Charles St., Women in Media 2019 and Teampall Bán

Easter in St. Mary's

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Charles Street/ Sráid Uí Chonghaile

Here is another example of a street with a name in English, by which it is known and a name in Irish which no one uses. I have also discovered that not only does no one I know use the Irish name but most of my friends  are unaware that there is an Irish name that is not a translation of the English.

In the case of Charles Street, local lore has it that the street was named by Lord Listowel after one of his sons.

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Women in Media 2019

Here are a few of the local people I photographed in Ballybunion on Saturday April 28 2019

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Teampall Bán

I had visitors for the weekend and, as well as going to two productions in St. Johns, a few panel discussions in Women in Media conference, and a brilliant seminar in Lixnaw I found a minute to bring them to Teampall Bán. They absolutely loved it and vowed to return.

They thought this gable mural by Maurice Pierse was both moving and prayerful.

They loved the little oratory and the stations of the cross.

They appreciated that there was somewhere to sit and contemplate all the history that is gathered in this place, a whole swathe of Listowel's population wiped out by the Great Hunger.

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The Workhouse

from the Dúchas Folklore collection

The Workhouse was built in 1841. In the famine years it was full up of people who had no food to eat and other houses were used as workhouses. One of these was the college and another Dowd's house. The People who died in the workhouse were buried in Teampall Bán. In the year 1920 the workhouse was closed and the poor people were removed to the county Home in Killarney. 

The house next to the workhouse was turned into a convent in 1891. The mercy nuns lived here. Before that this house was occupied by a party of British horse-soldiers called the Scots' Greys. They lived there from 1880 until 1883. One of these was drowned in the river and the place is now known as the Corporals' hole

In 1922 the workhouse was burned down by the Republicans and at the present time a new hospital is being built.

COLLECTOR

Maurice Bambury

Mayor's Award for LWW, Garda John O'Donnell R.I.P.. Auction at Gurtinard House and changes on Charles Street

Listowel Garda Station in 2019

Church Street, Listowel, January 2019

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Mayor's Award for Writers' Week

The great literary festival that is Listowel Writers'Week was recognised last week at the presentation of the Mayor of Kerry's awards,

If ever there was a definition of blue sky thinking, Writers' Week is a living example. The literary festival goes from strength to strength. Now it is expanding outside a short week in summer into a year long engagement with other festivals and events. The visionary committee well deserves this award.

Accepting the award on behalf of everyone in Listowel Writers' Week are;

Left to Right; Eilish Wren, Joanna O'Flynn, Máire Logue, Norma Foley (Mayor)

 Madeleine O'Sullivan, Miriam Griffin and Elizabeth Dunn

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The Late Garda John O'Donnell

I told this story before in 2012 but I think it's worth telling again.

Garda John O'Donnell who was in his early thirties was stationed in Kanturk, Co. Cork.  In the summer of 1940 he was on holiday in Ballybunion with his wife and three young children.  He told a relative that he would have preferred to holiday in his native Burtonport but petrol was rationed during the war  and he couldn't secure enough fuel for the journey.

On the evening of July 20 1940 he was swimming near Castle Point when a freak wave swept him and other swimmers on to the rocks. John drowned while attempting to rescue two local girls, Vera and Patricia O'Carroll. The girls were eventually rescued by others who were present.

Listowel's Dr. Joseph McGuire was the coroner who presided over the inquest which was held on the following day. The jury commended Mr. Jack McGuire, then a medical student, for his bravery in taking out a life buoy into rough seas in a vain attempt to  save John O'Donnell who was being dragged out to sea by the strong current.

In an extra tragic twist, the body of John O'Donnell was formally identified by his brother who was then only 17 years old.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, letters were published in The Kerryman calling for life guards on Ballybunion beach and the presence of a rescue boat and a competent crew to man it.

Garda O'Donnell was remembered in Kanturk, where he had been living for six years, as a quiet, unobtrusive, helpful brave man. 

He was posthumously decorated by the state for his bravery. 

This courageous man was the grandfather of the very talented artist, playwright and composer Mike O'Donnell.

Dave O'Sullivan found a few newspaper cuttings relevant to the awful tragedy.

