President Michael D. O hUigínn in town, Ballybunion Dining, Writers' Week 2018

Presidential Visit to Kerry Writers' Museum

The purpose of the president's visit to Listowel last weekend was to celebrate Listowel's great win in the Super Valu Tidy Towns' Competition 2018. While he was in the area he fitted in a few other engagements as well. On Friday evening one of Listowel Tidy Town's  hardest working volunteers, Breda McGrath was out giving the place a last sweep up when she spotted Uachtarán na hEireann in his motorcade on his way to The Seanchaí.

There were gardaí everywhere. Here are three who assured me that they have a Listowel connection.

Rambling house musicians waiting to play for the president.

The greeting party at Kerry Writers' Museum with their VIP guests, Eoin Moriarty, David Browne, Sabina and Michael D. Higgins and Madeleine O'Sullivan

I'll have more photos from the presidential visit after my short break.

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Ballybunion, Main Street

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Cosmopolitan Ballybunion

Eating in Ballybunion can be a very interesting experience with cuisine from around the world offered in different establishments around town. Here are a few examples.

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Writers' Week 2019

Tomorrow May 29 2019 is opening night. Here are a few photos from last year to whet your appetite. Here's to a great week for those who love to write, those who love to read and those who love to photograph the people who write and read.

I'll be busy Writers' weeking for the next while. I'll share all the photos later.

Adare, Ballybunion Street Names and a Look back at Writers Week 2018 and a few photos from the weekend

May 24 and 25 2019

This weekend I was at two Michael D. events, two book launches, MS busking and the Eucharistic procession. I took tons of photos. It will take a while to process them, to tell the story and to drip  feed some of the best of them into blog posts. This week I'm busy with Writers' Week so please be patient. There will be lean days yet and I'll post the pictures for you.

VIP visitors, Michael D. and Sabina Higgins with Listowel VIPs, Julie Gleeson and Mary Hanlon.

Hard working Listowel/North Kerry M.S. Society volunteers with Ballybunion musicians and singers at their annual busking day in Listowel on Friday May 24 2019.

Joe Hanlon can't wait to read his copy of Under the Bed.... Robert Pierse's autobiographical work launched on Friday May 24 2019.

John Devoy signs his book, Quondam  for Limerick visitors in Woulfe's bookshop on Saturday May 25 2019.

Annual Eucharistic procession at Convent Cross on Saturday May 25 2019

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Picturesque Adare, Co. Limerick

I stopped recently on my way home from Kildare. Adare is such a beautiful little town.

Adare Manor is a no-go area but otherwise the town is charming and welcoming.

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Ballybunion Street Names

Remember I told you all about the palaver Listowel had over street names?

Well we could take a leaf out of Ballybunion's book. They used a very simple method, e.g. if the road leads to a doon call it Doon Road. If it leads to a sandhill, call it sandhill Road

Here are just a few examples I snapped while I was in town last week

All self explanatory but wait........

A few roads are named after famous Ballybunion people but that's understandable.

and

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Two More Sleeps to Opening Night Writers Week 2019

A few more from last year.

Michael D is due in Town, Police Mutiny in 1920, Nora Moriarty's lace

                                    Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland's Tidiest Town 2019

They say the queen thinks the world smells of paint. She'd feel right at home in Listowel this week.

Such a busy weekend we have in store, folks.

Today is Friday May 24 2019. 

It's polling day in the local and EU elections.

At 7.00 in The Listowel Arms Robert Pierse is going to launch his autobiographical work, "Under the Bed"

And its MS busking day (weather permitting)

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Tomorrow Saturday May 25th

It's counting day in the election centres.

President Michael D. Higgins will unveil the plaque celebrating Listowel's win in the 2018 Tidy Town Competition. There will be music, speeches, celebration and TV cameras. Promises to be great day.

Then after 7.oo mass we will have the annual eucharistic procession from St. Mary's  and finishing with Benediction at the Presentation Secondary School

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Ballybunion

A ship sailing on the Shannon Estuary.

Ballybunion is a pollinator friendly town.

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At Listowel Garda Station

This plaque at the Garda Station remembers those RIC officers who took part in the barrack mutiny of 1920.

There is a full account of the mutiny in the Garda Síochána history page.

Listowel Barrack Mutiny

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Exhibition of Lace

Listowel Writers' Week is always ready to try something different and this is truly different. In Kerry Writers Museum, beginning on Thursday May 30 2019 Listowel Writers' Week will host an exhibition of the lacework of talented local lady, Nora Moriarty.

Nora passed away in 2018 but she left behind a treasure trove of beautiful lacework. Her family have kindly agreed to display some of her beautiful pieces during this year's festival.

Nora was a member of the first committee of Writers' Week and it's first Honorary Secretary.