Yarnbombing in Kildare, Bird Lore from 1937 and a Listowel Fashion Designer

Listowel Presbytery

Recent repair work at the presbytery entrance revealed a lovely stone wall under the plaster.

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Yarn Bombing in Kildare

People who know me know that I love a spot of knitting and crochet. I was thrilled to get to see this huge yarn bombing project in Newbridge as part of Kildare's June Fest.

It's lovely to see this neglected craft getting an airing outdoors for everyone to enjoy. But there is a small practical part of me says that's it's a shame to expose these lovingly created artworks to be destroyed by the elements.

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Sign of the Times

A huge display of paper diaries at half price in Eason in June 2019

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Some Bird Lore from the Dúchas Collection

When people are trapping singing birds they often make a crib. This they do by getting smallchips of wood. they place two chips about a foot from each other, then they get two more the same size and place them on top of the other two about ten or eleven inches apart, then they get two so smaller ones and place them on top of the other two and a smaller distance away and so on till they reach the top with smaller sticks and a smaller distance away. Then they get cord and tie all the corners of the crib up along till they reach the top. then then they get a long cord and tie a stick on to it. They raise up the crib place the stick under it and get a few crumbs of bread and put them under the crib. then if a bird comes the person pulls the cord and if the bird is under the crib it flaps down and the bird is caught inside.

When people are taking the hatch out of a hen they dip the hen into cold water.
Another way for taking the hatch out of a hen is to stick a feather up its nose.
People often "strike" birds with a knife and fork. Once we had a canary in my house and it used never sing unless my mother took out the machine to  sew.

This was collected by W. Keane, Ashe St. Listowel and told by Mrs Keane, Aged 36, of Ashe Street, Listowel for the schools folklore collection of 1937/38

( I am fascinated by the idea of taking the hatch out of a hen. By the way, does a hen have a nose?)

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Couture with a Listowel Connection

This is a page from last Sundays' Sunday Independent Life magazine. The feature is about Create, which is Brown Thomas' showcase of Irish design, which will open in Brown Thomas Dublin in July.

From 70 prospective candidates, Brown Thomas chose 30 designers who met the very high standards required and each of those 30 had to produce a 25 piece collection. As well as fashion there are creations in lots of other fields of design as well.

The picture above is from Anna Guerin's first collection "The Duellist". It is a double breasted lambswool coat in pinstripe Donegal tweed which is woven sustainably.

Anna is the daughter of Michael and Áine Guerin of Listowel and she is no stranger to award winning in fashion design and tailoring. She has been working in this field for a while now. This is her first individual collection and when I spoke to her a few weeks ago she has lots more creative ideas in the pipeline.

The above coat looks to me like a garment that would be perfect on Kate Middleton. I hope it catches her eye. We know how much she loves good Irish design and she loves tweed.

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Just a Thought

Here is the link to my Thoughts from last week on Radio Kerry

Just a Thought

Kildare, Kildare people in Kerry and some Adare photos

I go there and they go here

Photo: St. Brigid's cathedral and round towel by ireland.com

Photo: Oliver Murphy

Recently the Kildare Archeological Society made a field trip south to North Kerry for a few days. Hugh Crawford and Oliver Murphy documented the trip in text and photographs. You can read about what they did and how they enjoyed their trip if you click on the link below:

County Kildare Archeology Trip to North Kerry

While they were in Kerry I was in Kildare, exploring in their home turf.

I was taken to the military cemetery on The Curragh Plains. This is located in an absolutely beautiful setting in open grassland. I could imagine the military funerals with buglers and volleys of gunfire as officers and men were buried alongside casualties of the two world wars. As well as soldiers, families of soldiers are also buried here and the beautifully kept resting place is still in use today.

There is a Kildare hero called Dan Donnelly. His star burned brightly but briefly from 1788 to 1820 . He is now commemorated by this memorial in a place named after him, Donnelly's Hollow.

Dan Donnelly was a naturally gifted boxer in the days when there were few health and safety rules and boxers just battered one another senseless. Dan was very good at this battering. Unfortunately he was also fond of carousing. His boxing talent first came to light when an early promoter spotted him taking on all comers in a bar room brawl. This promoter, Kelly,  persuaded Donnelly to become a professional  boxer and he brought him to Kilcullen. Donnelly's first professional fight was in 1814.

The memorial commemorates Donnelly's second and most famous fight. He fought a man called Cooper in a natural amphitheatre on The Curragh. This fight attracted much attention and huge crowds. His opponent was a skilled fighter and much more disciplined than Donnelly. The bold Dan relied heavily on brute force. The fight went eleven rounds and Donnelly eventually ended it by landing a mighty blow that floored his opponent senseless and broke his jaw bone.

