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HISTORY 2009
Jan 7th `09

JOURNAL: Athea Parish Journal 2008 has many articles of interest to people in the district. Dr Kieran Murphy gives us a rundown of diseases of plenty; Survey in 2006 of Cork children aged 4 to 16 years, revealed 23% of boys and 28% of girls were either overweight or obese, 25% of Irish still smoke. Tom Ahern has a number of articles, including the story of the Ardagh Chalice; deceased Wren boys paddy and Jackie remembered; he also recalls Paddy the Jobber Ahern of Dirreen one of 12 children born 1894 son of Julia Ahern and John Ahern, Paddy married Sarah McElligott of Glin in 1925 and had six daughters and one son; Tom also wrote a book on the Ahearne Brothers who were Champion athletes. Short report on the retirement Party for John Looney N.T. is included. Most of the Athea societies have extensive coverage of their activities included are GAA, Soccer, Golf, Fishing Club, Community Council, Community Games,Comhaltas, Road Racing,  Coiste na nOg and the successful Ladies Senior Team. Photos are supplied by Peg Mulvihill, Liamy Murphy, Kathleen Mullane, Joan Dunleavy, Betty and Mike O Connor and many more. Pat Brosnan has a selection of songs and an article on Civil Defence and Active Retirement. Jamie Kelly gives us an insight into the Goold Landlords 1817 to 1906, Augusta Jane fed and cared for her tenants in Athea during the famine, Francis drowned in Sligo in 1848 while on a visit to his sister the Gore-Booths. George Langan and Pat Lynan report on a fundraising presentation. Timmy Woulfe presents the fighting Irish. Trip from Texas searching for roots in Athea is recalled as is Eileen Woulfe meeting Los Angeles cousins. Peg Prendeville describes three days in Paris. Frost of 1947 and 63 remembered. Mickey Liston tells tales and Tom Lynch submits some songs. Walking in India for charity is by Eileen Woulfe. John P Liston pays tribute to 90 year old native of Upper Dirreen Sr. Bridget Liston. Kit Ahern 1915-2007 nee Liston is remembered by Carol Liston, Kit was founder member of Abbeyfeale ICA in 1947, she entered he Senate in 1964, was the first woman to win a Dail seat in North Kerry in 1977. Tom O Connor recalls going to the beet in England from September to February, England had 24 Sugar factories then. Athea have a First Responders Group, contact number is 086 310 32 33. Pa Fitzgerald recalls old houses from Horan�s Cross Knocknasna to the Cross of the Lane at Park, names mentioned include; McAuliffe, Dillon, Kelly, Horan, Collins, Cahill, Relihan, Donohue, Hannon, McCarthy, Qurke, Leahy, Shea, Dalton, Casey, Scollard, Healy, Fitzgerald, Moran, Moloney, Scanlon, Brosnahan, Moore, O Connor, Carrig, Dunne, Flaherty, Loughnane, Stack, Barry, Connell, Meara, Stevens, Mulvihill, McKenna, Gina, McCoy.
OLD Moore's Almanack is 313 years old this year.



Jan 14th `09


Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society AGM will be held on Tuesday Jan. 27th ; Holocaust Memorial Day Tue. Jan 27th;
Fair for Irish goods will be held at the RDS from 18th to 21st of January; The 12th Australasian Congress on Genealogy & Heraldry will be held in Auckland, New Zealand from January 16th to 20th, the main events take place at Kings College; Irish Central Bank have issued 5 million 2 euro coins to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Euro.
CENSUS for 1911 is now available at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Kerry/,
Take care to check out the districts list as Keylod, Kealid, is spelled Kealic in the returns.
1911 Census index: For Gortdromagowna; Carmody, Nash, Fitzgerald, Flaherty, Kennelly, Sullivan, Barry, Cunningham, Lynch, Costelloe, Kelly, O Connor, Stokes, Brennan, Meehan, Buckley, Broderick, Woulfe, Clifford, Hunt, Taylor, Sexton, Keane, Ahern, Hennessy and Hanlon; Index for Kealid (Kalic), Harding, Mulvihill, Nolan, Ahern, Carmody, Casey, Enright, Goulding, Cronin, Kelly, Moore, Nash, Mangan, Buckley, Cleary, Murphy, Carroll, Hanrahan, Kennelly, Dunne, Fitzgerald, Heffernan, Costelloe, Sheehy, Riordan, Moran, O Connor, Flaherty, Nash, Barry and McCarthy; Index for Lisaniska, O Connor, Leahy, Horgan, Corridan, Mulvihill, Enright, Dowling, Kelly, McMahon, Buckley, Scanlon, Keane, Flaherty, Quinlan, Costelloe, Whyte, Finucane, Murphy, Kelliher, McElligott, Dillane Sweeney, Collins, Mulvihill and Sheehy.
HISTORY: St Martin died 1639;  In 1709 seven hundred families from Germany came to settle in Ireland; 1739 -40 frost caused famine in Ireland; Listowel Guardians decided on 15th Jan. 1849 to establish an infant school at the workhouse; Jan. 14th 1844 the trial for seditious conspiracy  of Daniel O Connell began, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment, it was later quashed by the House of Lords;  St Michael�s College opened 16th Jan. 1879; 16th Jan. 1909 Shackleton finds magnetic South Pole; 16th Jan. 1969 the first transfer of crew in space by the Russians;   First Dail met on January 21st 1919; Martin Luther King born 15th Jan. 1929; Next year the ICA will celebrate their centenary, local woman Jill McCarthy is involved in planning the event; Jan. 4th 2009 marked the 2 birthday of Louis Braille; Jan. 6th 1839 was the night of the Big Wind; Jan. 1969 Moyvane Players went to the Abbey Theatre to present Duirt Bean Liom; Jan 13th1919 Paddy Callaghan N.T. began teaching at Knockanure School, it was also his birthday on his way to Knockanure from Dingle he attended a Republican Dance in Tralee on Jan. 11th 1919, Paddy was a great friend of Irish Teacher Tom Donoghue who became a T.D. later. A pupil of Paddy Callaghan told me about how they learned Irish debating subjects at school; the system enabled him to glory in the language for the rest of his school days and beyond.
DIED recently the man of three century�s, the oldest man in Ukraine, Mikhail Krichevsky he was just two months short of his 112th birthday, he fought in the First World War and spent most of his life in the mining industry.



