Entente Florale trophy, Cahirciveen, Kells Bay and the unveiling of the Nun's Statue

Another Feather in Listowel's Cap

Yesterday Feb. 27 2020 I was in Listowel Town Square on my way to Carroll's of Course to pick up a lamp they had so kindly ordered for me  when I spotted Darren Enright busy at work in the Tidy Town trophy corner of town. He was putting in place the accolade Listowel received for achieving a silver medal in the Entente Florale competition. The official unveiling of this takes place on Saturday at 2.00 and everyone is welcome.

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Cahirciveen

Cahirciveen is a town full of history. Even on a cold wet weekend in February 2020 with many shops closed for the off season, its appeal is obvious.

Quirke's is a lovely bookshop run by Colman who is passionate about books. His stock is small but carefully chosen.. He even has A Minute of Your Time.

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Kells Bay

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What a difference a word makes

Try this;

Insert the word only anywhere in this sentence:

She told him that she loved him.

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Unveiliing of the Nuns' Statue

On a snowy Sunday in December 2010 Bishop Bill Murphy unveiled Listowel's memorial to the nuns who have given so much to the town. They came in Famine times and fed and clothed the starving and sick of the parish. They have educated the town's young ladies for decades and are still giving service today.

Jimmy Deenihan who worked hard on this project whips the tarpaulin from the sculpture.

The sisters and dignitaries in the sunny snowy square.

Kells Bay Gardens, Turf cutting and Awards for dancers and musicians

Beautiful Kells Bay Gardens

Kells Bay Gardens is a beautiful sub tropical forest park on The Ring of Kerry. It is a truly magical place with dinosaur sculptures carved from fallen trees, forest paths, moss laden trees and rippling streams all nestled in a saucer surrounded by hills.

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Well done Balydonogue Dancers and Listowel Pitch and Putt

Cathaoirleach of Listowel Municipal District Cllr Jimmy Moloney, presenting Ballydonoghue CCÉ Dancers, 
Aoibhín Lyons Captain, Órla Mahony, Sarah Murphy, Audrey Ryan, Molly Linnane, Edel Dillane, Shauna Carey, and Grace Heffernan, Cian Horgan, members of Listowel Pitch ’n Putt Club, Grainne Toomey, Sara Allen at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Cllr Mike Kennelly, Joan McCarthy, Manager Listowel Municipal District. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

( I took the photo and caption from Facebook. Apologies to the people whose names are missing)


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All Ireland Turf Cutting Competition

The first All Ireland Turf Cutting Championship was held on 21st April 1934 at Allenwood, Co. Kildare. From the late 1600s to the end of the 19th century around 6 to 8,000,000 tons of turf were cut each year for home heating and sale. The industry in the 1800s mainly produced moss peat for animal litter and some briquettes. However by the early 1900s the amount of turf cut each year had fallen to around 3,000,000 tons. 

The turf cutting championships were organised as part of a campaign to increase the amount of turf cut and reduce the imports of coal. Eamon De Valera and other Ministers attended each year. The competitions ran from 1934 until 1939. When the war started everybody went back to the bog so the competitions were no longer needed. This photo shows the wing slean competition in 1934.

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LISTOWEL LIBRARY IS HOSTING AN OPEN DAY 

On Saturday 29th February. there will be a library tour at 11.00 am and 3.00 pm. Each tour will include a presentation on Online Resources so people should feel free to bring along their devices and we can answer any questions.  Also : every Saturday morning at 11.00 am we have Storytime & crafts for Smallies  -  For queries  068-23044

Cahirciveen with Family, Boston Listowel Talk, Writers in Town and Diarmuuid and Gráinne

Cahirciveen

I recently spend a lovely weekend in Cahirciveen with my whole family. Here we are in Kells Bay Gardens on a wet and windy Saturday.

We all did the rope bridge crossing.

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Listowel Comes to Boston

If you live anywhere near Boston this will interest you.

If you need to know a bit more about Vincent, here is a recent video from Listowel.ie

Vincent Carmody

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Movers and shakers of the Irish book world at Listowel Writers' Week 2019;  Rick O'Shea, Colm Tóibín, John Boyne and Joseph O'Connor.

This year the festival runs from May 27 to May 31.


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Obituary to a Priest from a Family of Priests in Australia

Catholic Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW)- Thu 29 Jun 1939

One of the oldest and best known Priests in the Archdiocese of Melbourne Rev. John Joseph Gallivan, died at Northcote early on Friday week in the eighty-third year of his age. On the previous Tuesday morning he attended the Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Joseph's Home, Northcote, and was one of the assistant deacons to his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne. 

