Listowel ICA at St. Patrick's Day, St. Michael's and Malahide Castle

An Old Gate

This gate is a kind of folly. You can see it on the John B. Keane Road near the Ballygologue Crossroads. It is beside a back lane into Ballygologue. It serves no purpose except to remind us that this was once the countryside and this was a gate into a field.

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John B. Keane Road in March 2020

Cahirdown in lockdown

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St. Michael's extension

This is the newly built extension to St. Michael's College. It's quiet and deserted now but will see teenage boys enjoy its facilities in the not too distant future.

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Listowel ICA in St. Patrick's Day Parades

(Photos provided by Máire MacMahon)

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The Healing Hand of Nature

(photos from Eamon Ó Murchú taken in March 2020 before the lockdown)

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A Poem from John McGrath

Missing the Last Waltz

My mother wears her bitterness
Like a dark shawl tonight.
Turf-smoke curls about her smoke-grey hair.
'Your father had two left feet,' she spits
Grasping the tongs with blue-veined fingers,
She pokes the fire to coax the dying flames.
'I should have married a dancer,' she sighs
And now her eyes are filled
With the hornpipes of memory
As the ghosts of a thousand hopefuls
Swirl her round the room.
'O, how we loved to dance.'
We lose her for a moment
In the ashes of lost chances,
Until once more the fading embers flicker.
'We could have had our pick,
Kathleen and me.'
Twin heartbreakers in pleated dresses.
They left the dancers standing,
Dashing down Oxford Road
For the last train home,
Missing the last waltz.

John McGrath

Old Indian Marriage Customs, Holy Water, Pres. Girls and a John ODonoghue poem

Ita Hannon took a great photo of this beautiful pheasant.

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Indian Marriages in the late Nineteenth Century

Lyttelton Times, 21 July 1882
By Kbor. (Adelaide Observer)

The wedding season in India lasts two months. The number of marriages which take place there may be guessed when it is remembered that the population in British India alone is nearly 200,000,000, and that marriage is practically universal there. The happy months—the merriest time of all the glad new year—are February and March, whose every day sees a thousand hearts plighted and a thousand couples bound by the bonds of law if not by the silver cords of love. From morning to night the sound of marriage music strikes upon the ear.

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Malahide

When we were free to wander around, Eamon Ó Murchú went to Malahide Castle.
Here are a few of his photos.

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This is the Time to be Slow

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Pres. Girls

Sixth class 97/98 Presentation Primary School Listowel

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The Benefits of Holy Water



There is a most interesting and edifying notice on Holy Water in the porch of Castleisland Church, just above a Holy Water font. It reads as follows:


“Untold spiritual wealth is concentrated in a tiny drop of blessed water… and we give it so little thought!


Did we realise now, as we shall realise after death, the many benefits which may be derived from holy water, we would use it far more frequently, and with greater faith and reverence.


Holy water has its great power and efficacy from the prayers of the Church, which its Divine Founder always accepts with complacency.


FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE PETITIONS THE PRIEST MAKES TO GOD WHEN HE BLESSES WATER.


“O God… grant that this creature of Thine (water) may be endowed with devine (sic) grace to drive away devils and to cast out our diseases , that whatever in the houses or possessions of the faithful may be sprinkled by this water , may be freed from everything unclean, and delivered from what is hurtful… Let everything that threatens the safety or peace of the dwellers therein be banished by the sprinkling of this water, so that the health which they seek by calling upon Thy Holy Name may be guarded from all assault.”


PRAYERS EFFECTIVE.


These prayers ascend to Heaven each time you take holy water and sprinkle a drop either for yourself or for another, whether he be present or absent; and God’s blessings descend for soul and body.


DISPEL THE DEVIL.


The devil hates holy water because of its power over him. He cannot long abide in a place or near a person that is often sprinkled with this blesses (sic) water.


Do Your Dear Ones Live at a Distance?


Holy water, sprinkled with faith and piety, can move the Scared Heart to bless your loved ones and protect them from all harm of soul and body. When worry and fear take possession of your heart, hasten to your holy water font, and give your dear ones the benefit of the Church’s prayers.


The Holy Souls long for it.


Only in Purgatory can one understand how ardently a port soul longs for holy water. If we desire to make a host of intercessions for ourselves, let us try to realise now some of their yearnings, and never forget them at the holy water font. The holy souls nearest to Heaven may need the sprinkling of only one drop to relieve their pining souls.


Remits Venial Sins.


