St. John's, Fleadh 1972 and TaeLane Store

St. John’s Listowel   by Nora Relihan

from a book published in 2001 by Radio Kerry.

Signposts to Kerry was a little slot that Nora used to present on Radio Kerry. Here you have only the text. Nora’s eloquent delivery was an integral part of the package.

“St. John’s is a dynamic Theatre and Arts Centre which presides over the old Norman Square of the busy market town of Listowel and its largely agricultural hinterland.

Built in 1819 to a design by Cork architect, James Payne, the gothic style stone building served the local Church of Ireland congregation for many generations. Bryan MacMahon would tell the story of how, on Sunday mornings, before Independence, a platoon of British soldiers billeted on the banks of the River Feale would march up the hill to attend service in St. John’s with a few breaking away to go to mass in St. Mary’s.

While growing up in Duagh, famous playwright, George Fitzmaurice attended service in St. John’s conducted by his father.  And more recently, during its restoration period, Ted Hughes, who was later to become Poet Laureate to Queen Elizabeth of England read his poetry there.

Now St. John’s is the Mecca for a wide variety of cultural activities in an area already renowned for its writers. New life was breathed into the old grey stone when it was officially opened in 1990, having been restored and refurbished by a voluntary committee. Stained glass windows are complemented by the restful blue furnishings in the auditorium where adaptable seating and lighting provide a flexible space to suit a variety of artistic activities. Local, national and visiting companies from abroad provide theatre in its many forms. Such is their appreciation of the venue that return visits have become almost the norm.

Ever since Listowel recorded and forwarded its condolences to Warrington in Britain after the IRA’s tragic bombing of that city, a Warrington company makes frequent return visits.

St. John’s Youth Theatre has developed along the way and approximately one hundred children benefit from regular teaching in different art forms. The annual summer school is a highlight.

The visual arts find a warm welcome, while music in all its variety can be heard – in fact St. John’s is fast developing a high profile for World Music.

Bíonn ranganna Ghaeilge and dramaí mar ghnathchuid den chlár.

A tourist information outlet is accommodated in the foyer during the summer months.”

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Fleadh in Listowel ….the good old days

The below article is from  The Kerrymen, August 28 1972

ALL THE FUN OF THE FLEADH as All-Ireland Fleadh comes of age;

THE TROUBLE-FREE coming of age All-Ireland Fleadh Ceoil ended in Listowel last night with and attack on  the "little cliques of Irish intelligentsia" for always casting aspersions on things native.

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann National Director Labhras O Murchu told crowds packing the north Kerry town for the final sunlit day of the Fleadh which was celebrating 21 years of Comhaltas activity: "The Fleadh is an opportunity for being ourselves "

But he declared: "There are people in Ireland, little cliques who all the time are casting aspersions on things Irish. There always are people—the influential and so called intelligentsia among them—who are forever casting their eyes and thoughts away from the shores of Ireland.

"These are the people who would forget that we had a great culture and tradition of our own which should always be promoted."

Comhaltas president Seamus de Brun said this was a time when the national revival was being more openly and insidiously attacked than ever before. The latest attack on the revival of Irish was the "stupidly outrageous allegation that our children were being retarded by  Above: The Bishop of Kerry, Most Rev. Dr. Casey was an interested spectator as a piper led the parade during the Fleadh Ceoil in  Listowel.

As an organisation Comhaltas did not participate in the debate on the proposal to enter the Common Market. The organisation, however, did take a more practical step to ensure that due prominence would be given to the  importance of safeguarding the national identity in the context of that debate.

Undertakings had been given by the Department that views would be further considered, but regrettably nothing further had been heard  from the Government Department concerned. A great opportunity had been lost to lead a nation-wide crusade to stimulate a renewed interest in the national revival.

Mr. de Brun declared that entry to the Common Market would not necessarily mean that our national identity would be submerged. Its advent, indeed, might well be the stimulant required to allow our people to become truly conscious of this challenge.

Urban Council chairman Mr. John Pierse said the old-time image of the Fleadhanna should be gone forever and he asked other  towns in Ireland to stand up and be counted—because it was the duty of every Irish person to carry the torch into the next generation.

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Remember this?

Today it is the very stylish TaeLane Store.