Showing posts with label Dingle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dingle. Show all posts

Tuesday, 26 September 2017

Dingle, Gaelscoil Uí Riordain, more from Ladies Day 2017 and Celebrating 100 years of Irish people in Kenya

Dingle by Chris Grayson

<<<<<<<<<

From an 1899 Newspaper

<<<<<<<<<<

The School around the Corner

My granddaughters attend Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin in Ballincollig



Although it is a brand new school it is at capacity already.


My little girlies are lucky in that they live within walking distance of the school.


Other little pupils cycle.


There is a scheme whereby when a new school is built the contractor has to set aside a "percentage for art". Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin used this money very inventively. They commissioned senior pupils to draw scenes associated with Ballincollig. The children's pictures, which featured the old gunpowder mills, the river, the castle (a deCogan stronghold), the school which started life in an old supermarket, the GAA and, of course Sean ÓRiordáin  after whom the school is named. The artwork was transferred to tiles and these in the form of a river flow along the wall by the entrance.  Below are just a few of these tiles.


Children leaving behind the old building for their new school building.


Tho old army barracks with cannon.


The road race at Carrigrohane


The castle, games and the countryside. 
I could spend hours looking at this work of art and every time something new stands out for me.


The school has a vegetable flower and herb garden, which is looked after by the pupils.






<<<<<

Old Friends




Old pals, Murt McAulliffe and Jimmy Hannon meet for a coffee at The Flying Saucer.

<<<<<<<

Style from Ladies Day, Sept. 15 2017







This Galway couple bagged the Best Dressed Couple prize


While the best dressed finalists were assembling in the parade ring the business of racing was continuing around them.



I noticed that the young men were all beautifully turned out. This man was at work but still managed to look dapper.



Anne and Patrick Brosnan met up with some Brosnan and O'Connor relations



<<<<<<<

100 Years of Irish Kenya Relations

I am lucky to know the chairperson of the Irish Kenya Society. He is Jack O'Regan formerly of Ballyheigue and now living, working and raising a family in Kenya.

On September 22 2017, Culture Night, Go Kerry and Jack organised a night of celebration of a very different part of our unique culture.... our reaching out to other nations and the influence Irish people have had in far flung corners of the world.


The M.C. for the evening was Michael O'Donnell

The event was attended by the Kenyan ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Richard Opembe.


In her role as Mayor of Tralee, Norma Foley welcomed the ambassador and reminded us all of some of the outstanding contributions of Irish people to Kenya. Many of Kenya's leaders were educated by Irish nuns and the Medical Missionaries of Mary (The Flying Nuns) contributed greatly to improving healthcare in this African country.


The ambassador was presented with the Freedom of Tralee. Norma told him that he now had the right to graze his sheep in the town park whenever he likes. In his speech the ambassador told Norma that he actually is the proud owner of 4 sheep.



Jack told us a bit about the work of the Irish Kenya Society. He brought 20 Kenyan people with him to Kerry for this event and to celebrate his birthday. They had spent the previous week as tourists visiting Dublin, Blarney, Killarney and other places.



The story of the Irish contribution to Kenya was told on banners, which are now on display in The Ashe Memorial Hall, Tralee. I was interested in the story of Edel Quinn. She was born in Kanturk, lived for a short while in Tralee and worked and died in Kenya.


I apologise for the very poor quality of this photo. It's a picture of some of the Kenyan visitors.



Gilian Wharton Slattery, Norma Foley, Richard Opembe, Grace O'Donnell, Joan O'Regan and Jack O'Regan

<<<<<<<<

A 10th Gold Medal for Lovely Listowel


Listowel Tidy Towns posted this photo of the hard working volunteers and their supporters who went to Dublin yesterday, Sept. 25 2017 hoping for good news.
They got it in the form of another 10th gold medal and an improvement of 4 marks over last year. A huge congratulations is due to Julie and all the gang. You did Listowel proud, as always.
Well done too to our neighbours who all did very well too. Killarney and Tralee retained their gold medals and Ballybunion, after a massive effort this year improved their standing.

Wednesday, 10 September 2014

Dingle, The Advertiser, Blackberries and Convent Cross junction


Beautiful Dingle






Sunrise in Dingle and the dolphin who just keeps on giving from  Fungie Forever

<<<<

Denis Walsh on the mend


Denis is the very popular CEO of The Advertiser and captain of the Emmetts football team.  He was injured recently in an accidental fall.



Denis runs the weekly Advertiser almost singlehandedly from his headquarters in Bridge Road.



Denis' friends have rallied round in this crisis.  Listowel Printing Works are looking after the production side of Denis' operation and his Emmetts friends are helping with distribution.


The news from the hospital is all positive. All of North Kerry is wishing Denis well and he is regularly remembered in  prayers at mass. We all look forward to seeing him fit and well and back at his desk very soon.


<<<<<<<

Unthinking


These bicycles were parked here last week locked to the railing and completely blocking wheelchair access to this path on Library Rd. There is no footpath at the other other side of this road.

<<<<<<<

Blackberry Picking


Late August, given heavy rain and sun
For a full week, the blackberries would ripen.


At first, just one, a glossy purple clot
Among others, red, green, hard as a knot.
You ate that first one and its flesh was sweet
Like thickened wine: summer's blood was in it
Leaving stains upon the tongue and lust for
Picking. ...


(Seamus Heaney)



I recently spent a happy afternoon blackberry picking with my family in Ballincollig. All the scratches and scrapes were worth it.



<<<<<<<

Convent Cross



Big changes are underway at this junction. The low wall is gone and the road is being widened just in time for the Races

Thursday, 10 July 2014

Dingle, Listowel and a U.S. connection


Fungi in the morning


Dingle as Fungi sees it at sunrise



These stunning photographs were taken by the good people who photograph Fungie every day for his very own website:  w ww.facebook.com/12FungieForever12


<<<<<<<<

Kerry locals for a season



I met this lovely U.S. family in Craftshop na Méar. They have to choose every summer between Florida and Moyvane and again this year they chose to be in Moyvane. They have come to North Kerry so often that they have added Namir Karim of Scribes to the list of their many Irish  friends.

<<<<<<<



A great photo of a young Bono from Eric Luke's old negatives.

<<<<<<<


Listowel Cinema a.k.a. Listowel Movieplex





The recently extended cinema looks great after its facelift.

<<<<<<<<

The Sive Walk and John Paul 11 Graveyard









John Paul 2 cemetery is always beautifully maintained and is now looking particularly well after the recent annual graveyard mass.

<<<<<<

Jim MacSweeney took some great photos on the Ring of Kerry Cycle. Here are a few local ones from his collection of 800


Elaine McGuire


Someone from Finuge


Noel Hilliard