Jan. 21st Notes

TADHG Kennelly is said to be on his last season with AFL. Tadhg now aged 27 is planning to return to playing GAA in Kerry after spending 10 years in Australia. 
NEWSPAPERS: Irish Times of Jan. 2nd 1923 reports on the army in Kerry, the capture of a Thompson machine gun, six rifles and two webly revolvers two soldiers killed near Castlegregory, a car the property of John Galvin of Listowel was recovered. December 18th 1922 there were 33,250 claiming unemployment Benefit in the Free State, while in the North of Ireland there were 261,000 covered by the Insurance Act, the percentage unemployed covered by the acts was 19.75%.
Kerry Evening Post in January 1959, gives an account of the English National Debt, in 1688 on accession to the throne of William 111 the National Debt was � 660.000, end of Spanish War 1749 it was �78 million; 1786 three years after the American War it was�268m; after the 1798 Rebellion and Foreign Wars �462m; 1814 at the close of Bonaparte war �865m; Local news, Market in Tralee Jan. 1859, wheat 2/6+ per peck of 2.5 stone; oats 10d+ per stone; First Flour 2 shillings per stone; Indian Meal no demand nominal price �8-10s per ton; Potatoes 4.5d+ per stone; Beef 4d per lb. Butter at Cork First Quality 114s, Fifth Quality 60s. Castleisland Fair a few Springer�s made �26 and a good colt made �26; The KEP had unfavourable comment to make about The Guild of the Young Men�s Society of the Immaculate Heart of Mary which was spreading all over the Country. Secret Societies in Belfast, Kerns and members arrested, Sullivan the informer in Cork and Kerry was also involved at Belfast. A man named Cox from Ballylongford was robber after selling stock at fair, pickpockets robbed �25 from a small farmer named Michael O Connor of Tramore?, the culprits were caught; Died aged 18 years Francis Shaughnessy he had taken alcohol, died Thomas Gallwey British Council in Naples for 25 years, he was uncle of Thomas Gallwey of Killarney; Rev John Langford secured an Harmonium for Tarbert Church; Three Limerick ships lost at sea, among the seamen named were J. Connelly and J. Peek of Beale; Report on horrible and cruel execution of French Bishop in China, also a comment on infanticide in China.
An English force of 1707 soldiers and 67 officers went to attack the Zulus on 22 Jan 1879; the Zulus numbered 20,000 killed all the soldiers. The Zulus Lost in July 1897.


Jan. 28th `09 Notes

KERRYMAN Moyvane Notes for 20th Jan. 1984 reported that Seamus O Callaghan of Aughrim, student at Listowel Vocational School competed at the Young Scientist Exhibition at the RDS, his project was a cheap and simple laser; Moyvane deaths for the 27th Jan. 1984 include Mrs Nell O Connor of Clounbrane, one of the oldest residents in the Parish, Kit Hanrahan of Coilagurteen, Mrs. Margaret Bunce nee Stack of Gortdromosillihy and Tieraclea, Denis Hanrahan of Kilbaha and Mrs. Mossie Culhane. Moyvane Notes for Jan. 1959 reports include; The old parish church is being demolished ; Miss K Dowling children�s nurse called to her friends the Stack Family in Moyvane Village, she is a niece of Kevin Barry; Michael Walsh son of Mr and Mrs. Tom Walsh of Mail Road Leitrim West made a name for himself with Anndale Athletic as long distance runner, his times were 4 minutes and 30 seconds for a mile,he covered 6 miles in 31 minutes and 10 seconds. Other news include Fr Michael Browne Pastor of Euplands in California was home in Listowel on holiday, he is a brother of Dan Browne in Iowa, Pat Browne at Ballygolouge, Mrs William O Sullivan of Market Street and Jack Browne of Ballybunion; Kerry farmers may be rearing fish soon; Brosna Fruit Company wants its fruit grown in areas; Canadian offers $200.000 for Killarney Estate; Sean Galvin appointed to Bord na gCun; Ballylongford winners of Hula Hoop competition were Freda and Ann Carr of Ballyline and Nuala McCabe of Bridge Street, Ballylongford.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934 signed into law the establishment of the U.S. National Archives.

THOUGHT: True patience is to suffer the wrongs done to us by others in an unruffled spirit and without feeling resentment. Patience bears with others because it loves them; to bear with them and yet to hate them is not the virtue of patience but a smokescreen for anger says Gregory the Great; Spiritual visitation is to visit someone, when God is with you, and when you depart, you will be leaving God in his home and in his heart, Anonymous.

