Listowel Thread

Hey - I will have to start asking Bord Failte (Irish tourist board) for some conmmission

Here is a link to Kerry/Listowel - :rolleyes:
http://www.kerryguide.com/listowel/index.html

Crowleys was at the bottom of William Street.Mrs. Crowley taught at the Listowel Boys National School, when Bryan MacMahon was master and Frank Sheehy was head master.
Snow Scorpion: See you on the Ballybunion thread.

Hello Snow Scorpion.
William Street is the street where John B Keanes pub is.
The Church Square was always called "The Square" ,off of that was the 'SMALL SQUARE"( sometimes called Main Street) Jutting off that were 2 long streets: WILLIAM STREET and CHURCH STREET.
William Street took you on the way to Ballybunion and Church Street took you to Tarbert /Limerick.
Regards,SANDHILLROAD

The Rhinebeck Antiques Center
7 West Market Street
Rhinebeck
New York
12572. USA
(845)876-5555
Thursday -Monday 10:00AM-5:00PM
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We are smack in the middle of the village at the traffic lights. Across from the Hotel.

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Email:
sheehyantiques@msn.com

Please mention BOARDS.IE in subject line of email.

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How to get here from NEW YORK:
At GRAND CENTRAL STATION take the AMTRAK train to RHINECLIFF ( sit on the left side of train for wonderful views of the Hudson River) it is a scienic 1 1/2 hour trip.
In RHINECLIFF take a taxi ride ,$6.00 approx, into the village of RHINEBECK ( a 2 1/2 mile short ride).
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The same train can also be taken from YONKERS
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For driving directions call us during shop hours.
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Rhinebeck has many Restaurants, Boutiques, The Fairgrounds, B & Bs, Hotel and lots more to keep you entertained.
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We are close to the Hudson River Mansions: Vandebilt, FDR Library, Wilderstein, The Aerodrome ( you will need a car or taxi to get to these).
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The Fall season is nearly upon us as well as the Holiday Season, so come up for a day trip or stay a while. See small town USA. This is a walking village of tree lined streets,wonderful homes .
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We have a ceramic Irish Directional Road Signpost ( not for sale!) in the side window of the store I am amazed at how many people want to buy it, or have been in my home town. Come see for yourself and see where we are from !
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SNOW SCORPION:
Here is Listowel during the fair days that I told you about.
Sandhillroad.

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Did you know that Listowel Co. Kerry is twinned with Listowel. Canada ? The Canadian Mounted police came to Listowel years ago. One of the local girls returned to Canada and married a 'Mountie'

Did you know DeDe ( forget how he spells it) Crowley? .
He went to school with my brothers in Listowel.
The brogue is fine,
I have a fellow from Ballybunion( top of Church Road) that comes into the store here and you could cut the brogue with an knife.
I am still trying to picture DEENIHAN'S, what did they sell?

Remember these in Listowel ??

To see The Maid of Erin, you woild ahve to look up. It is in Main Street (aka Small Square) in what used to be called Mortimor GALVIN's--best ice cream cone back in the 50s /60s.
Now has new owner for the past couple of years.
Maid was our first lesson in female anatomy !!
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SO WHO REMEMBERS LISTOWEL IN THE 50S/60/70S/80S ?
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The Plaza ( Mrs. Chapman and her beautiful daughters at the ticket window) and the Astor Cinemas.Remember"THE GODS"??
Curly Connors Pub
Miss Dowlings newsagents in Main Street
Murrys Shop with religous articles for sale
Mike the pies
Jet Stack
Bunny Dalton Band
Leahy's Clothing store in Market Street
MaryBs Hotel
Miss. Scanlon -our first teacher
Mrs. Crowley -our second teacher.
Bryan MacMahon
Frank Sheehy
Scoil Realta na Maidne
St Michaels (Fr.Long)
PRINCE MONOLULU ?????????

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We need those memories of Listowel so talk with Mam,Dad, Grand Ma and Grandad, Aunt and Uncle.

See their memories in print, 'cause when you and I are old you wish you had asked them to tell about their younger days.
Ask them to rake their brains and let us know why it is called " LOVELY LISTOWEL"
SHOW THEM THIS FORUM.
Thanks a million.

Thanks Snow Scorpion. Great photos and some angles I have not seen before.

1st photo;
Maid of Erin is on the second floor wall of the pink building
next to the blue building on the left side of photo ( That Is the Small Square or Main Street.). Continue on the left side and youcame to a left turn for William Street ( Crowley's, John Bs).