Because holy water is one of the Church’s sacramental, it remits venial sin. Keep your soul beautifully pure in God’s sight by making the Sign of The Cross carefully while saying, “By this holy water and by Thy Precious Blood wash away all my sins, O Lord.”






There is another notice underneath the above one; it covers over the empty holy water font, and reads as follows: “Holy water Fonts are empty due to COVID 19 Coronavirus.”

Poem to an Umbrella Thief, Brothers and Writers at a Book Signing in Mallow

Killarney Stag

The annual rut is coming to an end but Chris Grayson snapped this magnificent fellow earlier this autumn.

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A Lost or stolen Brolly

I posted this photo last week. It is an umbrella that was left behind in St,. John's at the launch of A Minute of Your Time.
Seeing the photo, my friend Nicholas was reminded of another incident involving an umbrella which prompted him into rhyme.

This is what he wrote:

The lost umbrella mention  sparks memory of an incident in Abbeyfeale on St. Patrick's Day in 2012, as the parade proceeded in heavy rain-showers. A good friend of mine left her umbrella down when the rain cleared, and went to chat with her friends. When the rain re-commenced, she went for her umbrella only to find that it had been stolen! A hearty soaking did not cool her ire. I penned the following ditty to commemorate the event, - there might be a sort of  John B. line there too- but she, of her charity has forgiven the thief, I think... To avoid the  risk of upsetting the fairer gender, I have decided the thief must have been a male, though I am not sure...

ON THE STREET IN ABBEYFEALE

Or, The Theft of a Lady’s Brolly,

Which dastardly crime occurred in Abbeyfeale on a Rainy 

St. Patrick’s Day, 2012)

On the street in Abbeyfeale

Loud and high the bagpipes pealed,

And the banners on the breeze did proudly soar;

As the sun came shining bright,

And the rain-clouds dark took flight,

I left my brolly down, the rain being o’er.

To some folks I went to chat,

And sure where’s the harm in that?

It being Patrick’s Day, my pals were all in town;

As the gossip fast did flow,

Of good news - and tales of woe,

A shower of rain once more came pelting down.

Well, I turned to grab my brolly

But then soon realised my folly,

For light-fingers mean had stolen it away!

I had paid for it good money

And it isn’t one bit funny;

That snaky wretch in hell will surely pay!

May the rain and sleet come down,

With no mercy on his crown,

May the sun ne’er heat his bones for evermore.

May his good luck go astray,

May the rain sweep off his hay,

And may Bank and Bailiff ever haunt his door!

Nicholas. 

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Brotherly Love

 These two Athea brothers, I'm told, are still working hard.

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Cuteness overload here. The two lovely little boys, pictured below, are twin brothers, Eamon and Brendan ÓMurchú.

This is how they look today, pictured at the launch of A minute of Your Time with their brother, Aidan.

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A Minute of Your Time

I was in the company of 5 other  writers in Philip's Bookshop in Mallow on November 2 2019.

Here am I standing out in pink with Darina Allen, Clodagh Finn, Philip O'Flynn, Alice Taylor, Kevin Quaid, me and John Spillane who was the singing M.C.

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One for the Diary

We are very lucky to be getting this chance to hear this popular motivational speaker and writer in Listowel

Molly, The Pantomime in the seventies, St. Michael's Ball in 1999 and a Barn Dance in 2019

Doggy in the Window

If Molly had a big red button, she'd put it here.

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When the pantomime was the talk of the town

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Year 1987; Photographer Danny Gordon

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St. Michael's Black Tie Ball

They're planning a black tie ball in St. Michael's. It will be held on March 15th 2019 and tickets are available at the school.

The last time they held such an event was in  December 1999  when the college was celebrating 120 years of education for boys in Listowel.  Here is the souvenir booklet.

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Barn Dance

I found this photo on Facebook of two happy barn dancers, Patsy Kennedy and Kay Lane at William Street on Friday 8 2019 for Listowel's barn dance in aid of Listowel Tidy Town's proposed purchase of a van.

Blasket Donkeys and the Current State of Presentation Convent, Listowel and Kissane Clan Gathering

Gymnasts in The Square

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Athea Mural Update

Do you remember I told you that the figure that the artist, Jim Dunn had added to his mural was a well known local man. The stethoscope protruding from his pocket now gives the game away, it's Athea's very popular  G.P.

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Blasket Donkeys

Chris Grayson took these interesting photos of Blasket Island Donkeys.

The very hairy one looks like a different breed. Or is he just very old and no longer losing his winter coat?
I read somewhere that the island people used to only keep female donkeys. If they had both sexes the males would get frisky and might fall off the cliffs and into the sea so they had to bring the mares to the mainland for the mating pourposes.