DIED: Bill Stone who was one of just three surviving veterans of the First World War in England died recently, he joined the Navy aged 18 years. On board HMS Hood he did a round the world trip, experienced the 1918 Flu, was at Dunkirk evacuation, in Sicily 1943, was chief demolition officer in Australia in the Second World War for WA.


VENUS will be close to the Moon on January 30th and February 27th; The International Space Station with 3 astronauts on board will be visible crossing the sky every evening from January 21st to February 4th. IT Tralee is to start Astronomy Classes on the 27th of Jan. `09.


Feb. 4th `09

LECTURE was given on Feb. 4th 1918 at the Carnegie Library in Listowel by James O Neill librarian at the National University of Ireland. The title of the lecture was Distinguished Irishmen. Among the people mentioned on the night was St Brendan born 484, who took the place of the official bard at the inauguration of the first Christian king of Cashel in 570; St Carthach who became Bishop of Kilmore was of a Kerry family, he established a school where 800 students got instruction. In the Muster Rolls of Irish Officers in France Mr. O Neill found Thomas Fitzmaurice born at Listowel in 1735; Mathew Count Conway born Kerry 1771; Michael McElligott of Listowel; John O Connor of Killarney; Andrew Fagan and Jeremiah O Falvey, Oliver Harty, Maurice O Kennedy all of Kerry, and Sir John O Sullivan was with Prince Charles Edward in the Jacobite attempt in Scotland in 1747; Count Daniel O Connell 1745-1833 was a cousin of Daniel O Connell. At one time there were over 30 Irish Generals in the Austrian Army; names included Fitzgerald, O Donnell, Taaffes, Nugents, O Donnell and Connell. Moritz O Connell was Chamberlain to the Imperial Court in Austria for 59 years. Sir Michael Trant was made governor of Oporto , he died at Essex in 1839. Other well known people with Kerry connections include Tom Moore, Daniel O Connell, J. J. McCarthy an architect, James Franklin Fuller artist and writer, Eoghan O Rahilly born 1700, Pierce Ferriter died 1653, Owen Roe O Sullivan, Geoffrey O Donoghue, Fr Dinneen, Hugh Kelly dramatist died 1777, Richard Cantillon died c 1734, Bartholomew Dowling born in Listowel c 1823 was editor and writer, Mrs Mary Downing, Richard Leyne born 1820, Henry O Brien born 1808, Dominic Daly died 1662, William Maunsell Hennessy died 1889, Mrs Ellen Fitzsimons, O Donoghue of the Glens in politics 1858-1868 and  Douglas Hyde has Kerry blood.  Harman Blennerhassett a Kerryman had a lifetime of misfortune, he went to America in 1726 with his wife to be Margaret Agnew, and he eventually died in the Channel Islands leaving his wife and two children in poverty.



LECTURE on Rock Art will be given at the Library in Tralee by Dr. Muiris O Sullivan on Tuesday Feb. 10th at 8pm.
INFORMATION Sought on the Knockanure  Band which was organised in Fr Keanes time, members of the band included;  William, Jack and Tim, Flaherty, Jack Dunne,? Flavin, Hugh Goulding, Tom Kelliher, Paddy Keane Crey a drummer, Assistant drummer Tom Murphy, Michael Kelliher Kettle Drum, Mick Madigan Kettle Drum, Woulfe was a great flute player.
BEREAVEMENT support programme for adults will start at St Ita�s Hall, Abbeyfeale on Thursday 5th Feb. at 7.30pm and continue on the following Thursday nights, all are welcome for information please contact Sr. Elizabeth 068 51984, Sr. Delia 068 31203.
THOUGHT: It is hard enough, even with the best will in the world, to be just. It is hard, under the pressure of haste, uneasiness, ill-temper, self-complacency, and conceit, to continue intending justice. Power corrupts; the "insolence of office" will creep in. We see it so clearly in our superiors; is it unlikely that our inferiors see it in us? How many of those who have been over us did not sometimes (perhaps often) need our forgiveness? Be sure that we likewise need the forgiveness of those that are under us, Clive Staples Lewis.
WE Complain about visiting restrictions in local hospitals spare a thought for the people Zimbabwe who have the worst cholera epidemic in Africa, with 50,000 infected by the disease. China has reported the fourth death in recent weeks from bird flu.
RECOVERY: The American government have included funds for family planning services to the value $825 million in their economic recovery package. Media reports that 33 pro-abortion groups have sent over 50 pages of demands to the new American President.
FULL Moon is on Feb. 9th ; International Space Station can be seen till Feb. 14th;
ENERGY: Michelin are to install 147,000 square metre of solar panels in their factory at Piedmont in Italy, it will be the biggest array of solar panels in the EU. Wind power was providing a third of our electricity on the morning of Jan. 10th `09. Wind energy is expected to provide 325,000 jobs in the  EU by 2020.Energy summit in Abu Dhabi recently attracted 15,000 delegates. Energy Minister Eamon Ryan has agreed to join the International Renewable Energy Agency.
HOUSE:  One day theoretical workshop in Dublin with Andy Wilson will look at simple house design and construction, with the emphasis on very low cost construction using natural and recycled materials. The starting point is the premise that a home should be affordable, pleasant to live in, and should have the lowest possible environmental impact. Bookings at  01 674 5773.
MOOREPARK: had an open day in early January they were trying new systems of heifer rearing, principle aim was to achieve high bodyweight with the least effort. They are experimenting also with out-wintering on kale and rape.
SCHOOLS: The National Parents Association of Vocational Schools and Community Colleges Congress `09 will be held at the Meadowlands Hotel from 27th to 28th of Feb. All the local schools have been invited to get involved. This is also election year for the members of the Association. Kerry Education Service have about 1.000 employees and it takes four people to process their pay.





