Posters, New Look Church St.

Here are a few things to do in Listowel over the next few days.

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This end of Church St. has had a bit of a face lift recently. Mrs. Quin's has rebranded as NCBI ( National Council for the Blind of Ireland)

Eason has opened next door.

Ladbrokes is in situ in time for Cheltenham

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Some more from John Pierse

Members of TABLE hard at work.

This looks like the Town Council of a few years back but where and why?

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Joanne Dillon from Brooklyn sent us the following account of mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan last Saturday,

Celebrating at New York’s Other St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Most people, New Yorkers included, are not aware that New York City boasts not one — but two — St. Patrick’s Cathedrals.

The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, on Mott Street, near Little Italy, Chinatown and the trendy SoHo district in lowerManhattan, was built in the early 19^th century. It served as the seat of the Archdiocese of New York until 1879, when the Cathedral of St. Patrick on Fifth Avenue and 50^th Street was completed and became the center of the Catholic Church inNew York.

For almost 200 years, St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral has flourished as a church serving immigrants. Irish, Italian, Haitian, German and French communities have all worshipped there as they worked to gain their foothold in America. Today, the parish serves an active congregation of Chinese, Mexican and Dominican immigrants.

Over the years, however, the Basilica has maintained its ties to the Irish community. And on Saturday, March 10, it recognized the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday by celebrating an Irish language Mass. As New Yorkers began their St. Patrick’s Day festivities in earnest, about 200 people turned out for the Mass, which was cosponsored by the New York Irish History Roundtable and Glucksman Ireland House of New York University.

Fr. Andrew O’Connor of Holy Family Parish, Castle Hill Avenue, in the Bronx, and Fr. Aidan O’Driscoll, who hails fromCounty Cork, served as concelebrants. An honor guard from New York’s famous Sixty-Ninth Infantry Regiment of the Irish Brigade — “The Fighting Sixty-Ninth” — led the processional. Following the Mass, the Washington Square Harp & Shamrock Orchestra provided some lively music, while attendees enjoyed a traditional corned beef and cabbage buffet luncheon.

Photos Attached:

§         Fighting Sixty Ninth Honor Guard

§         St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral

§         Members of the Washington Square Harp & Shamrock Orchestra

Writers' Week and shop windows

Bryan MacMahon at the railway station addressing a group during Writers' week.

Sean MacCarthy and ?

Theresa Cahill and the late Mick Relihan

Ted Hughes in St. Johns

All photos are the property of John Pierse.

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That was then , this is now.

Here is a selection of windows decorated for Mother's Day and St. Patrick's Day.

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Just in: a brilliant photo from Michael Dillane of Stag employees on a trip to Germany.

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http://www.independent.ie/national-news/nike-apologises-for-black-and-tan-runners-that-evoke-memories-of-notorious-paramilitary-unit-3051024.html

This poor guy seems to have got his great marketing idea all wrong. Or are we being too sensitive?

Memories, memories!

Convent St, Listowel Rugby, some shops and puisín

 This St. Patrick's Day reflection is a bit long but is well worth reading.
http://www.irishabroad.com/yourroots/expert/beingirish.asp

Making Magic Happen is a short film about Writers' Week. It was filmed last year in Listowel and includes some archive footage. It will be shown at the Dingle Film Festival on March 18. The trailer is here;
http://vimeo.com/38370707

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When I was walking in the town park on Sunday there was another Rugby match in progress. It looked to me like our boys were being defeated!

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Some more preparations for the national holiday.

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This shop has moved from Olde Mill Lane to Market St.

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  Michael Healy brought us this old picture of the Convent Street

Below is how it looks today

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The following unbelievable story appeared in The Irish Echo  in Australia yesterday

A Perth builder has published an online ad for a bricklayer which stipulates that NO IRISH need apply.

The ad, published on the free online classifies site Gumtree, reads “Bricklayer needed ASAP. $250 a day, no part-time workers and NO IRISH”.

Such language was commonly seen in Britain in the 1950′s and 1960′s and led to overt racism against the Irish causing enormous distress.

The ad has become a major topic of discussion online with the advertiser’s apparent home address being published.

The man who placed the ad defended the move stating that he was sick of Irish people applying for jobs with no experience.

“I have no trouble with Irish people,” he told the Irish Independent in Dublin, but he would not disclose his full name or the name of the company he works for.

