Please enjoy and reminisce with selected articles and photos from previous editions of the magazine. If you have any views or comments on these please go to the “Contact Us” section of the website and get in touch!!!
With Writers’ Week approaching We ask ;Have You Ever Read the Real “Quiet Man”!
By David Kissane, Lacca and Ardfert (Painting of Paddy Bawn Enright) This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Ballydonoghue’s most famous son, Maurice Walsh (1879-1964)....
It happened at Hegarty’s Hall
By Mossie Walsh, Guhard (BPM 2014) While I’m sure funny things happened at Hegarty’s Hall, I recall two funny incidents, which as Eamon Kelly would say are “pure true”. One night when there was a big crowd there, Seán Downes arrived at the hall in good...
A Tribute to Thomas O’Connor
Thomas O'Connor, Glouria (9/09/1959 - 6/07/2016) My father was an extraordinary man. He led an extraordinary life and had extraordinary ways. He will be missed in a way greater than any words can explain. Since his death on July 6th, our lives have been met with...
The BPM / Maurice Walsh Creative Writing Competition 2016 – Joint Third Place
Bud By Hilda Shanahan Francis, Ballybunnion “As the rain falls on all fields” Bible Some where Some day A bud slowly opens and the dice is thrown. Will you taste the red seed of the pomegranate? Or the bitter seed of the lemon Will the bud of love open The bud of...
Ballydonoghue’s Kerry Minors 1940-2013 By Jim Finnerty, Glouria
1940 : Mick Finucane : Munster final, Kerry 1-3 Clare 1-2 but beaten in All Ireland semi-final 1941: Eddie Dowling : first round Munster chp, Kerry beat Cork. Munster final - Kerry 7-5 Waterford 2-1. All Ireland semi-final, Kerry beaten by Roscommon 1949 : Tom Keane :...
Half-Forgotten Words and Phrases Compiled by Jim Finnerty, Glouria
Shank’s mare – On foot Griddle – A circular flat cast iron disc used for baking bread Brand – Three-legged stool used for putting griddle on Winds – Cocks of hay Raker – Farm machine pulled by a horse for clean raking of meadows of hay Side delivery – Farm machine...
Animals of World War 1
One feature of World War 1 that the Lisselton soldiers would have been familiar with was the use of animals. Both sides used animals and birds in the war effort. Indeed the supply of horses was one of the first steps America took to get involved in the war, long...
If There’s One Thing…! Cranky Dick speaks his mind again
If there’s one thing that irritates my bladder it’s when I hear young fellas talking about cooking and baking! Instead of hearing lusty young stallions talking about women below at the Cross, all I hear is one saying to the other “Oh, I use a sprinkle of farta-varta...
On Losing My Sight By Ned Purtill, Rahoona (in conversation with David Kissane and Jim Finnerty)
Maria and I were married in 1964. In the same year I had a shooting accident when a pellet from a shotgun went through my eye.I had an old Volkswagon car with a starting handle on it and I had to drive it home. When I came in home, Maria took off my jumper, and didn’t...
Storm in Lisselton 1850
Taken from Tralee Chronicles Dec 21st 1850 Dec 17th: A most awful and terrific thunderstorm occurred on Sat last in the neighbourhood of Ballybunion. The storm rushed over from the Clare side. In its progress through Lisselton, the electric fluid was caught by the...
They Died by Pearse’s Side By Pádraig Ó Conchubhair, Lenamore
(To commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising, historian Pádraig Ó Conchubhair writes about the three 1916 martyrs who were born nearest the Parish of Ballydonoghue) “An Cuimhin libh feighil is aiséiri na Cásca, A shráideanna naofa Ath’ Cliath ’S na soilse a...
My Captaincy of Ballybunion Golf Club 2014 By Seán Kennelly, Lacca
I started playing golf in 1985 at the ripe old age of 30! A friend of my sister Marie was down from Dublin and he had golf clubs in the car and we were telling him that he was a yuppie! But his answer to us that we were fools if we didn’t play golf with the best golf...
A Wild Flower of the Parish
The Buttercup There are about thirty six species of the Buttercup but the common type in the parish is the Meadow Buttercup. It is a perennial wildflower which means it lives for at least two years. This very noticeable bright yellow flower thrives on damp land and is...
Career Corner – Special Needs Assistant by Breda Riordan, Ballydonoghue
I did a two year course in the Community College in Tralee to train as a Special Needs Assistant. The lectures were held two nights a week. There was both theory and practice involved. Being a Special Needs Assistant is a very challenging but rewarding career. The...
More Irish Phrases for Mag 2012
(Continuing the collection of nathanna Gaeilge used in the area up to recent times. See 2011 Magazine for part 1.) Cómhairing (working in a meitheal), e.g. We were cómhairing the bog work. Lobby (<leaba=bed), eg We had a lobby behind the house. Caiseach ( < cos,...
Ferrets in Ballydonoghue! By Jim Sheehy, Lower Ballydonoghue
I picked up ferreting as a hobby when I retired from football and soccer some years ago. I go fishing from March to September but for the autumn and winter months my sport is ferreting for rabbits.When I got interested first, I used to go out with friends of mine but...
Memories of Childhood in Barraduff By Ann Marie O’Meara (nee Keane, Barraduff)
As I walked through the village of Coolderry, Co Offaly the strong scent of the fully-grown palm trees brought me back to my childhood in Barraduff. I then found myself recalling memories that had been stored away. I enjoyed reliving them again and sharing them with...
Breaking Statues! By Maureen Carr, Ballybunion (in conversation with David Kissane and Jim Finnerty)
I started my stage career when an Irish teacher came to Asdee one time. I was going to school there and he did a play in Irish and I had a part in it. I remember that play because the character I was playing had a boyfriend and my brother Joe was the boyfriend! That...
Oh For Those Years in ‘The Tech’ Long Ago! By Tony O’Shea, Affoulia and Dublin
Lads, isn’t ‘The Tech’ great! That was our initial opinion after years in the national school. Now before anyone says otherwise, most of us would agree that we got a great education during those days but enjoyment was probably not the word we would use to describe...
Michael Barry’s Story By Michael Barry, Ballingown. (In an interview with David Kissane)
My earliest memory is being taken to Lisselton School when I was 4 years old. That was 79 years ago. The first thing I recall is that everything was new to me! The pupils and the teachers were new to me the first day. The second day, I went to school on my own. I...