St. Patrick's Day 2019, Death of a Rev. Mother, Pres. footballers and a poem for Mothering Sunday

Ballybunion in March 2019

<<<<<<<<<

Some Stalwarts of Listowel Parades

Seán Moriarty provides a running commentary in The Small Square.

Charlie Nolan recording it all from the viewing platform.

Listowel 2019 Parade by Charlie Nolan

Denis Carroll records the day for us on the street. His lovely video of this year's St. Patrick's Day  is at the link below.

St. Patrick's Day 2019 in Listowel

Billy Keane was back on the stand in 2019 doing his MCing.

Tim O'Leary and Donal O'Sullivan

Liam Brennan as St. Patrick blesses us all.

<<<<<<<

St. Patrick Joins in The Fun

 St. Patrick dances with Mary Twomey  on St. Patrick's Day 2019

 Meeting and greeting

And we all head home, St. Patrick's Day done and dusted for another year.

<<<<<<<

Death of Rev. Mother in 1919

Kerry News, Friday, August 01, 1919
(An Appreciation by a grateful patient) Condensed

DEATH of Rev Mother Michael, Superioress of St Bridgid’s Convent of Mercy, Listowel. Requiem High Mass was celebrated on Sunday 13th at the lovely little-church attached to the Mercy Convent, by the Most Rev. Dr. O'Sullivan, Lord Bishop of Kerry, with the Very Rev. Fr. Breen, S.T.L., President St Brendan's Seminary, Killarney, and the Rev. T. Trant, P.P.,Ballymacelligott, her nephew, as deacon and sub-deacon ; Very Rev. Canon O'Riordan, P.P., V.F., Boherbee, as Master of Ceremonies. There was also present in the Sanctuary the Very Rev Dean O'Leary. P.P.. V.G.. Tralee, and the Rev. Fathers , Ferris, Behan and Conlon, O.P. Several members of the Christian Brothers from the Industrial Schools were also in attendance.
Amongst the chief mourners were- Sisters Benedict and Catherine (nieces) Rev. T. Trant, P.P.: Dr Trant. J.P. : Mr. P. Trant, J.P., and Mr Michael O’Connell, Clerk of the Union (nephews) Miss Danagher, Mrs O’Connell (sisters) Miss M. A. O'Connell, Miss B O’Connell, Miss N O’Connell, (nieces); Miss Nora Trant. Mrs. S. Fuller and the Misses O'Connell (grand nieces); Messrs P. Trant. junr., and D Trant (grand nephews} : etc.. etc. A full list of the general public is out of the question.

Rev Mother Michael came to Listowel some 36 years to take over charge, of the Union Hospital and let it be said that from the very start her work was cut out for her, for the Hospital Buildings though large enough were anything but sanitary or comfortable. Uninviting, rough, whitewashed, walls, straw beds, small apertures in the Walls instead of windows a room only fit for a stable to hear mass in were only a few of the many unsightly objects that met the view of Rev. Mother Michael and her faithful little band of nuns when first she entered the then unhallowed walls of the Listowel Workhouse. The change for the better which she wrought in this establishment would if described fully read like a chapter from Fairyland. The sisters transformed the place.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Presentation Secondary School Team

I think this is a football team back in the day

<<<<<<<

Richard Moriarty sent this poem home to us for Mothers' Day

MY MOTHER

DEDICATED TO MOMS EVERYWHERE

WHILE WE’RE TOLD IN SONG AND STORY

OF PEOPLE OF RENOWN

BE THEY WRITERS, POETS OR CONGRESSMEN

OR KINGS WHO WEAR A CROWN

IT’S INSCRIBED THERE IN THE PAGES

THEIR NAMES AND WHERE THEY’RE FROM

BUT I BELIEVE THE UNSUNG HERO

IS THE PERSON KNOWN AS MOM

SHE’S THE ONE WE ALWAYS TURNED TO

WHENEVER THINGS WENT WRONG

THE GENTLE HAND THAT DRIED OUR TEARS

WHILE SHE HUMMED SOME SILLY SONG

SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE TO GREET US

AND HELP US ON OUR WAY

WITH THAT SPECIAL TOUCH

THAT MEANT SO MUCH

AND A GENTLE WORD TO SAY

AND THERE WERE TIMES WHEN

WE CAUSED YOU PAIN

AND TREATED YOU UNKIND

BUT ALL THE WHILE YOU’D SOFTLY SMILE

OH, HOW COULD WE BE SO BLIND

BUT YOU ARE THE ONE WE DO ADORE

AND LOVE LIKE WE COULD NO OTHER

WE THANK YOU GOD FOR GIVING US

SUCH A SPECIAL CARING MOTHER

Richard G. Moriarty

Remembering, an anniversary poem, Convent Cross and Halloween at Kerry Writers' Museum