“But I’ve had to fire a number of people. I’ve had lots of Irish people say they have experience bricklaying but come over and have no clue how to lay bricks.

“I’m very busy and don’t have time to be watching over them.”

He reportedly added that he is well aware of the anti-discriminatory legislation in Australia.

A spokesman for the Australian Embassy in Dublin told the newspaper: “The Australian Government has no tolerance for racism and discrimination and this is reflected in a broad range of anti-discrimination legislation in Australia. The Government has an unwavering commitment to a multicultural Australia and greatly welcomes the contribution made by people of all backgrounds , regardless of origin, gender, or colour, to Australia’s culture, society, and prosperity,” he added.

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Finally, in answer to queries, puisín is doing well.

Dancing and Georgia Salpa

The big day is approaching and we in NKRO are hoping that you will all come along and have a great time at our first St. Patrick's Day Tea Dance.

Read the following account of dancing in 1930's Listowel and you will be delighted to be able to come along to an afternoon dance without any fear of clerical retribution.

1930s in Kerry------The evil that was  dancing

This is an article from The Kerryman of 1936 and recently reproduced in the programme of The Listowel Drama Group’s production of Dancing at Lughnasa.

“There is only one way to deal with all night dances, and this is as the soupers were dealt with in olden times – by excommunication.” So said Very Rev. Fr. Browne P.P. Lixnaw at the annual licencing sessions at Listowel District Court, when he made a slashing attack on all-night dances, which, he said, are going to be the curse and ruin of the country. The stopping of the cross roads dances was responsible for the raising of the dancehalls, said Mr. R.D.F. Johnson, D.J. who adjudicated. The ideal hall was run by a parish committee under the supervision of the clergy, he said.

Fr. Browne also strongly denounced people who came in motor cars from Tralee and elsewhere to attend dances. He suggested the imposition of the three mile or parish limit to exclude “ these packs of scoundrels of the lowest type, devils incarnate.”

Ml. Regan Billeragh, Listowel, applied for the renewal of his dance licence for his hall known as “The Six Crosses”. Inspector Flood, Tralee said that there was no objection from the guards.

Fr. Browne objected to the hours applied for and also to all-night dances. He went on to say that there was only one way to deal with the dance-hall craze and that was by excommunication.

When John Horgan, Killocrim applied for a renewal of a dance licence for his hall at Killocrim, Rev. Fr. Browne objected to the hours and said that 10.30 to 11.30 was too late in winter time. He suggested that dancing would only be allowed from 6.00 to 9.00 p.m. He also objected to the allowing of all night dances.

The application was granted. The hours were fixed from 6.30 to 10.00p.m. No one was to be admitted who came from outside the 3 mile radius.

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Have you seen An Post's new vans. I spotted this one on Church St. last week.

Windows are taking on a festive air.

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And guess who's coming to town: only the most overexposed Irish model.

Whatever would Fr. Browne of Lixnaw have to say about that?

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Here is a link to a short film about young Irish emigrants in Canada:

http://www.worldirish.com/listening-post/view/short-film-captures-hopes-and-fears-of-irish-diaspora-690

NKRO website launch

Here we are, members of the committee of NKRO on Friday night last at the launch of our website

http://www.northkerryreachingout.com/

We had a great turnout on the night and we were thrilled with the success of our first official function.

Onwards and upwards from here.

Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht did the honours

The all Ireland Scór instumental music champions entertained us.

And the great and the good were there. Here are a few photos I took on the night

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Now onto something borrowed.

A lovely man called Michael Healy shared this treasure with us on Saturday.

These Listowel men were obviously on an outing to Killarney. In front on the left is Moss Kelliher (Lofty's dad) next to him is a man called Buckley, standing behind is a Daly man from Ballybunion, the jarvey, Willie Barthishell at the back right and we don't know who the man on the front right is but maybe someone will recognize him.

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Another man with treasured photos on Saturday was John Pierse. Here are two to whet your appetite for more.

Dr. Johnny Walshe chats to Seamus Wilmot.

Babe Jo Wilmot and Marie Keane Stack dressed for some jape or other.

St. Patricks Day in Listowel

I have made you this fun Smilebox for St. Partick's Day. It opens in a separate window. To stop the music and slideshow just close the window.

Personalize your own free greeting