GAA Social, Pioneer Walk and Talented Craftspeople

Amazing talent for crafts emerging in Listowel

People passing Betty McGrath's florists recently can't have helped but notice the beautiful crochet angels and delicately crafted nativities on display in the window. They are the work of the lady on the right of this picture. I photographed her with  with the staff of Betty McGrath's.

The lady's name is Zsuzsanna Misik, known as Susan in Ireland and she comes from Hungary. The Bethlehems,, as she calls them are made from corn on the cob. She tells me that they will last for several years. They are absolutely beautiful.

Susan is learning English but she already knowswords such as  beautiful, gorgeous and brilliant as they are words she hears often.

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A youthful Dan Kiely at a GAA social in Moyvane or Knockanure.

Another photo Jer. rooted out of that  Pioneer walk for Gorta in the eighties. Could that ever be Norella with her late mother?

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All the way from Canada comes clarification on this one. Francis is the FIFTH generation of Chute painters.

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True tale of derring do…

Limerick General Advertiser

24 June 1808

On Monday last, a fool-hardy fellow named MOORE, a slater by trade, undertook for the trifling wager of a gallon of porter, to ascend to the Ball on the Spire of St, Patrick's Steeple, Dublin, which a late storm had thrown from its perpendicular direction.  After passing to the upper scaffolding, which did not approach to within twelve feet of the terrific point of his destination, he clambered up by his hands and knees, and placed himself astride on the apex of the Spire that had been thrown into a horizontal position.  In this tremendous state of peril, he had continued but a few seconds, when to the horror of the astonished spectators, the whole gave way, and with the Ball, and about one ton of the fractured stone-work, the unfortunate man was precipitated in a moment from a height of 200 feet; his weight carried him thro' three stages, when his cloaths became entangled, and exhibited him suspended between heaven and earth.  Merciful Providence, however, and his own exertions, enabling him to seize some of the scaffolding, and he succeeded in regaining a safe footing.  He came down through the Church and was carried off by by [sic] the crowd, toenjoy the triumph of a Gallon of Porter, won at such a tremendous risque.  The Ball broke throu' to the fourth scaffold, and the stone work fell in St. Patrick's Close, without further injury than tearing up the pavement, into which it sunk upwards of 3 feet. <<<<<

This photo captures the atmosphere in Craftshop na Méar. Maureen Connolly sits crocheting while our new mascot, Dinny sits in his aran sweater by the range.

On Monday Dec. 16 2013 the craftshop hosted its first Cois Tine Event. Among the storytellers, poets, singers and dancer Alice Taylor was the star turn. She happened to be in town for a reading in Woulfe's and she very kindly dropped in to the craftshop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khqBcIWIMCk&feature=youtu.be