Friday, 4 September 2020

Asdee Drama, Mallow, Co, Cork, O'Connell's Avenue youngsters and Good News for Ballylongford


Young Buck in The National Park



Photo: Chris Grayson


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In 1960 Asdee was on a Winning Streak with its New Play




It all started when Josie McElligott sent me this photo with a request for help with the names. Dave O'Sullivan who, incidentally, has a keen interest in drama and is no stranger to All Ireland success, did a spot of research  in the newspapers and we learned a thing or two about drama in Asdee.

We didn't get the names of the folk in this photo but I'm sure reading these newspaper accounts and the accompanying photos, local people will be able to put names to faces.

The people in the photograph were the cast of The Birthright by T.C. Murray. Below are the cast members. If anyone has a programme from 1959 we'll find the rest of the names.










The Latter days are Cold was a groundbreaking play. It came at the height of drama success in North Kerry with John. B. Keane's Sive sweeping the boards at local and national drama festivals.

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O'Connell's Avenue in the 1950s


Noel Roche shared this one on Facebook.


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Good News for Ballylongford


This is a screen shot so unfortunately I cant make it any bigger.

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A Church Visit in Mallow

Here are a few photos from my recent visit to Mallow

















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Moonlighting in Listowel in 1887


Desperate Encounter and Shooting of Two Policemen. —
A desperate encounter, resulting in two policemen being wounded, took place
last night near the Ennismore Station, on the Limerick and Kerry Railway, at
the house of a respectable farmer named M. H. His farm is situate on the
townland of Killacrim, and is about three miles from Listowel.
The locality has been very quiet until recently, but for the last fort-night houses
have been raided for arms, with serious injury to a farmer's daughter in one
case, her arm having been broken by one of the Moonlighters, who fired through
the door of her father's house, after having got up his gun. The encounter last
night occurred at half-past ten o'clock. Through some reason or another the
police expected that the houses in which there were guns would be visited, and
accordingly they had placed men in the vicinity of the houses in that
locality. A patrol, consisting of head-constable Concannon and constables Kelly
and Waters, in accordance with this arrangement, were in ambush outside
Halloran's house. They were not there for any great length of time when they
noticed a body of men coming into the yard, and going to the back of the house.
They noticed between them and the white walls of the house that the men were
armed, and immediately they suspected the nature of their visit. The place
where the police were ambushed was at the north or back of the house, while the
Moon- lighters entered the yard by a passage leading into it from the west. The
front of the house faces south, and the stable, which is built at right angles to the
house, and is attached to it, faces the yard and passage by which the Moonlighter
approached. The entrance to the kitchen is at the back of the house in the angle
formed by itself and the stable. The party then, after coming into the yard, came
-along by the front of the stable, and turned round into the kitchen. At this time
the police were about fifty yards to the north of an avenue leading up to the yard
of the house. Seeing the men, as described, turning the corner of the house, the
police approached, and as they did so saw some of the men returning into the
yard, where two other men had been left apparently as sentinels.
When the police came sufficiently close to the groups they called on them to
surrender in the Queen's name. No reply was given, but the moonlighters made
off in an opposite direction. The police then fired three shots at them, and rushed
forward to arrest them. Constable Kelly, who was in advance of the others,
succeeded in capturing one of the men. They struggled for a time, but the Head
Constable and the other policemen having come to his aid, he secured his man.
This took place in the front of the stable, and he was taking back his prisoner to
the stable when he noticed a man lying on the ground. Having also noticed that
he had something in his hand, he laid hold of him. The first man then gave a
jerk, and escaped, but Kelly held on to the second man, and with the assistance
of his confreres, who had returned from pursuit of the other moonlighters, they
took the man into the stable, where they found he was armed with a double-barrelled gun, 

