New Director at St. John's, Church Street girls, Owen Family of Ballyhorgan Cycling and the Crown Jewels

Wildflower meadow at Ballincollig Regional Park

<<<<<<<<<<<

They're Changing the Guard at St. John's

Máire Logue is the new artistic director of St. John's Arts and Heritage Centre, Listowel. I photographed her in St. John's with Joe Murphy, the retiring director.

<<<<<<<<

Church Street Girls

Eileen Sheridan shared a photo memory

Clementine Crowley Ann McSweeney, Gertie Kennelly, Mary OSullivan, Eileen Scanlon, Ann Ryan

Mary Fitzmaurice Mary Walsh , Eileen McSweeney,  Alice Gleeson.

Sadly three of the girls have passed away.

<<<<<<<

Owens of Ballyhorgan

Harriet Owen with Tom Fitzgerald and Jimmy Deenihan in The Listowel Arms on one of Harriet's frequent trips to Kerry to reconnect with her family home in Lixnaw.

Harriet sent me a short version of her family history which I published in Listowel Connection. John Stack of Kildare and formerly of Duagh was interested to see that an Owen had married into the Ellis family of Abbeyfeale. Ellis was a family John had encountered when researching his own family as these Ellises were his mother's people's landlords.

He sent us a newspaper cutting

<<<<<<<<,

Resurgence of Cycling

In our cities nowadays you have to be struck by the numbers of people cycling to and from work. I took these photos on Cork's Grand Parade recently. There seems to be bicycles everywhere.

The bike scheme stand was almost empty.

<<<<<<<

The Theft of The Irish Crown Jewels

A friend lent me this book. The story of the disappearance of the Irish Crown Jewels and its disastrous consequences for North Kerry is a fascinating one.

<<<<<<<<

In Dublin Yesterday

Kerry has survived to fight another day. I don't know if the supporters nerves will survive another one, though.

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

The Tidy Town corner of Listowel Town Square

<<<<<<<<

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.

<<<<<<<<

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.

<<<<<<<

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.

Bill Clinton in Listowel, Joe Murphy of St. John's ,The Fancy Warehouse and St. Patrick's Day 2019

Jim McSweeney

<<<<<<<<<<

St. Patrick's Day Parade 2019

You'd never know who you'd run into at the St. Patrick's Day parade. On Charles Street I met up with neighbours and friends.

.........

2019 parade in Charles' Street

Liam Brennan is a convincing St. Patrick  figure.

Proudly flying the flag for Listowel were this year's victorious Tidy Town Committee.

The Listowel convent girls marching band are an essential part of Listowel's parade.

<<<<<<<<

Bill Clinton Whizzes Through

What is it with U.S. presidents and golf?

Since Eizenhower in 1954 the White House has had a putting green. It's been installed, allowed to grow over, reinstalled and eventually relocated by President Clinton, an avid golfer.

Photo of the then president and vice president in 2009 from the internet.

Flash back to September 1998 and US President Bill Clinton is on a visit to Ireland and part of that trip is a round of golf in the famous Ballybunion links.

The plan was for POTUS to stop in Listowel for a photo op. drinking the obligatory pint in John B.'s. His itinerary was known and a group of peaceful protesters gathered in the small square. US security got a bit windy for the president's security and hastily changed the plan. Listowel was bypassed and the cavalcade instead stopped in Lisselton. It had to stop somewhere, else it would arrive ahead of schedule in Ballybunion. So Listowel's loss was Lisselton's gain and he was greeted enthusiastically by the lovely people of that borough.

Mike Guerin was out with his camera and here is his recording of the scene at McKenna's Corner on that historic day.

Clinton's Cavalcade Drives Through Town

Mike Guerin wasn't the only cameraman present to record the day. Junior Griffin took a lovely photo of John B. at the door of the pub as he waited for the customer that never came.

<<<<<<<

End os an Era at St. John's

Listowel's very own man in black, "Vicar" Joe Murphy, is in his last year at the helm in St. John's. Anyone who knows Joe will agree with me that he is force of Nature. He has run St. John's with charm, dedication, enthusiasm and lots and lots of hard work. The place wont be the same without him.

<<<<<<<

The Fancy Warehouse

When I came to Listowel first in the mid 1970s this shop was called The Fancy Warehouse and it was run by a Miss O'Brien. It sold knitting wool, notions and other haberdashery. The name os the shop always fascinated me. Up to then I imagined a warehouse as a big store but this shop was tiny. If you look closely you can just make out the old shop name as it is stripped down for refurbishment.


Miss O'Brien's sister ran a shop across the road called O'Brien Hartnett's. That sold shoe polish, polish brushes and other small goods.