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Snapped in Listowel

I ran into Tralee people, Seán Lyons and his lovely daughter. Maeve, recently.

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Update on the Convent

Whenever I'm in the vicinity, I take the opportunity to document the slow decline into ruin of Presentation Convent, Listowel.

I took these photos on August 1 2017. They speak for themselves.

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Kissane Clan Gathering

You've seen the photos, now help them celebrate family.

The planned gathering will open with a gala banquet on Friday evening August 18 2017.
Tickets (€50) are available at Listowel Arms Hotel reception. All Kissane of Kilcox descendants won't want to miss this one. Anyone with an interest in this family is welcome to the banquet.

On Saturday August 19th, proceedings move to The Thatch in Lisselton for the launch of "Descendants of John the Elder", a hard back book including over 90 photographs. This promises to be a great night of family history and reminiscence. The launch will be followed by a night of music and craic with family, friends and neighbours.

A highlight of the weekend will be the Walk and Talk with Eily Walsh. I'm reproducing here Eily's guidelines for those Kissanes planning to attend the walk. This is one for the descendants.

On Saturday Afternoon 19^th at 3.p.m. and, again on Sunday Morning 20^th August  at 12.30 p.m. The Thatch will also be the Gathering Point for the “Walk and Talk” to be held in Kilcox throughout the weekend. (Weather permitting) We expect tickets for these walks to sell very quickly. There are only 25 places MAX for each walk.  Your name will be held on a Booking list and your ticket may be collected at the Thatch Bar a half hour before the walk starts. The Thatch will be the Gathering Point for the Walk, and we will drive in convoy to the two adjoining Kilcox Farms (Scralom Entrance) where the “Walk and Talk” will start. There will be ample parking for up to 20 cars. Tickets are 10 euro each. The walk is very easy and will last approx. 75 minutes. Suitable footwear or flat shoes are advisable. Please bring a jacket as you will be on exposed ground  - whether the sun shines or not. The walk itself is flat and easy, and suitable for all ages with only a slight incline at the end. There are wonderful panoramic views so be sure and bring the camera! 

Sunday August 20th will see the gathered Kissane clan in Coolahan's of Tarbert at 2.30p.m. for an afternoon of music and "sheer joy".

Family gathered for the gathering weekend will be anxious to visit the Kissane tombs in Killeheny. The two tombs will be marked with an identifying marker for the weekend. Ballybunion church will also be open to visitors.

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We are Family

The Kissane family of Kilcox in North Kerry has spread far and wide. There are branches of the family in the U.S. and Australia and representatives of all of this scattered clan are coming home to Kerry this weekend for this great celebration of family.

I was privileged to be in St. John's on Saturday Aug 11 2017 as the exhibition of family photographs to accompany the Kissane Gathering was launched by Eamon OMurchú. Eamon is justly proud of his Kissane ancestors. As a photographer, he knows the importance of family photographs and their role in family history. If you are in Listowel, call in to St. John's to see this important collection of Kissane family history and memorabilia.

The collection was curated by Eily Walsh (here on left of Eamon ÓMurchú). Eily has invested hours and hours of time and effort into collecting the photographs and researching the family history. This weekend gathering and book are all due to her tireless work.

Keelin Kissane of Kerry and Dublin with Barbara Kissane of New York. The ladies are standing in front of a photograph of Barbara's parents on their wedding day.
Barbara's dad, Pats Kissane, was the first president of the New York Kerryman's Association. Keelin is the current chairperson of the Dublin Kerryman's Association.

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Our Very Own Disney Princess

I met this lovely Rose in The Kingdom Greyhound Stadium last night. She is Elizabeth Marine, the Florida Rose.

She is mighty proud of her Listowel connection. She feels that her presence here is in honour of her grandfather, Tom O'Donoghue of Tannavalla who left Listowel for Pittsburg with a heart full of hope and a head full of dreams. He made a success of his life in the land of the brave and the home of the free. He never forgot his Kerry roots and he steeped his family in Irish traditions and Irish culture. He loved Irish music, song and dance and above all he was passionate about Gaelic football. He, himself was a handy footballer with the Six Crosses team.

Elizabeth, his granddaughter, is a singer and dancer. I don't know about the Gaelic football. Her cousins look after that tradition. She is in Tralee with her mother and her sister. Her dad had to stay behind in Florida to look after her severely disabled brother.
If you run into The Roses this week, be sure to single out the Florida Rose. Tell her you are from Listowel and she will be delighted to meet you.