July 6th 06 NEWTOWNSANDES ON LINE
ARMS: This months Africa reports that small arms kill an estimated 500,000 people every year, the five permanent members of the Un Security Council produce 88% of the worlds conventional arms, several countries make more money out of arms sales than they give out in aid.
MADONNA Louise Veronica Ciccone was born August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan. , she was called after her mother who died from breast cancer when she was six, Madonna was third of eight children.
HISTORY: Kerry Weekly Reporter of Saturday 23rd of June 1906 reports on The Annual Brosna Sports which was held on the previous Thursday, W Buckley of Newtownsandes won the one mile and the two mile bicycle race, while M Ahern of Athea competed in 100 yards, long jump and 56 lbs off the shoulder; the next edition of the paper June 30th 1906 reports Douglas Hyde was made a Freeman of Cork City following his return to Queenstown from his seven months travelling and lecturing in America, other reports include; 600 were on the books of the outdoor relief officers in Listowel area also noted was that the children in the deserted children's ward do not appear healthy and straw in cradles was not in proper condition; Lord Kitchener gave donation of 1,000 rupees to an appeal to organise Trained British Nurses Society in India. Kerryman of July 11th 1936 reports that a big crowd were at Moyvane Sports field to witness two senior County championship ties, football and hurling Mitchells beat North Kerry while Stacks beat Pearses. Boston Pilot of July 12th 1856 had an advertisement seeking information on James Grant who left Listowel in 1850, his brother Michael Grant of Wappelo, Louisa County, would like to hear of James.
NED Kelly Exhibition continues at the James Joyce House 15 Usher's Island, Dublin 8. Enquiries to 01 672 8008. A book on Ned Kelly was written in Australia by James Jerome Kennelly who had first hand information on the Kelly's, James Jerome Kennelly had granduncles in Gortaclahane, Pallas and Knockanure.
HEROD did not eat pork and Augustus mused "Better to be Herod's pig than his child".
SAD to hear that the Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart in Limerick closed after Mass on Friday last June 30th 06, the church served the people of
July 13-06 Notes
RELICS of St Claude La Colombiere relics will be in the Cathedral Killarney from 3pm to 10pm on July 12th 06 and on July 13th from 8am to noon and then move to Cork Cathedral. St Claude was spiritual director to St Margaret Mary who along with her sisters first venerated the Sacred H
AWARE formed in 1985 have 60 support groups all over Ireland, they publish a quarterly magazine and their helpline number is 1890 303 302.
eart on July 20th 1685.
CIE Art Collection is now on view at Tralee Library the Arts Council paid half the cost of the pictures which were purchased between 1959 and 1971, some cost �5.25, �3, �14.70 more expensive artwork cost �250 and �275.
BEST Wishes to Bridie and Jack Stackpoole on the 50th anniversary of their wedding, they celebrated with their family ,friends, neighbours and relations at the Devon Hotel on Friday last July 7th, Jack and Bridie can be proud of the musical ability of their family and grandchildren who entertained the party after the meal.
GOLDEN Jubilee of the ordination of former PP of Glin Fr Martin Madigan was celebrated in Glin Church last week, the reception was held at Conway's afterwards.
HISTORY: Snippets from Kerryman: of July 3rd 1926, Picture on front page is picture of Mr John J. Hanley Baron of Broadway; Surprise that no excursion train will run from Kerry next Sunday; Large numbers paying rounds at St Mulleens Well in Brosna; Schism in the Kerry Farmers Union; The long drawn out British coal strike has a detrimental effect on the Killarney tourist industry; The Shannon Scheme; Free State accused of altering captured document. July 10th 1926 edition: Our American Letter by Wm. Parkinson who had travelled over 4,000 miles since his last letter tells of cost of smuggling Chinese into America from Canada jumped; The Eucharistic Congress opened in Chicago on Sunday; the story of a notorious rum runner; other topics in the paper include O Neill Griffins money enquiries from Listowel and Ballylongford, Proposed tour of Kerry football team to the U.S.A.; pickle Nasturtium seed; Historical Sketches of Abbeyfeale reports that David Leahy who was taken prisoner built an extensive concern at Abbeyfeale in 1813 also his involvement the restoration of stolen property and Thomas Guiltenane; An Irishman Down Under and New York Kerry Notes. Above are just a few items to get the flavour of Kerryman in July 1926.
ABBEY Reopens 18th of July 1966, the original building was burnt in 1961.
FIRST Black female Kenyan novelist was Grace Ogot she published The Promised Land in 1966.
THOUGHT: Aggressive people need the assertiveness of others to tone them down.
July 20th 06
GREAT to hear Bishop Casey recalling his work as a priest on Radio Kerry last Sunday night, and the week before our own retired Parish Priest Fr Joe Nolan was interviewed on the Chaplaincy work done by priests among emigrants in England.
KNOCK: A group from the Parish and district travelled to Knock on Tuesday 11th of July, it was a lovely day for travelling and the fine day in Knock coupled with all the devotions found everyone in good mood on the return journey, one unexpected feature was the finding of a ring in the collection envelope on the bus , despite calls for the owner to come forward nobody came forward to claim it. A day at Knock could consist of a visit to the Museum where you could spend hours browsing, the Prayer Guidance Centre, Knock Counselling Centre, visit the Basilica and several chapels, St Joseph's Rest Home, Our Lady's School of Evangelisation, full details on Knock at www.knock-shrine.ie
Our Lady appeared at Knock in 1879 she also appeared at Gietrzwald 200 km from Warsaw in 1877 from 27th of June to 16th of October .
