Brent Geese, Craftshop na Méar, Hosiery Explained and a Magpie Drops in for a Take away

Brent Geese at Sunset in Beale

Ita Hannon

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John Kelliher's Drone Photos

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Craftshop na Méar

Tom Fitzgerald took this photo of the Listowel Writers Week gang at  a craftshop Christmas event;
Mary Cogan,  Una Hayes, Eilish Wren, Bernie Carmody, Seán Lyons, Maureen Connolly and Masiréad Sharry

The late Eileen Hannon with Danny and Noreen O'Connell at the same event.

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Deja Vu

Noel Roche

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Hose and Half Hose

The question of hosiery came up last week when we were discussing Duhallow Knitwear and how it was always referred to in my home town as The Hosiery.

Our friend, Nicholas, did a bit of research on the internet and this is what he found.

I  believe it all started with mens' wear - (late 13c., "covering of woven cloth or leather for the lower part of the leg, with or without feet," from late Old English 'hosa' "covering for the leg") and developed into basically everything that covered the leg from the knee to the ankle. 

At first, the hoses on the two legs were separate pieces of material- a solution was necessary to preserve modesty, so a cloth codpiece was invented to cover the gap in material.  this was amended to metal to cope with  a certain vulnerability to injury. In the 400s,  following a widespread outbreak of what we would now call (to spare blushes) a 'social disease,' the codpiece was essential to cover the effects and visible signs  of the disease and the manifold 'medicines' applied to combat it. I believe Gucci revived the codpiece in modern times as a fashion statement rather, I suppose, than as a 'nod' to the more indelicate associations.  And it was an unexpected motif in the Spring 2020 menswear collection by American designer Thom Browne, shown in Paris in 2019. Like everything else connected with male vanity, it is believed that codpieces were much aggrandized and exaggerated in size by some.... Henry the V111 was one who did this, as depicted in Holbien Junior's portrait. I presume Kings, depending on male heirs to keep the line going, would at least, have to appear capable of doing so (or be prepared to behead his Queens and kick out the Pope).  

There is a contemporary male-worn item commonly used contact sports, and in ballet: the 'jockstrap.'  

It is time to call a halt on this somewhat  distasteful topic. It may not all be suitable for your Blog. In any case, you have the final editorial call and you may disregard any or all of the above as you wish.

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Piazza Express

During lockdown we are all taking time to observe Nature all around us. Part of that observation for a photographer is also capturing the moment in a snap.

Tom Fitzgerald was fascinated by this magpie who swopped down to take away the remains of his piazza.

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The Confirmation Class of 2020

When the story of the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 is told these boys will be saying, "I remember it well. It was the year I was to make my Confirmation but...."

Photo: Scoil Realta na Maidine

Craftshop the Méar, Scoil Realt na Maidine

The River Lee, Cork in January 2020

Photo: Chris Grayson


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Feeling Nostalgic

Today Im back in 2013 in Craftshop na Méar in Church Street. Happy Days!

We used to have this mascot pig in the window. The shop owner, Robert Corridan, brought him all the way from the U.S. where he used to be blue and was the mascot for one of Robert's favourite restaurants,  The Blue Pig. The late Dan Green, who was a great supporter of the shop, named him Crubeen.

Mary Boyer and Una Hayes were looking after the shop on this day, which, judging by the stock, was near Christmas time. The beautiful crochet work on the top left is the work of Brigitta who now runs Scribes.

Maureen Connolly is sitting by the range working on one of her crochet rugs Beside her in his bawneen is Dinny.

One day as we were having a Christmas event, Alice Taylor dropped in to listen to the songs and stories.

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Scoil Realt na Midine 1960

Craftshop na Méar, Pat Shortt and a competition winner

A Relic of Auld Decency

Photo; Lisa Egan, Mallow Camera Club

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Craftshop na Méar, a Resumé

This is how Kiely's of Church Street looked.