Feb. 11th `09

CENSUS for 1911 Surnames for Trien, Keeffe, Leahy, Sullivan, Mulcare, Enright, Kelliher, Keane and Cronin; Names at Lisaniska; O Connor, Leahy, Horgan, Corridan, Mulvihill, Enright, Dowling, Kelly, McMahon, Buckley, Scanlon, Keane, Flaherty, Quinlan, Costelloe, Whyte, Finucane, Murphy, Kelliher, McElligott, Dillane, Sweeney, Collins, Mulvihill and Sheehy. Names in Kilmeaney, Brandon, Buckley, Moore, Murphy, O Connor, Scanlon, Flavin, Horigan, Mahony, Stack, Ahern, Hayes, Madigan, Carroll, Donovan, Keane, Cronin, Wall, Ferris, McGrath, Ahern, Stack, Gaine and Vicars. George Philip ? Mahony aged 68 years lived at Kilmeny he was born in Dublin and an MA from Oxford, with him were Annie Gaine a cook aged 50 years, Michael McGrath a footman aged 20 years and Arthur Vicars his half brother who was born in England was aged 48 years and among his professions included Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
CELTIC Times of Dec. 3rd 1887 contains a letter from Archbishop Croke in relation to recent happenings in the GAA, also Maurice Davern and others were reorganising the GAA. Augusta Goold in the Dec. 31st 1887 edition gives a commentary on the Industrial Movement and Irish Cottage Industries, wages in lace making were 4s to 10s per week. Irish Lace garment was to be presented to Pope Leo 13th for his Jubilee, the Poor Clare�s in Kenmare done the designed work, which embraced the sacred monogram, the shamrock. The chalice and patten, the tiara, the keys and other symbols, The garment was made at the Presentation Convent in Youghal in needle point, the cuff were made in another convent.


GREAT Western Trail featured on 'Nuacht TG4' at 6.45pm on Sunday 8th February with some West Limerick interviewees appearing.
Work is continuing on the development of the 5 miles between Newcastle West and Barnagh, Co. Limerick .When completed there will be a continuous 17 mile walking /cycling off-road trail, along the old railway, between Abbeyfeale and Ardagh. The GST will endeavour to extend the route to Rathkeale and Ballingrane later in 2009.


50th Anniversary of one of the most famous women in the world, Barbie occurs around now; Buddy Holly died 50 years ago and Shannon Development is 50 this year.
BEST Wishes to the new chairman of the IFA James McCarthy, it is estimated that 1,500 farmers in Kerry are waiting for grants, because of slow payment by the government.
HARD Times: E8 million was spent in buying the Great Blaskets and the Council bought a floodplain in Listowel for an unknown sum. The HSE CEO was paid E360, 000, CEO of An Post got over E400.000 and the top ESB man got E535,000 last year and no one knows what extra goes with the job. The Top Bank men got millions of Euro who will claw back payment for reckless trading from them. This is only the tip of the iceberg.



ARTIC Ice : by  October `08  Arctic ice had covered 29 percent more area than it did the year before and  by the end of this winter the ice sheet will be as big as 1979. Earth has been cooling since 2003 and some say since 1998. Yet we are spending millions on preventing global warming, while millions of people suffer from want.



THOUGHT: Nothing hinders in what we are doing as to be longing after something else, St Francis de Sales; The chronic mood of looking longingly at what we have not or thankfully at what we have realises two different types of character, Lucy C. Smith; For him that overcometh is manna given and for the indolent there remaineth much misery, Thomas A Kempis.



Feb. 18th `09 Notes


GAA: Division  2 Minor Football 2008 final was played at Stack Park recently Moyvane lost to Asdee/ Bally score 0-6 to 1-9.
Exhibition celebrating the 125th anniversary of the GAA continues at Newcastle West Library till Feb. 21st, it then moves to Abbeyfeale Library, the exhibition includes a photo of an old Abbeyfeale football team.
HISTORY: Palatines came to West Limerick in 1709, 105 families arrived each receiving 8 acres, 5,000 of them originally left South West Germany because of persecution; In 1889 Horace Plunkett established the first co-operative society in Doneraile, as the movement grew the IAOS was established to provide a platform for the growing Co-operative movement. Plunkett was appointed head of the new   Department of Agriculture was set up in 1899. In 1850 about 10,000 people owned the land of Ireland and about 600,000 tenants farmed the land.  The ICA will celebrate their centenary next year, in their first year they had 17 branches, they got funding from a few charities amounting to �800. Organisers were given two pence per mile for their bicycle and travel 3rd class during the summer and 2nd class during the winter months. Ann Marie Dennison of Abbeyfeale is contesting the 2009 ICA Presidential election, Ann Marie is at present the ICA National Secretary.
Kerryman of 27th Feb. 1909 carries an advertisement from the Listowel Rural Council seeking 21 acres of land in the neighbourhood of Newtownsandes, for the purpose of supplying plots to labourers living in the Village of Newtownsandes, proposals will be considered from one acre to 21 acres, M O Connell was the clerk at D. C. Offices in  Listowel. Kman of Feb. 29th 1944 reports that 214 bags of turf was sold in Listowel, price per ton was 40 shillings.
EMIGRATION: Between 1850 and 1890 about 300,000 Irish went to Australia and New Zealand. Irish born living in Australia in 1891 amounted to 229.000, by 1947 there was only 45,000 Irish born in Australia.
CARNATIONS: Anyone who wore a carnation on St Valentines Day could spare a thought for the growers; Palestinians grow thousands of these flowers.
THOUGHT: One good man, one man who does not put on his religion once a week with his Sunday coat, but wears it for his working dress, and lets the thought of God grow into him, and through and through him, till everything he says and does becomes religious, that man is worth a thousand sermons, Charles Kingsley; A hearse is a poor vehicle to start attending church in, anonymous.