RELICS of St Claude came to St Mary's Cathedral on Wednesday last July 12th for the 22 hours the relics were on display many came to pay their respects, St Margaret Mary and St Claude have influenced about 300 religious congregations to use the words Sacred Heart in their title, here we are familiar with the Sacred Heart picture in every traditional home, the Messenger of the Sacred Heart and the Pioneers who use the Sacred Heart in their badge. August 23rd marks the 150th anniversary of the extension of the Feast of the Sacred Heart to the whole church world wide.
TEMPERANCE Weekend will be held from 6th to 8th of October 06 in Cork to mark the 150th Anniversary of Fr Mathew's death and the birth of Matt Talbot.
HISTORY: Douglas Hyde died 12th July 1949, he was given a state funeral and was laid to rest at Portahard Co Roscommon beside his wife Lucy, daughter Nuala, his sister Annette and parents Elizabeth and Arthur. The great-grandfather of Douglas Hyde The Rev Arthur Hyde was Vicar of Killarney.
Office of Public Works is 175 years old this year, they will be celebrating at Farmleigh with RTE Concerts and recently a gallery in Lord Iveagh's cow house.
75th Anniversary of the Dublin Eucharistic Congress occurs next year, several from the Parish attended the Congress, while the people at home participated by attending to their faith and decorating their dwellings and streets to show their fervour .
Michael Davitt centenary was celebrated with a vintage steam train excursion from Claremorris to Foxford and Ballina on Saturday July 15th; 49,000 Irish died in World War 1.
In July 1956 Kerry had 15 creameries and 50 cream separating stations according to a Dail report.
Kerry Weekly Reporter snippets from July 1906 editions; Terms of reference of royal commission to inquire into congestion in Ireland; Forty Kerry Catholic Clerical Managers meet in Killarney; This years show abandoned due to low subscriptions; Fr Casey of Abbeyfeale on the Parliamentary Fund and the labourers bill; Home bred beef, war office boycott; Local questions in Parliament; Phases of dessert thirst; In praise of gardens. Kerry Sentinel of July 8th 1884 published a letter from W.M. Stack stating that Michael Davitt will be in Tralee next week.
SOMME: The battle of the Somme was recently commemorated to learn more about the men who fell during 1914-18 war see a copy of The Widows Penny by Patrick J McNamara in any County Limerick Library. Names mentioned include Guina of Athea; Foran, Dunne and Dore, of Newcastle West; Fitzgerald of Ballyhahill; Cusack and Cusack of Glin.
Notes July 27th 06
POPULATION of Kerry according to latest figures is 139,616, Newtownsandes 1037 up 33 since 2002.
NCBI was established in 1931 to promote independence of people with vision impairments their 75th fundraising celebration dinner will be held at the Burlington Hotel on 15th of September, enquiries to 01 882 1925, other fundraising activities include Equestrian Challenge in Argentina from 12th to 22nd of November and Mountain Bike Challenge in Thailand from 12th to 26th of November.
HISTORY: 26th of July 1586 Francis Drake arrived at Plymouth with potatoes. Kerry Sentinel July 4th 1906; reports speech to parliament by Thomas O Donnell MP he told of 80,000 living in Congested Districts in Kerry, their average valuation was being �1 and 3 shillings per head, 333 houses had 5 occupants per room, 30houses had 11 occupants per room; John Moran of Strand Street was charged with act contrary to public decency by bathing in the canal All Ireland Football Final big attendance, Kerry beat Dublin, a drenching downpour all during match. K.S July 25th 1906 contains advertisement for Kerry's first GAA Listowel Sports which was held on Sunday August 5th 1906, special trains from Limerick, Killarney and Tralee, D.J. Flavin among many others was on the sports committee; Death took place of Denis Brosnan of Duagh father of Rev D. Brosnan of St Brendan's Killarney, he died at his daughters Mrs P Galvin's house at Patch, Duagh. July 23rd 1956 anti- red revolt in Hungary. First Transatlantic flight to Knock Airport 29 July 1986. Birth of Tom Crean July 20th 1877, birth of John B. Keane 21st July 1928. Ryder Cup first matches staged in the USA in 1927; 5,000 staff will be needed to run this years event.
GALWAY Races: The winner of the principal race in 1946 was Fair Pearl came in at 10-1 the horse was owned and ridden by Mickey Tully, he forfeited the race due to a technicality, first TV coverage of the Galway races was in 1963.
Aug 3rd 06
FULL MOON is on August 9th , the great weather over the past two months is gradually passing away. Tourists had a great time, it is the foolish person who would go abroad for sun this year. In 2005 we had 1,717,000 overseas people visiting the Southwest while 1,525,000 Irish came to the Southwest, spending at total of E275.6 million.
