ballymacbook@gmail.com
Fr. William Ferris spent much of his
five-year curacy from 1929 to 1934 in the parish of
BallymacElligott, Co. Kerry, systematically collecting from his
parishioners a vast archive of popular history covering not just
the parish ofBallymacElligott but also the neighbouring parishes
of Ballyseedy, O’Brennanand Nohoval. When almost ready for
publication, the book was banned by the Bishop of Kerry because
Fr. Ferris had ‘gone against the traditions of the diocese’ as
regards his chapter on St. Brendan and the patron saint of
Kerry’s place of birth. Dismayed at the ban, Fr. Ferris shelved
the manuscript and it has lain dormant ever since.
Now, after eighty-five years, Fr.
Ferris’s History of the Parishes of BallymacElligott, Ballyseedy,
O’Brennan and Nohoval is finally published. The book documents
not just the history (political, economic and social) of the
area and the cultural and topographical landscape, but also
comprises a rich genealogical resource. It is a unique
compendium of North Kerry life at atime of rapid change, and an
important record of the oral history and culture of rural life
in early twentieth century Ireland.
The uniqueness of the book lies not only
in the fact that the content will be new material to the reading
public but also, thanks to Fr. Ferris recording it in the
early 1930s, the fund of oral history, reminiscences, folk
memory, place names, archaeological heritage, etc of a passing
generation was not taken to the grave but was, in fact,
preserved and is now finally available to the public. It is, in
Fr. Ferris’s own words, ‘a history of the people, by the people,
for the people’.As such, it is a one-off and destined to be a
collector’s item.
Dromadda Bridge upgrade
Some of the workers building the stone parapet of
the Bridge - John Brosnan, Willie Brouder and Gavin Dillon
This bridge was originally built in the early
1840s at a cost of £125. The Lyreacrompane Heritage Group, which
had been making the case to Kerry County Council for the
preservation and repair of the stone bridges in the area is
delighted with the work on Dromadda Bridge and they thank John
Fitzgerald and the Roads Department for ensuring that this
aspect of the heritage of our area is looked after.
Writers and Poets
Congrats to John Brosnan and Michael Gallagher - prizewinners at
the Ballydonoghue Bardic Festival
Grand Slam!!!
A great day for the Irish!
The First Ever Parish Parade - Congrats Duagh
Update on Glen School Project
- Feb 24, 2018
Plans for the renovation of the Old Glen
Schoolhouse have been discussed for a while now in the community
and moves have been undertaken to move the project forward. The
building, which dates from around the Great Famine, is a
protected structure, and planning permission has been granted to
develop the building as a place where the Heritage and Culture
of the Stacks and Glenarruddery mountains can be showcased as it
was in the past and enjoyed as it is today.
The Lyreacrompane Heritage group met this week to discuss the
project and make further plans. The dozen members who attended
were given an up-to-date report that showed that fundraising was
progressing well and that a feasibility study will be carried
out in the near future. A variety of new ideas were suggested at
the meeting and all these will be on the mix when the study is
being done.
Anyone, at home or abroad, who would like to support the
project, or find out more about it, should contact the Chair
(087 285 3570) of The Lyreacrompane Heritage Group,
Lyreacrompane, Listowel, Co. Kerry or E-mail
lyre@lyreacrompane.com
(See our
Heritage Page also)
Snow Scenes in Lyreacrompane March
2018
Slawek Kupiec teaching his son Oliver to ski in Lyreacrompane
Click the link below to see an unusual sight in Lyreacrompane...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLrKeF6DKRE&feature=youtu.be
"Meet my friend. Isn't he cool"
The King of them all...
All aboard
The Hardy Boys?
The Man from Snowy River and the Skier from Lyreacompane (First
time Skies were ever used here?)
Anyone can have a snowman but...
Set Dancing at Roches Bar 1974
Click on this link...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntzyfessNJM
The Lyreacrompane part starts after about one minute into the
video
Journal Number 12 now in shops
The Lyreacrompane Journal Number 12 is now in the shops... 80
pages packed with photos and articles of local interest... The Lyreacrompane and District Journal will, as
always, be of special interest to our exiles....
Available at Lyreacrompane
Post Office and other local shops and in outlets in local towns or
from
The Lyreacrompane Journal
Lyreacrompane
Listowel
Co. Kerry
Phone 087 285 3570
The Irish Rambling House Show at Siamsa
Tíre
Great Irish Rambling House Show at Siamsa Tire
last night. Twenty mighty entertainers and two great guests
(Sean O'Sé and Annmarie O'Riordan). Packed venue and a great
atmosphere. Thanks to the lovely staff at the venue and to Radio
Kerry for asking us to put on the Show. The following were those
on stage and where would you get a nicer and more talented group
of people?....
