Bromore Cliffs, Thomas Moore and Covid Queueing and last Week's just a Thought

     

Listowel Credit Union Building in Church Street in May 2020

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Good News from Bromore Cliffs

We are open again since Monday 18th of May ! the Seapink and Vetch are in full bloom.  The Bromore Fox had three cubs. The Ravens fledged two chicks and all the other birds and wildlife are busy high and low on the Cliffs

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Róisín Meaney is on Song

Earl Grey in the garden for me,
Or maybe a large g&t;
I won’t let this jazz
Steal my razzmatazz,
To covid I won’t bend the knee

Róisín Meaney

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Are you Right there, Thomas, are you right?

Boston Pilot (1838-1857), Volume 1, Number 47, 15 December 1838

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ADDRESS TO THOMAS MOORE. ESQ.

It having become known to the inhabitants of Fermoy that the high-minded and disinterested patriot, Moore, was sojourning at Convamore, the seat of Lord Listowel, a meeting was held in that town on the 22d ult. to frame an address to him on his visit to the land whose wrongs, whose sorrows, and whose sufferings he has immortalised in song. It was intended that the address should be presented by deputation, but the sudden departure of Mr. Moore having prevented the adoption of this course, Counsellor O’Flanagan (author of “ Impressions at 'Home and Abroad,”) who acted as secretary to the meeting, forwarded it to his residence. We insert, with much pleasure the address and answer, confident that every Irishman must feel proud of any tribute paid to the writer of Those songs whose every tone, When bard and minstrel long have past, Shall still in sweetness all their own Embalmed by fame undying last.

(Break)

THOMAS MOORE. Answer.

Bowood, October 5. Dear Sir —Owing to my absence from home, your letter and the flattering address from the inhabitants of Fermoy which it enclosed, did not reach me till this morning, and I lose not a moment in endeavouring to express to you how truly sensible I am of the value of the high compliment thus conferred upon me. I should feel too vain could I, for a moment, persuade myself that my own deserts were in any degree proportionate to the generous estimate set, upon them by my fellow-countrymen. Such tributes, however are not less gratifying for the kind excess of praise over merit in which they indulge ; and, for myself, I can only say that, accustomed as I am to such overflows of heart from my countrymen, I still feel them with all the freshness of my first gratitude and surprise. Wishing every happiness to you and the other unknown but kind friends who have thus honoured me, I am, dear Sir, your

Obliged servant,

To J. R. O’Flanagan, Esq., Fermoy.

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Follow the Yellow Brick Road

We are becoming familiar with yellow markings like these on the pavements. They mark where we are to stand while queueing.

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Leaving Cert 1970; a few more names

By email;  Re the St Michael's photo.. I think Stephen Stack in middle of second row.. And myself John Hynes  second last in middle row.

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Covid Thoughts

My last week's reflections are at the link below

Just a Thought

Glin Tragedy, A Poster of The Field, Dunlop Cup winning team 1970 and Behan's Restaurant

Blennerville, May 2020

Photo: Liam Enright on This is Kerry

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Another case of death by smothering from the Limerick Chronicle 18th January 1917. Tom Donovan

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Newspaper Cutting Connecting my Two Homes

This newspaper cutting from 1991 appeared recently on the Facebook page of a closed group to which I belong.

Fr. Padraig Walshe, a priest of the Kerry diocese, was part of a fundraising effort for Romania. He secured a huge poster of the film of John B.'s The Field. He got John B. to sign it, had it framed and put it up for auction where it was bought by Geraldine O'Toole for £500.

Sadly, Geraldine passed away at a young age. May she rest in peace. 

I wonder where the poster is now.

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St. Michael's; Dunloe Cup Winners 1970

Photo; Neil Brosnan, text Kieran Fitzgerald

This  is the Dunloe Cup Winning Team from 1970 . This was a hard fought but satisfying success as , though underdogs ,  we beat the big two, among others, en- route . I think we beat Tralee C.B.S. in the semi-final and we certainly beat the Sem in the final . I can recall is that we were 4/5 points down with about 15 minutes  to go and won by 7/8 . 

If memory serves me correctly , Canon Linnane was multi-tasking on final day . He was team manager for the Sem and then , immediately after the final whistle ,  presented the Cup to myself ( in his official role as Chairman of the Kerry Colleges Committee) .