DAY TRIP to Cobh was made by the Ballyhahill/Loughill parishioners and friends on Tuesday last July 25th, the group was led by Fr O Leary PP a wise shepherd ready for any eventuality that may occur, his father herded sheep on Spike Island so he was at home in Cobh and district as far as history and local knowledge was concerned. The magnificent Fota Island is on the approach to Cobh Heritage Centre situated in the old Victorian railway station where you can explore the conditions of ships and passengers leaving Queenstown, multi media show of the Titanic and Lusitania connections, Irish Wake, Annie Moore, Wall of Dedication where you could enter the name of a relative who left via Cobh to foreign lands. About 2.5 million adults and children emigrated via Cobh over the years. St Colman's Cathedral on Cobh Island is one of the great Irish cathedrals built on a high hill its foundation stone was laid in 1868 and built in the form of a Latin Cross, exterior in Dalkey granite and Mallow limestone, cost �230,000 to complete. The pulpit is of Austrian Oak, the Organ has 2,468 pipes, the spire is 300 feet, to renovate the Cathedral to day I am told could cost E3.7 million. Spike Island in Cobh harbour had an army and naval presence for 800 years, convicts built the fortress on the Island c 1792, from c1850 to 1883 Spike Island was used as a penal colony, the mortality rate from 1849 to 1883 was over 44%. Between 1791 and 1853 30,000 men and 9,000 women were sent as convicts to Australia. Now we have our Justice Department proposing the desecrate the Spike Island by building a new prison there. Sad to see Haulbowline huge cranes now lay idle. You can have a cruise around the harbour to see all the landmarks many of them now redundant. By 1830 Cobh was the Brighton of Ireland, Geraniums can be left out during the winter in Cobh.
. Other interesting places to visit include: Sirus Arts Centre in the old Yacht Club building; Old Middleton Distillery restored to its 18th centaury grandeur, only 15 minutes from Cobh. Six passenger ships visited Cork during July one ship called Constellation had 1,000 crew and 2,450 passengers.
AID: Irish government is to increase aid to immigrant groups in U.S. by 29%. Bill Nolan of Ballydonoghue gives a profile of Zambia in the new free paper called In View Kerry, Zambia has a population of over 11 million, Irish aid to the country amounts to E20 million, spending of it is overseen by Ambassador Nolan.
In 2005 we had 1,717,000 overseas people visiting the Southwest while 1,525,000 Irish came to the Southwest, spending at total of E275.6 million.
AUGUST 10th 06.
FULL RED MOON is on August 9th , shooting stars are expected to peak around August 12th; Mercury is close to Venus early on the morning of August 11th; Floods: 11th August 1946 big flood in Finuge and elsewhere, no hay saved; August 1916 floods in Fermoy and the Blackwater burst its banks; Kerry Sentinel of August 20th 1886 reports that on Thursday last after thunderstorm the Feale in Listowel turned black.
First wild blackberries of the season can be seen high on the cliff over the Men's Strand. July this year was warmest since 1989.
40th anniversary of the introduction of free secondary education will be marked at the Fianna Fail National Education Conference which will be held in Dun Laoghaire on 11th of September 06.
ROCKETS: The Katyusha rockets now being fired at Israel are called after a love song written by a Jewish songwriter. 20,000 children have been evacuated from Northern Israel since July 12th.
BEN FRANKLIN born 300 years ago was a man of many parts, being an inventor, genealogist, writer, printer and founding father of the United States.
HISTORY: Snippets from Kerry Sentinel; August 4th 1906 recalls the escape of Thomas Francis Meagher from Tasmania in 1852; The Knocknagoshel Sports Committee are preparing for their annual sports which will be held on August 15th; Mr and Mrs Gilbert were celebrating their silver wedding on the banks of the Themes when one of the sons got into trouble in the water, in the rescue attempt Mr Gilbert and his two sons drowned; United Irish League were rejoicing after Daniel O Shea was reinstated in his ancestral farm at Cleeney after nineteen years dispossession, also the Abbeyfeale Branch of the UIL held a meeting which was presided by Fr W Casey, P.P, the chairman referred to the necessity of supporting the Parliamentary Fund and he also encouraged everyone in Islandanny district and everywhere else to purchase tickets from Mr Con Keeffe of Pilgrim Hill to help him cover cost of action against Listowel estate over turbary rights, his action was most beneficial to the tenants of the estate; Mr Boland a North Kerryman had his invention displayed at the Munster-Connacht Exhibition in Limerick; between Castleisland and Brosna a severe attach of potato blight; August 8th edition of the KS gives an account in Athletes Corner on the effect of the GAA ban and how the best athletes were prevented from competing; Local winners at last Sunday's August 5th 1906 GAA Sports in Listowel include Timothy J., D., and M. Ahern of Athea; J Bowden, Kilmorna; D. Walsh of Newtownsandes; other winners included Leahy and Hurley of Charleville, Acton and Mullins of Dublin, the gate receipts were �100 and Mrs D.J. Flavin presented the prizes. Also mentioned in the paper was the house where Kitchener was reared and fish poisoning near Listowel. Fidel Castro born 13th August 1926. 13th August 1986 Daniel O Donnell came to and performed in Knockanure Village.
RELATIONS: Maryellen Redish is searching for her relations her great grandmother, Annie O'Connor, & her sister, Kate, emigrated to Philadelphia c1875 from Tralee. Parents were Michael & Johanna O'Connor. Annie O Connor married William W. Campbell in Philadelphia. My great grandfather, John J. Kennelly was born in Listowel and emigrated to Philadelphia around 1873. His parents were Michael & Catherine Kennelly. John Kennelly married Catherine McElroy in Phila. Any information on the original Kennelly or O'Connor families would be appreciated.
