Santa, Carol Singing and the launch of A Book and cd of Kerry Songs of the Revolution

A Christmas Photo from 2016

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Carol Singing

Photo: Scoil Realt na Maidine

Boys entertaining shoppers at Garvey's Super Valu Listowel last week.

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A Story that tells how Times have changed in a Picture

Extra public phonebooks being installed in Dublin for the Eucharistic Congress of 1932

"All's changed, changed utterly"

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Their Memory Will Endure

On Saturday evening, December 15 2018, I attended another launch of an extraordinary Kerry book. This is a project compiled by Gabriel Fitzmaurice and Pádraig Ó Concubhair.  We got a book and a cd for €20 . In the book and on the cd we have songs commemorating events of the wars in Kerry from 1916 to 1924. This was a particularly violent divisive and bloody time in our county's history, a period that is not much talked of nowadays, probably because of the very bitter rifts that occurred in communities and even in families

Here are some of the people who attended the launch which was done by Dr. Declan Downey.

 Gabriel was kept busy signing books. Padraig couldn't be present.

Vincent Carmody, David Browne and Gabriel Fitzmaurice

As you can see there were many well known faces among the attendance.

Karen Trench is one of the singers featured on the cd.

David Browne introduced Declan Downey who officially launched the package.

This man rendered his ballad in a mellow mature voice.

Gabriel Fitzmaurice is himself a well known balladeer. For this project he took on the mantle of that great collector of Kerry ballads, Bryan MacMahon.

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A Nebraska Parish with  a Listowel Connection

We're a bit late with this one but it's worth celebrating.

St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Omaha celebrated 100 years in 2017. Marie Neligan alerted me to the connection with her Listowel family.

"Founded in 1917 as a mission of St. Patrick Parish in Elkhorn, the parish’s first pastor, Father David Neligan, celebrated St. John’s first Mass on Christmas in its original church – a former Baptist church, purchased and moved to the parish site by an early parishioner, John Zeis Sr." 

Source: The Catholic Voice

Fr. David was born in Listowel. He was Marie's uncle. Here is what she told me about him;

The first pastor at this church Fr, David Neligan, born and raised in Listowel said the first mass at this church when it opened on Christmas Day 1917. David was my uncle and was ordained at All Hallows’ on June 23rd 1912 and assigned to Omaha, Nebraska. He was buried there at the tender age of 33.

Placenames from Dúchas collection, a 1994 quilt for charity and The Haunting Soldier in Dublin

In Gurtinard Wood I was thrilled to see a little bird at home. No bats about though.

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Duagh from the Dúchas collection

Photo; Caoimhín Ó Danachair

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Place Names

Informant, Mrs K. Quilter

Collector-Maureen Lynch- Informant- Muiris Ó Loinsig

GLEANN na BRÓN

The name is still used by the local inhabitants and probably means the Glen of the Quern. It is beside this glen the “brittlen” woman used to be heard.

In the farm of Pat Trant Jnr, Behins, there was a blessed well. This was known to the older people as Tobar Uí Leidhin. There was an old midwife living in Behins named Moll Barry. One May morning she went to the well for a can of water. She had hardly reached the well when she was lifted off the ground and the next place she found herself was below at the monument in Lixnaw, spirited away by the good people.

Beside the well there was a graveyard. A glen beside it is still known as Gleann Dóighte.

Beside our house is a place called Pike, on the main road between Listowel and Castleisland. Old Ned Prendiville use to say that there were two gates here and everybody who passed the way with cattle or cars had to pay a toll of a halfpenny. There was also a pound there. 

There is a Dispensary at Pike. In this building was the old National school whose first teacher was John O’Connor. O’Connor was not long there when he had to flee the country owing to his connection with the Fenians. Then came my Grandfather old Master Lynch who taught there for six years and who opened the school at Rathea in 1875.

My Grandfather was a native of Knockanure. He used to tell stories about a woman name Joan Grogan of Knockanure. This woman used to be “out” with the good people. One night they were on their way to Castleisland to decide whether a girl there named Brosnan was to be taken away or not. On their way they called in to my grandfather’s aunt the wife of Michéal Ruadh Kirby of Behins and took her snuff box as a joke. Micéal Ruad’s wife met her a few days after at the big fair in Listowel (13th May). Joan asked her did she miss her snuff box on such a morning and she said she did. Micheal Ruadh’s wife told her she heard them laughing in the kitchen that night.

Maureen Lynch

M’athair Muiris Ó Loingsig O.S a d’innis an méid sin dom. Rathea Listowel.

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Kerryman 1994

Does anyone know where this is now? Does anyone remember it, the making of it or the handing over of it?

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The Haunting Soldier

I went to Dublin to see The Haunting Soldier and I was mightily impressed.

This art installation commemorates all the soldiers who served and suffered in the Great War . The artist was invited to bring the creation to Dublin to remind us of the tens of thousands of Irishmen who soldiered in WW1. Many of them were killed or received life changing injuries.

The statue is forged entirely from scrap metal, bits and pieces of nuts, bolts, cogs, springs, horse shoes, chains etc., etc.