ST Michaels College in Listowel are celebrating their 130th anniversary in 2009. St. Michael�s.1st year assessment will take place on Saturday 28th February 2009. All are welcome to attend St. Michael�s College from 7.20pm - 9.00pm.
SOUVENIR Programme of Massabielle, The Story of Lourdes is available at Tralee Church. Our own Fr Ahern was the producer and director of the event.


TOUR of England: Comhaltas Tour of Britain starts with St Michael�s Irish Centre Liverpool on Friday February 20th; Airdrie Town Hall on Sat. 21st ; Tyneside Irish Centre Sunday 22nd ; Albert Hall, Bolton Monday 23rd;  on Tuesday 24th they will perform at Mumford Theatre Cambridge; Wed. 25th the Irish Club Birmingham, they are attending many other venues including Camden Irish Centre on Friday 27th of Feb.
EMERGENCY Number when abroad in an EU Country is 112.
PRESENTATION was recently made at Kingdom Greyhound Stadium in Tralee to Peggy Barrett and Joe Carey the mark the winning by Tip and Tin the Comerford Cakes in Shelbourne Park.
BEST Wishes to Sr. Josephine Leahy who celebrated her 100th birthday recently, Sister is a Mercy nun and a native of Ballagh, Abbeyfeale, and her father was called the Minor Leahy. Also celebrating her 100 birthday is Masie Lyons nee Crowley of Dromtrasna, Abbeyfeale, her husband Michael died 25 years ago.
Happy 60th birthday to Amina Parke of Athea and 30th birthday to Gerard O Connell of Purt and Catherine Hanlon of Moyvane.
JOBS; Information on Insulation Grants is available from 1850 927 000. They will waste some of the money giving a free test of the effectiveness of the Job when completed and will you have to pay for a test before the job starts. Check your carbon footprint at 1890 242 643. Jobs Crisis meeting held in a posh hotel recently appeared to be a gathering of seasoned pen pushers who may know the way, but are too cosy to put their shoulder to the wheel.
Pallaskenry Agricultural College which has 185 students is about to be closed by Teagasc. The College is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.
Garda average pay is said to be E62,000, Australian Policeman pay is E34,000 according to media reports.
Rural Development advice will be available at the Desmond Complex on Tuesday March 3rd , details from 069 62 222.
NRA say building more roads is paramount to our recovery following the present recession, they know how to hold their jobs as they are spending E750,000 on paperwork preparing plans for bypasses in Adare, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale.
Will we have cars for the new roads following the greening of the Country? The U.S. lost about 598,000 jobs in January their unemployment rate is now 7.6%, in a year they lost 3.6 million jobs.
MILK price from Kerry Group has fallen by 14 cents per litre since January 2008, farmer selling milk at 25 cents per litre and production costs from 23c/l , the future of milk production is poor.


Feb. 25th `09 Notes

VOLUNTEER:  Options and Issues Course, this course provides an opportunity for those thinking of working for global development to meet with others and consider the options available. Choose one from the following dates:  Thursday 26th February (10am-4.30pm), in Limerick Saturday 7th March(10am-4.30pm) and Sunday 8th March (10am-2pm) in Dublin, for more information, please contact Kate at 01 4783490 or email [email protected] .Government cut the Overseas Development Assistance in the budget by �95 million recently. Now that money is scarce and fine educated people are only just waiting for a job, volunteering may be the best option for some. UNRWA has 29,000 staff around the world. And spend about $500 million.


KERRYMAN for January and February 1919 reports; Flight from Newfoundland to Dingle confirmed, it left Newfoundland on July 28th 1918 and took 24 hours; Bolshevicks in Finuge attack homes of Nora Sheehan and John Horgan; Albert Smith of Moyvane selling 161 acres , Annuity was �74; Poor labourers in Dingle get 24 shillings per week , all other towns pay 30 shillings per week wages; Employees of Jack McKenna of Listowel are to receive a voluntary increase of 5s per week in their wages; Price of a horse load of turf delivered is 5s and 6d, ans ass load coast 2s and 6d; Mrs Foran of Listowel charitable to inmates in Workhouse; 48 houses condemned in Listowel;  Newtown Bar in Listowel owned by Mrs E Mulvihill is transferred to her nephew Mr Forde;  Kerry Teachers Association half yearly meeting is well reported; Fr. O Flanagan is to tour America; Dr. Seamus Crowley is elected unopposed for North Kerry; At a recent meeting in Tarbert the principal speaker was Fr. McCarthy of Ballyhahill, bands from Glin, Newtown, Listowel etc attended; Some deaths due to flu in Ballylongford, the disease has not spread to any extent; Concert held in Newtown called The Eloquent Dempsey was staged by the local drama group, which included Miss B Stack, Miss M O Connor, Messrs J Kissane, J C O Connor, E Kissane, M Hanrahan, The Musical was presented by W O Sullivan, J Nolan, T Fitzgerald and L O Sullivan. Canon Cregan of Abbeyfeale has recovered from illness and the people showed their appreciation; Floating Mine picked up at Ballyheigue defused and secured.
MOTHER: mt-mrca is the name given by scientists to the woman who is the mother of all humans. Science proves that Eve existed.


