Tralee, Brendan of Ireland, Festival of Light planned

Molly and Aisling in the shade.

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2018: The Summer of Outdoor dining

Upper William Street

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Brogue Makers' Lane, Tralee

I was taking a shortcut to town through this alleyway when I spotted this plaque

There is also a memorial to Brother John Conway in this corner of Tralee.

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Brendan of Kerry

Our friend, Aileen Skimson in Vancouver photographed her copy of this Bryan MacMahon book for us. The illustrations are photographs of local people and places.

This story was part of a series describing the life of a typical boy in various countries of Europe.

All of this story is illustrated with photographs of local people and local places. The role of Brendan was played by Michael Greaney. His brother, Frank, has promised to tell me all, how he got the gig and where the photos were taken and who was in them with him.  I'll tell you all as soon as I know.

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One to Watch Out For

Fred Chute at work on Jet's, Bank of Ireland Refurb and Molly in Cork

Trees in Listowel Pitch and Putt course

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Still Number One

I saw Fred on his ladder painting one of the many pieces of  individual wall art that grace Listowel.

A master at work.

Fred's cousin, Liz, sent a request for a smile especially for her the next time I saw Fred painting. Here it is Liz, a smile especially for you from William St., Listowel.

In case any of the rest of you are getting any ideas, I can't make a habit of going around town disturbing people at their work and asking them to smile at their cousins in America.

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Bank of Ireland

I haven't called for a few days. This was how it looked last time I visited.

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Molly at Home

Molly is back in Cork with her family.

 Her girls are learning to touch type. Molly is waiting for them to get done and come and play.

She likes a walk and a little dip.

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A legendary Ballybunion Piper

This is Ballybunion at nighttime. Once upon a time a lone piper used to walk these shores at sunset composing tunes.


According to local lore, Tom McCarthy, the famous Ballybunion piper, was born in 1799. His favourite playing spot was the Castle Green but he also was said to walk along the cliffs listening to the wild life and replicating the sounds of Nature in his music.

He passed away in 1904 after a lifetime of composing and playing music.


After his death, his pipes became the stuff of legend, one man claiming that they played by themselves with no musician about.


Finally the pipes vanished and nobody has any idea where they are to this day.


(I read this story in Danny Houlihan's Ballybunion, an Illustrated History)

Evening Press 1939, Listowel Hospital and Clinics and the old popemobile

Roses at Listowel Big Bridge July 2018

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More advertisements from the Sunday Press of 1939

That one doesn't seem to have caught on.

Back in 1939 they were pushing bottle feeding. Apparently it protected a child against the winter weather!

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In Listowel Hospital Grounds

I took a wander back Greenville to see how things were in that part of town. Here are some pictures I took in the hospital grounds

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Donncha  ODulaing and the Popemobile

This photo is in the RTE archive. I wonder if the new popemobile will look less like a caravan mounted on a lorry

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Interesting Sign for the Golf Tournament

AA signs now have the eircode for the event venue  Genius.  No one will ever be lost again!

1939 paper, Garden of Europe signs and Some 1966 Roses

Doe a deer.... baby deer at Beauford photographed by Chris Grayson

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An Old One from Scoil Realta na Maidine

Scoil Realta na Maidine teachers photographed by John Hannon

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A Blast from the Past

Recently a friend bought an old house. When she started her refurb. she pulled up all the old carpets. In the days before underlay, people used to use newspaper to  cover the concrete to keep damp from rising up to ruin the floor covering. It is a sign of how good this insulation was that the first paper laid down was the Evening Press of 1939 and it was there in 2018 intact. She shared a few pieces of these newspapers  with us.

Seems like they were bombarded from morning 'til night by advertising even back then.

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Road Works are Gas

One day as I was passing the John B. Keane Rd. sign workmen were replacing it after laying their gas pipeline.

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Repainting the Signs

Faded signs are being repainted this summer.

The MacMahon tree is beside The Garden of Europe and provides bay leaves for the town.

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Roses in 1966

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On a bank Holiday break in Listowel

It was lovely to meet my former pupils, Brita Whelan and Darina Harman, their families and Jake.