The panel was  :

Front  ( Left to Right )    :       Brian Hilliard , Danny Lyons , Pat O'Flaherty , Neilus Brosnan 

Seated ( Left  to Right ) :       David Kissane , Pat Quilter , Gerard Leahy , Kieran Fitzgerald , Maurice Sheehy , Pat Stack , John Houlihan 

Standing ( Left to Right):       Jerry Kiernan , Tommy O'Flaherty , Eamon O'Carroll , Tom Stack , Vincent Donegan , Tom Lyons ( R.I.P. ) , P J Browne ( R.I.P.)

Tim Kennelly ( R.I.P.)  wasn't available for the photo .

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Martin Chute has painted another lovely mural

Proprietor, Jerry Behan, tells me that he is going to have the front painted in the same colour.

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First Holy Communion Day 2020

My granddaughter, Cora is a pupil of Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin in Ballincollig. Saturday May 23 2020 was First Holy Communion Day.

Since they were not to have their big day, their teacher sent each of the communicants a card and each teacher made a little video for the class and shared a photograph of themselves on their First Communion Day.

The card is so lovely that I'm sharing it with you .

Artistic Turf Stack, Christmastime 1957, Glin 1849, a Covid Poem and some of Listowel's old stock

Kennedy Home in May 2020

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In Dirrha Bog,  May 2020

Photo; Con Lane on The is Kerry

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Christmas 1957 in Sheahan's of William Street

Noreen Keane Brennan shared the photo on Facebook and she has named the people too.
Taken Christmas 1957, Ned Faley, Jack Hurley, Jer Reidy, Johnny Callaghan,, Mary Moore, Peter Moloney, Timmy Canty, Anna Sheahan, Ned Brouder, Jimmy Clancy, Tom Carmody.

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Melancholy Event—Three Lives Lost. — Glin, Nov. 12.1849

A circumstance occurred here this morning, which caused the utmost horror and consternation. A pensioner, named Fitzgerald, who buried his wife on yesterday, retired to rest on last night with his two sons, one aged 20, and the other 15. The house in which they slept was one of those wretched hovels which abound in the environs of most small towns in this country, and adjoining it was a house, which fortunately was untenanted. During the night, the unoccupied house, owing to the heavy rain, fell in, breaking in the gable of that in, which old Fitzgerald and his sons slept. The noise of the fall was so trifling that nothing was known of the tragic event until daylight when some passers-by noticed the ruin. A crowd immediately assembled and removed the rubbish, when melancholy to relate, the old man and both sons were found dead, and presenting a most frightful apnearance. Dr. Enright was at once sent for, and having inspected the bodies, confirmed the melancholy rumour, and pronounced their lives extinct. On examining the premise its

was ascertained they had slept under a loft, which was filled with turf and bog wood which falling upon them, crushed them to death, and left a melancholy proof that in the midst of life we are in death. Their bodies were brought outside the ruin, and excited much sympathy for their helpless fate.

(Source: Cathleen Mulvihill - Glin Historical Society)

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A Covid Poem from the Sunday Independent

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Time Well Spent in Lockdown

Mairead Sharry enjoyed gardening while in lockdown. She also made two stylish outfits. She was wearing one of them when I met her on Upper William Street.

St. Michael's Football in 1970, opening of St. Joseph's and Doe a Deer in Beaufort

Wild Garlic in Garden of Europe 

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St. Michael's County Cup Winners 1969

Left to Right 

Front :    Kieran Fitzgerald , Maurice O 'Sullivan , Mick O'Connell , Tom Lyons  , David Kissane .

Middle:  John Hynes , Tadhg Moriarty , P J Browne  , Timmy Shanahan , Jimmy Deenihan , Pat Stack .

Rear    :  Eamon O' Carroll , Maurice O'Connor , Pat Stack , Tommy O 'Flaherty, John O' Connell , Jerry Kiernan , Pat Quilter .

Tim Kennelly was also on that team but was missing ( or maybe mitching ) on the day of the photo.

Johnny Flaherty and John Molyneaux Snr. were in charge .

Kieran writes;

It would probably be hard to believe ,at a remove of 50 years , what St Michaels stood for in those days . It concentrated  on imparting a classical education through the medium of Irish with no small amount of disciplinary measures thrown in as a bonus .  Teachers took great pride and spoke often  on the success of their 'Alumni' and , in retrospect , there is no doubt that many a successful career was launched from St Michaels . 

