Sunday Morning in Listowel and photos from the Launch of The Personals and he Jimmy Hickey DVD

Rutting Season 2019

Photo: Chris Grayson

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Sunday Morning, Coming Down

" There ain't nothing short of dying half as lonesome as the sound
Of the sleeping city sidewalks, Sunday morning coming down."

The streets are quiet in Listowel too on Sunday mornings. It's a good time to snap the streetscape. The light wasn't great on the morning I took my stroll so the photographs are a bit dark.

Eileen O'Sullivan was coming from mass. She stopped to offer a few words of encouragement.

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Launch of The Personals

I have a few photographs for you from the launch of The Personals in Waterstones on October 3 2019


This book by RTE journalist, Brian O'Connell, is a look at the stories behind the small ads; the classifieds as we called them.


Brian bravely contacted the sellers of interesting items he spotted in his trawl through the small ads in the papers and on Done deal and he met with them and more often than not, got an interesting story.


The launch drew a a packed house with a few celebrities in attendance.

Seán O'Rourke told us a few tall tales of a great grandmother who regularly washed her burial shroud or habit and hung it out on the line to air it so that it would be ready whenever.... He told us of a mother who made sheets from flour bags, and he mentioned a few of the more unusual items for sale that Brian tells us about in The Personals.

The author, Brian O'Connell watching on as his book is launched.

Will you look who I met. Evelyn O'Rourke is a colleague of Seán's and Brian's. She remembered our time making a programme for TG4 with great fondness. It was she who presented the programme where Julie Evans came from Australia to research her gr. gr grandmother who had left from the workhouse in Listowel under the Earl Grey Scheme. Below is the link to the story which was picked up by the makers of the Tar Abhaile programme.

Earl Grey Story

Me in  between Evelyn O'Rourke and Sean O'Rourke.

Brian O'Connell signing my copy of The Personals. Look what he has in his left hand. I invited him to the launch of A Minute of Your Time. You'd never know. He just might come.

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Jimmy Hickey's DVD

This DVD has been years in the making. It was a labour of love for Jimmy Deenihan and a few more and I'm delighted it got such a good reception in The Listowel Arms on Sunday last and I am so sorry that I couldn't be there.

John Kelliher took some great photos on the night. These are just a few, click on the link for more.

The man himself enjoying his big night.

Jimmy in the company of his friends and fellow dancers with the North Cork music maestro, Liam O'Connor

Irish in Virginia 1900, A Poem and Launch of Jimmy Hickey DVD

Photo: Ita Hannon

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Let us not forget

( from Limerick History Gazette archive)

Th

Irish immigrants circa 1900 coming up from a 16-hour shift in the Virginia coal mines.

They were paid in company coins which could only be used in the company store and for company housing.

They were virtual slaves, but they kept their families together, went to church every Sunday, and sent their kids to school to be educated thus ensuring that future generations would live free and prosper.

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A Thread to hold on to in these turbulent times.

The Way it is

by William Stafford

There ia thread you follow
It goes among things that change.
But it doesn't change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it, you can't get lost.
tragedies happen; people get hurt or die,
And you suffer and get old.
Nothing you can do can stop time's unfolding.
You don't ever let go of the thread.

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Jimmy Hickey's Life in Dance

Jimmy Hickey has led an extraordinary life. He has achieved everything he ever dreamed of in the world of dance.


Now his place in the history of Irish dance is to be celebrated in a DVD; Jimmy Hickey and his place in in the History of North Kerry Step Dancing.


The DVD will be launched by Fr. Pat Ahern in The Listowel Arms on Sunday, October 6 2019 at 7.00

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In Listowel Town Park

Community Centres and Dandy Lodge

Danny Hannon's Lifetime Achievement in the Arts, Thurles train station and Munster Championships for Listowel

The Tidy Town corner of Listowel Town Square

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Danny Hannon Honoured at Writers' Week 2019

Danny held his beloved Eileen's hand at his big night at Listowel Writers Week, May 29 2019.

The Hannon family at the door of the family home as they prepare to take the short walk to The Listowel Arms for Opening Night.

Maurice escorted his mother while Joanna Keane, daughter of his great friend, John B. escorted Danny.

The night was filled with emotion, love,  pride, affection and a tinge of sadness.

The story of Danny's contribution to the Arts was told as this very humble gentle man listened. There was talk of drama and books, of plays and playing and particularly innovation in the field of theatre. Many of Danny's family and friends were there to celebrate him.

 V.I.P. guests Joseph O'Connor, Colm Tóibín and Carol Drinkwater listened enthralled.

And still Danny held Eileen's hand. He later joked about the manicure.

The hall was packed. Danny has a long association with Mercier Press who co incidentally sponsored the trophy.

Danny and Eileen posed with Eddie and Helen Moylan, parents of Eileen who designed and crafted the beautiful presentation piece at her Claddagh Design studio in Macroom.

His good friend, Jimmy Hickey was on hand to congratulate Danny. He was just one of a long line of well-wishers.

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Joys of Free Travel

 I had a little rail trip last weekend and I took a photo of this Victorian post box in some train Station but I cant remember which one.

This is Thurles.

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Listowel Pitch and Putt

I was walking in the park yesterday when I spotted that the pitch and putt course was closed. There is a good reason. The hard working club members are getting the course ready for the Munster Championships at the weekend.

The always beautiful course is looking even more beautiful today.