which was loaded and capped. They handcuffed the prisoner, and
left him in charge of Constable Waters in the stable, after which the head
constable and Constable Kelly came out into the yard again.
Then fresh and more serious work began. It appears at the time the police
came up, half the Moonlighters were in the house, and one of their number on
guard, seeing the police approach, passed the word. Those in the house then
trooped out, and fell into a body in a field to the east of the house. While the
first struggle in the yard was going on they came around by a field to a low stone
wall which bounds the yard. Then, when they saw the two policemen coming out
of the stable they fired a volley at them. At the same time another volley was
fired from behind the fence of an orchard, wounding the Head-constable slightly
and wounding Kelly rather seriously. The police, fired at from two directions,
returned the fire towards the places from whence the shots came. They saw from
this that the Moonlighters were divided into two different bodies, and that each
occupied a safe position behind ditches and walls. The firing between the two
parties lasted ten or fifteen minutes, there being great determination shown on
both sides, but after being wounded the police, who were some yards from the
stable door, gradually retired, in order to defend the place if an attempt to rescue
the prisoner were made. As they entered the door two shots were fired at them
from immediately opposite, and the contents of the shots lodged in the door
posts. The shots also hit a chest inside the door, so that the police had a very
narrow escape. — Irish Times, March 14th, 1887.

Thursday, 3 September 2020

Kerry Trees, Asdee Drama and John B. Keane Sculpture unveiling




Photo: John Kelliher

In the middle of town, behind The Shebeen is this magnificent tree. Liam Canty invited me to photograph it but it was so big I couldn't get far enough back to get the whole tree into my frame so I had to enlist the help of a real photographer. Thanks, John Kelliher.

This tree could be added to the many historic trees of Kerry as outlined in this marvellous lecture by my favourite local historian, Tom Dillon


Tom's lecture is full of history, information, anecdote and folklore...brilliant!

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Asdee Drama


Josie McElligott sent me this photo in the hope that some of you could name the people in the photo.

Maureen Barrett recognised the man first on the left at the back as Fonty Stack.

Since then with the invaluable help of our super researcher, Dave O'Sullivan, I have learned much about drama in Asdee in the 1950s and 60s when the village had 2 drama groups. Dave didn't find names for the people in this photo but his trawl through the newspaper archives uncovered the names of most of the people involved with drama so I'm hoping this will help Josie in identifying the cast of this play.






More on this tomorrow

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We Had a Great Time at the unveiling of the John B. Keane Sculpture in 2008

Paddy and Carmel Fitzgibbon had spent hours and hours getting the Garden of Europe into tip top condition for the unveiling. They are pictured here with Mary Keane R.I.P.

The scene was set with journalists, photographers and videographers in attendance.


We had music and song from Mickey MacConnell and Danny Houlihan


Keane women were in attendance .

Many familiar local faces in the crowd


Brenda Fricker, who had broken her arm only that morning, did the honours at the opening ceremony.


Joanna O'Flynn was one of the speakers.



I lined up with half the town for the commemorative photo.

My late husband, Jim, with the artist Padraig Tarrant and his wife.


The beautiful piece of artistry today. 

Padraig Tarrant is the genius who imagined, designed and created this unique work of art.


 

Wednesday, 2 September 2020

Trim Castle, New Vape Shop,Paddy Faley and Martin Chute, Signwriter

Eamon ÓMurchú was at Trim Castle with his Camera




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Something Wicked This Way Comes



William Street this week

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Patty Faley on Paddy Faley


Paddy Faley R.I.P. and his daughter Peg


I got an email from an old friend of Listowel and of Listowel Connection.

Hello Mary,

I have been reading the recent stories about Paddy Faley and thought that I would add my own. As you know, I have been searching for years for my Irish family information. My father was raised in an orphanage and revealed next to nothing to me about his biological family so I have had to do a lot of searching. With much help, I found my late cousin Brigid and her husband Sean Donovan in Loughill. Sean always saved his issues of The Ballyguiltenane Rural Journal for me to take home and read because he knew how much I loved local history and information. I saw the pictures of Paddy Faley and the Irish Rambling House and was very curious about him. My great grandparents (Timothy Fealy/Faley and Johanna Cooney) ended up in Ballyhahill (after living in Listowel and Glin) so It seemed there might be a connection. Sean said that Paddy went to mass every Saturday so we met him there. We had a nice chat with Paddy and his lovely daughter, Peg Prendiville. He raised five daughters after he was widowed. We didn’t know of any family connection then and still haven’t found it but I’m still looking. Paddy published a book of poems called, The Life and Rhymes of Paddy Faley. I found it at a used bookseller online since it was out of print.