COMHALTAS Tour of Britain Wed. 25th the Irish Club Birmingham; they are attending many other venues including Camden Irish Centre on Friday 27th of Feb.
LIBRARY: Lecture will be given at Listowel by John O Flaherty at 8pm on Thursday 26th of Feb. on Practitioners of Ethno-Veterinary Medicines-Cures. Mobile Library will visit Moyvane on Wednesday Feb. 25th at 10am.
SOCCER: Cathal O Connor scored for Newtown Athletic in a recent match, score Listowel Celtic 1 Newtown Athletic 1, they were playing in the Denny Division 1A.
CONGRATULATIONS to Tara Finucane who got a very special mention at Lixnaw Feile for her performance in the treble reel and exhibition of Sean- nos dancing recently.


BEST Wishes to Bridie Sheehan who is retiring after been Postmistress in Moyvane for the past 21 years. It was always a pleasure to meet Bridie. The late Dick Sheehan husband of Bridie continued the families long tradition of running the Post office, Catherine Shine aunt of Dick  ran the Post Office for many years, she died on May 21st 1983 aged 86 years, the 1911 Census reports that Nora Richardson nee Shine aged 60 years was Postmistress then, she was assisted by Bridie Shine aged 21 years.
BEST Wishes to  Mary Brouder Athea Shopkeeper who is retiring


MONEY: Saudi Arabia is giving Cornell University $25 million for nano technology research. Because of shortage of money no school in Kerry will be refurbished this year.
MILK price soared at the end of 2007 to 178 cents per gallon and by Dec. 2008 price had fallen to 118.20 cents per gallon, a 34% reduction and no marching by hard pressed farmers, some milk is being produced below cost of production. Has the price of milk products in the shops fallen?


March 4th `09


BEST Wishes to John Ward of Abbeyfeale who is retiring as General Manager of the Kingdom Greyhound Track in Tralee, the new stadium was erected in 1997.
CONGRATULATIONS to Mairead Carmody daughter of John and Mary Carmody of Knockanure who celebrated her 21st Birthday recently.
BEST Wishes to Margaret Deenihan who celebrated her 90th Birthday recently at Oakland�s Nursing Home, Derry, Listowel, Margaret is a native of Dooncaha Tarbert.
HAPPY 60th Birthday to Marie Flynn nee Finucane of Clounprohus, Moyvane.
GREAT to hear that two big construction projects are gradually moving to reality, sad to hear that a small seaweed bath outfit was refused permission, we have one group encouraging start your own business and another rising the jump all paid for by the taxpayer.
REPS Course will be held in Duagh Heritage Centre, time 10.30am to 3.30pm on 4th, 6th 11th and 13th of March. Farmers were due to meet at Fell�s Point Hotel on Monday night last March 2nd to discuss the present downward trend and propose solutions, details from 087 9980 727. 20,000 dairy farmers have taken a big hit recently and adding to their problems is the government who owe up to 8,000 farmers grants, the Dairy sector employs about 30,000 in processing and ancillary businesses.
THOUGHT: There is nothing in the world that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions, as the knowledge that there is a meaning in one�s life, Victor Frank.
SKY: On Tuesday last Feb. 24th, Saturn and Comet Lulin were only 2 degrees apart when they converged in the constellation of Leo. Comet Lulin was making its closest approach to Earth at the same time. 
Regulations will cost this country millions, reducing our production and increasing emigration, nobody will shout stop
LOCAL born Patrick Walsh went to Kentucky and married a Newtown Dillion woman Mary Stack and they had 13 children. Patrick Walsh was born in Newtownsandes in 1837 he went to America in 1852 with his father John Walsh 1812-1865 who was a stonemason. For a time they farmed at East Union, Nicholas County, Kentucky. Mary Stack was born in 1835 she arrived in America with her half brother Richard Gregory and reunited with their parents at Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky.
Among the children of Patrick Walsh and Mary Stack was R. P. Walsh who had a business in Paris, Julia married John R. Salmons, Margaret married Charles Ritz, Agnes married Douglas Griffith, John J Walsh moved with his parents to Mount Sterling and had a clothing business till 1896, then he joined his brother R. P. Walsh in business under the name of Walsh Brothers, later in 1912 J.J. established The Walsh Clothing Company becoming both President and General Manager of the Company. J. J. Walsh married Margaret Kelly in 1902 and they had one child John J. Walsh Junior. Family headstones in Kentucky include; George Gregory of Newtownsandes died November 4th 1871; John R Walsh born Newtownsandes died September 24th 1865 aged 53 years; Patrick Walsh 1834- 1896; Mary Stack Walsh 1836 1912.
APPEAL: The Little Sisters of the Poor have sent appeal envelopes for help to local householders, they were founded by Jeanne Jugan 1792-1879, she will be canonised this year, the sisters came to Ireland in 1868, local woman Sr. Sarah Kearney spent her long life with the Sisters.
SHARING: Leonard Abess, a bank president from Miami gave the $60 million bonus he got to 470 people who worked for him 'I knew some of these people since I was 7 years old, It didn't feel right getting the money myself, he said. WORLD Day of Prayer service will take place at Teach an Solas, St. John�s Church, Ashe Street, Tralee on Friday, March 6th at 7.30pm.  All are welcome. The Day will start this year in Tongo and travel across 180 countries and finish in Samoa, the first Day of Prayer was held in Ireland in 1934, the movement had its beginnings in 1812. 
WORLD Religion Day Theme: Spiritual Wealth An opportunity to share the spiritual riches of world faiths: Hindu, Islam, Buddhist, Baha�i, Judaism & Christian with readings & music and, to pray for a more peaceful and harmonious world will take place in St. Brendan�s Pastoral Centre on Sunday, March 8th from 8pm � 9pm,    all are welcome.
TIMES: Rocky Mountain News is closing short of its 150th birthday. The San Francisco Chronicle is also due to close leaving San Francisco with no local paper.  The number of Catholics in the United States declined by nearly 400,000 to 67.1 million in 2007
BEST Wishes go to Joe Hurley of Waterford and Athea who celebrated his 80th birthday recently.




