Generation emigration and the last of my Ladies'Day photos

The Skype call and Facetime have replaced the "letter from America"

Sunday Night is Skype Night

Above is a link to a great article by Collette Browne in The Irish Independent of Sept 30 2013. I will reproduce here the first few paragraphs. The whole article is well worth reading, whichever side of this scenario you identify with,

30 SEPTEMBER 2013

Like tens of thousands of households, Sunday night in my parents' house is Skype night – when they chat to my brother and his family, who are living in the United States.

Having married, had a daughter and recently obtaining US citizenship since he moved, it is unlikely my brother will ever return to live in Ireland. His life now is elsewhere.

For my parents, this means that they have to watch their only grandchild grow up via a computer screen, missing important milestones in her life.

Communication tools like Skype have doubtlessly made it easier for severed families to keep in touch but they cannot recreate a hug, let you carry a child to bed or facilitate a family having a meal together.

Despite the ache caused by physical absence, for many emigrants, like my brother, the experience of living abroad, where they enjoy better job prospects and a higher quality of life, has largely been a positive one.....

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Lots of premises getting a facelift these days

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More from Ladies' Day 2013

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Words and Music

Saturday October 12 was a great night in The Listowel Arms where local and national talent entertained an appreciative audience.

Billy Keane told his anecdotes and read his poem. Mickey MacConnell brought the house down with two of his many lovely ballads. If Aldi and Lidl had any sense of humour they would be beating a track to his door and using his great song in their advertising

The Ballad of Lidl and Aldi

David Browne gave an inimitable rendition of Carthalawn's songs form John B.'s Sive.

Denis Hobson is an excellent interpreter of John B.s characters. On Saturday night he was The Chastitute. He was ably supported by members of The Abbefeale Drama  Group.

(a few more photos tomorrow)

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John Stack's pic of G.A.A. action from the weekend

Moyvane v. Clounmacon

Ladies Day 2013 ...again and every picture tells a story

Today, October 4 2013 we go to the polls to vote on the amendment to our constitution to abolish Seanad Eireann. Lets hope we do the right thing.

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A further few photos  ( Mostly local people) I took on The Island on the Friday of Races 2013

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This picture was painted by Marie Brennan of Ballybunion. As they say on The Antiques Roadshow it's not just the picture it's the provenance that gives it value.

Owen MacMahon was opening an exhibition of Marie's paintings when he spotted one that struck a chord. It was a painting of an old fashioned bathtub. Owen remembered bathing in just such a tub in front of The Stanley range. He told Marie this and he confessed that he still likes to take a bath on a Saturday night and he likes nothing better than to soak in the tub while reading The Racing Post. Marie surprised him some time later with this artist's impression of Owen in a seaweed bath with race card and Racing Post to hand.

Here are Owen and Máire at Listowel Races on the Saturday and he is still studying form.

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