St. Patrick's Day, Lizzy's, Tae Lane Cinema and a Look back at previous parades

Lower William Street

 Lizzy's Little Kitchen where our celebrated TV chef runs a popular eat-in and take away business. This is one of Listowel's many culinary attractions.

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A Cinema?

This building in Tae Lane was once a picture house. Listowel then had several cinemas, dance halls and places of entertainment.
You know the way sometimes in the theatre they warn you that your seat has a "restricted view" and you find yourself behind a huge pillar or other obstruction. This little cinema had just that...seats with a restricted view. There was a bend in the lane and the building was built around the bend so people sitting in this corner had to lean out a bit to see the screen. All part of the charm, I'm sure.

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St. Patrick's weekend

Just to get you in the mood for our national holiday here are a few photos from previous years. Some of these are from overseas friends of Listowel.

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Celebrating Marconi

This event will be amazing! Fair play and all the best wishes to everyone involved. 
Ballybunion was very busy, exciting and ahead of it's time too, 100 years ago!
On Tuesday the 19th of March Princess Elettra Giovanelli, daughter of Marconi and her son Prince Gugielmo Marconi will visit the former site of the Marconi Radio Station on the 100 year anniversary of the first spoken word from East to West from the Radio Station to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Canada. In the afternoon they will unveil a commemorative plaque to this historic occasion in Ballybunion.
On March 19, 1919 Guglielmo Marconi made the first radio wireless voice transmission across the Atlantic. And he did it from Ballybunion. 100 years later, there is a commemoration of this historic event in the Irish College, Ballybunion. If you have ever used a radio, then you are enjoying the work of this man. Mark the date: March 19, time 9.30 - 1500

Events include presentations, demonstrations exhibitions , as well as the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the event, by Prince Marconi (Guglielmo's grandson). The presence of the Marconi family is a great boon.

The Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter is expected to drop in for photos too!

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Calgary Tower

Barbara Watts sent us this photo to show us what Calgary Towel will look like on Sunday

A Parade in the 1980s, Change is the peat industry in the 1960s and a Church Street skyline in 2019

At the Corner of Charles Street and William Street


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Last of Danny Gordon's St. Patrick's Day in Listowel in the1980s Photos

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Trinity College and Dame Street, Dublin in 1930

Photo ; National Library

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Changing Times at Bord na Mona

A photo from the Foidin machine, taken in 1967. There's also another one in the background. The Foidin or small sod programme, began work in 1965 and was an attempt to produce small sods of peat on milled peat bogs. This was because of a succession of bad summers during the 1960s. Much of the experimental work was carried out at Oweninny, Co. Mayo. However the machines were too big and the programme was dropped in the early 1970s. The seventies also brought a lot of dry sunny summers.

Photo and text: Tony McKenna

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Look Up

Signs and shingles on Church St., Listowel in March 2019

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Vincent Carmody on His Book Tour

Vincent met up with the Carpenter family, who are frequent visitors to Listowel, on his book tour cum holiday in the USA.

Photo: John Carpenter on Facebook

St. Patrick's Day in the 90s, Charles Street, Local Fairs and Ita Hannon's stag is a winner

Photo: Chris Grayson

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Charles Street Then and Now

2004

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St. Patrick's Day Parade in the 1990s

Photos; Danny Gordon

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Ballybunion Folklore

(from the Dúchas collection)

Local Fairs

Fairs are not held in this district nor does anyone remember fairs being held here. They are held in Listowel which is the nearest town to us. Very often before a big fair buyers or jobbers went around to the farmers houses to buy calves and sometimes cattle. This is still carried on.
 There are no accounts of former fairs being discontinued or of fairs being held on hills, near churchyards, near castles, or near forts. In Listowel the fairs are held in the streets, in the square, and in the market place. No toll was collected in the streets but for every cow you'd carry into the square you'd have to pay seven pence and for every pig you'd carry into the market place you' have to pay a penny. This money was given to Lord Listowel.

 Luck money is always given. It is called luck money. For every pig or bonham a schilling is given and for a cow half a crown. If prices are high a pound is given as luck money for a horse but if prices are low five schillings is given. When a bargain is made the seller holds out his hand and the buyer strikes it with his clenched fist. A piece of hair is cut out of the cows side to show she is sold. A dab of paint is then stamped on it. This is done sometimes on the cows back.
(There is no name recorded for the pupil who collected this piece of folklore)

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Look Up

If you look up here you might forget for a minute that you are in Market Street, Listowel.

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Winner Alright

Ita Hannon's brilliant photograph of a magnificent stag was awarded photograph of the month by The Irish Wildlife Trust.

Children on Parade, More Panto Memories and painting Pat MacAulliffe Shopfronts

Upper William Street, Listowel in 2019

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St. Patrick's Day in the 1980s or 1990s

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Remembering a 2011 Pantomime

Dave O'Sullivan found these press photos of the pantomime in 2011. It was a great success and a super production.

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Paint Work has Begun

Two iconic McAuliffe shopfronts are being repainted.

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Look Up

Above street level there are some interesting things to see in Listowel. This striking window is at Con Dillon's.