Listowel History Festival, The Square, 3 Good Friends And Stylish Eilish prepares for Ladies' Day 2018

Chris Grayson took this photo of a dipper dipping a toe in the river Maine in Castleisland.

<<<<<<<<<<

A Last few from The History Festival 2018

Here are just a few more photos I took at the commemoration ceremony to honour the war dead and veterans in Listowel Town Square in May 2018

<<<<<<<

Photograph posted online by Patrick Godfrey

We should be able to date this photo because it is between the time when there was a wall and railings all round St. John's and modern times when there is no wall.

Once upon a time mass going Catholics used to tie their horse and trap to the railings of St. John's while they attended mass in St Mary's.

<<<<<<

Sand Sculpture in Torremolinos

Julie Evans who is a loyal follower of this blog was fascinated by the recent sand art festival in Ballybunion. When she and her husband, Glyn, were on holiday in Spain they saw these marvellous sand sculptures. Beside the sculptures was a locked box chained to a railing for people to put a donation into.

<<<<<<<<<<<

I'm Still Researching

Morning coffee and a chat in The Listowel Arms with these three friends as I research my walk around Listowel Town Square on June 2 2018. Jed Chute, Danny Hannon and Joe Murphy, thanks for all your help and the great stories.

<<<<<<

Stylish Eilish is Busy Preparing for Listowel June Bank Holiday Ladies' Day

I met Eilish as she was racing around collecting prizes for her great Best Dressed Ladies event at the June Race Meeting in Listowel.

It promises to be a great day of style and craic and the prizes are amazing. Eilish has a great knack of mobilising everyone behind an event.

Memories, Lord Listowel, Comic Con , An old tractor. Stack's Arcade and Rás Tailteann 2018

 Chris Grayson

<<<<<<<

Dan Shine of Listowel

I posted this photo of Dan with his daughter Laura's children and it brought back happy memories. His sister, Rose wrote;

"Hi Mary, how wonderful to see a photo of my brother Dan Shine, thank you for posting it. I have many memories of him getting his uniform ready for his FCA meeting every Monday Monday night, cleaning the brass buttons with Brasso until they were gleaming and polishing his black boots, you could almost see your face in them lol, happy happy days. Regards, Rose.

<<<<<<<

Zumba in The Square

At the recent History Festival there was a great variety of different activities going on.

Deadpool and the missus were taking a stroll on Church Street

<<<<<<<<

Lord Listowel

This is a photo of the third earl of Listowel. I found it online when I was researching for my walk around the Square and into Bridge Road on June 2nd. 2018 as part of the Listowel Writers' Week programme.

<<<<<<

Comics, Games and figurines at Comic Con

In comjunction with Listowel History Festival there was a Comic Con in The Listowel Arms. This was a first for me but it obviously has a huge following judging by the crowds in attendance.

<<<<<<

A Few More from The History Weekend

This tractor is over 100 years

It was brought to Listowel by the Donegan Family who run a garage in Milford, near Charleville in Co. Cork. They are passionate about restoring old tractors and proudly told me that there are only three of these tractors still around today and the Donegan family own all three.

I remember these tractors as the ones that pulled the thresher which was a feature of farm life in my young days.

<<<<<<

From the John Hannon Archive

An old photo of Stack's, The Arcade.

<<<<<<<

Listowel Welcomes Rás Tailteann 2018

Rossbeigh, Veteran's Remembrance Day, Lofty Kelliher and a poem about Alzheimers

Rossbeigh photo by Chris Grayson

<<<<<<

From John Hannon Archive

Was this Listowel's first pop up shop? Every Sunday Lofty Kelliher set up outside St. Mary's church after mass and sold newspapers to mass goers.

<<<<<<<<

More Photos from the May 5 Veterans' Wreath Laying and March past

This last picture shows Minister Brendan Griffin with special guests at the ceremonial march past in salute to the special military guests.

<<<<<<<<

This may not be your problem today but it could be some day

(from Vincent Doyle)

<<<<<<<<<

Alert!    Tabloid story coming up

The Royal Wedding has a Listowel Connection

Okay, I told you it was tabloid, so its totally exaggerated and very very tenuous.

This is Andrew Chase who grew up in Windsor. He now lives in Ireland and he is engaged to my niece, Christine.

No, he is not invited to the royal wedding.

But he was confirmed in St. George's Chapel in Windsor. 

So what? say you.

This is what. He is one of the only cohort of Catholic children ever to receive Confirmation in St. George's Chapel. The Catholic church in Windsor was under renovation and, in an ecumenical gesture by the Church of England, St. George's chapel was offered to the Catholic congregation for Confirmation.

I warned you it was tenuous!

<<<<<<<<

We have some  names

Margaret Dillon has a great memory for names.

Back R, 4th girl Clair Broderick, 6th Mary collins, 7thKathleen Given,  last girl Cecilia Carroll's sister, I forget her christian name.

Middle row sitting; 1st Claire O'Connor, 3rd her sister Marie, 4th Eleanor Scanlon, 5th Maureen Guerin.

Front; middle Josephine Dore/Flaherty,  last girl, Pacelli Carroll.