August 17th 06
VINTAGE DAY will be held at Knockanure on Sunday August 20th. The old school committee will hold a cake sale on the day. Any donations of cakes, tarts, brick a brac etc will be greatly appreciated, items may be handed into any member of the committee. Knockanure Development Association is having a draw for a signed Kerry Jersey, tickets are available locally, draw is on Vintage Day. Due to the Kerry - Cork Match the children's Sports will commence at 1.30 sharp. All ages are welcome. The Match can be seen on a Big Screen in the field. Live music from 2.00pm - 3.30pm
RECALLED: 15th of August 1893 boat tragedy when 17 young people lost their lives on the Shannon was recalled at a special service in Tarbert on Tuesday last.
SAD to hear that Kingdom Ceili which was a popular programme for 15 years on Radio Kerry has ended , the inimitable hosts Mary Conroy Knipper and Maire Begley O Se will long be remembered by all their devoted listeners.
BOOK: On August 30th at 8pm at the Gaelscoil in Newcastlewest Geoff Hunt will launch his book which gives descriptions on 50 locations in County Limerick which are of interest to nature lovers.
REEK: On Sunday August 6th a group from Athea and locality travelled Croagh Patrick, the morning was wet later turning to mist and in the afternoon a nice cool breeze with sunshine made it ideal for climbing, the start of the climb runs beside a lovely small stream as you go higher you imagine that the top is around the corner but returning pilgrims will keep you informed of how much more to travel and what's more for the first time climber is the dreaded steep last half hour climb, all the hardship is forgotten in the exhilaration of reaching the mountain top church. The way down is less strenuous but much energy is put into constant restraint in keeping a slow pace as the terrain is very uneven with slippery patches, loose stones, and solid boulders, if that was not enough you also have to dodge the upward climber who usually has his head down .St Patrick is said to have fasted for 40 days and nights on Croagh Patrick which is 765 metres above sea level, the present church was erected in 1905, carbon dating show that that an early Christian church was on the summit between 430 and 890 A.D.. Pilgrimages have been taken place with over the past 5,000 years. It was tradition that pilgrims walked to the top of the Reek at night, nigh time walk was cancelled in 1973. The last Friday in July and the 15th of August are the most popular days to Climb the Reek with over 20,000 climbers on the day, it takes about 3.5 hours for the round trip, many from abroad make the climb. While at the Reek it is worth while visiting St Patrick's Well, Murrisk Augustinian Abbey Est. 1457 now in ruins for 400 years, the Millennium Park and National Famine Memorial which is a bronze ship with skeletons around the side joining its three masts, there is also a statue of St Patrick erected in 1928, Marian Shrine, many walk ways, a visitor centre, community centre and car park at the foot of Croagh Patrick.
HISTORY: One of the first Gypsies to be beautified was born in Spain on August 26th 1861 and was shot by the Spanish revolutionary militia on August 2nd 1936; August 16th 1896 George Carmack found gold at Rabbit Creek his testimony started the Klondike gold rush in no time Dawson city had a population of 40,000, a Knockanure man Michael O Connor was mayor of Dawson city in the early 20th centaury. Kerryman of August 19th 1961 reports that Mary O Carroll and Mairead Callaghan went to Lourdes as helpers, also reported in the same weeks edition is the story of Grand Canal, the dog was originally owned by Cormac O Leary and Dan Walsh of Moyvane.
Fighting Dick Talbot the Duke of Tyreconnel escaped from Cromwell's attack on Drogheda and was accused later that he was part of a conspiracy to murder Cromwell died in Limerick on August 14th 1691.
KNOCK: The 12th Annual Pilgrimage to Canada's Knock Shrine was led on August 21st 1966 by the Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa Rev J.R. Windle.
August 24th 06 Notes
Lough Derg.
St Patrick's Purgatory
A group of pilgrims from North Kerry and Limerick went to Lough Derg and took in a one hour visit to Knock on the way up on Friday August 11th 06, the pilgrimage lasted three days.
Pilgrims have been going to Lough Derg for over 1,000 years, they do all the exercises in bare feet and fasting for three days , only tea, toast or oat cake once a day and sleep in bed is allowed on the second day after 10pm. Most pilgrims seem to cope with the restrictions and some add on their own extras. In 1980 work began in improving and restoring facilities at Lough Derg, now many rooms and halls of various sizes are available for pilgrims , new hostel built in 1988, but repayment must be made on E1.1 million outstanding.
Many activities take place inside the basilica, which was opened in 1931, including Mass, Night Vigil and various religious exercises. At the back of the white marble altar is a huge penal cross with Christ crucified, the tabernacle is very ornate like an old Irish reliquary in bronze decorated with a huge number of figures and ornaments, the lectern also in bronze is decorated with images of early Irish saints and scenes , also depicted is the Knight Owen as the story goes, he went to purgatory and after passing trough reached a land where people were singing hymns and everyone was welcome. His story of Lough Derg was well known abroad 800 years ago . The church can seat about 700 and has two galleries and a very high roof, stained glass windows incorporating stations of the cross are by Harry Clark who died in 1931. Doing spiritual exercises, in the quiet of day and night, the gentle lapping of the fresh water against the foundations can be heard, the dawn on a fine morning making your stay on the Island unforgettable.