If you look to the left of my photo you will see a track from the monument to the top of the hill. Apparently as Donnelly walked away from his victory, his admirers dug up the sods where his feet had walked and took them away as souvenirs.

Donnelly was the best boxer in The British Isles and this was recognized by George iv who gave him a knighthood. Fame went to Dan's head and he became more famous for his extravagant and riotous living than for his exploits in the ring. He did, however, win another big fight but this one took him 34 rounds!

He eventually died a pauper at age 32. His funeral was attended by thousands and his gloves were carried ceremonially on a silk cushion.

In a strange addendum to this man's tragic story, his grave was robbed and his body stolen. It was eventually acquired by a Dublin surgeon who cut off the mighty right arm to study the muscle development. He buried the body again but the right arm went on to be part of a circus peep show and eventually was brought back to be exhibited in a pub in Kilcullen.

Sounds like something from Ripley's, doesn't it?

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Weather vane in Newbridge

This lightening conductor thingy has recently been erected on this old building in Newbridge. Local opinion is divided on its suitability in style and colour for this old edifice which was once a church.


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Adare now

I could still smell smoke as I stopped  in the village to see for myself the damage caused by the recent fire.

It is so sad to see the destruction.

Right beside the destroyed cottages are some lovely intact ones with colorful floral displays everywhere.

This monument is across the road.

The beautiful Adare church, very popular for weddings.

I took these below two photos last year at the same spot.

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On the Street

Marcella Holly and Peggy Hilliard were on Market Street with their young friend on July 2 2015.

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Date for the Diary

Clounmacon Community Gathering and Past Pupils’ Re-Union

On the occasion of the 40^th Anniversary of the closing of Clounmacon(Listowel) National School(1878-1975) and the opening of Clounmacon Community Centre(1975-2015) a Community Gathering and Past Pupils’ Re-Union will be held in the local Community Centre on Friday, Saturday, 11^th and 12^th September, 2015:

Further information from:

J.Doyle, Jnr 0874550373               D.Carmody 086 6095350

clounmaconcalling@gmail.com   dickc8@gmail.com

Book Launches and Writers at Writers' Week 2015 and a trip to Kildare

There are few things more enjoyable in the annual Writers' Week programme than the launch of a book by a local author. This year I missed Mary Kennelly's and Matt Mooney's events but I made John MacAulliffe's in The Seanchaí. It was a really popular event and could have done with a bigger venue.  John is  much more than a local poet. He is now intentionally recognized .

 Barney and Anne O'Reilly with Mairead Pierse

 Section of the huge attendance

 Lucy MacAulliffe with her daughter Catherine and grandson

 Madeleine O'Sullivan who introduced the launch

 John MacAulliffe with his English teacher from St. Michael's, Pat Given.

 Lucy with John's wife and son

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Children's Author visits Athea Primary School.

This is Andrew Cope and his wife Louise at The National Children's Literary Festival at Listowel Writers' Week 2015. Andrew writes the very popular Spy Dog and Spy Puppy children's books.
It was my pleasure to be assigned to be his driver for the day. Andrew's job was to visit Athea Primary School and to read from his novels and talk to the children about writing.

I gave him a quick tour of the village. He was happy to leave his worries behind at the worry tree. Andrew has studied the science of happiness and he is a very popular motivational speaker in his native U.K. He has developed a  course called The Art of Being Brilliant. Maybe he will be back with that next year.

Andrew with the principal and some staff members in Athea.

Athea pupils enjoyed Andrew's stories and helped him with ideas for another one.

Boys queueing up for Andrew's autograph.

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"Straight I will repair to The Curragh of Kildare"

I spent a few days last week with my family in Kildare.

Plans were well under way for the weekend's big event, The  Derby

My hosts, Sean McKenna and Clíona Cogan

I'll tell you more about my  trip soon.

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Black is the new white

Irish Independent photo of U.S. skateboarding star, Tony Hawk and his bride. They were married recently in Adare Manor.

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Tomás Ó Sé's Sunday Game Clobber

Tomás Ó Sé gave the commentators on Twitter a great night on Sunday when he rocked up in a tux.

Here are a few of the best comments:

Anyone know who Tomás Ó Sé is playing in the snooker?

The name's Ó' Sé; Tomás Ó Sé

Did Tomás get dressed out of Dónal Óg Cusack's locker?

Is Tomás Ó Sé going to his Debs later?

But the best came from a Kerry supporter;

The man has five All Ireland medals. He can wear what he likes.