There is very nice article about Paddy and his life at: http://www.turtlebunbury.com/interviews/interviews_ireland/vanishing_3/interviews_ireland_paddy_faley.html. ( The same book has an article about my cousin Din Lane: http://www.turtlebunbury.com/interviews/interviews_ireland/vanishing_3/interviews_ireland_din_lane.html

I miss Listowel and can’t wait until it is safe to visit again. 

Patty Faley


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Martin Chute Paints Everything






In an age when lots of things are being computerised and craftsmen are being replaced by machines, Martin Chute stands out as an excellent exponent of a dying art. I think you will agree that this is an absolutely beautiful sign.



 We are blessed in Listowel to have a sign writer of the calibre of Martin, painting artwork to bring delight to native and visitor alike. This beautifully ornate sign is next door to All Kinds of Everything, another example of Martin's versatility and skill. He is a credit to the Chute name which has a long history of decorative artwork and signwriting in Listowel.

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Listowel Emmetts Ladies are Celebrating


Listowel Emmets U12s who won the North Kerry Div 1 Plate Final tonight beating Castleisland Desmonds by a score of 2-6 to 1-5 in Frank Sheehy Park Listowel. Well done girls & coaches. Fantastic result




The senior ladies defeated Clounmacon

Tuesday, 1 September 2020

Churches in The Square, Cookery Books and Danny's Hair Studio and Wig Clinic.

Social Distancing in Glenteenassig

Photo: Brenda O'Haloran Enright


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Twin Spires In Listowel Town Square

(Photo and text from Cathleen Mulvihill in Glin Historical Society's page on Facebook)



St. John's and St. Marys, Listowel.
St. Johns Theatre & Arts Centre - A former Church of Ireland Gothic style church, located in the centre of the newly developed Town Square. In 1814 the site for this church was presented to the community by Lord Listowel. It was designed by a Cork architect, named Payne and it is believed that the stone used to build St. Johns was taken from the ruins of Listowel Castle. It was used by the faithful of North Kerry as a place of worship from 1819 until its deconsecration in 1988. The Church of Ireland community and the people of Listowel were anxious to preserve the building and make it a centre for local cultural activities and heritage. It now houses a Theatre & Arts Centre and Tourist Office. St. John's Theatre & Arts Centre features and annual programme of performances including theatre, music and dance, exhibitions and educational programmes and an annual summer school.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church - Built in 1829, St. Mary's Church is centrally situated in the Square and its spire and porch were 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. Local folklore has a story that Lord Listowel prevailed upon the clergy to ring the Angelus bell at 7.00 p.m. so that he could get an extra hours work from his men.
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In Cobh, Co Cork

Daniel McDonnell was in Cobh and he spotted that Sonia O'Sullivan's statue is wearing a mask these days.


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Updating My Cooking Skills

I recently bought a new cookbook. It's not your ordinary cookbook. It is a Junior Cert Home Ec. textbook, written by my friends' daughter, Laura Healy.


I like a simple basic cookbook with easy to follow instructions. That is why I prefer a school textbook to any of your fancy modern cookbooks, although I have a few of them too.


I still have All in the Cooking from my own schooldays. It's well used and very shabby at this stage but I still refer to it occasionally.
Next comes that favourite of Home Ec teachers in the 1970s and 80s, Cookery in Colour. Its a great book but not at all as attractive as my new 2020 purchase @ Home with the Practical.
The title of Laura's book would most likely be like Double Dutch to Marguerite Patten.


This is a well used page from my All in the Cooking. 
My mother used to make buns. I dont remember her having a cookbook. She had the few recipes she used in her head. They were probably passed on from her mother. 
Her repertoire consisted of plain buns, sultana buns and best of all, iced buns.
In my day,  buns became Queen Cakes or Fairy Cakes and they could be transformed into Butterfly buns with the addition of a dollop of cream and a bit of jam.


Look at today's buns. In Laura's book they are cupcakes. The recipe is basically the same but now it is a accompanied by a mouthwatering picture.
Cookbooks, even school textbooks have come a long way.
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More Changes at Danny's



Danny Russell has moved across Main Street into his lovely new hair studio.