The announcement of his death caused deep regret throughout the Archdiocese, and especially at Northcote and Sunbury, where he had laboured untiringly for many years in the priesthood.

 Born in Listowel. County Kerry, Ireland, on February 8 1856. Father Gallivan entered All Hallows College, Dublin, and was ordained on June 24, 1880.   Had he lived another fortnight he would have celebrated his 59th year as a priest. He arrived In Melbourne on November 1 of the same year, and his first appointment was that of curate at Old Kilmore to Rev. M Farrelly. In May. 1886, he was appointed parish priest at Gisborne. twenty-five years later, Sunbury, with Bula attached, was made a separate parish, with Father Gallivan in charge and he remained there until 1923 completing forty-three years' service in the Kilmore, Gisborne and Sunbury districts —six years as curate and thirty-seven years as Parish Priest There was great regret in Sunbury when Father Gallivan left there to take charge of St Joseph a Parish, Northcote. This was in April, 1923. 

In 1906 he revisited his native land after an absence of twenty six years. In June, 1930, he celebrated his sacerdotal golden jubilee, and his fellow-priests tendered him a dinner and

presented him with an address. A jubilee concert was held in the Northcote, Town Hall, and  celebrations were also in Sunbury and  Gisborne, where the jubilarian was most enthusiastically

welcomed. 

The obsequies of the deceased priest took place at St. Joseph's Church, Northcote, his Grace Archbishop Mannix presiding and preaching the panegvric.

Among the priests who attended were Rev. P. Galvin. P.P of Katoomba, N.S.W.  Rev D. Galvin, P.P. of Springwood, N.S.W. and Rev M Calvin, P.P.. of Footscray, nephews.

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The Fianna in Beale

Local Historical Landmark
In a place near the cliffs three fields from our school there is a mound of earth which is locally called "Darby's Bed" Leaba Diarmada. It is said that Fionn expected Grania's hand in marriage but instead of she marrying Fionn she married Dermot. Dermot and Grania had to fly from the wrath of Fionn. They travelled round the cliffs from Ballybunion and they crossed a chasm on a pig's back. This place is called Léim na Muice. On their travels they rested on a place only three fields from this school and ever since this lump of earth is locally called "Darby's Bed". We find on the Sopers' and Miners' maps that the right name for this place is "Diarmuid and Grania's bed". This place is in the townland of Kilconly.
Michael Lynch, VII, Doon, Ballybunion
June 27 1938
Information from people at home.

Sean Byrne, The Kerryman Mural and Listowel Marching Band

Strickeen Mountain

Sandra Johnson shared this fab. photo to This is Kerry

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Kerryman Building 2020

 The Kerryman with Mike O'Donnell's great paperboy mural

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Listowel Marching Band 1987

Photo: Charlie Nolan

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A Family Hero

From the Dúchas Folklore collection

Martin Leahy's Story

A great man 
My Uncle who lives with me says the strongest man he ever knew was Sean Byrne. He says although he was very strong he was as quiet as a child. 

There was a policeman in Abbeyfeale and he said that he himself was a good man and that he was stronger than any other policeman in the barrack. It happened one day that Seánwas in Abbeyfeale and that he was drunk, this policeman saw him and to show off his strength went up to arrest Seán. When he came up to Sean he said "You are drunk."
 "I am" said Sean. 
"You are" said the policeman "and I must arrest you." 
Sean went along quietly with him for some time and when he saw his opportunity he threw the policeman into a pool of water that was near at hand. Sean went home and policeman went into the barrack and he was never boasting after that. 

I heard about that there was a son of his at Latchfords in Listowel and that he too was a very strong man.

Martin Leahy st.v
Dromore, 27 . 6 . 1938
Information from my uncle,
Edmond Leahy, Bromore, Ballybunion.
He got it from his grandfather.

James Carmody, An Upcoming Lecture and Faction Fighting in the nineteenth century

Photo; Lisa Egan

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Date for the Diary

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Faction Fighting in North Kerry

I haven't read this book yet but it sounds fascinating. Here is a small section of a long extract that was published in The Irish Examiner;

"At Lisselton, on Christmas Day 1828, Maurice Flaherty was attacked by three men of the Mulvihills and a man named Fitzgerald, and ‘cruelly beaten’ with sticks and stones.

‘It appeared that a drunken fellow [,] one Fitzgerald, infuriated with whiskey, brandished his cudgel and halloed for one faction; he was instantly replied to, and a most bloody affray soon commenced.’

It was asserted that Flaherty was killed ‘under circumstances of the

most shocking and unmerciful cruelty’.