St Davog a disciple of St Patrick was the first abbot on Saints Island, he was born in Wales and died in 516, the Island was attacked by the Danes in 836. Others associated with Lough Derg include William Kane boatman, who ferried pilgrims to the Island he died in 1997, Pilgrimages were made by : Nora Hanrahan for 60 years; Jack Crummie, Anthony McGuire and Cissie McGuire 40 times; James Brady 42 times and Kathleen Duffy came 30 times. Relics of several Irish saints are preserved in a display case, St Columbanus who went to Europe in 591 with twelve companions is remembered in St Mary's Chapel. More information available at www.loughderg.org
AUGUST 31st 06
HISTORY: It is reported in a local newspaper of August 23rd 1899 that a lad fell from his bike in Tralee after cycling from Castleisland in torrid heat; Emigration from Ireland in the twelve months ending December 1914 was 20,314; Front page of Kerryman of August 20th 1927 contains drawing of proposed Christian Brothers New Secondary School in Tralee; Newcastle West excursion to Cove by between four and five hundred patrons, report of the successful trip is given, the day was organised by the local Branch of the Holy Family; Kerryisms reports that details of the recent Leaving Certificate and Intermediate Certificate have been sparingly given. Kerry Sentinel of August 25th 1906 reported on a group of people with candles who went to the Grand Cave in Ballybunion on Tuesday night between 11 and 12pm, the candles quenched and Denis O Connell of Abbeyfeale drowned. 2RN on August 29th 1926 made Europe's first broadcast of a field game when they gave a commentary on the All Ireland semi-final between Kilkenny and Galway, score Kilkenny 6-2 Galway 5-1. Kerry Champion of August 13th 1949 reports that �3,000 was the highest bid for the 109 acre farm of Henry G Owen of Bedford Listowel; Mushrooms plentiful and local postman Denis Stack had mushroom weighing 10 ounces; Work on the ten house scheme at O Connell's Avenue to start soon; A hundred greyhounds were sold to cross channel patrons this past month; August 27th 1949 edition of Kerry Champion reports that Listowel born Fr James J.A. Troy was honoured at a ceremony attended by 600 people and conferred a Knight Commander of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem , it was the first such ceremony to be held outside the Holy City, It took place in Minneapolis. Fr Troy was 30 years army chaplain and travelled on a 52,000 miles trip through the far east in 1933. Irish Parachute Club was established 50 years ago.
Kerryman of August 19th 1961 reports that Mary O Carroll and Mairead O Callaghan of Knockanure went to Lourdes as helpers. Well known poet Jerry Histon was born at Clounmacon on 27th August 1886.
PARDON: 26 Irishmen serving in the British Army who were executed during World War One have been pardoned by the British Ministry of Defence.
TRAVELLERS: 24,000 Travellers live in this country and 15,000 Irish Travellers live in the United Kingdom.
SEPTEMBER 7th 06 Notes
HISTORY: Headlines from Kerryman of September 8th 1906; Presentation of testimonial to Mr M Enright B.A Listowel; GAA or ICA athletics clubs; Agricultural Depression; Profitable Farming in Bad Times; Miser's miserable end in Tralee; The Corca Duibne Schools; Thoughts for Young Men; Who is Old , a wild man will never rust out, almost to the last hour of his life Wellington was at work, so were Newton, Bacon, Milton and Franklin; Kerry Athlete Successes in California , the article is on the success of D.O Neill of Currans, before an audience of 2,000;
Listowel Town Court cases included; riotous behaviour Lyons and Murphy, charged with drunkenness were Reidy, Dowd, Brosnan, Stack, Foran, Nolan and Connor fines ranged from 7 shillings and six pence to 10 shillings , two Carroll brother were fighting at the Railway Station, Moloney brothers attacked Joy, Doyle and Barrett women shared abusive language, Sandes and Quinlan women charged Lynch with Abusive language and Malicious Injury; the Rural Council sought recover possession of Labourer's Cottage and failed.
Kerry Champion of September 3rd 1949, gives the history of racing in Tralee. How they raced in the old days at Mounthawk and Ballyvelly and the start of racing in Ballybeggan in 1896. Fifty tents were on the old course and the stand a temporary wooden structure could accommodate 100. Among the great horses trained by Paddy Dillane in Tralee was the Maid of Tralee who won at many venues all over the South of Ireland. In the old days it took the best part of a month before the last of the invaders left for pastures new.
A Troop of Militia was raised by Arthur Denny on September 4th 1666.
Dromcollogher Cinema fire took place on September 5th 1926.
THOMAS MOORE: Another book on Thomas Moore called Ireland's Minstrel written by Linda Kenny was launched recently; we regard Thomas as one of our own.
BOOK on the Boy Scouts by Fr Gaughan, is now available, it has several references to Listowel scouts, their travels and hosting of jamborees.
TEMPERANCE: Cork Temperance Weekend to mark the 150 Anniversary of the death of Fr Mathew and the birth of the Venerable Matt Talbot will be held from 6th to 8th of October 06, details from [email protected]
MISSION Alive will be celebrated again this October; special events will take place to remember missionaries. Over 1000 sisters and 1,000 priests from Ireland work in 90 countries at present, England have 455 and U.S. have 6,395 missionaries working outside their countries.
100th Anniversary of the death of Fr Casey PP Abbeyfeale will be remembered next year; everyone is welcome to discuss plans for the event at the Courtney Lodge Hotel on Monday September 11th. A meeting of Fr Casey Commemorative Committee was held at St Ita's Hall on August 28th.
EDUCATION: Fianna Fail National Education Conference takes place in Dun Laoghaire on September 11th, the introduction of free education 40 years ago will also be remembered at the occasion.