March 11th `09

PLAYMAKERS of Abbeyfeale St Joseph�s Secondary School will put on a performance on 10th 11th and 12th of March.

SEANCHAI: A Literary Programme begins on Match 14th, if you want to join and learn to write contact 068 22212.

ACTORS Workshop will be held at the Brandon Hotel on the 14th and 15th of March, from noon till 8pm, details from 074 9126 994.

SHOW:  fund-raising fashion show in aid of Tarbert Comprehensive School on the 25th March. Committee members will be calling to houses shortly and your support is asked to help the school.



FULL Moon on March 11th, spacecraft Kepler was launched from Florida recently it has a  telescope designed to search for planets resembling the Earth. The weather which was reasonable is getting worse just at the time of year when dry weather is most needed. Daffodils are coming into their prime and all the small shrubs and bushes are showing life.

FARMING: Editor of Teagasc publication Today�s Farm Mark Moore forecasts that farming is facing tough times and advises milk producers to only spend if essential, no spending on capital investments and loans reviewed and consider interest only payments. Open day at Clonakilty Agricultural College March 10th and Pallaskenry open day is on March 26th. Ireland is to give seed to the Gobal Seed Vault in Norway which is situated underground in an Island north of Norway. In last weeks Kerryman a Moorepark man was advocating charging farmers for milk recording whether they used it or not.



BEST Wishes to Joan Walsh of Listowel on her 80th Birthday.





TRAIL: Great Southern Trail group invites you to a night of nostalgic old Railway films from the Irish Railway Record Society Collection at Newcastle West Library on Friday 27th March at 8.15 p.m. to celebrate the Barnagh to Newcastle West extension of the Trail.



COUNCIL Newsletter for July 2007 reported they were looking for approval of a loan of E10 million to buy land for affordable housing, is that money gone down the drain now, they were also restructuring a loan of E6.75m loan for water meters, they talk about recycling. Hundreds of perfectly good meters were dumped and replaces by new ones. Are these officials still in charge of our destinies? One way to kick start things in Kerry is to get rid of some of the planning laws, which were designed to benefit the East Coast boys.



RECEPTION: Jimmy Deenihan and his group seem to have got a great reception on their recent visit to Los Gatos; the Mayor Mike Wasserman will visit Listowel later.





KERRYMAN of April 1919 recorded that Anti Conscription Fund in Listowel was to be given to the Dail following vote at various masses; Good Weanlings made from �2-10s to �3-10s at Abbeyfeale fair, dropped calved made 20s to 35s each; There was a fierce riot in London between Police and U.S. soldiers; Belfast prisoners plight recorded and the death of Mr. P. J. McCann M. P.; M J Nolan was selling 100 acres for T Buckley of Shronown, Listowel on March 24th 1919; Michael Keane of Glencullare had 104 acres for sale, he had stalls for 25 cows; Patrick Fitzgibbons had 94 acres of land for sale at Coolnaleen and Patrick Dalton of Athea had 11 young incalf dairy cows for sale at Listowel fair on March 19th 1919;  Mrs Hannah Walsh N.T. had 65 acres for sale at Lacca East Islandanny on March 29th 1919;  North Kerry Farmers Association organised and secretary Nolan and Boland were to start organising in North Kerry; Agricultural Labour, Transport and General Workers \Union were demanding wage increases. The brother of Bernadette of Lourdes died.

FIRST East West wireless communication across the Atlantic was sent from Ballybunion to Cape Breton in Nova Scotia in March 1919. The transmission station was in Ballybunion from 1912 to 1922.

DAIL Question, On March 2nd 1949  Mr Kissane asked about the long delay in appointing an auxiliary postman in Moyvane Sub Post office.

PRESIDENT Nixon made an order guaranteeing fair hiring practices in the construction industry. Major flooding hit the EMERGENCY:  National Library of Scotland had an emergency when  a sprinkler valve leaked on the top floor, the Library has seven million books, 13 million printed items and more than 1.6 million maps.

THOUGHT;  The Indian Seer lost God in: Nature; the Christian mystic, on the other hand, finds God in Nature. The Hindu mystic believes that God and Nature are one and the same; the Christian mystic knows that there must be a Creator to account for the universe, Sadhu Sundar Singh.


March 18th `09


DRAMA: Athea Drama Group will stage their latest production The Curse of Joss Ward in Athea on March 18th, 19th, 22nd, 26th, 28th and 29th.
TRAIL: Great Southern Trail group invites you to a night of nostalgic old Railway films from the Irish Railway Record Society Collection at Newcastle West Library on Friday 27th March at 8.15 p.m. to celebrate the Barnagh to Newcastle West extension of the Trail.

