Two from the Kerryman

In case you missed these;

By DÓNAL NOLAN

Wednesday November 02 2011

NORTH Kerry was a dream posting according to a Cork native garda sergeant on his recent retirement.

Sergeant Mike Sheehy told The Kerryman that the people of North Kerry and his colleagues on the force in the region made life a pleasure for the best part of his 33 years on the job there.

A native of Tullylease outside Kanturk, Sgt Sheehy was delighted when first posted to the Listowel area all those years ago. "I was thrilled as I wasn't a million miles from home and I had always loved Listowel and North Kerry with the races and Ballybunion growing up.

"A brother of mine was posted to Hackball's Cross in Louth, where he still serves, and he said he was making up for me getting so close to home!" Compared with his brother's posting, North Kerry made it much easier for community-style policing.

"It was far from a holiday camp but you'd think we were working in different countries, particularly through the worst of the 80s troubles. I was much more engaged in community and social work here and I loved building up a relationship with the people of the area.

"99 per cent of work was social based, it is only a very small percentage of people who cause the problems. That being said, the job was like a magnified version of life. You would go from tragedy to good fun with all the gradings of life in between."

The highlight of his career, however, was of a more personal nature. "I was diagnosed with cancer about eight years ago and my doctors recommended I give up the job. But the people of North Kerry and my colleagues really helped me cope with it. They were amazing and it's only when you're in trouble you realise how lucky you are in that sense."

His Cork blood however made for very conflicting times in recent years when Kerry footballer Tom O'sullivan came to be posted with him in Moyvane. "It has become even more conflicting as a Cork man as I went to the All-ireland this year to support Tom. He is an absolute gent and he'll have to look after Moyvane on his own now as I'm irreplacable as I said to him!"

Sgt Sheehy's retirement was marked by the Moyvane community with a night in his honour recently and his colleagues are organising a night in the Listowel Arms for November 11 next.

- DÓNAL NOLAN

AND

         

Network generates € 250k of business

           

By MARISA REIDY

Wednesday November 09 2011

A NORTH Kerry business network has generated close to a quarter of a million euro in business for its 20 local members since its formation just eight months ago.

The Listowel Excel Business Network, a branch of the renowned Business Network International franchise, announced details of its impressive performance at a showcase event in Listowel on Monday night.

The group, which was formed in March, is made up of 20 businesses from Listowel and north Kerry, all of whom actively promote and refer each other for work. Group member Brian Scanlon explained that the aim of the Listowel Excel Business Network is to generate business for each other in what is a very tough economic climate.

"It's based on the premise of referring work to each other within the group and pass on possible leads that will generate work," Mr Scanlon explained. "We then record all those referrals and by doing that we can gauge how successful we have been. Since we got together in March, we have generated €250,000 worth of business which is quite good given that we only formed eight months ago.

Mr Scanlon explained that the range of businesses within the group is far reaching, and currently features such services as a printer, accountant, solicitors firm, physiotherapist, builder, financial advisor, graphic designer, web development company and refuse collection company to name some.

"The group is open to any type of business but there is a vetting process as we are very mindful that our members are reputable, quality business people," he said. "It is also restricted to one person per profession to avoid any conflict of interest."

Anyone interested in joining the group can come along to their weekly meetings at the Listowel Arms Hotel each Tuesday morning at 7am or contact Brian on 087 2396085.

best mart picture

Tom Fitzgerald took this fab. picture earlier today.

End of an era as the old mart in Market Street is demolished

This photo from North Kerry Camera ( Vincent Carmody) depicts a red letter day in Listowel as the new livestock mart was opened and blessed.

Today, November 9 2011 is another such day as the same premises is demolished.

I took some photos on Monday in anticipation of the demolition.

Today I took these  following photos

Of course, Listowel Livestock Mart has a state of the art new premises in Tanavalla and the old buildings had become a bit of an eyesore so today is, in fact, a good and a welcome one in town.

