Schoolgirls in 1953, Changes in town and Sr. Elizabeth Starken

Presentation Secondary School pupils in 1953

Jimmy Magee couldn't hold a candle to Betty Stack of Greenville. She gave me this great photograph of the whole school cohort in 1953 and she remembers all the names.

Betty gave me lots more photos and press cuttings. I will be sharing these with you over the next few days.

Front Row;

Margaret Keane, Joan McElligott, J. Halpin,--O’Sullivan, May Noonan, Noreen Guiney, Theresa Walsh, Delia Duggan, Claire O’Connor, Imelda Sheehy, Peggy Brennan, Maureen Stack, Betty Sheehan, Maureen McElligott, Maura O’Connor, Helen Hanrahan, Betty Walsh, Theresa Enright, Margaret Mooney, May Grogan, Pay Murray, Maria Hegarty,Theresa Hegarty, Eileen Fitzgerald, Maria O’Connor.

Middle:

Pat O’Connor, Kathleen Enright, Maureen Guerin, Eleanor Scanlon, Joan Stack, Maureen Hunt, Margaret Keane, Maria Buckley, Maura Grimes, Claire Broderick, Maria Kirby, Renee Buckley, Margaret Galvin, Nora Dillon and Irene Nolan.

Back Row:

Carmel Sheehy, Laoise O’Connell, May Walsh, Bridie Mooney, Ellen O’Sullivan, Maureen Buckley, Beta Whelan, Ina Leahy, Mary Ahern, Peggy Buckley, Bridie Godley and May Dillon.

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Big Reburbishment Going on at Maguires Pharmacy

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Blast from the Past from The Kerryman

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Now and Then

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Bord na Mona, Lyreacrumpane

 The woman on the right here is Sr. Elizabeth Starken a member of the Presentation Order. She was born in Kerry when her father Harry Starken was based there at the BnM works. This photo shows Michael Casey, from Longford presenting a bog oak chalice to Brother Joseph Bell and Sr Starken. The chalice was then brought to Rome, presented to Pope John Paul II and used on 6th October 1996 during the Beatification Ceremony of Brother Edmund Ignatious Rice. A long way from Lyrecrumpane.

(text and photo; Bord na Mona Heartland)

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You're Ugly Too

This is Mark Noonan He is in Japan promoting his new film, You're Ugly too. Mark is an up and coming writer director. He is a nephew of Helen Moylan and Tess Noonan of Listowel.

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The Games have Begun

Team Ireland at the Special Olympics was lead out by Colin Farrell.

Youthreach, Michael Flatley and the Ring of Kerry Cycle

A Heartwarming  Listowel Youthreach Initiative

While my grandchildren were in Listowel, they walked through the park on the path beside the pitch and putt course every day on their way to and from the community centre. They told me about the motivational quotes tied to the trees and it became part of the daily routine to seek out and read these cards. Making and hanging the cards is the work of Listowel Youthreach. Well done all on a lovely initiative. You help brighten my days.

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A Young Michael Flatley

 The world-famous Irish dancer, star of spectacular shows like Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Celtic Tiger, is also a flute player in the Irish tradition. Here he is, quite near his birthplace on the South Side of Chicago, at the 1977 Midwest Fleadh Cheoil, getting a few pointers from fellow flute player Kevin Henry. At the time, Michael was nineteen years old, and one of the top competitive dancers and flute players in Irish music. Of course, he only went on to bigger things. Did you know Michael also played the flute, or that he was a Golden Gloves boxing champion?

The photo, which is by Jonas Dovydenas, is part of AFC's Chicago Ethnic Arts Project Collection (AFC 1981/004). 

(photo and text from American Folklife Center)

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Some photos from The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle.

Marie Moriarty took her camera with her to Killarney and she took some photos  of the biggest charity cycle on this island.

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Date Announced

Pres. Convent today and Con Colbert of Athea

Very Sad State of Decline

The convent door photographed in July 2015

The same door in summer 2006

This is how the convent and chapel look today July 23 2015

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Con Colbert of Athea

"This slightly decolourised photograph of Con Colbert is included among the collection of papers of Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. which has recently been made available online at the Digital Repository of Ireland. Colbert was born on 19 October 1888. He was a founding member of the Republican youth organisation, Fianna Éireann. During the Easter Rising, he fought in the area around Jameson’s Distillery. A deeply religious man, Colbert was ministered to by the Capuchin friars of Church Street during his detention in Kilmainham Jail. He was executed on 8 May 1916."    (photo and text : Facebook)

Con Colbert has streets named after him in Listowel and Abbeyfeale, a train station in Liomerick and a community hall in Athea.

Coincidentally  I read in Saturdays' Irish Times an obituary to Sr. Íde Woulfe, who died in Belfast . Sr. Íde who was in her 100th year was a niece of Con Colbert. She came from a family of five children of Catherine and Richard Woulfe of Woulfe's Pharmacy in Abbeyfeale. Her sister, Agatha, was also a nun and all three of her brothers were Holy Ghost priests.

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Listowel Castle, new Garda Station in Castleisland and success at Newcastlewest Show

Beauty on our doorstep

Ita Hannon took this haunting picture of Littor Point, Asdee.

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Back in the Saddle

Johnny Joy and Finuge Freewheelers out for an evening spin.

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Daniel O'Donnell on Tour

Daniel O'Donnell is on a tour around Ireland for a TV show he is making. Here he is having a game of draughts with his Donegal neighbor, Hughey Sweeney who is 104.

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Listowel Castle

May Langan pictured earlier this summer at Listowel Castle.

The castle is open every day to visitors. It is one of the many great Listowel attractions that every Listowel person should visit at least once.

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Song of the Sea

Have you ever heard of  a selkie?
No?
Well, they are mythical creatures who are women on land and seals at sea. Song of the Sea is a film all about selkies. It is a lovely Irish made animated full length family film.  The dialogue is lovely and you will recognize many familiar voices, the animation is simple but forceful, the pictures are lovely and the music superb. You will never look at a seal again without wondering.

What's not to love about Song of the Sea?
 Bring the whole family.

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CastleIsland have a new Garda Station

On Ftiday last, July 17 2015 Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan and Minister for The Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan opened a new Garda Station in Castleisland. The following photos are from the Garda Síochána Facebook page.

members of the Garda band at the opening

Garda Commissioner, Nóirín O'Sullivan

Minister Deenihan inspects a guard of honour

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Latin in Kerry Catholic church registers

Above is a link to Kay Caball's site. It has a translation of some of the most common names as they are entered in Latin in Kerry parish records. This is very useful if you are researching online through the old registers now available at National Library of Ireland Catholic parish registers

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Newcastlewest Agricultural Show 2015

I had a great day out last Sunday at Newcastlewest Show. I took lots of photos. Here are a few. When news is in short supply next week I'll post a few more.

This minion, created from 2 round bales and tyres greeted us on arrival.

My brother, Pat and my niece, Elizabeth won the champion's cup for the best ridden hunter with their horse, Sonny Bill.

There is always a Listowel connection. I met Mike Laffan of Kerry Group and his wife, Margaret supporting their local show by showing a bullock.

Listowel lady, Kelly St. John had a beautiful array of crochet goods for sale.