I have a couple of photos somewhere of successful college football teams in 1969 /70 . We won both the County and Dunloe Cups which up until then was undreamed of  . Our teams included Jimmy Deenihan , Tim Kennelly , Jerry Kiernan , Tommy Fla and younger brother Pat , Tim Shanahan ( who later starred in London ) Eamon Carroll , Gerard Leahy ,  Maurice 'Toots' O'Connor and yours truly . By any standards it was a very talented group which was  marshalled firmly  by Masters Flaherty and Molyneaux Snr . I will forward the photos if I come across them .

The school was also very successful on the Athletics front at that time . John O'Connell was a wonderful athlete as was Kiernan and all the names mentioned earlier . Success at Provincial and National Level was the norm for a few years . John Molyneaux Snr and Pat Kiernan ( Jerry's father ) were the driving force . There was even an athletics track in the Sportsfield with lane markings  all around , burned onto the Grass . There were  jump pits with proper sand  and an area reserved for the high jump and pole vault . It was a hive of activity which was not welcomed wholeheartedly by some in the Emmett's fraternity . Unfortunately I have no photos from that era. 

Others I remember as being in the class are Tim Shanahan ( Clounmacon ) , John Neville ( Bedford) , Pat Hayes R.I.P , James O'Donnell  ( Ballybunionish ), Timmy Lawlor  ( The Square )  but I dont see them in the photo 

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A Forgiving Poem from Róisín Meaney

For some, it’s all about reading,
For others it’s painting, or kneading,
If it helps you come through it
Find time just to do it,
Right now, it’s our souls that need feeding.

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Opening of St. Josephs

Photos and story from Patsy Kennedy on Facebook

Opening St. Joseph’s unit in Listowel hospital 1984
First patient Maggie Nolan being welcomed by matron Sr Peter Hudson and staff

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Motherly Love

Chris Grayson took these photos in the grounds of St. Mary of the Angels. Beaufort

Feline Frolics, St. Michael's in 1970, Ballybunion new toilet under construction and Rocky 103 on film

Down Came a Raven

Photo; Tom Fitzgerald


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Cat Rescue in 2005

Listowel Firefighters are lucky to have  an onboard cameraman to record some of the more interesting tasks.

Here John Kelliher photographed the rescue of a cat in the Town Park in 2005. If it was your cat or if you remember the incident let us know. According to John the birds were trying to knock the cat off before the firemen got to him.

One life down. Eight to go.

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Memories, Memories

Tommy O'Flaherty shared this photo on Facebook last week. I saved it and shared it on Listowel Connection. Then I got this email.

Good Morning ,

Imagine my surprise when I came across the photograph of the 1970 Class from St Michaels on your blog earlier this morning .  I cannot recall the photograph being taken nor who took it but the memories came flooding back . I am seated on the wall on the extreme right holding a camera . God only knows where the camera came from as there was none in our house . 

In those days St Michaels consisted of just the main structure and the outside shed, along the side wall at the rear , which was used for smaller classes . There was a pathway that led from the front gate to the main entrance with a patch of lawn ( bog more like ) on either side .

The main foot path  could only be used by the teachers . Students had to use the path at the left hand side and enter the school via the steps at the rear . I recall that , in a final show of defiance        ( probably on the same day as the photo ) , we all committed heresy by exiting through the main  front door and the centre path . That was a major crime  and there would have been some type of retribution. I can  recall being dispatched from class by Father Long ( then President) to educate some neanderthal  ( a new arrival in mid-term ) who had been detected walking into  the school via the centre path . Our classroom , in our final years, was on the left just inside the front door .

There are a number of luminaries in that photograph , former Minister Deenihan ( in white at the front ) , Gabriel Fitzmaurice ( squatting on the right at the front )  and a lesser known (but the brightest star then ), John O'Connell  ( An  All Ireland Colleges winning athlete , fourth from the left at the back ) . Tommy Fla represented the glamour being a drummer with the local pop band 'The System' before subsequently departing for a larger role on the Showband Scene . 

However I am surprised that there are some faces  that I cant identify  and some , who I do recognise , but have not met up with since 1970  . I would be obliged if , through your blog we can put names and whereabouts  to all the faces . I can set the ball rolling if you like and maybe Fla or some other reader can fill in the gaps .

It is indeed time for a socially distanced and hygienically pure  re-union .

Best Regards

Kieran Fitzgerald 

P.S.  I  am from Billeragh ( close to the  Six Crosses ) . My sister , Eileen O'Connell , lives in the former shop at the Crosses opposite the petrol station , My brother was Tom Fitzgerald , former teacher who lived in Upper Church St ,  and passed away in 2014 . You may know his wife , Marie , who is cocooned next door to the Plaza. 

(Look out for more from Kieran in the next few days)

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May 18 2020

Photo; Kilcooley's

Construction has recommenced on Ballybunion's new public convenience.

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Does anyone remember Rocky 103 -Your Station, and Mine?

Warren Buckley found this treasure when he was reviewing his old stuff during lockdown. It's a video he and some more St. Michael's Fifth Year students made in 1988. Eamon Carey was the young Brian Dobson doing a great job of interviewing the rising radio star, Francis Jones. Some neat camera work by Warren as well. The ads at the end are gas.

Rocky 103 interview

Burst Water Main May 2020, Salted Bacon, and Pullitzer Prize for Son of Writers' Week Chairman

 Pastures Green

Cows grazing peacefully at Coolageela, Kanturk photographed by farmer, Michael O'Sullivan

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Burst Water Main

I was on my permitted exercise last week when I spotted  more going on than usual these days outside Carroll's Hardware.

The gardaí were directing traffic and Irish water was repairing the fault.

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Rationing in 1942

Bless them all, bless them all, 

The long and the short and the tall,

God bless De Valera and Seán MacAntee

They gave us the black bread and half ounce of tea....

During the war certain commodities were rationed. This is why  these two in the photo, who have just killed and salted two pigs put this sign on their barrel for the photo.

Spelling not a strong point with Jack Brosnan and his first cousin. Dan O'Callaghan, both first cousins of my mother's

The sign , in case you can't read it, says, No Tay, Plenty Mate.

I grew up in an Ireland where killing and salting a pig was part of how we lived. It was all done as humanely as possible. We, children were never allowed to see.

I found the following pictures on the internet. Some people may prefer not to look at them.

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A Pulitzer Prize winner with a Listowel Connection

Photo from Limerick Leader

Malachy Browne who was recently awarded the Pullitzer Prize for journalism is the son of David Browne, chair of the Board of Directors of Listowel Writers' Week.

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A Covid Poem from John McGrath

Covid Sonnet

The world has pinned us with a warning glance,

the kind our mothers gave us long ago,

the look that was designed to let us know

that this might be our last and final chance.

So grounded, we can only hope and pray 

as, day by day, we inch beyond the fear

and tiptoe towards a future far from clear

our wounded planet showing us the way,

that voices raised in ignorance and greed

may yet be drowned by kindnesses and care,

together we can rise above despair,

united we will find the strength we need

as, all for one, we reach beyond the pain

and dare to dream tomorrow once again.

John McGrath  May 2020

John Paul 11 Graveyard and A Trip down Memory Lane and Mother's Medicine in the 1950s

 Harp and Lion in May 2020

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Lest we Forget

On VE Day 2020

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St John Paul 11 Cemetery

I visited my husband's grave last week.

Sea shells, a candle and crochet covered stones, tributes from family and friends.

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From the Archives

In Greaney's Spar at an NKRO event
Maria Leahy, Ger Greaney, Eilish Wren, Damien Stack, Grace Kelly, Jimmy Deenihan, Mary Cogan, Robert Pierse and James Kenny

Jimmy Deenihan and Billy Keane on the viewing stand at an old St. Patrick's Day parade

Fr. Pat Moore R.I.P. signing for friends at the launch of his book, Weathering a Storm

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I Remember it well

The hot water bottle eased every pain unless it leaked and scotched you half to death.

Sudocrem s still my go to unction for everything.

Dockleaves were for nettle stings

( Neantóg a dhoigh mé, cupóg a leigheas mé is a  seanfhochal meaning a nettle burned me, a dock cured me]

Lucozade was found to have no curative properties but it probably replaced any sugar loss.

Seven up had to be flat to work. Again, I'd say replacing sugar may be its only curative function.

We all know teas and toast is the best "meal" for a sick or recuperating child.