A jig saw, Young Adult Bookfest 2019 and a Castleisland sign

Winter is jigsaw time. Here is Cora getting to grips with a big one.

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Writers' Week Young Adult Bookfest 2019

This is always one of the highlights of Transition Year. This year was a superb mix of business and pleasure, some tips for Leaving Cert English spiced with music and comedy. There was also some valuable life advice and some stories from people who reached their goal via the scenic route.

Aimée Keane of Listowel Writers' Week with Stephanie Rainey, singer songwriter.

A case of two Caseys (no relation), Bernard Casey of Kerry and Shane Casey of Cork, actors and comedians.

Catherine Moylan and Elizabeth Dunn of Listowel Writers' Week with Mary Sobieralski.

Poet, Ciara Ní É and singe,r Emma Langford

Elaine Kinsella was an excellent MC and Catherine Moylan was first on stage to get the show on the road.


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Parking in Castleisland church grounds is only for the prayerful

Be good or be gone!

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On the Wall in The Listowel Arms

The coat of Arms which gave the hotel its name

Christmas 2017 in Listowel Town Square, Enterprise town evening and a new shop

Mallow Camera Club Member's Blue Photo

Photographer: Mairead Cunningham

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Christmas in Listowel 2017

Listowel Arms at night looks magical.

John B. Keane's Bar has a traditional window display with real holly and candles.

There is a welcoming light in the window of The Seanchaí

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Looking forward to a reopening

This is the Tinteán theatre in Ballybunion which has been closed for a few years now. It will be great to see it open again in 2018. It is a lovely space with huge potential.

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Bank of Ireland Enterprise Evening.

This now annual event took place in the Community Centre on Friday Dec 1 2017. It's a super showcase for what is happening in North Kerry and its a very entertaining evening. Here are the first of the many photos I took on the night. I didn't note everyone's name but I got the banner telling you the business they run.

I have a photo in this calendar. I am in very illustrious company. Photos by super photographers like Brendan Lady, John Kelliher, Grainne Twomey and more make this a lovely present for any North Kerry person on your list. And Áras Mhuire is a cause well worth your support.

That's Leah's. I missed the banner.

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Opening Soon......I'll let you know what it sells when I find out.

On Charles St.

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My Talented Family

My sister- in -law made this.

My daughter-in-law knitted this

Stained Glass Windows, Switching on the Christmas Lights 2017and a few more trains

Mallow Camera Club Member's Blue Photo

Photographer; Deborah Cronin

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Scully's Corner, December 2017

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Stained Glass Windows

Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that I am a great admirer of stained glass windows. It is an art form that is fascinating, colourful and detailed and some great examples of this artwork  are available for free in every town in Ireland.

Recently I was in Saint Mary's and I went into the sanctuary to view the Famine window. Until Vatican 11 the sanctuary in a Catholic church was out of bounds to the laity and I still felt a bit uncomfortable going into this sacred space to take photographs.

It is a pity that this inaccessible space is the location chosen for some of the church's fascinating artwork.

I had always presumed that church art depicted Christ and the saints. It was a revelation to me that a window was made depicting a local man and some local women that everybody knew. The man was the parish priest, Fr. Darby O'Mahoney and the women were the local nuns. The window was commissioned by the people of Listowel in recognition of the unselfish work done by these people to help alleviate the suffering of Listowel people during the Great Famine of the 1840s when close on 7,000 people perished in and around the parish.

Above is the Famine window. While I was about it, I went across to the other side of the sanctuary and photographed the window there and the plaque which commemorates Canon Davis.

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Switching on the Christmas Lights 2017

There was a huge crowd in Listowel Town Square for the switching on ceremony 2017. Aidan O'Mahoney did the honours. We had singing and dancing, face painting, Disney characters, balloon shapes, sweets and goodies and everyone was in great form. There is a real sense of the whole community coming together this Christmas.

Listowel First

Make Listowel Great Again

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A Few More trains

This cute one is in the foyer of The Listowel Arms.

Hartnett's Pharmacy has taken the polar theme a step further. Polar bears, penguins and snow is everywhere. Even the elf has left his shelf for a swing on a snow covered branch.

All part of Listowel polar magic this Christmas 2017.

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Woodford Pottery

Pat Murphy of Woodford Pottery, Listowel has recently found a whole new seam of inspiration. Here are his latest Christmas creations.