John Mahony Mulvahill, ‘a young man’, was convicted of manslaughter, and, seemingly based on the terrible nature of the killing, sentenced to transportation for life, ‘amidst the deafening shrieks and lamentations of his male and female friends’.

At Ballyheigue, on the evening of St Patrick’s Day 1839, a crowd of about 20 people, whom a policeman believed to be Cooleens and Lawlors, struck each other ‘as hard as they could pelt’.

At Beale, Ballybunion, the pattern day ‘was usually marked out for a faction fight between the two great factions then in North Kerry — the Cooleens and the Mulvihills’, said a later folklore interviewee.

A recollection of Beale fair, which was held on 21 September, written in 1928, stated: ‘It was the battle ground of the old faction fighters and next to Ballyeigh ranked as North Kerry’s biggest event. Many and sanguinary were the fights that took place there between the rival factions that held sway in North Kerry and old men still tell tales of broken heads and bones.’

The two parties also met at the pattern days held annually in Knockanure on 15 August.

In the earlier part of the nineteenth century this Pattern was the scene of many a faction-fight between what were known as the Couleens and the black Mulvihills; young and old assembled there to see the fight; the contending parties being armed with black-thorn sticks … Hard strokes were given and received, and many a young man was maimed for life.

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An Unlikely Hero

I have heard that there was once a strong man in Beale. His name was James Carmody. One day he was forced to fight a bull and with the first blow of a stick he gave the bull he killed him. After that he was forced into a wrestling match with a strong man from Tarbert. When he got his hands firm around the man's body he squeezed him to death. He was considered the strongest man for miles around and he was a famous man that lived around the locality at that time.
Patrick Mulvihill v.
Lensechane, Ballybunion.
June 24th 1938

James Moriarty, Hurler, Ultra Marathon Running and a Hurling Hero

Seat in The Garden of Europe

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From the Archives

The Riverine Herald (Echuca, Vic. : Moama, NSW : Wed 26 Aug 1874-Page 3

DEATH UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.—The following extraordinary story (says

the Cork Examiner) is sent to us from our correspondent at Listowel, whom, we think it right to say, we have always found trustworthy and accurate:—

A young woman named Murphy aged about 19, the daughter of a farmer in the parish of Abbeyfeale, with a younger sister of about 17 years, had gone to the early Mass at Abbeyfeale, last Sunday, and, it is said, they both received the sacrament that morning. Having returned home, the sisters went out for a walk about twelve o'clock, and proceeded along the bank of a stream which runs adjacent to their residence. They had not gone far, when they observed four men bearing a coffin coming towards them from the fields, and as they approached where the sisters stood they deposited the coffin on the ground. The men then advanced, and attempted to lay hands on the elder sister, who, with a piercing shriek, retreated from them, but the men closed upon her and as they dragged her towards the coffin, she cried out in a piteous tone, 'Oh leave me until I am better prepared.' The younger sister ran home in a state of intense alarm. The young girl's mother, on hearing what occurred proceeded at once with the younger daughter to the place where the latter had witnessed the struggle. On nearing the spot they observed no trace of the men nor the coffin but they beheld the form of the young woman lying apparently lifeless on the ground. On attempting to raise her, they found that she was dead and her features were so altered as to be scarcely recognisable by the bereaved mother.

 Such are the facts, as narrated by the surviving sister and the impression the story has made in the minds of all who have heard it cannot be well described. I have not heard that an inquest was held on the body, though one might suppose this was a case that certainly ought to be thoroughly investigated.

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David Toomey and his Ultra Marathon

Many of us in Listowel know David best in his day job as our very talented town horticulturalist and planting expert. What you may not know is that David is also a very keen runner and his latest distance is ultra marathon.


At any time of year marathon running is not for the faint hearted but on the weekend of February 15/16 2020 with Storm Dennis battering the country, anyone with any sense would deem it a day for the fire. Not David Toomey. He was committed to doing the Gaeltacht Mhuscraí marathon.

Here is David's own account, as posted on Facebook, of his adventure


Sorry about the long post but I felt I'd better share the epic journey of the Slí Gaeltacht Mhuscrái 2020.

We started the run at about 8.20 from Kealkil after a 1hr 30m bus journey. It was raining and cold at the start line. The first few miles went ok. It was actually warm and I felt I was over dressed.

I got about seven miles in when the calf started to play up. After another mile or two I was reduced to a walk with serious pain. At this stage I was gutted because there was nice running conditions, flat and downhill sections which I had to walk. I decided to take it handy, not panic and get to the checkpoint where I could assess the leg.

After arriving at the checkpoint, I think around mile 11 I took some painkillers and after talking with the support crew at the feed station I decided I'd continue to the next checkpoint at Ballingeary which was about 7 miles.

