Wednesday, 21 December 2016

Exits 2016, Christmas in Florida, a ball and A Letter from a Watchman



Losses of 2016    (Photo from Twitter)




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I Still Wouldn't Trade Places. Would you?



(from the internet)


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Our Friends at Áras Mhuire are planning big Things





NEWSFLASH!

Meet your sporting heroes for the Cause of Causes

at the Áras Mhuire Black tie Ball. All proceeds will go to acquired brain and spinal injury services at Aras Mhuire Nursing Home.

It is a black tie ball event to be held in the Listowel Arms hotel on Saturday February 11th.
 Drinks reception at 7.15pm Dinner at 8pm.

We will have a number of national sporting heroes present on the night. 

The main theme of night involves having an online auction of sporting memorabilia. The auction which will be held beforehand is for the only  jersey that was signed by the Irish team in Soldiers Field in Chicago after the win against the All Blacks. 

The auction will also include a jersey signed by the 2014 All Ireland Champions and a signed Dublin Jersey from the 2016 Champions. 

Other Jerseys to be auctioned will be announced later. The online auction will conclude on the night and the winners will be announced at the dinner.

Tickets are €100 and are available from The listowel Arms and 
Áras Mhuire Nursing Home, 068 21470

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One from the Archives

Letter from Listowel, published in the Southern Reporter and Cork Commercial Courier of 11th May 1865.

Local Grievances and Local Scenery
We forward the subjoined letter which has been handed to us by “Lame Paddy,” our news boy. Hitherto, we did not give the writer credit for such flippancy of thought, but he ensures us that the effusions are his own, and though we differ broadly from him in his views as regards the duties of the night watchman referred to, yet there are some locally important matters adverted to which may render the letter worthy of a place :-

“To the Editor of the Daily Reporter.
Church-Lane, Listowel, 10th May 1865,

Dear Sir – In my meanderings and up-and-down wanderings through the town, I pick up a great deal of news early and late, without much profit to myself, or benefit to the public, but as I am now on the staff of the Cork Reporter, for you know it is myself, Sir,  that carries about your paper every day, and it gives me much pleasure to state that it is well received by all classes and all parties, irrespective of creed or political feelings, which, by Dad, gives me a large commission.
The great desideratum of  our gaining a local name and habitation among the “Northerns” is  already achieved and, although the “South” may have many attractions, they are not a bit beyond us in intelligence; we can estimate measures, not men,  and we can draw a distinction between what is for our good and otherwise, but that is not here or there to what I want to say.
Some few weeks ago the watchman that is here spied upon Maurice O’Halloran,  and in consequence was he fined £1 and costs for having some persons in his house at 11 o’clock at night.  This was all right you will say, but I say it was all wrong, as the watchman, being paid by the shopkeepers only to sing out the hour, ought to let the police mind their own business. At any rate, a few persons in the town, determined to put down the wretched crew of informers  that exist here, signed a paper appointing another man and the people were afraid  of signing this for fear of causing anger to themselves, or annoying the head who put his tail into it.
But as I am heartily sick of the low tricks and ignorant devices of officialism in Listowel , I hasten to inform you that I am going out on Sunday to see that far-famed and justly celebrated watering place called Ballybunnion, on a visit to your agent there.  Mr. Harence, the popular Landlord of that locality , was there last week, and was welcomed with bonfires, &c. He placed a splendid clock, at his own expense solely, in the church, which is of great advantage to the folk, as they will know “the time o’ day.” He is about fitting up a hotel, which I do not see much use of, as there is a first-class one there before, kept by one of the most obliging landlords in the country. I do not know how will he act towards this hotel-keeper, as the place will not support two; if he is strong he ought to be merciful, and look to what he exemplifies in his own case- vested rights.
I am told he is about to build a number of cottiers’ houses which will be of service to the working classes, that is if the working classes are there for them. He is also to start a public car, connecting it with Foynes Railway, so that tourists may proceed at once to Ballybunnion without waiting at Listowel. All these arrangements to be effected this season.
Ballybunnion, as a watering place, stands unrivalled for scenic beauty. All along, an iron bound coast is lashed by the billows of the mighty Atlantic, and the wild scream of the sea-birds, as they rise on high, fills one with awe. The healthful breeze blowing landward, braces the nerves and gives renewed courage to face manfully the trials of life and struggle among those contending upward and onward. There are some beautiful natural caves through which, at high-water mark, the sea rolls, disporting itself through the basalt rocks until it makes an outlet at Doon Bay, a sad and solitary spot, where the curlew’s wail is heard far away.
The strand is a beautiful level table of sand, firm and unyielding, and the places set apart for male and female bathers are well selected, and possess every advantage. Mr. Harence, it is said, will erect baths, a consummation devoutly to be wished for, as we calculate, after a little trial they will compete with any in the country. The town of Ballybunnion consists of a number of houses with a large and commodious hotel, where every accommodation can be got. Mr. Scanlan, the proprietor, is an intelligent gentleman, who gives his best attention to tourists, and all parties visiting the waters. As the season is likely to be a crowded one there, I will after my visit give you a few more particulars – I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, LAME PADDY.”



