Strictly, Bridge Road, Brosna, Halloween Parade and the passing of another London Kerry publican

Timothy John MacSweeney

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Strictly, Before the Event

I was in The Listowel Arms on Saturday October 24 2015 on a family mission. The whole place was a hive of excitement as last minute preparations were being put in place for Kerry Parents and Friends Strictly Come Dancing. I snapped a few of the nervous dancers and two of the organizers as they headed for the ballroom.

This last picture is of Julianne Galvin who, with her partner, Ian Liston, were declared the winners.

A great night for a great cause.

Pictures here:  Kerry Parents and Friends Strictly

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Dursley Boys

Recently the Dursley Male Voice Choir sang at mass in St. Mary's Listowel. I took these photos with members of our own church choir after mass and before the choir headed up town to perform at Áras Mhuire.

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Bridge Road, Listowel, October 2015

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New Shop breathes life into Brosna

Noel Lane shared the great news on Facebook. There is a renewed buzz about the village of Brosna with the opening of a bar and a new shop. It's marvelous to see these green shoots of recovery in rural Kerry.

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Halloween Parade Back for Another Year

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A True Blue Kerryman has passed Away in London 

The late Christy Kissane is third from right at back

"It is with deep regret that we have learned of the death of legendary Kilburn publican Christy Kissane, a towering figure in London’s Irish – and Kerry – community.

The owner of Kerry’s flagship pub in Kilburn, the Kingdom, which was itself a testimony to Christy’s love of GAA as he frequently hosted the Kerry players and the Sam Maguire Cup.

Christy’s proud boast was that he had been to every All Ireland football final since 1962 except for the one in 1968 when construction work kept him in London.

He lived in Dollis Hill.

His first pub, in the mid-1970s, was the Windsor Castle on the Harrow Road which he built into a chain of pubs and taverns across west and north west London before eventually concentrating on his pride and joy, the Kingdom in Kilburn.

As can be seen in this photo was a welcome and lively presence at last Friday’s Kerry Association London dinner in Cricklewood. He was Life President of the Association. He was also chairman of the Kingdom Kerry Gaels football club."

(photo and text from The Irish World

Listowel Rebranding, Christmas Shop and Sitting on Window Sills

Lots of Rebranding Going on

Rebranding is not about changes of ownership. It's more a change of ethos and business model. Listowel is seeing a fair share of this lately. It started with Stacks changing to Number 21 and on Saturday night, Oct 10 2015 the last pint was pulled in Sheahans of Upper William Street.

Listowel Community College has two new brands, Coláiste na Ríochta and North Kerry College.

What we knew as Esso is now Topaz.

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This is not an ad. for Listowel Garden Centre. If, like me, you love this stuff you need travel no further than Listowel.

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Nobody sits on the window sills anymore

Listowel people remember a time when ladies used to sit on the window sills outside their houses in the evening time and chat. The day's work done, the children in bed, the women took a welcome breather and availed of a chance to catch up with the news in the neighbourhood. People moved from one window to another but nobody left their perch for too long in case a crying child or a baking cake needed their attention. There were no televisions and no phones, mobile or otherwise, to bother them. The only sounds above the chatter were the happy sounds of children's games or the chirping of the caged birds that hung outside the doors…….Happy days!

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Saturday Night's Entertainment Sorted

Daniel may be out, but our own Daniels and Kristinas are all set and rearing to go on Saturday night, October 24 2015