Greyhound Racing, A poem by Jet Stack and more

Gone to the Dogs

We had a great night at The Kingdom Greyhound Stadium on Friday May 2 2014 at the fundraising night for Pres. Secondary School, Listowel. I managed to make a few bob despite my lack of greyhound knowledge (or maybe because of it!)

Organisers, Eileen Keane and Lisa Whelan

The scene on the second floor. The real doggy people were downstairs and the VIPs upstairs.

Some of the greyhounds getting ready to enter the track for their race.

Fivestar Fantasy, winner of the 'Presentation Listowel Tech. Graph & Arts Dept 525’, pictured with winning connections along with Brian Coffey (2nd from left) and Eileen Keane (4th from left) of Presentation Secondary Listowel. 

Bridget O'Connor, Breda Ferris and Theresa Deenihan

( All photos: Pádraig O'Connor)

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What a shame!

The garden at the old Kennedy Nursing Home is going to wrack and ruin. Pity!

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By way of contrast….

The well maintained old rectory

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New shop in Market Street

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Progress

Duagh Sports Complex is nearing the finish line.

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Another poem by Jet Stack, this one in praise of a local stream

That Little Curragh Stream

There’s a soft and purple water

Flowing in that winding stream.

Flowing there through Time and ages.

Scarcely mentioned and unseen.

Through the bog and by the meadow

Through the sally’s sunlight beam

Flow the soft and purple waters

Of that little Curragh Stream.

Whence its source in famed Clounmacon

Ripples helpless towards the sea

Winding ‘round each hill of challenge

Flowing gently through the lee.

Through the rush and through the fern.

Where it stops, as sometimes seem

Flow the soft and purple waters.

Of that little Curragh Stream.

Flowing through Bedford’s glens and valleys

Down th hillside gather speed

By that old and silent graveyard.

Through the gillcock stately reed.

Flowing through Curraghatoosane and Curragh.

Through the watercress so green.

By the Cordal, through West Dirrha

Winding softly ‘round Gurtcreen.

By the road, beneath the mountain.

By Saint Crossan’s blessed well.

Wide and rapid through the toilery

Thus the river Galey swell.

When we are gone as those before us

To that land beyond supreme

Still will flow the purple waters

Of that little Curragh Stream.

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Preparing for the Military Tattoo

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Ballybunion's Happy

Warning: This catchy tune will be in your head all day. It's a great video and a great promotion. Have fun spotting well known Ballybunion people in this great clip;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFcONb8LDGI&app=desktop

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Kerry Crusaders ready to undertake The Limerick Run     (photo: Mary Toomey Roche)

1959 donkey Derby, Healeys in search of cousins,

War Games

We have had a weekend of remembering and reenacting. I'll post my photos from Listowel Military Tattoo 2014 in the coming days.

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1959 Donkey Derby

John B. Keane described Listowel as a town "where it is easier to write than not to write".  As well as the famous writers who have supped at the Writers' Well, Listowel has produced many writers whose lights have been hidden for a long time. 

One such writer is the late Jet Stack of Greenville. Jet was better known as a dancer and accordion player but he also dabbled in poetry and prose. One of his relatives has contacted me and shared with us a poem Jet wrote about one man's experience of the 1959 Donkey Derby.  Apparently when it came to the big day, this very well prepared donkey was well in the lead coming down Church Street, when he suddenly veered off course and cut into Colbert Street, leaving his jockey, trainer and many supporters disappointed. The donkey in question was Scartlea Night and was ridden by Sean Hartnett of Cahirdown. 

Listowel Donkey Derby 1959    by Jet Stack

The weather was fine, being fifty nine and the races drawing nigh

To win the donkey derby sure our hopes were very high.

So we called on all the donkeys that might win cup or bowl

And we started preparations for the derby in Listowel.

The donkeys came in dozens, some were fast and some were slow,

But sure that’s the way you’ll find them no matter where you go

But we put them through their paces and we raced them past the pole

And twas all in preparation for the derby in Listowel

We had Nixes grey and Driscoll's bay, she showed a little blemish

John Joe brought our camera in case of a photo finish

When Lady Barney won the second race, Dan Riordan scratched his pole

And ‘twas all in preparation for the derby in Listowel

Nedeen Buckley came with Sad Dust and Nellies Morning Dew

This was a kind of challenge race and 'twas left between the two

Then Margaret came on Forge Road Lad, He’s the sire of a foal

And 'twas all in preparation for the derby in Listowel

When Shanahan’s Stamps came winning home, the crowd they gave a roar

They heard it back in Coolagown and down through Ennismore

Bob Stack got so excited, he ran up the winning pole

And 'twas all in preparation for the derby in Listowel

Scartlea’s Hope when going well, won many a thrilling race

He ran his best to half a length and that was no disgrace

But when Casey down from Dromerin,  said he couldn’t run with goats

Sure his feeding was substandard, it was small Kilarda oats.

When Phil arrived on Gurtinard Lad,  Sean’s donkey gave a wink

He started like a bullet and gave him no time to think

Our jockeys rode like professionals both fearless and bold

And there’s one thing I can vouch for; a race was never sold

The crowd grew larger every night, they came from far and near

Elsie, Kit and Minnie came the winners home to cheer

We had Bertha, Paul and Bridie, sure they played their usual role

And 'twas all in preparation for the derby in listowel

Eileen came with Kathleen and Bridge came running fast

Sure Mary nearly broke her neck in case she might be last

Ginette was there from London oh my heart she nearly stole

And 'twas all in preparation for the Derby in Listowel.

So then when the fun was over and we picked our chosen few

We raced them down Church Street where we met our Waterloo

But such is life, there is always strife in trying to reach your goal

Still our hopes are high for another try at the derby in Listowel.

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Healy/Healey

These are the Healey brothers whom I met last week as they retraced the footsteps of their great grandparents.

John Healy was born in Listowel on June 17 1830 to Timothy and Margaret Healy (Nee Linnane). John emigrated to London after the Famine. His marriage cert. says that his occupation was a furrier or farrier. He subsequently joined the London Metropolitan Police.

The Police Recruiting Act of 1853 in New South Wales allowed for police to be recruited from Great Britain. Free passage was offered in exchange for 3 years service.

John Healy arrived with 97 other policemen and their families on board The Exodus (how apt that name is?) on July 26 1855. John's record shows that he was appointed to the NSW police on the day of his arrival. These new policemen were known as The Immigrant Police.

John Healey was involved in the rescue of the sole surviver of the sinking of The Dunbar in 1857.

The population of NSW was growing very rapidly with the prospect of gold and penal deportation. Immigration meant that the large population was very culturally diverse and riots were frequent. The police were kept busy.

John Healey was a capable and good policeman and he rose through the ranks as his postings led him from place to place in NSW.


In 1873 Senior Sergeant Healey was appointed "Inspector of Nuisances in the municipality of Penrith".

His final posting was to Kiama where he was involved in a serious road accident.

Sub Inspector John Healey retired from The NSW Police in 1887 aged 57 years and with a police record of 32 years service.

John died in 1899 leaving a widow and 10 children.

When I last spoke to Terrence and Graham they were making progress in their search for local Healy/ Healey relatives. Over the years all contact with their Irish relatives has been lost but these two men are determined to reconnect to their great grandfather's homeland.

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Random Fact

Only 12 white alligators left in the whole world (photo: So bad, so good)

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Changes

This is now

That was then.

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Random bit of Cork news

A campaign is underway to rename Cork Airport Rory Gallagher Cork Airport.


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Sé ODonoghue

This is our own Bernie Carmody in Dublin Castle with Sé O'Donoghue who fashioned the Brian Ború crown. Would you believe he has a Listowel connection? Cousins, apparently.

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Cherry blossom time

This magnificent specimen of a cherry tree  stands in Listowel pitch and putt course.

There is much clearing and planting being done in the area around the town park.

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Hannah Marie Sheehan and Peig Murphy and ?  (photo from Norella Moriarty)

1951 dance, The National Children's Literary Festival and some visitors to Listowel

Do you remember this photo from last week which some people thought might be a teachers' dance? Not so, says my better informed correspondent.
Beta (Whelan) O'Brien writes as follows:

"…. it was a Fianna Fail Dance held in the Astor Cinema/ballroom in 1951   We have identified most of the group.

Front Row:  Bridie Murphy Greenville ?  Mary Whelan  Joan Curtin  Betty Leahy  Doreen OConnor

Second Row: Mr Scannell ? Margaret Whelan  Mrs Hannan  Peggy and John OConnor

Third Row: Mrs Halpin  Ella Corridan   Lil Walsh   Miss Stack NT  last in row not identified

Fourth Row:  Mrs JK OConnor   Mrs Louis Murphy  Teresa and Eddie Hanrahan Ballylongford   Eilish OSullivan ?

Back Row:  **  **   John Joe Mc Elligott ? Peggy Hickey   Marie OHara Mc Auliffe   Phil Quigley Chute"

Thank your , Beta.

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Visitors in town last week

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Do you remember this?

Limerick 1970s and 80s  (Photo; Limerick Life)

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Kerry for the holidays

My grandchildren love to spend time in Listowel.

The playground in the town park is one of their favourite haunts.

All three girls absolutely love books. They are all members of three libraries. They were thrilled skinny to be involved in the launch of the super National Children's Literary Festival which will run in conjunction with Listowel Writers' Week 2014.

"The National Children’s Literary Festival at Listowel Writers’ Week will run in conjunction with the main Festival and is jam-packed with events for children of all ages and their families. It will feature an alternative cultural school tour, “authors in schools” day, workshops, picnics, book clinics and most importantly, Chocolate! Starring at the Festival will be celebrated children’s authors John Boyne, Alan Early, Siobhán Parkinson, Sarah Webb, Steve Simpson, Claire Hennessy and 12 year-old author, Joe Prendergast.

A recent initiative, Operation Education: A Teen Focused Arts Festival for Transition and 5th Year Students, is now entering its second year.  One of its objectives is to introduce the students to a poet who will be on their Leaving Cert course as well as stimulating and enthusing students with a varied programme of events."

The full programme is available at http://writersweek.ie

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We live in a digital age

Daddy was left behind in Cork. The family didn't "phone" home. They Facetimed him on the iPad. In the background of my picture you can just see a flowerpot that was left to me by my grandmother. I wonder what she would make of what's going on on the couch…

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Ladies who attended a bracelet making workshop in Craftshop na Méar on Saturday April 26 2014