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Auction at Gurtinard House in 1868

In June of 1868, Lord Listowel's agent, James Murray Home sold everything in Gurtinard House in an "unreserved auction". The notice was published in the Evening Post of May 23 with a list of items to be disposed of. It makes interesting reading

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Then and Now

Charles Street, January 2019

Knockanure, Charles Street friends, Fr. Roger and Doran's Pharmacy, Church Street

Photo: Chris Grayson

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Knockanure parish church in May 2018

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First Communion, Knockanure May 2018

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Boyhood Friends

Martin Griffin gave me this old photo to share with you.
In front;  Billy Dore, Dominick Scanlon and Richie Chute R.I.P.
Back Buddy Jones and Frank Chute

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Convent Chapel May 2018

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R.I.P.   Fr. Roger Duggan

Last week I attended the funeral mass of Fr. Roger Duggan in St. Mary's Listowel. It was a small funeral, because, in the words of Fr. John Fitzgerald who celebrated the mass, Roger had become a Kerryman only recently.


Fr. Roger was far from "unknown" and during his life he had travelled and served and sang and had many adventures.


As was fitting for a man who loved music his funeral mass featured some of the most heavenly music I have heard in St. Mary's, Listowel.


So who was this gentle holy man?


Fr. Roger Duggan was the only brother of Una Hayes, whom I have come to know through our both belonging to the  Knitwits knitting group.


Una and Roger were born in Wales to Irish parents. They moved to Birmingham and it is here that Roger and Una grew up.


Roger worked in Wales, in England and eventually in Australia. His cv is very diverse. He worked in taxation, in sheep shearing, in the hospitality industry and in railway building.


Eventually this very intelligent and well read man decided on a life in the religious order of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.  He was ordained in 1993 and spent his life in ministry in Australia.


When he retired, he relocated to Cork. He took up a new role as chaplain to the local convent and he helped out with the work of the parish.


When he fell into ill health it was decided that he would be happiest nearer to his beloved Una and her husband Liam and so he spent his last years being well looked after in Oaklands Nursing Home.


May he rest in peace

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Doran's Pharmacy, Listowel opening

I disturbed Norma and staff as they put the finishing touches to her new shop. Outside, the final brush was being put to the paint.

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Things ar Hotting up in the Writers' Week office

All hands on deck, shoulders to the wheel and noses to the grindstone. Writers Week 2018 is 2 days away.

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Nathan Carter meets a Star and her husband

Images of Listowel and Maidhc Dainín ÓSé remembered

A Listowel Sign

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Brendan Kennelly's verse in Listowel Town Square

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Our Fish Shop

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Charles Street

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Maidhc Dainín ÓSé R.I.P.; the Listowel Connection

Maidhc Dainín ÓSé was the father of Daithí ÓSé. Ever before Daithí found fame, Maidhc Dainín was a well known author of several books in the Irish language. He was also an accomplished musician.

Maidhc's day job was as a lorry driver for Kerry Ingredients in Listowel.

Maidhc was tickled pink when his autobiography, A Thig ná Tit Orm (Oh house, don't fall on me) was chosen as a text for the Leaving Cert. Every year during a period in around the turn of the millennium Maidhc used to come to The Seanchaí during Seachtain na Gaeilge to read from his book and to play for the students.

I hope I have uploaded the little clip properly. Maidhc was describing the deal he made with the director of the Cúrsa Samhraidh. He would play for the small weekday ceilí in exchange for free admission to the Ceilí Mór. Money was scarce and the céilithe móra were where the girls were so he was anxious to try his luck there.

Maidhc was a breath of fresh air after Peig. He told his story with humour and much self deprecation. My pupils loved him.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

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Micheál Flavin R.I.P.

(Photo shared by Noreen Keane Brennan on Facebook)

Micheál lived in Church Street, Listowel. He was Bryan MacMahon's friend and preferred bookseller. His shop is still in the Flavin family. Long may it continue to trade in his memory.

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Storm Damage in The National Park, Killarney

Kathleen Griffin braved it to work during Hurricane Ophelia. She took these photographs in Muckross on the day after, October 17 1017