SEPT 14th 06
AUDIOSCOPE the RTE radio programme which covers issues about vision impairment is off Radio One. Thirty two years ago the programme started and was called Listen and See and broadcast on Sunday evenings with Jim Sherwin presenting the it for seventeen years, with the new presenter Nora Doyle who was vision impaired , the name was also changed to Audioscope, for more information check www.saveaudioscope.com
SIGHT: age related muscular degeneration is the main cause of sight loss for over 55s in the EU, between 1996 and 2003 there was an increase of 113% in this condition being diagnosed.
HISTORY: Extracts from The Kerry Examiner September 1846; Listowel Guardians were of the unanimous opinion that the potato crop was a total failure; potatoes called Ratlers, White Apples and English Reds generally escaped the blight; Listowel relief committee met on September 4th , John Francis Hewson was in the chair; Indian corn has advanced 20 shillings a ton and first flour 2 to 3 shillings a bag;
150 labourers from near Nenagh came into Nenagh protesting that public works were stopped so the harvest might not be interfered with, the men said that farmers who had potatoes in the ground could not afford to pay them 5 pence a day to dig them and the workers were starving; a report copied from Halifax Sun notes dreadful mortality and sickness on board Vesuvius, and a report from Quebec Freeman gives account of mortality on emigrant ship the Elizabeth and Sarah, 21deaths and 16 cases of fever; some cases of common cholera in Listowel and other towns; in parts of France not a field has escaped attacked by potato disease, last years crop was only one third of normal; typhus fever at St Petersburg last month caused 900 deaths per day; Cholera in Scinde, India caused death of 8,000 from 13th to 25th of June; the papers from Sydney give an account of the death of a catholic Bishop at the hand of savages on a South Sea Island; Fr Mathew is to visit Killarney; The World's Temperance Convention was held at Exeter Hall, delegates from America attended; labourers who refused to work during the time they were engaged could face prison, now that the potato crop had failed, labourers wanted cash for their wages instead of working against the rent of their house and garden, a test case found that the Magistrates had no power to send a labourer to prison if he refused to work when he did not get cash for his wages.
FIRST Edition of the Irish Press came out on 5th of September 1931; Fianna Fail Party first entered Dail on 11th of August 1927.
EOGHAN HARRIS in the Sunday Independent of September 3rd 2006 gives a shocking account of how a protestant family was murdered near Bandon by anti-treaty IRA on 26th of April 1922, thirteen West Cork Protestants were murdered in April 1926, we all done our history in school yet these crimes and many more were never mentioned.
TROUBLES: Sunday September 3rd 06 Maurice O Keefe had his programme on Radio Kerry about the Volunteers in the North Kerry area, much of the programme was taken up with the ambush of soldiers at Kilmorna, reprisal shootings and the killing of Sir Arthur, burning of the O Mahony great house in Kilmorna and visits to several memorials and burial grounds. Most of the action was within the Parish of Knockanure and its vicinity. As far as I can recall only one of the casualties had a relation in the Parish.
PATTERN Day was held in Ballyheigue on Friday September 8th, it being a beautiful day, a big crowd attended, mass was celebrated at the new altar near the well in the morning and a steady stream of prayerful people done the rounds all day, all ages attended, some young men and women not only prayed, blessed themselves and drank well water they also kissed the feet of our Lady's statue.
Ballyheigue Village was congested with all the visitors and many browsed around the sea side car park which was full of vendors who were selling wares of every description both old and new.
BOOK: North Kerry the Magic and the Legend is a new book about to be published; it will be illustrated by well known artist Olive Stack and text by Nora Relihan and Padraig O Concubhair.
CHURCH Street Listowel is now a Mecca for art lovers and readers, after browsing around Church Street head down to St John's and Seanchai where there is always something new of interest.
Sept 28th 06
COMHALTAS Tour of America begins on October 9th , the group of 19 includes local musician and singer Donie Lyons, when Donie reaches Chicago he will follow in the footsteps of his cousin Frank Thornton who spent a lifetime promoting music in America and Chicago, before Frank's time Purcell, who was organist in Listowel was a great collector of Irish music in Chicago.
CENTENARY of the death of the founder of the Missionary Sisters of OLA was marked at Ardfoyle in Cork recently, we all know sisters of the order who spent their life on the missions.
FLOODS: The media give little attention to the aftermath of floods in developing countries; In July tropical storms killed 600 people in South China and nearly 3 million had to leave their homes; In August the strongest typhoon to hit China in 50 years killed 250 and affected 4 million; Monsoon rains in Southern and Western India forced 4.5 million to flee; In Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia floods killed 1,000 people, many lost everything.
TEMPERANCE: Cork Temperance Weekend is on from 6th to 8th of October, it will mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Fr. Mathew and the birth of Matt Talbot. Pioneer Rally in Cork on Sunday October 8th, details from 087 641 5436.
The Hanley Centre in Dun Laoghaire, phone 01 2809 795: Reports that 175,000 people in Ireland are classified as problem drinkers and they directly affect 1,750,000 others. Alcoholics Anonymous can be contacted at 066 7128 720.
JAILS: 13 million people pass through American jails every year their present prison population is 2.2 million.
