Woulfe's, Listowel Sporting Ballads, Carnegie Library and Tralee

Woulfe's Bookshop

This is Woulfe's Bookshop in Church Street Listowel

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Listowel Football and Sporting Ballads

 Vincent Carmody gave us an essay on some of the sporting ballads written by Listowel people. I will serialise it over the next few days.

Listowel and the written word have been synonymous over the years, so it is of no surprise that many of the town’s penmen have at various times put pen to paper to record in verse form for posterity the deeds of man and beast.

One of the earliest pieces that I know of is a short unrhyming lament by a player who had played for Listowel against Tralee. We do not know the result of the match, nor the name of the writer,

Likewise, the Painach Somers,

Near his eye he got a kick,

Saying, “For we are shamed, lame and blind,

Since we played in sweet Tralee”.

The Somers referred to was a Tom Somers from Convent Street, a local wit and all-round sportsman. He was once asked if he ever score a point.  “I did once”, was his answer, having paid Mrs Grady for a pint, she gave me the pint, then after a while, she put up a second pint thinking I had her paid for it, I sang dumb for once.

At an athletic meeting he won a race for the first time. As he was congratulated on coming first, his answer was, “I am first at last, I was always behind before.”  

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The Carnegie Library 

 All the talk of the library prompted people to look up the origins of the Carnegie in Listowel. Here is the result of some delving into the archives.

Not great but the best we could do

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The Mall, Tralee

The Mall Tralee is pedestrianised. It is now a lovely space.

On the Saturday I visited it even had its own preacher.

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St. Patrick's Day in Listowel

Athea people and Countess Markievicz and Rith in Listowel on St. Patrick's Day

Fabulous picture of Fungi, the Dingle dolphin by the people behind Fungie Forever

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Signs of Spring

Bulbs are sending up green shoots, a reassurance that this cold snap will end.

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Athea and Countess Markievicz

Last week I mentioned how I thought the good people of Athea were kind and friendly. A blog follower responded with this;

"Every word is true about Athea- especially the people of Athea. Years ago, I had interactions with the then attendant at the Mortuary in Limerick Regional Hospital- as it was then known. This man dealt with all remains deceased persons, whether they died peacefully in their beds at a good age, or died tragically- in many circumstances. 

He was extremely helpful to all grieving relatives and was much respected and liked. He told me once that he 'loved' to see a crowd from Athea coming to the mortuary, as they were the grandest and 'dacentest' people in the county. In their loss and grief, they came armed with a gift for the attendant (a bottle of whiskey) which no-one else ever bothered to do. Athea people are a special type- they have big hearts and appreciate a kindness.

Another story about Athea in the long-ago: Countess Markievicz (after whom a local Athea housing estate is named) visited Con Colbert's Athea and was giving a speech when she was interrupted by by an old man, probably unused to see a woman in such a prominent position. He called out, "Can you bake a plain cake of bread, Ma'am?"  The Countess replied instantly,  "I can,"  and I can drive a four-in-hand!" A four-in-hand, as you equestrians will know, is a carriage drawn by four horses with the driver controlling and directing all four with a set of reins- an operation requiring special skill and strength, and beyond many men,  I believe.  That settled the old man's hash pretty quickly!"

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Correction

This good man whom I featured a while back is Fr. Bowen and not Bohan as I stated.

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The late Bryan MacMahon and Brendan O'Carroll

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Rith go Lios Tuathail

Rith is a national festival which runs every second year as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge,
March 11 to March 17 2018.


A 1,500km. course has been mapped out and it will be run in relays from Belfast to Listowel in 2018.


A special hand carved baton carrying a secret message of support for the Irish language will be carried as far as Listowel and the message will be read out from the stage at the viewing of the St. Patrick's Day parade. The reading of the message will be followed by a street party.

AND

As if that wasn't enough excitement for St. Patrick's Day, the mass on RTE will be broadcast from St. Mary's, Listowel. It will be sung, in Irish, by Listowel Folk Group, pictured below at their annual Christmas party.