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

Jim McSweeney

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Athea, Listowel Races Supporters' Club and Throw me Down Something

Ita Hannon took this great picture of a heron in Beale

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Lisselton protest

I came across this photo online with the caption "Lisselton Protest" Does anyone know the story?

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Beautiful Athea

Athea village is just over the border in Limerick. It is nearer to Listowel than most Kerry towns. When I visited last week it was en fete in celebration of limerick's All Ireland Hurling victory.

One of the really attractive features of this lovely village is the superb artwork celebrating local legends in the village's two murals. It's been a busy year for the muralist so I wasn't expecting too much when I called.

I was disappointed to see both murals under wraps.

The day I was in Athea was the day that Pope Francis was visiting Ireland, August 25 2018. I was entertained to see that Athea's footbridge is dedicated to another pope.

Athea is a great centre of music and athletics. It obviously has both a soccer and a G.A. A. club.

The spacious community centre dedicated to local hero, Con Colbert, is the centre of social activities nowadays. 

Once upon a time boys met girls across the road in the Riverside Ballroom.

Some businesses have closed but the overall impression the visitor gets is of a vibrant proud community.

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A Great Deal for those who love Listowel Races

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Throw me Down Something

Junior Griffin took these photos at the bridge during Listowel Harvest Festival a few years ago.

Rose of Tralee, Lisselton Cross, The Changing Face of Listowel and Glin Castle

Rattoo at Night

Photo: Bridget O'Connor

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Rose of Tralee 2016...a Listowel Connection

The place to be is Tralee this week.

My Aisling and Róisín posed outside the beautifully refurbished Rose Hotel on a recent visit to Tralee. This will be the centre of much of the action this week.

Strolling through the beautiful town park and speculating what it would be like to be a Rose. For the time being, the playground is more in their line

This is the the statue of William Mulchinock, who wrote the song, and his beloved, Mary O'Connor, the Rose who inspired the competition.

Now for the Listowel connection. The New York Rose is a Stack. Kristin Stack called to see Damien last week to establish her Stack credentials.

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Memories of Lisselton

The hard workers on the Ballydonoghue parish magazine committee posted this picture on Facebook in the hope that it would stir fond memories of Lisselton Cross long ago. One man remembered going to the cross to make a phone call . Do you remember when you had to some armed with an ass load of change and then hope that the recipient of your call was in? If not you could press button B to get your money back.  Happy days!

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Then and Now

Lower Church Street

Market Street

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Glin Castle

Photos; Forur Genealogy


The fate of Glin Castle has been the subject of a bit of speculation recently with reports that the new generation of Fitzgeralds were to take over and run the Castle as a boutique hotel.
Not to be, apparently, so the castle will be sold.

Ger Greaney of Forur Genealogy attended the recent open day at the castle and he posted these photos on Facebook.

AND

The same Ger. who took the above photos has just been named Person of the Month in the Limerick Leader. Earlier this year Ger. organised a 1916 commemorative event which involved a reenactment of a march to Glenquin Castle. It was a great success. Well done, Ger.