A Christmas Card, Xtravision is Closing and some properties for sale

Our  crib looks lovely in The Square.


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A Story of a Christmas Card in the digital age

This card made my day.
Here is the back story.

The card was sent to me by a lovely lady called Nancy Kelly. Nancy grew up in O'Connell's Avenue but she has lived in London for many years now. She loves to keep in touch with home through Listowel Connection. She enjoys the photographs and the stories and even though her eyesight is poor now, she made the effort to write me a card to say thanks.

Now here is the extraordinary part. Nancy is my digital friend. We have never met and have never corresponded except on Facebook. So Nancy did not know my address. This is what she did.

Wasn't that so thoughtful of her?

Betty passed the card to me but she wasn't too good at explaining to me who this lovely lady was. On the day I collected the card from Betty, I met my good friend, Dolores O'Connor, in The Flying Saucer. 

I showed Dolores my lovely card, told her the story and I asked her if she knew Nancy.

I think what happened next is called synchronicity.
Would you believe this; Dolores now lives in the house where Nancy once lived.

Since getting the card, I have mentioned Nancy to several Listowel friends. Nancy's family, the Murphys is remembered well by Listowel people.

I met Martin Griffin in Tralee.  He is a real life as well as a digital friend of Nancy's. He too got a Christmas card which set a challenge for the postal service.

Junior remembers Nancy well and he asked me to convey his best wishes to her.


Nancy's card forged an uplifting warm Listowel connection for us all.

So, in case you were thinking of cutting back on the cards, don't. A card can mean a lot.

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Some of the manyListowel Cards available locally

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Closing Down

With the advent of Netflix, Pandora etc. business has dried up for DVD rental shops. Xtra Vision on Market St. is closing down.


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One Down, Two to Go

The old schoolhouse in Dromerin has been sold.

The below two are on the market

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In Bank of Ireland

The bank ran a Christmas card competition for primary school pupils. The winners are displayed in the bank

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New Kid on the Block on Charles Street

Laser Lights in the U.S, the Square at Christmas and Bord na Mona in the 1940s

A Long Way From Lyreacrompane

(photos; Liam Murphy)

As he enjoys his laser light display in the US, I wonder if Liam ever thinks back to paper decorations and a candle in a jam jar in Lyre.

Happy Christmas, Liam Murphy and family.

Viveca Amato saw this house in Orlando, Florida

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In  Listowel

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Duagh people in Cork

(photo; Doreen Buckley)

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The Most Stylish Christmas Door

Last week I gave my vote for the best Christmas window display to Finesse.

Today I award my vote for the most stylish Christmas door to Griffins in Charles St.

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Listowel, December 2015

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Béal Strand in December 2015……..photos by Ita Hannon

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Bord na Mona

Bord na Mona was a huge success story in the Ireland of the 1940s. It gave employment to men from all over the country. The work was hard manual outdoor work but there was great camaraderie among the workers. Some of these men lived in camps near the bog for long periods at a time. There are photos extant of men having their Christmas dinner in one of these camps which were often too far from the man's home for him to travel there and back for Christmas.

De Valera was a great supporter of the turf industry. The above photo shows him trying his hand at water diving in a bog sometime in the 1940s.

A lot of the machinery used on the bog was purpose built for this terrain and this work. Apprentices were trained to maintain and service these huge machines. An apprenticeship with B na M was a great job in the 1940s and 50s.

Above is a photo of a machine loading milled peat onto a wagon on a train which ran along a track in the bog which was especially laid for that purpose.

This huge beast is a milling machine. You can gauge its size by the mechanic carrying out a maintenance job in a shed.

 This photo was taken at a training camp for apprentices and older employees. These sessions were called when a new machine was being introduced and men had to learn how to operate and maintain it.

It wasn't all work and no play in the camps. Here a group of young men are being given instruction in how to play the mouth organ.

(All information and photos from Bord na Mona Heartland;  great source for  Bord na Mona history and human interest stuff)

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Were You in the FCA/ Army Reserve?

Message for you below:

"A reunion of the 15th Batallion FCA, RDF, and PDF which was made up of A, B, C, D, E and F coy is planned. 
The get together will be held at the Listowel Arms Hotel on Saturday 30th April 2016 at 20.00 hrs. 
There will be a mass at 18.30 in St. Marys Church The Square Listowel for those of the 15th Battalion no longer with us. 
We will have a display of memorabilia/photographs etc. with some finger food/wine. Partners welcome. 
Please get the word out and share this event."

(photos: Jim Halpin)

Rattoo Abbey, Dec. 6 2015 in The Square and a view from Cnoc an Óir

London Irish News

 Dermot O'Leary has been revealed as the new charity patron of the London Irish Centre. Dermot is very proud of his Irish heritage and is looking forward to helping the centre to promote Irish culture and to look after vulnerable people in the London Irish community.

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The Boys of Scoil Realt na Maidine have Built an Igloo

They made it from recycled 2 litre milk containers. Great work, boys!

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Another Great Night in Mike the Pies

Mundy is pictured here with Caitríona MacCarthy. Photo by Denis Carroll

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Rattoo Abbey in the snow

Padraig O'Connor of Ballyduff photographed the abbey in the snow a few years ago.

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People in The Square on December 6 2015

 Damien O'Mahoney promoting Love Listowel

 Pierse Walsh of John R.'s Food Hall

These two from Apache Piazza on Bridge Road were very popular with the children.

Listowel's tree 2015

 Hanleys and Hanlons

 Flavins

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From Cnoc an Óir

Mike Enright took these great photographs from the top of Cnoc an Óir, outside Ballybunion.

Ballybunion

Ballybunion Golf Club and Cemetery

Mouth of the Cashen

Monastery and tower on Scattery Island

Scattery

Boat in the estuary

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Emigrants full of hope

Vincent Doyle sent me this picture which was taken in 1962. It shows Vincent from Inch, Liam Hayes of Tannavalla and Tommy Behan of St. Brendan's Terrace. These three friends worked together in Moloney's Garage before deciding to set out to explore greener faraway hills. They emigrated to Birmingham.

Vincent later moved to London where he still lives. Liam has returned to Listowel with his wife, Una and sadly, Tommy has passed away.