A tough slog over the mountain's there was wind and driving rain but I got to Ballingeary. On arrival I told the lads my problem and fair play, one of them rubbed out the calf for me. It was very sore and swollen. A big knot had formed at the top of the calf. This was causing most of the problem. I asked them how far to Ballyvourney, the next checkpoint, and they told me about 19kms so I decided to plough on and hopefully make it. 

I had decided to call it a day at Ballyvourney because I was afraid of doing damage and there's a long year ahead. I'll never forget the next section. With all the rain the river had burst its banks and we had two crossings waist deep. Also the trail was flooded so we had to navigate that. At one stage I went to the chest in water. All I could think of is God help the lads coming behind us because the river was rising rapidly. The bog sections were very difficult, slippery, soft, wet and ankle deep rough going. 

Ballyvourney came at last. I felt lucky to have made it this far. A pit stop for tea,food and a little chat to myself. 24km to go. So I said I'd struggle now and walk if I had to.  Again tough going, mountain, bog, fire road and lots of water. Long story short I met a few lads on this section and we helped each other. The calf had loosened out a bit so I was able to jog/walk along. 

Finally got to Millstreet I couldn't believe it when I could see the lights in the distance. The joy I felt is indescribable. I thought at seven miles I was going home, now I'm finished possibly the toughest race I've ever done. Thanks everyone for all the lovely comments, messages it really keep me going. Thanks to my love for keeping me going on the phone and finally to the MMRA crew for putting on a fantastic race support and volunteers. 

I'll be back again on a better day. Storm Dennis no match for ultra runners. 

Ps if someone has a loan of two legs I'd be happy to take them.

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The Guardian......A Listowel Connection

When you're a freelance  photographer getting your photo on the front page of The Guardian is a triumph. This is just what happened to Cathal Noonan. His photo of the MV Alta, grounded off Ballycotton was chosen as the front page picture on Tuesday's paper. Cathal has two Listowel aunts and many Listowel cousins.

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A Local Beale Hero

From the Dúchas Schools' Folklore Collection

The best hurler the oldest people ever remember was James Moriarty.He lived somewhere around Kilconly. One Saturday he and his wife removed to the border of the County of Cork. After going to bed that night his wife said it was better for him to be there than to be going to the "Moneens." The moneens are in Flahives farm, Bromore. "What is in the Moneens"asked the man. The woman told him that she had received a letter that he should go and attend the hurling match which was to be held there. He made up his mind to go and jumping out of bed he went off to Bromore. When the ball was thrown up he was the first man that struck it and after striking the ball he leaped thirty three feet. There is a mark to this day on the place where he jumped. The place is pointed out above at Dan Flahive's field of Bog

Nora Griffin vi
Beale, Ballybunion
June 24th 1938
Information from people at home.

Listowel Castle, Baltimore Talk, Bibiana Foran and Listowel Celtic Oskars

Cathleen Mulvihill shared this unusual picture of Listowel Castle on the Glin Historical Society page


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The Oskars

Lent in the old days was a time for plays and drama. Dances were forbidden and people entertained themselves as best they could at card games and plays.
Well, Listowel is going to get a taste of the good old days on February 29 2020.

Filming has been taking place with local people reenacting such classic plays/films as The Field, The Snapper, Sister Act, Grease and Father Ted and prizes will be awarded on the night to the best film etc. It promises to be a night to remember.

Joanne O'Riordan shared this photo of filming of The Field at The Thatch in Lisselton.

This great picture of some of the cast of Sister Act comes from Kevin Rowe Events who did the filming.

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Bibiana Foran

This plaque is on a commemorative bench in Listowel's town park.


I wrote here about this lady before. Vincent Carmody is a great man for keeping the memory of Listowel's old stock alive. He told me all about this lady with the unusual name. Her grandniece saw the post and here, in case you missed it,  is the comment she posted.

Bibiana Foran was my grand aunt. The OS most probably stands for her initials of her maiden name...she was O'Sullivan. Her home was in Lacca, Ballyhahill. Her brother Patrick was my grandfather. She was an amazingly capable lady....had a huge impact on the lives of many of the underprivileged in Listowel. She befriended many of the political prisoners during the trouble times. She with Lady Aberdeen, established the first sanatorium in Peamount, Dublin. A letter to her from prison from Thomas Ashe is in Tralee library. I gave it to her grand daughter, Grace, ( now sadly deceased) who had it presented to Tralee library. My aunt , Nora O'Sullivan, had that letter among her possessions, as she inherited Auntie Bibbie's property in Ballybunion. I felt her grand daughter should have it. She & husband Jeremiah, also owned the Horseshoe Bar in Listowel & Cahirdown house in Listowel . Would be happy to give further info if needed. Irene Hynes 
( ihynes@hotmail.com)

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Field Names in Bromore

One of the fields I know is called The Well field. In olden times it was said that it was a very holy well but no people visit it now. Two people who were nearly blind had their sight restored to them after a visit to it. One of these was Johanna Collins and she died only a short time ago and she was 90 years. The people near at hand are now using the water out of it for the household use. This well is in land of Patrick Collins. The well is called Tobar na geárdáin.

