Alternative Fashion at Listowel Races 2018, Georgian postbox and Loving lovely Listowel

The sea, oh the sea 

The Inbhear Scéine Sub Aqua Club had a very sad mission on Oct 1 2018 as they were tasked to recover wreckage of the boat which bore three men to their death in the treacherous waters off our coast. They took this stunning picture on the day as the mission drew to a sad close.

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A Georgian Postbox in Cork

This postbox on College Road Cork will be a familiar sight to so many UCC students who pass it every day.

 It is located across the road from Cliffords at a really busy junction with Highfield Avenue.

It's looking a bit the worse for wear.  I hope An Post won't see fit to dispense with these very important pieces of street furniture which are such a visible reminder of our country's history. 

And the new postboxes are ugly, plain and functional.

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Alternative Fashion Event at Listowel Races, Saturday Sept 15 2018

The business of racing was going on for a seventh day when we gathered into the tent for the best side show of Raceweek, Listowel Tidy Town Committee's Vintage Fashion Event. This event encourages ladies and gents to raid granny's wardrobe, go into the chest in the attic or just visit the charity shops and put together a vintage outfit by repurposing or recycling garments to give them a new lease of life. The rules allow you to buy in vintage shops as well but the others are more interesting and cheaper options.

I met Norella and Anna at the parade ring but they were on their way to the tent for the vintage show.

 These two beautifully turned out ladies were among the first I met.

Mary Hanlon loves this event too and she was looking forward to the style.

On the podium prizes were being presented to winning owners and trainers.

A special presentation was made to Maeve O'Brien as she retired after many years as nurse to the jockeys.

In a touching gesture, a group of jockeys came from the weigh room to make her a presentation on behalf of the jockeys.

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Listowel, Ireland's Tidiest Town 2018

On the day of our great win and again on the following day I went mad with the camera. Here are a few more I took on the Gurtinard Walk on a beautiful sunny Tuesday afternoon.

It's lovely to see young and not so young Listowel people out enjoying our lovely town.

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An Anonymous Poem to The O'Rahilly

(from Kerry's Fighting Story)

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Stories You'll Love

I have discovered a great website where Irish people tell their stories. You will see lots of familiar faces and hear lots of familiar voices and the stories are great. AND you can add your own if you so wish.
People of Ireland

Christmas in the workhouse, photos from Vincent's launch

  Both Junior Griffin and Michael Lynch, county archivist, sent me accounts from newspapers of the time (very early 20th. century) of Christmas in Listowel workhouse. Here is the first of those accounts from The Kerryman Jan 5 1907 and I will bring you the others over the next few days

XMAS TREAT AT LISTOWEL WORKHOUSE

Human nature is so selfish that the great majority of us never think of the miseries and misfortunes of our poorer brethren.  We are so much engrossed with our own little affairs that we rarely go out of our way to give a helping hand to those who most need it.  And for that reason we doubly value the generosity and kindliness of heart which prompted Mrs. Foran, lady guardian for Listowel and vice-Chairman of the Board to institute an annual Christmas treat for the workhouse children. 

We were present at the entertainment on Tuesday night at the Union schoolrooms and one would require to be present to thoroughly appreciate the happiness which was brought even for a few short hours into the lives of the little ones which cruel destiny has decreed to spend their youth in the Workhouse.  For weeks the children look forward with pleasure to the entertainment and it would be no exaggeration to say that it is their happiest hour in the whole long year.  Smiling faces everywhere and it was an inspiration to watch the gleam of pleasure in the children's eyes as they received one of the toys from the Christmas trees artistically placed at the head of the school room, which was turned into a veritable fairy land.  And then the playing of the Brass band - the members of which who, so kindly and generously attended - sent a thrill of delight through the little ones which found expression in a joyous cheer for their fair benefactress.

  Truly the few hours, fading and evanescent though they may be brought joy and gladness into the lives of the little ones.  The first night of the New Year was to them a pleasurable one, and no matter what their lot may be in after years, their annual Christmas treat will be a sweet and pleasant memory.  We would wish that all the other Unions in Kerry would follow the example given by Mrs. Foran and her lady friends and bring happiness into the cheerless lives of the children.  To Mrs. Foran particularly, the originator of the Christmas entertainment in Listowel, the best thanks of the community are due for the charity and warmth of heart which prompts her to bring so much happiness into the lives of the poor little waifs who are compelled to spend their innocent youths in the cheerless surroundings of a workhouse.

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From The Advertiser

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Very, very nearly there!

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Joanne Dillon, a good friend of this blog discovered this Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Wistorical?goback=%2Egmp_1189897%2Egde_1189897_member_191767043
It has all kinds of interesting historical stuff including a piece about this man;

The O'Rahilly

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Sunday Dec. 9 2012 in the ballroom of The Listowel Arms

A few more photos from the launch

Billy Keane, Jerry Kennelly and Jimmy Deenihan

Ann and Oonagh Hartnett

Vicent's sister, Maura and his wife, Kathleen