HISTORY: The Kerry Examiner for September 1846 contained dire warnings of the impending famine, the paper also reported on many happenings at home and abroad such as the arrival of six million dollars on Saturday; a large number of railway workers have been engaged to proceed to Spain; marriage of the Queen of Spain; the proprietor of this Journal is about to launch a new paper The Weekly Examiner; the life of Sir Thomas More who grew kindly towards everything he touched and the biography of Madame Castellan the charming singer who was born 1821;The ascent of Mount Blanc, thirty one successful assents since 1786, the most remarkable name on the register was a French lady who climbed in 1838; Real Life Romance describes the finding of a girl who was thought to be dead in the company of two Indian women, the young girl had no English and refused to leave the squaw whom she believed was her mother; The Summer assizes of 1780 are memorable this, a protestant lawyer called Curran volunteered counsel for a Roman catholic priest against a Protestant nobleman, Lord Doneraile acted like a ruffian and beat Fr Neale an old priest with a whip; Coroner's inquest into the death of Michael Hennessy of Listowel an army man who died suddenly during a fight in the barracks in Tralee, his brother Michael gave evidence these are just snippets to show that Kerry people were well informed about happenings 110 years ago. Fr John E Fitzmaurice born 1840 at Newtownsandes was appointed Rector of Diocesan Seminary in Erie, USA. September 23rd 1871 four Mercy Sisters left Killarney to establish a new house in Abbeyfeale. Black Book of Limerick records that Abbeyfeale Monastery which was founded in 1188 as a Cistercian Foundation was destroyed by war in 1306. Charles Bianconi born 24th September 1786, by 1857 his cars covered 4,000 miles per day in 22 counties in Ireland.
De Valera opened the 13th Assembly of the League of Nations in Geneva on 26th September 1932. De Valera wanted Russia in the League of Nations in 1934, then in 1946 when Ireland wanted to join the UN Russia opposed and delayed Ireland's entry to the UN till 1955.
Oct 5th 06
FIANNA Fail 70th Ard Fheis will be held at City West Hotel and Conference Centre on Saturday November 4th, Annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration at Bodenstown is on Sunday 22nd October.
HISTORY: Snippets taken from correspondence held at the National Archives on the Temporary Relief Commission which was set up in November 1845 to give relief to distress caused by the potato failure; On 21st October 1845 the Constabulary reports on the state of the potato crop all over Ireland and Patrick Cheevers R.M. of Listowel reports on the potato and grain crop in his district; John Hewson, Ennismore and Maurice Fitzgerald Knight of Kerry sends report to Relief Commission on 3rd December 1845; Robinson of the Office Public Works reports on the potato crop from Killarney to Newcastle West and Listowel to Cork; Edward O Connor of Listowel wrote on 31st January 1846 about the condition of the potatoes; Lord Kenmare writes about the establishment of a relief committee in Listowel on 5th of April 1846; On 20th of April 1846 Maurice O Connor of Tarbert wrote about the establishment of indian corn depot in Ballybunion and the payment of local subscriptions to the central committee in Listowel; Sub Inspector Fletcher of Listowel urges immediate relief on 15th September 1846 as there will be no potatoes in November; List of chairmen and secretaries for Tarbert, Listowel and Lisselton were sent in on 16th November 1846 by the Earl of Kenmare; Fr Darby O Mahony P.P. Listowel sought on 22nd of October 1846 to have one relief district for Listowel and Finuge; from 25th November 1846 to 25th of March 1847 the Listowel committee had been buying 10 to 25 tons of Indian corn each week, last week they have been only able to buy 5 tons, they were inquiring could the government supply the deficit from the Tarbert depot; Richard Hartnett secretary sent in subscription lists and wanted a soup boiler; Thomas Carmody of the Medical Hall, Listowel wanted printed instructions for the use of rice as maize is difficult to get and expensive for most people. St Francis died October 3rd 1226 he was the first recorded stigmata since Christ; Bishop Edmond Fitzmaurice, Bishop of Wilmington presided at the official opening of the Capuchin Novitiate at Wilmington, Delaware on October 11th 1936, the Friars first came to Wilmington in 1931. Bishop Fitzmaurice was born at Moher, Newtownsandes. October 10th 1976 Mrs Corridan Williams won the Nobel Peace Prize. Fr Casey ordained 8th October 1951.
MISSION Alive Week runs from 15th to 22nd of October, it promotes an awareness of the lives and work of missionaries, details from www.missionalive.net In the latest issue of the Far East is a story about Fr Kelly in Lahore playing Irish music in the company among others was Fr Tommy O Hanlon from Tarbert; A Japanese woman who has spent 30 years on an iron lung shares her thoughts through poetry and essays and a sad picture on the back cover of young men playing football with one leg the other leg blown away by a mine . Antipersonnel Mines cause over 300,000 casualties every year.