Local Grievances and Local Scenery –
Letter from Listowel, published in the Southern Reporter and Cork Commercial Courier of 11 May 1865.

We forward the subjoined letter, which has been handed to us by “Lame Pady,” our news boy. Hitherto we did not give the writer credit for such flippancy of thought, but he ensures us that the effusions are his own, and though we differ broadly from him in his views as regards the duties of the night watchman referred to, yet there are some locally important matters adverted to which may render the letter worthy of a place :-

“To the Editor of the Daily Reporter.
Church-Lane, Listowel, 10th May 1865,

Dear Sir – In my meanderings and up and down wanderings through the town, I pick up a great deal of news early and late, without much profit to myself, or benefit to the public, but as I am now on the staff of the Cork Reporter, for you know it is myself, Sir,  That carries about your paper every day, and it gives me much pleasure to state that it is well received by all classes and all parties, irrespective of creed or political feelings, which by dad, gives me a large commission.
The great desideratum of  our gaining a local name and habitation among the “Northerns” is  already achieved and, although the “South” may have many attractions, they are not a bit beyond us in intelligence, we can estimate measures, not men   and we can draw a distinction between what is for our good and otherwise, but that is not here or there to what I want to say.
Some few weeks ago the watchman that is here spied upon Maurice O’Halloran,  and in consequence was he fined £1 and costs fo having some persons in his house at 11 o’clock at night.  This was all right you will say, but I say it was all wrong, as the watchman, being paid by the shopkeepers only to sing out the hour, ought to let the police mind their own business. At any rate, a few persons in the town , determined to put down the wretched crew of informers  that exist here, signed a paper appointing another man and the people were afraid  of signing this for fear of causing anger to themselves, or annoying the head who put his tail into it.
But as I am heartily sick of the low tricks and ignorant devices of officialism in Listowel , I hasten to inform you that I am going out on Sunday to see that far-famed and justly celebrated watering place called Ballybunnion, on a visit to your agent there.  Mr. Harence (sic), the popular Landlord of that locality , was there last week, and was welcomend with bonfires, &c. He placed a splendid clock at his own expense solely in the church, which is of great advantage to the folk, as they will know “the time o’ day.”
He is about fitting up a hotel, which I do not see much use of, as there is a first-class one there before, kept by one of the most obliging landlords in the country. I do not know how will he act towards this hotel-keeper, as the place will not support two; if he is strong he ought to be merciful, and look to what he exemplifies in his own case- vested rights.
I am told he is about to build a number of cottier’s houses, which will be of service to the working classes, that is if the working classes are there for them. He is also to start a public car, connecting it with Foynes Railway, so that tourists may proceed at once to Ballybunnion without waiting at Listowel. All these arrangements to be effected this season.
Ballybunnion, as a watering place, stands unrivalled for scenic beauty. All along an iron bound coast is lashed by the billows of the mighty Atlantic, and the wild scream of the sea-birds, as they rise on high, fills one with awe. The healthful breeze blowing landward, braces the nerves and gives renewed courage to face manfully the trials of life, and struggle among those contending upward and onward.
There are some beautiful natural caves through which at high water mark the sea rolls, disporting itself through the basalt rocks, until it makes an outlet at Doon Bay, a sad and solitary spot, where the curlew’s wail is heard far away. The strand is a beautiful level table of sand, firm and unyielding, and the places set apart for male and female bathers are well selected, and possess every advantage. Mr. Harence (sic), it is said, will erect baths, a consummation devoutly to be wished for, as we calculate after a little trial, they will compete with any in the country.
The town of Ballybunnion consists of a number of houses with a large and commodious hotel, where every accommodation can be got. Mr. Scanlan, the proprietor, is an intelligent gentleman, who gives his best attention to tourists, and all parties visiting the waters. As the season is likely to be a crowded one there, I will after my visit give you a few more particulars – I remain, sir, your obedient servant, LAME PADDY.”


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