My two friends, Assumpta and Peggy, posed with two people with a Listowel connection who were also in St. Stephen's Green to see the Soldier.

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Ard Churam Concert in St. Mary's, Listowel

A super variety concert with the very best of music, singing and recitation was enjoyed by a packed church in Listowel on Friday evening, November 23th. 2018

Owen MacMahon was our host for the evening. No better man for the job. He entertained us with anecdotes, jokes and poems as he provided continuity between the acts.

Finbar Mawe welcomed us on behalf of Ard Churam. He told us about the ambitious plan to build a dementia unit, following the success of Ard Churam which is soon to be working six days per week.

Karen Trench's Silver River Feale was a highlight of a show full of highlights. We also heard Seán Ahern, Kim Healy, the excellent Ballydonoghue Comhaltas group as well as a group from Listowel Comhaltas and a junior choir from The Kerry School of Music.

It was a night for meeting old friends.

The Ard Churam choir were the stars of the show. They were a credit to their musical director, Mary Culloty O'Sullivan. Mary, a world class soprano.  also sang for us . Heavenly!

Mike Moriarty said a few words on behalf of Ard Churam.

John Kelliher who did a great job of photographing the proceedings has posted a video of the performances on Youtube

Ard Churam Concent in St. Marys

It comes in at the end of Owen's joke so I'll fill you in. The wife of the great Seanchaí, Eamon Kelly once said that he wore his hat at all times only taking it off in the church and in bed. "And he slept in both places." she said.

Duagh Summer Festival 2014, a war story and some successes

John Relihan, Fr. Pat Moore and Nina Hayes

When Duagh put on a festival, they do it in style. I was at their summer festival on Saturday last, Aug 9 2014 and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The festival was all about food and particularly about a local lad, John Relihan, who has made a name for himself as a chef. We were told that he was on Eastenders too, but I don't know in what capacity he appeared in the soap.

This was the scene at the school gate where hundreds of people were queueing to get in. For €10 (all money going towards the restoration of the church bell tower) you got a wristband that entitled you to all you could eat of the barbecue, cookery demonstrations, competitions, face painting, balloon twisting, a craft fair and a chance to meet up with friends and acquaintances.

I met Marie, Ena and Catherine and we hung out for the afternoon.

My friend, Helen O'Connor was very proud to be photographed with her famous godson, The Jamie Oliver trained chef, John Relihan.

This was the Duagh schoolyard with chefs everywhere and animals cooking everywhere you looked.

If you look closely you will see that the chickens have a can stuffed where the sun doesn't shine!

Above is the production line. I was snapping away as I queued for my dinner.

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Can't Cook;Wont Cook

The three Ready, Steady Cook contestants  get some last minute instructions from Brendan O'Connor of BBQ Joe's.

Is Jerry getting a little helping hand or is it a case of the blind leading the blind.

Duagh Cooks get down to business.

Brendan keeps the contestants on track.

Jerry seems to be very pally with this judge.

 Fr. Moore is interviewed about his cooking credentials. He tells a few tall tales of early rising and bread baking before breakfast.

How does it taste?
Should I add an egg?

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Demonstration

John Relihan and Brendan O'Connor gave food demonstrations and we got to taste.

The festival went on late into the evening and there was a second day of festivities on Sunday. 

Well done to everyone involved. It was a huge success.

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Duagh is also famous for footballers

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War Story

From Kerry's Eye

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Then and Now

2010

2014

2010

2014

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River Feale August 9 2014

The level of water in the river is very low.


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Rory McIlroy in heaven

(Photo from the internet)

Definition of VALHALLA

1

:  the great hall in Norse mythology where heroes slain in battle are received

2

:  a place of honor, glory, or happiness :  heaven <an academic's Valhalla>

These are the two definitions of Valhalla in Miriam Webster Dictionary. Both are apt for the players in Valhalla, Kentucky after Rory's super win on August 10 2014.

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Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann Sligo  2014

Tomorrow night (Tuesday) in the Clarion Hotel Sligo the very talented Singer from the Ballydonoghue/Lisselton branch of comhaltas Karen Trench (Walsh) will receive prestigious Bardic award. We congratulate you Karen on your award and shows how highly you are thought of in Comhaltas. We hope you enjoy your night and we have no doubt that you with your children Aoife,Tom, Fionnuala, and Meabh will put on a beautiful performance and fly the Kerry Flag with pride.
Comhghairdeachas Karen from the Kerry County Board of Comhaltas and everyone throughout Kerry.

Bardic Awards
Comhaltas honours a number of significant performers from the traditional music world at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann every year.
This year eight people are receiving these prestigious awards. The awards will be presented in the Clarion Hotel and the concert will involve performances from each ceannródaí and guests.
Receiving Bardic Awards are
Brian Conway, U.S.
Paddy Mc Donagh, Sligo
Neansaí Ní Choistealbha, Galway
Pat Mc Cabe, Monaghan
Con Herbert, Limerick – button accordion
Karen Walsh, Kerry – singer
Mary Kelly, Kilkenny – harpist
Willie Fogarty, Tipperary – button accordion

(photo and caption from the official CCE webpage)