Trees in John Paul 2 cemetery

<<<<<<<<


Poem from Richard Moriarty on a wedding anniversary

REMEMBERING

Just thinking back on yesteryear and how it used to be

When love was new to me and you, and life a mystery

How I’ve cherished all these special years, since we first said “I do”

Just like a dream, or it would seem, with someone as dear as you

I wander back to when first we met, we’d walk down by the strand

We’d kiss each other on the cheek and hold each other’s hand

How we strolled along the boardwalk and gazed out on the sea

Those endless days of happiness, the way ‘twas meant to be

Together all the things we’ve done, and all the things we’ve seen

The little gifts that we have shared and the places we have been

Those simple times like holding hands, when all the world seemed still

Or saying such things as “I love you” and I know I always will

And there were times when I felt down and life seemed all so grey

But you were there to show you cared, with a gentle word to say

And when things went wrong, as they sometimes do, and woe was all about

You’d smile and say

“Don’t worry now, this too we will work out”

All through these years of joy and tears, you’ve been a friend to me

A union blessed, at God’s behest, for all the world to see

And in years to come, on that special day, just like we’ve done before

We’ll hold each other in our arms and say it just once more

You bring me joy this very day as you have for all these years

We’ll kiss each other on the cheek while holding back the tears

Again we’ll stroll down by the strand, we’ll gaze out on the sea

And with love we’ll share some other care,

And another ANNIVERSARY.

Richard G. Moriarty

Richard now lives in San Diego, California but he hails from Lisselton.

<<<<<<<<

At Convent Cross

The postbox is Elizabethan.

<<<<<<<

Thinking Ahead to Halloween

Dare to enter the Haunted Writers’ House at the Kerry Writers’ Museum, Listowel this Halloween where ghosts & ghouls lurk around every corner. Follow the haunted trail and find the clues hidden within. A thrilling, heart-stopping, fun-filled experience the whole family will enjoy.

Open daily from October 31st to November 2nd from 3 to 6 pm. Tours every half hour.

Suitable for children age 6 to 10 years.

<<<<<<<<

Molly was back

Molly came to Listowel with her forever family for the weekend. She has grown up a bit and matured ...a bit.

<<<<<<<

Positive Ageing

If there is a better depiction of active ageing, I haven't seen it.

Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh abseiling.......photo from Twitter

InSomnia, Listowel Harvest Festival 1994 and Tralee's Christie Hennessey

Photo by Ita Hannon

<<<<<<<<<<

Sleepless in Seattle

Seattle's Best Coffee in Market Street has rebranded as Insomnia.

<<<<<<<<<<<

1994 Harvest Festival Brochure

Junior Griffin found this old brochure among his treasures.

<<<<<<<<

Christie Hennessey

This is the Christie Hennessey memorial in Tralee. Plans are in train to put a voice element to these memorials. In time, visitors will be able to access a spoken biography of the singer at this spot.

The words of Christie's greatest hit song, Roll Back the Clouds are printed in full  in the memorial. Wouldn't it be great if the voice element included Christie singing his moving song?

<<<<<<<<

Kerry Football, is it in the blood or in the DNA

All the way from San Diego came this missive on Monday.

Message from Richard Moriarty, from Lisselton-Ballydonoghue, now living in San Diego,California, USA:

I wrote a poem commemorating the "Five Games in a Row" (attached)

I hope you will share it with your bloggers.

Thank you for your consideration.

Richard Moriarty

FIVE GAMES IN A ROW

I remember back when just a kid I’d climb on Grandad’s knee

And while I perched there 

With an eagle stare

He’d tell these tales to me

How in this land there’s a noble band of men who plan and dream

Who cannot be beat

Who will not retreat

And they’re called the Kerry Team

Like giants he said they forge ahead a wave of green and gold

Who in the history book

If you care to look

With passion there it’s told

As plain as day I can hear him say those boys are smooth as foam

They glide they swoop

They slide and scoop

To bring that trophy home

He’d call out each game each date and name until it was all done

And when he shed tears

For the losing years

I dried them one by one

Yes that was many years ago but some things are still the same

With my grandson Lee

There on my knee

Today we watched the game

And Grandpaw I knew you were here too but in case you didn’t know

In headlines bold

The tale was told

“Tis FIVEgames in a row

Richard Moriarty

Ballydonoghue/Lisselton

San Diego, California