The influence of Irish in Kerry English and a trip to Castleisland

Chris Howes, Irish Wildlife Photography Competition

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The Kerryman Unbuttoned by Redmond O'Hanlon in Shannonside Annual

.....As the years pass one insensibly makes many of these phrases one’s own. There is a gay inconsequence about your Kerryman’s talk. Rabelasian at times, he is impatient of the restraints of a pseudo culture that would seek to shackle his ready tongue. Conscious of the inadequacies of English, he rifles the rich store of our own tongue to add colour and imagery to his talk. Someone is classified as a mean bacach and we have him in focus at once. He will refer with feeling to the shortcomings of a cabóg and we share his impatience with the bosthoon. The average Kerryman is close to the soil and we are one with him there with this difference, that his sense of values gives him pride in his background.

Words, accents, idiom, what a fascinating field for him who delights to listen. In individuality of speech Kerry is perhaps more rewarding to the observer than any other county of the thirty two. Listen to the salty arguments of dealing men in fair and market., to the caustic asides of crusty old lads drowsing over pints in deep cavernous pubs; to the helpers paying the comhar at the threshing; to the passionate vociferations of those followers of the green and gold as their heroes rise with elan to tear balls out of the skies in Croke Park; and listen again wherever Kerrymen foregather to pay the last tribute to their dead.

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Then and Now

John Hannon took this photo of Mrs. Mann at the door of her shop in Main Street.

The same corner of town today

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I was in Castleisland

There is lots of history on Castleisland's Main Street. I was struck by the irony of the name of the pub on  which I saw the above plaque.

The great Con Houlihan is well remembered.

The above three pictures were on display in a shop window.

I have no idea of the era of the post box.

This landmark building was unoccupied last time I was here. I was delighted to see it back in business.

You all know how much I love a charity shop. I met a lovely lovely lady, Nora, in the Vincent de Paul shop but it was in the NCBI shop that I discovered these.

I do a spot of knitting so I know how much time and effort went into these creations. The green and pink doll are one doll.  You turn her over and you have her alter ego. They call her a topsy turvy doll.

The lady who knits these is Jan Wesley and she is 88 years young. She sells her knitwear in aid of the NCBI, so this shop in Castleisland is well worth a visit. The dolls are a snip at €10 and the tea cozy was €12.

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Craftshop back in Town (temporarily)

Until June 3 2018 there will be a craftshop in Galvin's Off licence premised in William Street. Why not pop in and take a look a these Craft Makers wares

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Style with  a Listowel Connection

This is Niamh Kenny from Listowel at Punchestown Ladies' Day last week.

This is the piece in Saturday's Irish Times. Niamh and her friend, Mary O'Halloran caught the eye of a journalist. Competing at Ladies Day is part of the fun and enjoyment of a day at the Races for many ladies. It's worth the investment. The prizes are big. As Mary says, "We're gambling on ourselves."