Yellow(real orange color house on corner of the square was called "Leahy's Corner"- a great gathering corner- you saw everything

Bank of Ireland was in the Square ( there were 2 other Banks in the square. The building on far end I think was called the National Bank.

The pink house with white trim is about 3 or 4 door LEFT of the Catholic Church. At the left of this house is The Bridge Road, leads to the Listowel bridge( over the River Feale ) and then a right to Tralee

snow scorpion wrote:

sandhill, found a few more

Thanks SNOWSCORPION.
The 1st photo includes The Bank Of ireland , National Bank, Dr. Corridens (red door). Mr. Gannons ( salmon color). All these buildings are in the Square.
It is said that there is a secret passage that goes underground from the Castle in the Square, continues across the Square ( another entrance is by Dr. Corridens and continues up to the very top of Church Street ( there are ruins of a Church at the top of Church St). As a child we knew where the entrance was and also the place near Dr. Corridens- we ventured but not too far--those were the days before TV.
In the Castle there was a chimney where we used to shimmy up and eventually be at the top of the castle ( if our parents found out we would be in deeptrouble).
The photo of all the buildings together is from the Square ( from Leahy's Corner ( see the Green Letter Box) up to the Bank of Ireland).
Re Ballybunion map:
I do not know the name of the long road ( it is new to me).
The one at top of Church Rd towards the Doon Rd , I always thought of it as Church Rd.
I THINK that that is the 9 Daughters Hole, it seem to be in the are I remember-we all had to take a peek at one time or another.
The man who owned the RAILWAY BAR was Michael G. Clancy and his wife Marguerite, his brother DEENY owned the farm up Doon Road on the left.( I made an error in an earlier thread).
Thanks for the photos!

reic wrote:

Hi Sandhillroad, yes, Willow Close is probably only 3 years old or thereabouts. There are an extra few house foundations gone in everytime I visit. If you're heading towards Tarbet and turn left at the old library building it's halfways up on the right, on the way to John B. Keane road.

I used to take a short cut to Charles streed up by the side of the Library.
On the second floor of the Library was where we first went to school and the next year we went across the road to the National School.
Many the time I helped out Mrs. Sweeney at the library down stairs.
You are a hop a skip and a jump from where my aunt and uncle lived
The old church tower opposite the library was one of my 'hide outs'.
I went to Scoil Realta na Maidine down the street and to St. Michaels up the road from the Graveyard.
SNOWSCORPION put up a photo,within the past couple of threads, which is of the area 'the top of Church St' ( John R Walshes and Dillon's).

Sometimes I forget am I in the BALLYBUNION FORUM or the LISTOWEL FORUM !!
Good luck .

reic wrote:

LOL, whenever I'm in Listowel I take a walk past the tower, through the graveyard and around the park. The person I stayed with in Willow Close has now moved rural and moved into a house a few miles away near Duagh(?). I can't remember the townland name, begins with "T" but it's out in the "sticks"!

I probably can't spell it but may the place near DUAGH is called TRIENERAGH ? My father owned a farm out there- it is out in the sticks but we spent many a happy summer holiday out there, cutting turf and saving hay. Over here in the USA instead of hay stacks the hay is rolled up like a gateaux cake.You probably pass my brother on his walks. The 'Park' was known as "The Cows' Lawn". Do they still have the tennis club there? I remember the Garden of Europe from my last visit in 1999.My town here is smaller than Listowel or Ballybunion, I hope you get the chance go to Ballybunion, drive down to the CASHEN (beyond the Golf Club), Great place to relax and read. Also Doon Rd ( SNOWSCORPIONS habitat) . Great view from up there looking over the town.Continue on to Asdee to visit "the Jesse James Pub",

reic wrote:

LOL, whenever I'm in Listowel I take a walk past the tower, through the graveyard and around the park. The person I stayed with in Willow Close has now moved rural and moved into a house a few miles away near Duagh(?). I can't remember the townland name, begins with "T" but it's out in the "sticks"!

REIC,
I am going to work on it ,but how do you embed a photo in your reply to a thread ( like you did of your black and white photos of ballybunionet ) Instead of always having the photo as an attachment
Let me work on it for a while and see what I can come upwith

Awayyablaggard wrote:

Hi SandhillRoad,

My father was Jack. Couldn't tell you where Leo is as nobody has heard from him in about 20 years or so. Unfortunately, Jack never was too good at keeping in touch with family and, as a result, my sisters and I never really knew that much about that side of the family...other than what my mother kept us informed about. When we all went to the opening of the Frank Sheehy park (about 24-25 years ago now I think) I met Frank's sister, Maureen and her daughters. After that, I only ever met them once again. I do recall that they lived in Northern Ireland but couldn't say exactly where.