NKRO update and other stuff

Last night we had our NKRO meeting. Here is the story so far

• Website in first iteration. Should be ready to go live shortly. Much done, much more to do!
• Funding for training applied for; hopes high.
• 3 new contacts from people researching their ancestors. Help being given.
• Irish nights a success. Big one planned for The Swanky Bar in Tarbert at the end of the month.
• First contact made with a view to collecting archive materials. Looks like Asdee will be the first port of call. 

I told you I was in Ballybunion on Sunday. I saw some progress being made on the building of a new house under the cliff on the way down to The Ladies Beach.

This is it and this next one is the view looking down on it from the road.

Could this be the same site as this cottage in this old photo of Ballybunion?

Now to something really really different. Conor Moloney, formerly of this parish, is undertaking the trip of a lifetime through the American continent. You can follow his progress on his blog, 

http://twowheeledtravels.wordpress.com/

He calls his blog One Man, Two Wheels and Three Americas. I think you will agree with me that it is a great adventure and he "tells it lovely".

Changes at St. Mary's

Built in 1829, our beautiful St Mary's Roman Catholic church is  situated in the corner of The Square. It originally consisted of one aisle and two galleries at the sides. It was renovated and a spire and porch added in 1865. The side aisles were added in 1910. In line with reforms that followed Vatican II, much of the old altar was removed and the pulpit taken out. 

Paddy Horgan R.I.P. a lovely local man whom I met when I first came to Listowel in the 1970’s, told me  that the reason the Angelus bell rang at 7.00 rather than 6.00p.m. was because Lord Listowel, in his day the biggest employer in town, prevailed upon the clergy to ring the Angelus bell at 7.00 pm so that he could get an extra hour’s work from his men. I don't know when the practice was discontinued.

In late 1998, a huge job of rewiring and painting the church was undertaken. In the 2000’s  the church was completely repainted and more recently the roof has  been repaired.

Now some more renovations are under way. A new boiler is keeping the faithful cosy and warm.  Pews have been removed to allow people who use wheelchairs to move from the back of the church and take a place among the congregation, if they wish.

When I read the following in the church newsletter I took my camera to ST. Mary’s to keep all my blog followers up to date with developments;

Confessional Boxes: At the moment we are in the process of converting two Confessional Boxes (which are surplus to requirement) into side sanctuaries / altars, one for St. Pio and the other perhaps St. Anthony and Divine Mercy. The sanctuaries will be built with the original fabric and will be kept as close as possible to the symmetry of the original confessional. This project is being done in consultation with the Parish Finance Council and the Conservation Office of Kerry County Council.

This is the left hand aisle with the site of the removed confession box soon to be shrine.

This is the right hand aisle with the 2 confessionals. The one on the left is the one to be reinvented as a shrine.

I took the opportunity while I was in the church with my camera to photograph some of the lovely wood and mosaic detail in St. Mary's.  It is a fascinating building. I must return to it here another day.

N.B. NKRO meeting tonight in The Seanchaí at 7.30p.m. Everyone welcome!

Food Fair and Ballybunion

This was the scene outside The Seanchaí yesterday, where a colorful craft and food market was taking place.

 

It was a beautiful crisp sunny Winter day so lots of Listowel people headed to Ballybunion. I was there with these 2 little fellows who enjoyed the unexpected late sunshine.

Would you eat a meal prepared by this man?

The Food Fair is in full swing and a great success, I hear. Jim Halpin's doorman is now passing himself off as a chef. As Jim, himself says " Head Chef or Headcase?" I hope it is giving the visitors a laugh. It gave me one.

I missed NKRO's trad. night last night because I was in Tralee celebrating 75 years of badminton in Kerry. Congrats to Junior and all the gang on a great souvenir brochure, a collector's item surely, a great display and a great night. Kerry badminton certainly celebrated in style.

Here are some familiar faces from Listowel badminton a few years ago who were reunited on the night.