’s was in the throes of preparations for  the return to school.

On the brand new astro turf pitch are Johnny Mulvihill, Bernard Brogan, Jimmy Deenihan, Tim Allman, Brenda Pierse and Bernard Brogan, Senior.

Bernard was getting in a few practice swings before the competition on October 23 in Ballybunion.


John Kelliher took this aerial photo of the new look St. Michael’s with the beautiful new astro turf pitch.

Success stories

This is the Life!

Saturday morning was a beautifully crisp November morning in Ballybunion. Mike Enright was out early fishing. He captured these stunning views as the sun rose. He also got some amazing flounder and bass.

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Billy O’Connell of Lixnaw, Co. Kerry

Billy O’Connell hails from our very own Lixnaw. He now lives in Huntingdon Beach in California. He is in the news because he has been recently elected to public office.

His Facebook biography says this;

Billy O’Connell is the Founder and current Executive
Director of Colette’s Children’s Home, an emergency shelter and transitional
housing program for homeless women and women with children. Founded in 1998,
Colette’s provides a safe home and nurturing environment where women and
children receive the supportive services necessary to gain independence.
Colette’s is a hand up, not a hand out. Under Billy’s dedicated leadership,
Colette’s has housed and served over 3,000 women and children helping them
break the vicious cycle of homelessness.


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Another Success for our Causeway neighbours




Smiling faces from Team Dairymaster after winning the Eurotier Gold Medal for Innovation for our Swiftflo Goat Rotary Milking Parlour at Eurotier, Hannover last night!   ( Photo and caption from Dairymaster website)





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Tony O’Connor, Equine Artist




Tony O’Connor is from North Kerry. He is descended from a line of blacksmiths and he has a love of horses bred into his DNA. The above images are from his 2015 calendar which is available from his White Tree Studio

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Well worth another Look



A Great Listowel weekend in June 2014

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Beautiful Christmas Creations from the Crafters at Craftshop na Méar, Listowel

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