Martin Leahy v
Bromore 22 - 6 1938

Information from my Uncle
Edmond Leahy, smith ; aged 72
He got the story from his grandfather.


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Baltimore Followers

Here is a date for the diary for anyone who is near here.

( Photo and text from Mark Holan's Irish American Blog)

This is the Irish Railroad Workers Museum and it is here that Mark Holan will give this talk on March 7

Ruth Russell Talk is March 7 in Baltimore

I'm giving a talk about American journalist Ruth Russell's 1919 reporting trip to revolutionary Ireland on Saturday, March 7, at the Irish Railroad Workers Museum in Baltimore.

The talk is based on my five-part monograph about Russell's life. I presented this research at the 2019 annual conferences of the American Journalism Historians Association, in Dallas, and the Newspaper and Periodical History Forum of Ireland, in Belfast.

Register for the free event, which begins at 11 a.m. The museum is located at 918 Lemon St., near downtown Baltimore. Here’s my earlier post about the museum, which is worth visiting anytime.

Garden of Europe, The Oskars, A Photograph and and the Weather

Spring sun casting shadows over the steps into The Garden of Europe

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The Night of The Oskars

Promises to be  great night.

I caught these 4, Mary, Jennifer, Catherine and Namir during filming at Christy's

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North Kerry Writers

Pictures in Flavin's window

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The Value of a Photograph

Every photograph is  important. When the photographer clicks that shutter, he captures a moment in time that will not come again but can be relived with the help of the snap.

I enjoyed this essay which is shared with us by Mattie Lennon

THE SNAP

                                By Mattie Lennon

  Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created. It is a major force in explaining man to man. --Edward Steichen.

   Great thinkers have made many comments about photography but when was yours truly introduced to the medium?

   It was a Sunday in the early summer of 1949. My mother was combing my curly, uncooperative, hair and my father was repairing one of my boots on the small foot of the last. I was being prepared for the journey to the other side of Kylebeg, to my mother’s uncle, Phil Molloy. His nephew, Dan Quinn, was down from Dublin and would take my “snap”.

   Across the valley was a long walk for a three-year old. On arriving at our destination I was put standing on a dry stone-wall which seemed frighteningly high. It was probably about eighteen inches high but to me it was like being on the Eiffel Tower.

   My Grand-uncle was an economy conscious bachelor, sheep farmer, not in the habit of dispensing lemonade or sweets. And he wouldn’t even dream of pressing a shiny shilling, or even a tanner, into the sweaty palm of a shy junior. His favourite comment on the prevailing economic climate of the time was, “It’s hard to live now.” The click of the Brownie didn’t impress; perhaps it led to my camera-shyness in later life.

   When, recently, I dug out the picture (which is the only pictorial record of me until I made my Confirmation seven years later) I decided to write a poem about it;

Me,

At three.

  I was claiming that it was the shortest poem in the English language until an intellectual acquaintance took the wind out of my sails. (Don’t they always!)

   He pointed out in his erudite manner that Mohammed Ali’s autographical poem was shorter;

Me,

Whee.

David Hockney said, “ All you can do with most ordinary photographs is stare at them”. Is this “snap” an ordinary photograph and can I only stare at it? I don’t know. All I know is that it is me seventy years ago and everybody else associated with it has gone to that great studio in the sky.

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Weather Lore

From the Dúchas Schools' Folklore Collection



Weather Signs
When bad weather is near at hand you will notice in this locality the foam rise and dash against the Cliffs off the coast of Clare. The Rooks and Seagulls fly to the land when severe weather is approaching searching for food. The cat sits on the hearth, the soot falls down the Chimney when we are near bad weather. You would also notice a circle round the sun and moon and the clouds are very dark. the wind is generally from the west or south west when we have bad weather.
When we have good weather in this locality you will hear the waves at the north or north east. When we have good weather the birds fly high into the air in search of food. This is generally the case with the swallow. The sun and moon shine bright and clear and the sea is quite calm.

Michael Griffin v.
Bromore,
Ballybunion
June 23rd -1938
Information from people at home