AFTERNOON Tea Dance in aid of WL102fm to be held at Fr. Casey's Clubhouse in Abbeyfeale on Sunday, March 29, Doors open 2.30pm with dancing from 3-6pm.
KNOCK: Bus will travel to Knock for Mercy Sunday n April 19th details from 066 7180 123.
KATHY Sinnott MEP will attend a public meeting in the Courtney Lodge Hotel, Newcastle West on Thursday next, March 19th from 8pm on �Keeping the Balance in the Current Economic Crisis? Local European Affairs� and will outline how people can get Europe working for them, more information from 021 2429788.


BIRTHDAYS were celebrated by the following recently by Bobby Stack, Maura Nolan, Paula Stack, Esther Foley and Joe O Connor celebrated his 87th birthday..
GABRIEL Fitzmaurice has just launched his latest book called G.F. Woz Ere.
TADHG Kennelly visits Knockanure School to share his football talents with the children, a fine display of the children�s art which was executed under the direction of Mrs Brennan, is now on display at the school.



THANKS to Tom McEllistrum for his help in negotiating a substantially reduced fee to the ESB for an electrical connection to the Moyvane Grotto.


60 YEARS AGO in Kerry: Population 70,113 males and 63,780 females. 28,814 Children attending Primary School in 1931 and in 1941 there were 20,763 attending primary schools. Free milk given to 26 children in Listowel Urban area and 261children in Listowel Rural got free milk.  Deaths of infants under one year in 1949 were 119. Epidemic diseases caused 39 deaths; principal diseases were whooping cough and measles. Total number of infectious diseases notified was 726. 11 cases of typhoid fever notified, no typhus fever notified. 48 cases of diphtheria occured in 1939 and 7 cases in 1947. 14 cases of Syphilis treated. Deaths from cancer 143 exceeded deaths from TB. No work done on Ballybunion water supply due to delay in securing pipes. 10 houses are to be completed at O Connell�s Avenue by July 1950.
Local Midwives in 1949 include; Miss Ann Kearney Newtownsandes, she took up duty in 1949; Jane Desmond Athea; Hannah Crowley Athea; Mary Holyoak, Listowel; Joan Barrett, Listowel; Doreen and Nora M. Chapman of Listowel; C. M. Broderick, Duagh; Kathleen C Power, Duagh; Deborah Stack, Duagh; Bridget O Brien, Ballylongford;  Miss Jane Brosnan of Moyvane transferred to County Hospital; Mrs Catherine Donovan, retired. Details above was taken from Kerry Health Report for 1949.


March 25th `09


IRELAND beat Wales17- 15 on Saturday evening last at the Millennium Stadium to win the RBS 6 Nations title and complete the Grand Slam. It was great to see the pride of everyone involved; yes we can get our little Country going again.



ST JOHN�S: Wed. 25th  The Kruger Brothers who perform American folk, country and bluegrass music; Thursday 26th Johnny Duhan- To the Light; Friday 27th The Badke Quartet from Hungry, UK and America and   Jim Clancy photography exhibition continues, more information from 068 22566.

TINTEAN Players presents  Six of the Best at their Theatre on Thursday March 26th ,Sat. 28th and Sun. 29th ,details from 068 28003.

GLORACH players present two one-act dramas, One way Ticket by John B. Keane, and The Fat Lady Sings, at the Glorach Theatre on the 1st, 2nd and 5th of April.

SEANCHAI:  Literary Programme, Writing for Theatre directed by Miriam Gallagher is on 4th and 5th of April , Writing a Novel directed by Martina Devlin runs from 25th to 26th of April, if you want to join contact 068 22212.

SIAMSA will recall local man the late John Moriarty in a production next month.

DRAMA: Athea Drama Group will stage their latest production The Curse of Joss Ward in Athea on March 26th, 28th and 29th.

TRAIL: Great Southern Trail group invites you to a night of nostalgic old Railway films from the Irish Railway Record Society Collection at Newcastle West Library on Friday 27th March at 8.15 p.m. to celebrate the Barnagh to Newcastle West extension of the Trail.

AFTERNOON Tea Dance in aid of WL102fm to be held at Fr. Casey's Clubhouse in Abbeyfeale on Sunday, March 29, Doors open 2.30pm with dancing from 3-6pm.



NEW Moon on the 26th, there is a crater on the moon called after a Skibbereen woman Agnes Clerke, she died in 1907; Globe event to mark the International Year of Astronomy will be held from April 2nd to 5th. The Space Shuttle Discovery joined with the International Space Station on St. Patrick's Day, solar panels were installed, the Space Station will be visible till March 30th. Venus will be in conjunction with the Sun on March 27th. The weather has improved greatly in recent days. Cows and cattle are our on most farms by day. Fishing is poor on the Feale according to recent reports;

ST PATRICK�S Day was a glorious day both in weather and for the Knockanure Rambling House Float as they got a trophy for their presentation. Thanks to the promoters and sponsor and artists, notable feature was Tara Finucane doing the brush dance. Tara also won the Liam Dineen Memorial Shield at the St Patrick�s Day Feis which was also held in Listowel. Goal St Patrick�s Day badges has raised over E2 million over the past 20 years.

RECESSION will continue in Ireland for long after other countries because of many things including, did you hear of Limerick County Council trying to put traffic calming measures on the Killarney road out of Abbeyfeale, they got outside planners with out of date
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