GOLDEN Jubilee of the Church of the Assumption Moyvane was celebrated with Bishop Murphy and eleven priests
Concelebrating Mass on Saturday night September 30th 06, apart from a few front seats the church was full of parishioners and their friends and associates. As usual the choir put on a great performance. Fr Pat Ahern a native of Moyvane recounted the opening of the church and remembered Fr Dan O Sullivan in a wheel chair attending, he died within weeks of the opening. Fr Ahern's his first Mass in 1957 in Moyvane was said in Latin with his back to the people. The church cost �60,000. Parishioners, friends from home and abroad contributed, concerts, bazaars, wheel of fortune, carol singing and tickets were sold near and far at various places where crowd used to congregate, such as shows and race meetings, all helped to pay for the church. Moyvane church is another step in the continuation of the church from the ancient one in Murhur to the old church which was near the presbytery and the young in the church today will see their children's children continue the faith. Parish Priests who served since Fr Dan O Sullivan were Fr. Murphy 1956-57, Fr. Lynch 1957 -61, Fr. Fitzpatrick 1961-64, Fr. Mangan 1964-72, Fr. O Brien 1972-80, Fr. O Leary 1980- 98, Fr. Nolan 1998-2001, Fr. Fleming 2001-2003 and our present P.P. Fr. Lucid came in 2003. The first child baptised in the new church was Tom O Connor. First marriage was Mary O Connor and Patrick Keane, first funeral Jimmy Moore. Gabriel Fitzmaurice chairman of the Parish Council thanked all who helped in preparing the church for the occasion and helped with the ceremonies and the refreshments at the Marian Hall. Bishop Murphy cut the anniversary cake and the local ICA and helpers saw to the needs of everyone who wanted tea and cake. Photographs were taken in abundance which will be surely a curiosity in 50 years time. . Priests on the alter included Fr. Lucid, Fr. Shine, Fr. McMahon, Fr. Callaghan, Fr. Ahern, Fr Hickey, Fr O Connor, Fr. O Leary, Fr. Nolan, Canon Fleming, Canon Horgan.
Bishop Murphy is well known in the parish as he spent a short time with his uncle here, following mingling with the crowd at the Marian Hall he had to prepare for the Lyrecrompane anniversary on the following day Sunday October 1st 06. Fr Tom Hickey came to the Parish forty years ago and the following year he produced plays with The Plain Players Drama Group which travelled the country including the Abbey over the following years.Fr Michael O Leary was a pair of steady hands in the Parish and his talk at the many creamery socials he attended had many unexpected turn of phrases, Fr Joe Nolan was with us on the special year 2000 when the Boro and the Cross was published; he planned the walk from the Old Churchyard, to the church in Knockanure, Ahavoher graveyard on to Murhur Churchyard and finished in Moyvane Church, during Fr Michael Flemings time a great effort was made to clean up and improve the parish graveyards.
Watch out for local websites for photos and comments about the celebrations.
Oct 12th 06
HISTORY: In October 1776 Arthur Young was in Tarbert. Society of United Irishmen was founded in Belfast on 18th October 1791. October 15th 1941 the mass deportation of German Jews to Eastern Europe began. 16th October 1956 German war criminals hanged.
Sample of Newtownsandes natives who went to Boston: Catherine Buckley went in 1923 aged 22years; Nora Carr in 1923 aged 22; Mary Collins in 1923 aged 18; Stp. Collins 1923 aged 22;Wm Collins in 1910 aged 28; John Conway 1900 aged 26; Han Enright 1907 aged 28; John Fitzmaurice in 1903 aged 24; Bridget Flaherty in 1902 aged 19; Liz Flaherty in 1902 aged 18; Ann Hanrahan in 1895 aged 23; John Heffernan in 1913 aged 22; Mary Hanrahan in 1908 aged 20; Liz Keating in 1930 aged 23; Bill Kiely in 1900 aged 27; Han Mahony in 1923 aged 24; Jim Mahony in 1923 aged 24; Liz Mahony in 1902 aged 20; Mce Mahony in 1902 aged 23; Roger McGrath in 1901 aged 19; Joe McMahon in 1923 aged 21; liz O Brien in 1907 aged 22; Kate O Brien in 1901 aged 18; Nora ? O Sullivan in 1926 aged 10; John Sullivan in 1928 aged 25; John Sullivan in 1929 aged 27; Jim Thornton in 1923 aged 21 and Mary Thornton in 1923 aged 23.
SCOUTING in Ireland a book by Fr J. Anthony Gaughan was published recently and is full of information on the scouting movement. The scouts organised a pilgrimage to Rome in 1934 2,000 joined it; during archbishops McQuaid's time in Dublin the scout numbers doubled; 500 scouts from Ireland and Europe came to Listowel in 1948 and scouting Ireland in 2004 had a membership of 30,725.
BEST Wishes to Fintan Quirke of Kilmorna who has retired from the Bank of Ireland in Abbeyfeale after working there for forty four years, his grandfather started in the same job in 1907 and since then the position was in the family. Fintan's uncles Paddy and Ger were in the AIB Abbeyfeale for 37 years between them.
MISSION Alive Week this year is from 15th to 22nd of October, week of action offering welcome to newcomers in our community. Working together in Developing World workshop and exhibition will be held at the Silver Springs Hotel, Cork from 19th to 20th of October, and Mission Sunday is on October 22nd. Emigrant Sunday October 8th: In Ireland today we have 150,000 people from Poland, 60,000 from China and 25,000 from the United Kingdom to mention people from a few countries.
OCT 19th 06
HISTORY: Ibn Khaldun born in Tunis in 1332, died in Cairo in 1406, he was an Arab historian, scholar and thinker, the Black Death took away most of his family when he was 17, for various reasons he was on the move all the time, he believed that moral decadence to be one of the great threats to civilisation, 195 copies of his books survive, an exhibition marking the 600th anniversary of his death is now on view at the Royal Palace in Seville, part of the catalogue can be viewed at www.legadoandalusi.es Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated 25 years ago. 50,000 students and workers marched on the Hungarian Parliament on 23rd of October 1956, during the rising 25,000 died and 200,000 left the country after its suppression. Kerry Champion of October 3rd 1936 reprinted an article from the Kerry Post May 6th 1891 on the convict hangman who went on strike, among these hanged in Spring of 1809 were John Walsh a deserter for the murder of Thomas Ellio