Jack died about 15 years ago in Buncrana, Co. Donegal (where I used to live).

Thanks for the information regarding the BallyBunion forum - I'll try and get some information from there too.

Hello AWAY,
Jack was the eldest. I did not know him, just of him.I spent my youth at the top of Church Street Listowel.3 doors from your Grandparents. Frank had another sister EILLY who had a shop there ( 105 Church St ?).It is interesting you Lived in Buncrana, as that is where Franks wife SUZY BARR( spelling?)came from. She was a tall beautiful woman.
Frank's sister Maureen( a wonderful smile with rosy cheeks) lived in LURGAN . Maureen came to Church street every couple of years with her daughters ( not sure if there were any boys and I don't remember her husband visiting ). I think the eldest was Mary or Ann and maybe there was an Eilleen. McConville was Maureen's married name. She was good friends of my mothers and Aunt as children as they all lived close by each other. I have a photo of them( the McConvilles on one of their visits), but am not sure if it should be included in this forum. email sheehyantiques@msn.com and I can send to you---otherwise I will put as attachment here and deleate it as soon as you download it ---let me know ??).
I shall ask my elder brothers for their memories of Frank.
I know of 2 men in Listowel who I think are headmasters ,and shold be contacted,in Listowel National School ; John McAuliffe and Cathal Sandy.
I have a brother near Dublin who meets with a couple of Listowel buddys now and then and they all were taught by Frank Sheehy and my eldest brother (USA) keeps in touch via email with his classmates)
You should also visit Listowel during Writers Week or Listowel Races when a lot of Listowel people return for their visits to the home town.They would greet you with open arms. I also know someone who still lives across the road from Frank's home
Try contacting KERRYSEYE (a newspaper and also on the net) WWW.KERRYSEYE.COM ( there is a section on Listowel : "FEEL OF THE FEALE" ( Listowel is on the River Feale). They would mention your search on info on Frank Sheehy. Is your mother still alive ?Will check back soon.
Good luck

SandHillRoad,

Thanks for the quick reply. The information you provided was very useful & I will hopefull use that as part of my initial research. I will certainly use the KERRYEYE link you provided.
I only knew of Eileen in the sketchiest of terms; having met Maureen, I knew of her very smiley face and kind way.
We lived in Buncrana for many years and lived in my grandmothers (Suzy Barr) parental home.

I will hopefully get in touch with those you hacve mentioned too but would welcome any other information from your brother and/or his friends. With regard to the photograph you mention, I will email you privately - thanks.

My mother is still very much alive thank God. She's from Buncrana in Donegal which would explain the continued connection and our history there.

AnBealBocht, thank you too for your contribution. Like above, it too will hopefully be used as a starting point for my research. All comments/contact are much appreciated - thanks again

chainreaction wrote:

So what's up in Listowel these days

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Listowel in the 1950s and 1960s ?
Let's hear about "Lovely Listowel".
The Plaza
The Aster
Walshes Ballroom
McKennas Corner
Scully's Corner
Leahys's Corner
PRINCE MONOLULU
SIVE
Swimming in the Feale
Climb to the top of the Castle
Etc.

Maybe some long lost Listowel friend will log on here.
Thanks.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I remember that Frank , maybe Suzy too, spent some time in Saudi Arabia.

If I also remember the Sheehy Grave is right inside the entrance gates ( on the right side) to the old graveyard at the top of Church St in Listowel.
Did Jack ever mention a woman AISHA ( she was from India)? She worked for Eilly Sheehy in the house as well as helping in the store.

snow scorpion wrote:

Don't remember the maid.

The Square I remember well. One time when I was a kid we all went Listowel and parked the car there in the square.

My brother and I eventually wandered back with our supply of candy and comic books - Beano, Beezer, Cor!, there were a bunch of them that all looked kinda the same.

Anyway, my uncle shows up and the three of us wait in the car for my mother and grandmother to come wandering back (maybe from Crowley's! ) and while we're waiting a tinker shows up looking for money, and my uncle says in a thick Kerry brogue, "Go 'way, ya hoor ya!"

It took me ten minutes to figure out what a "hoor" was.

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Hi Snowscorpion,
I think they must do some work on BOARDS.IE at approx 2-3Am ( Eire time)-it gets very sluggish.
See attached photo of Main Street listowel circa 1950s 1960s