In November 2013 Namir Karim's craftshop moved in and set out to find a name for the new venture. In the window was a big yellow fibreglass pig who became the mascot for the early days. The name that the crafters settled on was Craftshop na Méar, using a naming method I first heard used by Clare GAA.

(There is a GAA rule that every member must be registered with the Irish version of his name. This proved a bit problematic when they had a player called Mosajee Bhamgee. Some genius came up with the nearest Irish equivalent and he was registered as Muiris Bean Sí)

Namir didn't have an Irish version of his name so na Méar was agreed on as the nearest match. Besides in fitted well with the produce which was to be handcrafts.
A competition was held to name the pig. The late Dan Green, who was a big supporter of the shop, hit on Crubeen, the perfect name.

Namir and his daughter, Roza were very involved in their new venture.

Maureen Connolly, Mary Boyer, Eileen Moylan and Isobel Barrett were among the early crafters.

 The shop stocked a wide variety of produce.

 This photograph was taken at the official opening in 2013

Mary Keane cut the ribbon and she was one of the first customers.

Maureen, Mary Anne, Una, Eileen, Mary and Anne enjoyed the opening ceremony as well.

This photograph was taken on one of the "big days" in the shop as the crafters pose with the award for the widow display at Seachtain na Gaeilge.

I have a few more photos but I'll keep them to tomorrow.

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Unbelievable!

Pat Shortt shared this photo of himself and Jon Kenny taken backstage at an early gig in Limerick

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A Prize wining essayist 

Ballybunion From the Sea, an old cottage and a cottage industry

A Different Aspect of Ballybunion

Photographer, Marie Rohan, posted this image on Facebook. She took the stunning photo during a boat trip at last year's Seaweed Festival

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Preserving the Memories

( Photos from the Connemara History and Heritage Centre)

A man sits on a súgán chair outside a modern recreation of an old stone cottage.
There would have been no home drinking in those days.

Apart from a table and chairs the dresser was usually the only good piece of furniture in a 19th. century cottage. Delf was wealth and it was valued and displayed. To the left of the dresser is a creel for turf and a griddle pan for cooking bread etc. To the right is the butter churn.

 The hearth with black pot hanging on the crane over the fire. As was common there is no fireplace as we know it today, just a shelf well up above the fire and a line like a clothes line on which clothes and horses' tackling were hung to dry.

Hand cut turf, unlike today's machine cut uniform sods. This turf does not look black enough to be considered the best. Turf is judged by its dryness and darkness of colour.

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Craftshop na Méar's New Look

Crafters have been busy painting and rearranging the shop. They would love everyone to pop in for a look. There are some lovely things on display. All craftwork is done locally.

Cushions, quilts, clutch bags and jewellery

Books and puzzles for sale include my own Listowel Through a Lens which I am now selling at the knockdown price of €5. All proceeds from the sale of my book  now go to Listowel Chapter of St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Sharyn makes beautiful vintage style jewellery.

The shop is still the sole stockist of the beautiful solid silver My Silver River Feale range.

Viveca's gorgeous lamps can be custom made two your own design.

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Aran Knitting

Long before there was ever a craftshop, Listowel women were knitting and sewing beautiful creations. One of these ladies, Dolores Carroll, was an expert knitter of aran jumpers. She send many of these to her sister in the U.S. who sold them on to her work colleagues. Many people, even some with no Irish connection were eager to wear a genuine Irish sweater. The pictures below show Dolores' sister and her husband wearing some of Dolores' handiwork.

Right now Dolores would prefer that I was reminding Listowel people that The Country Boy with The Lartigue Theatre Co. opened its run  in St. John's on Thursday night, March 31 2016 . It runs until April 4 and there are still a few seats available.

 John Murphy’s comic drama reflects on the social problems of emigration and rural life in the late 1950’s.  Directed by Denis O Mahony, the cast features; Lucille O Sullivan, Clare O Connor, Margaret Murphy, Robert Bunyan, Mike Moriarty and Con Kirby. Dolores is doing as great job on the  publicity.