Asdee, West Clare Railway and Memories of a Book Launch

Lower Church Street Listowel in January 2020

<<<<<<<<<


Asdee from the air

I found this photo on the lovely Asdee website

Asdee Village 


<<<<<<<<<


On This Day

Today is January 27. On this very day in 1885 Charles Stewart Parnell turned the first sod for the West Clare Railway.

You may talk of Columbus's sailing

Across the Atlantical sea

But he never tried to go railing

From Ennis as far as Kilkee.

The train ran from Kilkee to Moyasta and from there the traveller could go  west to Kilrush.It was the last operating narrow gauge passenger railway in the country . It closed in1961.

The train was notoriously unreliable. Percy French who wrote the famous satire about the line sued The West Clare Railway for loss of earning because he arrived  four and a half hours late for an engagement in Kilkee on August 10 1896. He won £10 plus costs.

The Railway appealed the case and lost. French arrived one hour late for the appeal and he explained to the judge that he came on the West Clare Railway.  In the course of his submission in the case French famously said

"If you want to go to Kilkee

You must go there by sea."

At the same court on the day of French's appeal Mary Anne Butler from Limerick sued the railway alleging that she had been attacked by a malevolent donkey on the platform at Ennis.

If you're not familiar with the Percy French song here are a few verses.

Are ye right there, Michael, are ye right ?

Do ye think that you can get the fire to light ?

Oh, an hour you’ll require

For the turf it might be drier

Well it might now, Michael, so it might

Are you right there, Michael, are ye right ?

Do you think that we’ll be there before it’s light ?”

It all depends on whether

The old engine holds together

And it might now, Michael, so it might, so it might

And it might, now, Michael, so it might

( information from On This Day Vol. 2 by Myles Dungan)

<<<<<<

Generosity in Lyre

Garda Sgt Jim Foley Tralee, a trustee of The Irish Pilgrimage Trust accepts a cheque for €1,910 proceeds of the hampers raffle at Christmas. Hampers sponsored by Lyreacrompane Community Development. €955 raised through your generosity and matched by Lyreacrompane Community Development.

Photo and caption from Lyreacrompane Community Development on Facebook

<<<<<<<<

Memories of  great Night

On October 19th 2019 we launched A Minute of Your Time in St. John's Listowel. Lots of friends came and we had a mighty night. Breda Ferris took the photos.

Helen Bambury and her husband, Aidan

Alice Moylan and my nephew, William Ahern

Barbara Walshe

Betty and Maria Stack

Billy Keane

My son, Bobby and his wife, Carine

Robert Beasley

Brenda Enright

Bridie O'Rourke

Canon Declan O'Connor

Caroline Reynolds

Catherine Moylan

<<<<<<<

Revival 2020 Planning Meeting

I spotted Aiden and Gerry in Thew Horseshoe last week planning another super music festival.

Friday Market, Commemorative Seats, Ard Churan Concert and Revival 2019 line up

Ballybunion Sunset 2019

Photo; Jason at Ballybunion Prints Beach

<<<<<<<<<

Music in The Square at the Friday market

<<<<<<

Commemorative Seats in Listowel Town Park

Donating a seat seems to have replaced planting a tree as a means of remembering a lost loved one. Here are the two new seats in the park.

<<<<<<<

Ard Churam Concert

On Thursday May 30 we were treated to a great night of music by the people behind Ard Churam fundraising.

Photo; Ger Holland, official Writers' Week photographer

The undisputed stars on the night were the members of the Ard Churam choir and their coach, soprano Mary Culloty O'Sullivan. Cyril Kelly took us down memory lane and reality television star, Fr. Ray Kelly sang songs from his album. The concert was a great success and helped greatly in raising funds for the planned dementia care day centre.

Mairead Slemon and Rachel Guerin congratulate Aine Guerin on a great night's work.

Mary and Peter  McGrath were enjoying the music.

 Vourneen Kissane and Margaret Reidy were there too.

Sr. Consolata met her old friend, Jackie McGillicuddy who was singing with the choir.

<<<<<<<

Courthouse Plaza

Courthouse Road leads to a lovely plaza area with three public buildings surrounding asome newly planted raised beds.

This is the back of Áras an Phiarsaigh.

Áras an Phiarsaigh

Listowel Courthouse

Listowel branch of Kerry Library

<<<<<<<

Revival 2019



Saturdays' headline act, The Coronas has been confirmed. This promises to the best Revival yet. Tickets are selling out quickly .

Big Maggie in New York in 1983, Ballylongford, Revival and a Rose comes to town

Revival 2017 Remembered

On Saturday evening August 12 2017 Revival rocked The Square Listowel. Below is Denis Carroll's great capture of the colour and atmosphere of the event.

I was in The Square with my young visitors to get a flavour of the great night.

The Blizzards were on stage.

The stage was erected by this firm.

I met friends, Mirian Ahern and Karen Kennelly in town for the big night. In fact I met so many past pupils that I felt I was back in the classroom.

A wedding was in full swing in The Listowel Arms. The happy couple came outside to sample the vibe.

Old friends, Maurice Kelliher and Dominick Scanlon were enjoying the concert.













Ballylongford, Shannonside Home of Poets and Artists

This photo of the annual graveyard mass at Lislaughtin Abbey was posted on Facebook by Ballylongford Snaps

That site also has these lovely pictures of artistic wrought iron work on gates on the road to Carrig Island

The artist is Mick Rea

<<<<<<

John B. Keane's Big Maggie in New York in 1983

I was delighted to get this email from Marie Neligan Shaw.

Hi Mary,

Was cleaning out some bookshelves today and came across a Play Bill for the NY production of John B. Keane's play Big Maggie at the Douglas Fairbank's  theatre in 1983. I was at the play and the after party with John B. and Mary. It contains a letter from the then mayor of NY Ed Koch welcoming John B. And his play to theatre row. Was wondering if this was something you might like to include in your blog. If interested just let me know and I will mail it to you.

Regards,

Marie

<<<<<<<

Do you remember the O'Donoghues of Tanavalla?

If you remember them or if you would just like to meet the Florida Rose, there will be a meet and greet reception for Elizabeth and her family in The Listowel Arms on Wednesday evening next, August 23 2017.

<<<<<<<

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2017

Musicians and singers of Listowel Folk Group performed Garry MacMahon's Aifreann na Ríochta at the fleadh in Ennis on Sunday.