First day of school, Kerry flags and a postbox at Convent Cross

He'll be Fine

Dear Teacher

I know you're rather busy

First day back, there's just no time

A whole new class of little ones

And this one here is mine

I'm sure you have things covered

And have done this lots before

But my boy is very little

He hasn't long turned four

In his uniform this morning

He looked so tall and steady

But now beside your great big school

I’m not quite sure he’s ready

Do you help them eat their lunch?

Are you quick to soothe their fears?

And if he falls and hurts his knee

Will someone dry his tears?

And what if no-one plays with him?

What if someone’s mean?

What if two kids have a fight

And he’s caught in between?

You’re right, I have to leave now

It’s time for him to go

I’m sure he’ll learn so much from you

Things that I don’t know

Yes, I’m sure they settle quickly

That he’s fine now without me

I know he has to go to school

It’s just so fast, you see

It seems like just a blink ago

I first held him in my arms

It’s been my job to love, to teach

To keep him safe from harm

So, when I wave goodbye in a moment

And he turns to walk inside

Forgive me if I crumple

Into tears of loss and pride

I know as I give him one more kiss

And watch him walk away,

That he’ll never again be wholly mine

As he was before today.

Are you crying?

Blame Doreen Buckley who found this poem on the internet for every mammy and daddy who is seeing off a little one to school this week.

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Flags

Everywhere all over town the green and gold is flying before Saturday's replay of the All Ireland Semi final against Mayo.

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Down Memory Lane; Postman and Council man

Jerry and Pat on Church St. a few years back.

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Elizabethan Postbox at Convent Cross

Convent Cross

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New kids on the blog

Sean and Killian have made a great start on their blog of life in Basque country HERE

Something old, something new 2 ……..

Aspects of  Listowel Town Square in August 2014

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From RTE Archive, 1968

A programme about basketmaking in Connemara

Refuse strike in Dublin 1968

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Brave Listowel man in 1942

The Catholic Press (NSW : 1895 - 1942) Thursday 8 January 1942

M.B.E. to Catholic Doctor

COURAGE IN AIR RAID.

An Irish Catholic who has distinguished himself in the raids on Britain is Dr. John Joseph McCarthy, of Listowel, Kerry, until recently medical officer of the Islington Mobile United. For his services he has been awarded the M.B.E. When houses were demolished and gas and water mains fractured, Dr. McCarthy, helped by members of a rescue party, repeatedly   entered a gas-filled tunnel made through the debris to attend casualties and give oxygen to a trapped man. As a result, nine lives were saved.

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The School around the corner

This week's Kerryman had an account of the programme and a picture of the participants as they are today;

Something old, something new….

Then and Now

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Car Boot Sale

(Source: Rare Irish Stuff on the internet)

This is a far cry from today's car boot sale. These are becoming increasingly popular. There was one in Listowel last Sunday and one in Ballybunion next Sunday. They have dispensed with the car boot and these are now held indoors in community halls.

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Church St. tailor and draper

Tom McAuliffe, son of Tom P McAuliffe( 1846-1921) and Catherine Gleeson  (1879 -1954) lived 79 Church Street, Listowel,  and his wife,  Elizabeth Gaire who died in 1957.

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Calling all Griffins

John Griffin who lives in the US is having difficulty pinpointing where in Kerry his ancestors come from. The most reliable method of doing this is to find a DNA match with some other Griffin from that area. The naming patterns in this man's family match many of the Griffin families in North Kerry.  His request now is for some male Griffin from North Kerry, who is willing to undergo a simple saliva test, to contact him. There will no cost to the volunteer.
Drop me am email if you are interested and I'll get you some more details.

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Market Street in Bloom

Changes and departures

Time and Tide Wait for No Man

2010

2014

 While looking for the above photo of William St.,  I came upon this one. The late Eleanor Scanlon had met up with her former teaching colleagues at Scoil Realta na Maidine, Madeleine O'Sullivan and Theresa Molyneaux during Writers' Week 2009.

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Sign in Market St.

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Today is August 26 2014 and the day when my beloved twin grandsons leave Ireland for a year in France. They have promised to blog their sojourn. I'll keep you posted.

On their last trip to Kerry we paid a final visit for 2014 to Blueberry Home Bakery and Café in Athea because that is where the best milk shakes and chocolate biscuit cake is to be found.

saying au revoir to one of the goats

Bye bye donkeys

The ducks ignored us as usual

the hens were only interested in food.

A face only a mother could love

Pig smiling outside his pigsty.

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Waterford 1905

Drohan's Forge

Presentation, Castleisland, Coolwood and a modern post box

Castleisland Sisters

A friend sent me these photos from a book in tribute to the Presentation presence in Castleisland.

Some of these good sisters have gone to their eternal reward but some are still with us. If anyone wants to update me I'd be delighted to print today's photos of the ladies or any stories anyone would like to share.

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Children and Animals

My boyeens spent a lot of time in Kerry this summer. Tomorrow they head off to France for a year in St. Jean de Lus.
 On their recent visit we made lots of happy memories. One of these involved a day out in Coolwood, just outside Killarney on the Cork Road. It's a great place for a walk through the woods and a chance to see lots of animals and fowl.

This lovely hare was a bit shy.

 The rabbit and the peacock had a bit of a noisy stand off over some food.

Ostriches

The lemurs were allowed to roam free. We did not get too close.

An alpaca

This proud hen was strutting about as if she owned the place.

This young ostrich was having a good look.

Christmas turkey?

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A tad inconsiderate!

Upper William Street, last week

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Post Box in Upper Church St.

The Irish post office was P & T before it became An Post.