WW1, East Cork and some Listowel changes

Lest we forget

This startling 1918 picture of a mother and child wearing gas masks comes from the French National Library.

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They fought for Ireland too

A feature of WW1 was the recruiting initiative that played on the camaraderie and peer pressure of the "pals brigades".  Of course the downside of this was that when a platoon was wiped out in battle it often meant that a town lost all of its young men in one fell swoop. Some of the pals in this photo came back and one man's tale is told by his grandson HERE on a really interesting website called The Wild Geese.

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A Few Days in East Cork

Recently I got an invitation to spend a few days with friends in east Cork. It is a truly lovely place and much neglected in favour of the more picturesque west of the county. My friends took me on a tour of the locality , visiting Ballymaloo, Shanagarry, Ballycotton, Youghal and the very picturesque East Ferry.

I visited Ballymaloo…a vast and hugely interesting place. There are acres and acres of flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables, all beautifully kept. There is an acre under glass. My photo shows Darina Allen followed by a train of acolytes on a tour of the gardens.

 This is one of many beautiful borders.

A small corner of the vegetable garden.

A hen was foraging among the food waste. There is no waste in this operation.

The shell house which stands in the garden.

The beautifully decorated interior of the shell house.


These pictures are from the farm. Near Ballymaloo House there is a lovely theatre which is always busy. Angela Lansbury was the big draw on the Sunday after I visited. An exhibition of paintings by a local artist hung on the walls and on the pitch and putt course a display of big outdoor sculptures is on display for most of the summer.

The Grain Store

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Cloyne

Cloyne is hurling country. Before it was famous for Donal óg Cusack, this man, Christy Ring, was the most famous local man. He is still remembered and revered.

 Cloyne also has a well preserved round tower.

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That was then; This is now

Island Veterinary Clinic

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Glamourous in Main Street

Some shops then and now

Dan Paddy Andy Festival

What are John and Noreen up to?

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Grotto in O'Connell's Avenue last week.

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That was then; this is now

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Horan's Fruit and Veg

Can you have too many signs?

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St. John's

I took the opportunity recently to photograph the stained glass window in the chancel of St. John's.

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Regenerating Tralee town centre

By Donal Hickey

A disused food factory site is to become an attractive public market area in the centre of Tralee, Co Kerry.

The former Denny bacon plant — seen as a catalyst for the regeneration of the centre of the town — was handed over earlier this year to the local town council, by the Kerry Group, without preconditions.

The 2.5-acre site, vacated in 2008, is to be cleared in the coming months and plans are to develop a facility similar to the Milk Market area in Limerick.

While plans are still at an early stage, the idea is it will include a farmers’ market, an area for new businesses and crafts and a performance area for entertainers.

Tralee mayor Jim Finucane said the development would rejuvenate the centre of Tralee.

The full story is in yesterday's Examiner  HERE

Listowel shops then and now and Congo 1962

 Quiet Streets

Once upon a time I used to find it hard to take pictures of shops because there were always cars or pedestrians in the way. Not so any more. In my above photo of the top of William St., all those shops have  now ceased trading.

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Streets not completely deserted

It was great to run into Miriam out for a stroll on a lovely July evening. Her friend was a bit camera shy.

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What will they think of next?

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That was then; This is now

………...

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Rebranding

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Nearing the century

This lovely lady is Eliza Mulvihill of Glin. She was born on born on 19 August 1915 to Mary Ann Kiely and Paddy Mulvihill of Moyvane,the  5th of 10 children in her family. Eliza is now living in happy retirement in Newcastlewest. 

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Street Train in Killarney

Killarney's street train is proving popular with the tourists. The people on it here were on a school tour.

Have you noticed how neat and tidy all our towns are nowadays? It's thanks to all of the hardworking Tidy Town volunteers who work so hard. This litter picking crew were out in Killarney.

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 Congo 1962

I don't know who took the photos or who the members of our armed forces are.


More here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8tn2QsGtIE&feature=youtu.be

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Remarkable Achievement

Weeshie's Week

• Back to Weeshie's Week

The O Se brothers make history

July 29th, 2014
by Sylvester Hennessy
When Marc O'Sé runs out onto the pitch in Croke Park on Sunday next he will complete one of the most remarkable records in the history of the GAA. This will be Marc's 77th senior championship appearance for Kerry in a glittering career that has spanned 13 seasons. In doing so he joins his brothers Darragh and Tomás at the top of the all time list of championship appearances for Kerry. It's almost impossible to comprehend how this proud trio of siblings have risen to the top of the rankings after more than 125 years of Kerry competing in senior championship football. In that period of time thousands of proud men have worn the green and gold with great distinction but none have done so on more occasions that the three modern day Laochs, the O'Sé brothers from Ard an Bhothair, Ceann Trá. While the GAA has no internal record of championship appearances it also appears that this is National record. We have trawled the country looking at the top appearances in each county and it appears that three O'Sé brothers also top the all time list of appearances in the history of the GAA. We pose the question to all of the other 31 counties in Ireland - Has any other player in the history of the All Ireland Senior Football Championship made more appearances than the three O'Sé brothers. We suspect the answer is no. John O'Leary, the former Dublin keeper made 70 championship appearances, but as of now we know of no other player who has broken the 70 championship appearances barrier bar 5 Kerry men, the three O'Sé's, Tom O'Sullivan and Colm Cooper.

( from Weeshie Fogarthy's Terrace Talk blog)

Garden of Europe and some Listowel changes

Garden of Europe

The Garden of Europe is a great place for a walk with the visitors.

These trees behind the holocaust memorial have grown big and tall and now completely enclose the garden. There is also a new walkway behind these trees which the boys loved to explore.

One of the joys of visiting here is the chance to see birds and other wildlife. Birdsong is a constant soundtrack accompanying your every step.

The boys were fascinated by the oldest plant in the garden.

 Bust of Schiller.

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Dead?

What has happened to this tree in the park? It is completely bare.

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That was then;   this is now

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Savannah McCarthy receiving her Radio Kerry Sports star of the month award sponsored by Radleys in Tralee  alongside her Dad Stephen and Weeshie Fogarty.                            (from Listowel Celtic)

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Emmetts ladies

Listowel Emmetts Ladies Football have a new Facebook page.

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History Lesson

As se commemorate the beginning of WW1 let us never forget that those who fail to learn the lessons of history are destined to repeat them.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,


Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.


They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;


They fell with their faces to the foe.



They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:


Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning


We will remember them.



They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;


They sit no more at familiar tables of home;


They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;


They sleep beyond England's foam.



But where our desires are and our hopes profound,


Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,


To the innermost heart of their own land they are known


As the stars are known to the Night;



As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,


Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;


As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,


To the end, to the end, they remain.

From For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon