The Ballybunion thread

snow scorpion · 24-12-2008 4:52am

Hope you liked my pics, Celtise. (You didn't know those were mine, did you?

)

Well, here's my little Christmas present to ye (as ye say in Kerry) - another one of my little videos.

"Nollaig Shona Daoibh"
(NO-Lihg HO-nuh JEEV)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9AWlhRG8rU

Celtise · 25-12-2008 1:01am

nope i didnt scorpian! lol its weird i really needed pics of that sign there last year and i didnt even try the net, thought that no one would have enough interest to bother!

am in Ballyb right now and its 00:01 so merry xmas from here!

TargetWidow · 29-12-2008 12:15am

My cousin Tom told me about this tonight (done by his other cousin Conor Liston) and I thought it brilliant. Spot the Ballybunion landmarks... this lad has a bright future ahead of him in animation.

Celtise · 29-12-2008 12:19am

I've seen that before. I know Conor and glad that things are going good for him now.

PaddyW · 29-12-2008 6:50pm

Just came across this thread today.. Longest I've ever seen on Ballybunion.. Ever! Some pics of the Christmas Day swim this year for you :

snow scorpion · 31-12-2008 5:55pm

Welcome to the thread, Paddy. Always happy to add to our little family.

Looks like there were close to a hundred people swimming. When I read about the swim (about a week before Christmas) I was thinking, "How many will show up? About a dozen or so?"

Celtise · 31-12-2008 7:23pm

you'll be surprised to know there was about 300 they say! i missed it this year cause i went to an earlier mass but thats what the kerryman paper said and there are loads of pics.

snow scorpion · 01-01-2009 5:26pm

300!!

If I was there, there would have been one more ...

... witness to the festivities.

The online edition of the Kerryman is borderline useless. I'll have to see if I can find an actual hardcopy edition somewhere around here. If it wasn't for Paddy W's pictures I would be completely in the dark about what it looked like.

Oops, I almost forgot: Happy New Year to all the posters and readers of The Ballybunion Thread.

ollaetta · 02-01-2009 11:04pm

Hello to all on the Ballybunion thread. I have no connection to the town other than being a semi-regular visitor over the years.

I collect old postcards and recently acquired a batch which includes three old ones of Ballybunion which I estimate to be almost 100 years old. I don't know if these images are common or not but I have included them as attachments.

One thing that intrigues me is the church shown not far from the castle in one photo. I know nothing about it and would be interested in learning what happened to it and when.

snow scorpion · 03-01-2009 5:38pm

Hello, ollaetta. So you're one of the people driving up the numbers in the views column. I often wonder who those people are. Keep up the good work!

I'm sure someone who is more knowledgeable about the town than I am will have more information for you before too long, but I think that church (was it Church of Ireland?) is a library now. You pass it on the way out to the golf course.

I'm pretty sure there's a video made while driving around Ballyb earlier in the thread where you can see the church as you go by.

TargetWidow · 03-01-2009 11:34pm

My nan Nora Allen (nee Collins) was born in 1906 and raised in the little white cottage in front of the big one in the second photo. Collins'. The big cottage belonged to a woman called Pidge Jones. She was famous with all the little kids of my nans time for giving them "spuds and dip".! I have a photo of my great-grand-mother Hannah Collins (nee Long) with my dad sitting on her knee outside the boiler house of the seaweed baths they started.

Celtise · 03-01-2009 11:44pm

I have doubts that that is the old protestant church (now library), it just seems impossible to me that the new could be in the shot like that. perhaps another church used to be closer to the castle.

I've two of those pictures before. I think my Nan or Dad have them up on the wall with other old pictures. Ironically about 15 years ago i was in visible in the background of a ballyb postcard that sold around town; sadly i lost it though.

I think I know your family targetwindow.

TargetWidow · 03-01-2009 11:58pm

I think the story with the church was that it was COI. It was demolished and the stones numbered and reconstructed (my brain is saying in Listowel but I do not know why!!) I can remember vague snippets of my dad telling me about the fantastic way they had of taking the building apart and numbering each and every stone and then re-building it elsewhere. Unfortunately the elders of my clan are all passed on now so there is no-one for me to ask. The other big building on the site of the old Atlantic Hotel (scene of much romance and where I hooked up with my hubby) was the Presbytery of that church. You've got my curiousity up now... I'm off elsewhere to look up that church building and where it ended up...because you are right, the library COI church building looks nothing like that old church...

RiderOnTheStorm · 05-01-2009 10:22am

The subject of the church (and library) has come up a couple of times and I think there was a fairly def answer recently (in last few months) in this thread ... I will try and dig it out when I get some time (time, the eternal enemy!), there was mention of someone (the poster) riding in a tractor & trailer with the numberd blocks ....

but if memory serves me right .....

The church on the castle green (as seen in many old photos) was Church of Ireland, and was moved (cant remember where ... ) and the library on Sandhill road (on way to golf course) was a church (still looks like one too!) but it was moved into Ballyb from somewhere else (Ballyduff???)

so, 2 churches moved, 1 going in and 1 going out, and one of them became a library. Perhaps this is why there is confusion ...

and Happy New Year to all reader and contributors of the Ballybunion forum

PS I had a look at the Christmas Day swim photos (nice ones, Paddy) and I know I was in the crowd running down and in the water, but I cant see myself there !!! I would recognise myself, as I got a new tattoo for Christmas ... ;-)

RiderOnTheStorm · 05-01-2009 10:33am

BB-Survivor wrote: »

This is my first post. The church was moved from Rattoo in the mid 50s by Joe Boyle and Willie Harnett. A group of us used to cycle from BB to St Patricks College in Causeway, and sometimes we would get a lift in the back of the pickup truck which transported the church, stone by stone.
The stones in the back (only a few could be carried at a time, as they were so heavy) had a letter and number, eg D46 to identify where they were to be placed.
The old C of I was demolished, and some of the floor tiles were used in houses in BB.
I worked for Joe Boyle (a lovely man RIP) for a summer in the car park in the early 60's and it sure was a summer full of memories - good ones.
Lots of good memories from the Old Central and the Ballerina. I am not old enough to have danced in the Pavilion.
Great to read about good old BB - I had plenty of the Champagne Air and a full quota of beverages too often !!!

found that post .....
looks like the C of I was demolished, not moved ....
And memory is failing me (getting old!) as BB says the church that was moved (to become the library) was from Rattoo (but thats beside Ballyduff, so thats close, eh?)

boroman · 05-01-2009 12:18pm

Was just looking at the Ballyb. site and came across the querys on the old town. As far as I know the Church Of Ireland
which stood where the car park now is was erected during 1860s/1870s period to serve a fairly large Prodestant congregation in the area, a rectory was also built next door. The Church was closed and deconscrated late 50s early 60s due to falling numbers. The Church was taken over as far as I know by Kerry CO.Co., was knocked down and the stones used as rubble, meanwhile the Rectory was bought by Tralee garage owner Tommy Horan who extended the building at the side and rere. It was opened in the late 1960s as Horans Hotel( afterwards called The Atlantic) and was a real summer hotspot,this period and into the 1970s was Ballybunions hayday, Mattie O Sullivan had done major work on the Central and Dan Kiely had built a new complex out on the Listowel road at the West End. I can recall the fierce rivalry between the 3 venue's, on one weekend alone the 3 major Irish Showband's were in competion,The Royal with Brendan Boyer, The Capitol wih Butch Moore AND The Dixies with Brendan O Brien. However the demise of the dancehalls brought this period to an end
and sadly I think the demise of the real nightlife that was Ballybunion.
The present Library which was a former church of Ireland building was brought from Rathoo, Ballyduff and rebuilt at its current site on Sandhill Road.

boroman · 05-01-2009 3:41pm

Came across a lovely website where there is a strong Ballybunion content,
you can see it at; irishoriginals.ie

boroman · 08-01-2009 1:11pm

I just found out how to show the above website as a link : http://www.irishoriginals.ie

RiderOnTheStorm · 09-01-2009 3:08pm

cool site. wonder if anyone would like their Christmas present from there ....

snow scorpion · 11-01-2009 7:39pm

Welcome, boroman. Always nice to have one of "the Listowel crowd" come for a visit.

I agree with Rider: cool site. I'll have to email them and find out if each set of placemats all show the same image or if you get a different image on each mat.

Some Ballybunion news for anyone in America. This week the TV show Out of Ireland is doing a feature on north Kerry. Now, their idea of north Kerry is Tralee, Castlegregory and Ballybunion.

Check here to see if Out of Ireland plays in your city.

I'll record it tomorrow night and maybe - a very big maybe - I can figure out how to move the recording from a homemade DVD to this board.

carchaeologist · 18-01-2009 11:01am

Ballyb Rescue wrote: »

I have several, in fact hundreds of photos of Ballyb - Land, Air and Sea ones from Kerry head as far as good old Ballylongford so if anyone want them i can send some on.:o

I think you will be popular here!:)

RiderOnTheStorm · 19-01-2009 12:11pm

welcome to Ballyb Rescue !

its always nice to get fresh blood in here, esp when they have photos and personal exp of Ballyb........ and doubly great when a friend in real-life joins !

carchaeologist · 19-01-2009 7:26pm

So which one of ye won the 8 million in the lotto!!??:D

RiderOnTheStorm · 20-01-2009 11:45am

it wasnt 8m it was 7.7m ...... oops, I mean, it wasnt me! :rolleyes:

RiderOnTheStorm · 20-01-2009 4:39pm

Ballyb Rescue wrote: »

Are you buying us our new boat so!!!!!:D:D:D:D

No, if you dont earn it, you wont respect it !

RiderOnTheStorm · 20-01-2009 4:47pm

Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue will be getting a new boat this year (with the help of God) and will be saying goodbye to the Atlantic 21 'Clara T' which has stood us in great stead, and saved many souls over the years.

Going to launch:

In the water waiting for a wave:

snow scorpion · 20-01-2009 6:00pm

Wow! A bunch of posts since I was here last. The thread's momentum is building.

And another new kid in school! Welcome, Ballyb Rescue. With a name like that I assume we'll be hearing from you on a steady basis. You've got pictures? Well, get to posting, man!

I had Radio Kerry on yesterday morning and heard about the Lotto. I assume Dana's will be getting a lot more business in the weeks and months to come.

Love the pictures, Rider. The test of the new boat went well, I take it. I assume you used the zoom for the second one since the sky went from blue in the first one to grey in the second.

RiderOnTheStorm · 21-01-2009 9:37am

snow scorpion wrote: »

I had Radio Kerry on yesterday morning and heard about the Lotto. I assume Dana's will be getting a lot more business in the weeks and months to come.

I havnt heard who is the winner, yet. Its not me (or any of mine) I hope its a local, as apposed to someone buying a line as they pass through town on a Saturday drive. If its a local, then maybe they can improve the local economy!

snow scorpion wrote: »

Love the pictures, Rider. The test of the new boat went well, I take it. I assume you used the zoom for the second one since the sky went from blue in the first one to grey in the second.

Thats not the new boat, Snow. Thats the ever dependant Clara T. She is getting old now (one doenst discuss a ladies age, but lets just say she is well past the age of concent) and we are hoping to have the new boat this year. Watch out for lots of pics of that boat! If anyone wants to have the boat named after them, then send a BIG cheque!

I think I did zoom in for that 2nd shot. I am working on plans to shoot a small information video on the work of the Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue unit. It will hopefully contain shots of both the D Class (small boat) and the Atlantic 21 (the boat in photos above) going through their paces in & out of local sites / cliffs, as well as a launch & recovery. I hope to use 1 boat to get good close shots of the other boat doing its thing!

Ballyb Rescue, I will talk to you about this at this Fridays meeting.

Nice pics by the way BR. Ariel shots taken from a helicopter I presume ;-)

snow scorpion · 22-01-2009 11:25pm

Kerry ticket wins Lotto €7.7m

THE winners of Saturday night’s €7.7 million jackpot in Ballybunion are following in the footsteps of last month’s north Kerry ‘Monday Millions’ winners by keeping their identity well under wraps.

While speculation about the identity of the county’s latest millionaire switches daily from a passing golfer to a Ballybunion farmer, to a popular publican, a spokesperson for the National Lottery has confirmed that the multi-million euro jackpot still remains unclaimed.

Mystery continues to surround the identity of the owner of the winning €7.7m lottery ticket that was sold in Dana's Newsagents, Main Street, Ballybunion at the weekend.

More here:
http://www.kerryman.ie/news/kerry-ticket-wins-lotto-euro77m-1608863.html

RiderOnTheStorm · 23-01-2009 10:13am

snow scorpion wrote: »

Kerry ticket wins Lotto €7.7m

Yes, the winning lotto ticket for last Sats 7.7 million prize draw was sold in our very own Dana's! The ticket was sold on the Saturday of the draw. No-one is coming forward to claim the prize (yet) and its not known around the town who has won. There are many stories (of course) going around, about a day tripper golfer, a farmer, a publican, etc ... that may have bought the ticket.

TargetWidow · 25-01-2009 11:42pm

Hey up all!

Haven't been in in a while. Busy spending my millions!! (I wish!):D
How ye all?

RiderOnTheStorm · 26-01-2009 12:52pm

TargetWidow wrote: »

Hey up all!

Haven't been in in a while. Busy spending my millions!! (I wish!):D
How ye all?

All good here. You didnt miss much. We have a new recuit to the ranks, Ballyb Rescue, who has posted a few pics (great quality) and promises more.

How has the winter been for ya? Its been a bit wild here at times, but improving now.

TargetWidow · 26-01-2009 2:22pm

Sure I'm only over the road in Ballylongmicky! Pretty much the same wet and wild winter here as in Ballyb but just without the surf coming down the chimney!!

RiderOnTheStorm · 28-01-2009 11:03am

TargetWidow wrote: »

Sure I'm only over the road in Ballylongmicky! Pretty much the same wet and wild winter here as in Ballyb but just without the surf coming down the chimney!!

sure a couple of miles is as good as being in another country some times ;-)

RiderOnTheStorm · 06-02-2009 10:21am

I heard that the 7.7m lotto win was claimed the other day. Still no solid news on who it might be. I am watching out for any new Ferrari's going down the Glen Road!!

TargetWidow · 08-02-2009 12:15am

Can I borrow a fiver Rider?:D

RiderOnTheStorm · 09-02-2009 10:02am

its mostly true .... i was in UK, looking at big boats, and did stay an extra day.... but 7mill would not go far on the boats i was looking at!

....and i still didnt win the lotto....

Widow, I would give it to you if I had it. I was looking at the petrol tank this morn on the drive to work, and trying to work out if I can get the rest of the week out of it. Still suffering after Christmas! We (my job) get paid in the middle of the month, which is good in Dec & Jan as we get paid before the 25th and then 'early' (compared to most) in Jan. But there is still a month between each salary ...

you would think I have gotten used to it by now... but no! I still suffer in the 4th week .....

anywho.... how goes it with y'all?

There was a light frost & snow in Ballyb recently. Most of (inland) Ireland is getting snow & ice regularly these last few weeks, but our sunny / mild / gulf-stream north Keery coast only gets a light overnight frost.

Not much else new here.

RiderOnTheStorm · 12-02-2009 9:40am

inspired by the recent ad's on tv for the annual return of Cadburys Creme Eggs, I decided to make my own take on the destruction of the egg .....

sta42023xd4.th.jpg

Its a pic of Bill Clintons statue outside the Garda station in Ballyb..... with an egg as the golf ball! The orig golf ball has still not been placed back on the statue.

lola12 · 24-02-2009 6:57pm

Incorrect spelling of Ballybunion damages marketing of town

The incorrect spelling of a North Kerry seaside town on road signs is making it difficult to market it as a tourist destination.
Recently, new road signs were erected by Kerry County Council in Ballybunion which includes a second 'n' in the spelling of the town.
A similar situation has also occurred in Asdee where road signs spell the village name with a 't'.
Kevin O'Callaghan from Ballybunion Development Company says uniformity of spelling placenames is crucial when it comes to marketing.

Hi All on the thread, haven't been for a while & had some catching up to do, glad to see it is still going strong!! i've been back a few times myself over the past year, most recently to celebrate womens' christmas in kilcooley's. a good night had by all!

found this article on the kerry radio website.

snow scorpion · 14-03-2009 5:38pm

I know Ballyb is quiet during the winter (and the spring and the autumn

) but not a single comment in almost three weeks?

Has Ballyb become Europe's 'Salem's Lot?

(That's a Stephen King reference for those of you who try to avoid the nosferatu.)

How about a couple videos to try to get some sort of reaction out of all those people who are supplying views to the thread each day?

The Nun's Strand with the tide out...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b7H5oyNAF8

and with the tide in...

TargetWidow · 22-03-2009 11:23pm

Well. Did ye see me in the parade on Paddy's Day? Best day of my life in Ballyb. The atmosphere was so calm and beautiful, like September when the weather is good and the locals get the town back to themselves except there was this huge lovely mellow crowd of mostly families all sober and sane and happy in the brilliant sunshine. We came home talking about buying a place there so that we could stay weekends. #Gas, considering we live 10 mins over the road. But on Paddys day this year that was 10 mins too far!!:D

RiderOnTheStorm · 23-03-2009 11:16am

the Paddys Day parade was great this year. Weather was perfect. Clear skies all morn, and sunny (nearly hot!) afternoon. Lots of floats and trucks and craic.

I was in the parade myself, TW. Sitting pretty on a float we made that morning! Where were you?

Must say hi to all in the Leisure Centre..... they had a nice float themselves, complete with mini swimming pool and gym equipment (and water bottles acting as water pistols!)

And hi to all in the Railway Bar float! Funniest float, as usual ;-)

RiderOnTheStorm · 31-03-2009 12:30pm

Small news about town.

The Leisure Centre had its Fashion Show and official opening on Fri night. It was a great night, and well attended.

The Tintean Drama Group put on '6 Of The Best' in the theatre and it seemed to go down very well.

A pic of me during a Coastguard training excersise:

RiderOnTheStorm · 08-04-2009 12:50pm

I heard there was great craic in BB on Mon night ;-) I was asleep and missed it, and spent the day at work on Tues, so I didnt get to hear about it until last night.

A crowd went wild and tore through town. They may or may not have been nakid (depending on who you listen to) and they made a mess and pulled up signs and broke stuff.

....pity I missed it!

Hooch · 12-04-2009 9:02pm

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

Small news about town.

The Leisure Centre had its Fashion Show and official opening on Fri night. It was a great night, and well attended.

The Tintean Drama Group put on '6 Of The Best' in the theatre and it seemed to go down very well.

A pic of me during a Coastguard training excersise:

Dont we normally walk down that part of the cliff:p:D

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

I heard there was great craic in BB on Mon night ;-) I was asleep and missed it, and spent the day at work on Tues, so I didnt get to hear about it until last night.

A crowd went wild and tore through town. They may or may not have been nakid (depending on who you listen to) and they made a mess and pulled up signs and broke stuff.

....pity I missed it!

I heard you and a few more were the ring leaders??:p:D

RiderOnTheStorm · 15-04-2009 9:00am

nice guy always wrote: »

Dont we normally walk down that part of the cliff

Walk? thats too easy ..... ha ha ha

yea, thats pic was taken at the top of the path / hill leading from the Castle Green to the Ladies Beach. We were doing an excercise and someone (not me!) wanted to take a couple of 'action' shots for the upcoming web page. The Rescue Centre in the background was a nice touch! ;-)

Hooch · 15-04-2009 12:38pm

Let me guess....Frankie!!!!!!!!!!!

Are pictures of coast guard going on the Ballybunion Sea Rescue webpage??

RiderOnTheStorm · 16-04-2009 9:09am

yup, it was Frank! how did ya guess?

Interesting point.... I wouldnt mind if there were a few pics of Coast Guard on the BSCR site... there is a strong link there between the two... the CG logo is even on the building! But we (in BSCR) are often told to keep the 2 units seperate and not confuse people.

I guess we will have to have a committee meeting to decide ...... and then we flip a coin ;-)

Pharrell · 16-04-2009 4:09pm

What’s Ballybunion like for a night out? Thinking of going back there the May bank holiday for the night? Anybody recommend places to stay and good bars to go too. About 12 of us going back, mixture of couples and singles in or mid 20's...

Pharrell · 16-04-2009 4:10pm

What’s Ballybunion like for a night out? Thinking of going back there the May bank holiday for the a night? Anybody recommend places to stay and good bars to go too. About 12 of us going back, mixture of couples and singles in our mid 20's...

The Ballybunion thread

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