Singers
Doris Shire The Mungret Nightengale Pat
McCarthy Duagh and Dublin Young Bob
Casey Clare
Storytellers
Peter Casey Co Clare Chrissie Roche
Castlemahon Paddy Commane Co. Clare
Noel Joyce Tipperary
Musicians
Stephen O’Leary Kilcummin Accordion
Sean Kelleher Fossa Banjo Guitar
Padraig Enright Flute player Lixnaw
Sarah O’Keeffe Brosna Concertina and dancer
Maurice O’Keeffe Brosna Fiddle and Dancer
Pat Curtin Shannagolden Mouth organ
Joe Creedon Co Cork Mouth Organ and singer
Dancers
Triona Ni Shúilleabháin Ballyferritor Michael
O'Sullivan Caoimhe Lyons Lyreacrompane
Margaret Madigan Co Limerick Darragh
O’Donnell Co Limerick Bodhran and Dancer
Bean a Ti Angelina O’Donnell Bean a Ti Co Limerick
Rambled in - Annmarie O’Riordan and Sean O’Se.
Sound – Billy Donegan
Managed and produced by Kay O’Leary and Joe Harrington
Lyreacrompane
The Lyreacrompane and District Journal
Lyreacrompane & District Journal (No. 12) will be in the shops on
Friday, December 10. If you would like to contact the
Journal please call 00353 (0)87 285 3570.
Click
HERE
for Photos
of the 2017 Dan Paddy Andy Festival
Click
HERE
for Photos of the Dan Paddy Andy 5K and 10K Run/Walk 2017
Let the Exiles know....
Organised from Lyreacrompane by Kay O'Leary and Joe Harrington
Very well done to Mike and Tony
Very well done to Mike Quinn and Tony Healy in their Ford
Escort Mk2 who won the first Colin McRae 'if in doubt flat out'
Perpetual Cup at the Clare Stages Rally yesterday. Also
Tony is the winner of the trip to Barbados to co-drive for
Justin Campbell in his BMW in 2018.
Worthy Cause
Go to Facebook for more info...
https://www.facebook.com/Crumlin-Colour-Dash-1963383663877129/
Councilors thanked in Lyre Notes
(From the Kerryman)
DPA 5K/10K Run/Walk 2017 cheque
presentation
Cheque for €1,500 raised at the Dan Paddy Andy Festival 5K/10K
Run/Walk presented to the Kerry Cork Cancer Link Bus. Thanks
again to all who helped. (Not everyone was available for the
photo) (Photo and article from Kerry's Eye newspaper).
Patsy 'Tim' O'Sullivan accepts plate on
behalf of Danny
Danny Tim O'Sullivan was to officially open the 2017 Dan Paddy
Andy Festival but unfortunately he was unable to do so. Danny's
son Patsy is picture here accepting the Dan Paddy Andy
Presentation Plate on behalf of his dad from festival secretary
Kay O'Leary. Get well soon Danny and all the best to the
O'Sullivan family.
Press Reports on Dan Paddy
Andy Festival
Stephen Fernane, Kerryman
Sinead Kelliher, Kerry's Eye
Festival Results.
(See photos on Dan Paddy
Andy page)
The winners of the Dan Paddy Andy Waltzing
Competition were Margaret and Patsy Murphy from Keel, Castlemaine.
Second place went to Eileen Loftus, Adare and Dan O’Halloran,
Abbeyfeale. In third place were Fred Browne and Hannah Fitzgerald,
Knocknagoshel.
Winners at the Dog Show were….
Small and medium breed – Ann Collins, Abbeyfeale with ‘Yorkie’.
Large breed – Terry Bommer with ‘Olva’. Handled by a Child –
Sinead Shanahan, Listowel with ‘Nova’. Handled by an Adult – Joe
Hanley, Tralee with ‘Snapper’. Confined to Lyreacrompane - Martin
James Leane with ‘Ciath’. Best Puppy – Gerard Walsh, Glin with
‘Bono’. Fancy Dress – Shauna and David O’Donoghue, Abbeyfeale
with ‘Shadow’. Best Rescued – Kieran O’Connell, Lyre with ‘Floppy’
and the Best Overall – Gerard Walsh, Glin, Co. Limerick with
‘Bono’.
The Dan Paddy Andy 5K/10K
Run/Walk.
5K Women - 1st
Dinese Quilter, Duagh in 24.24. 2nd Grace Cahil,
Knocknagoshel and 3rd Catriona Lyons, Lyre. 5K Men -
1st Daniel Breen, Lyre in 21.35. 2nd Daniel
O’Donoghue, Lyre and 3rd Garett Scollard, Tralee.
10K Women - 1st
Rachel Stokes, Listowel in 41.31. 2nd Ann Kelliher,
Tralee and 3rd Geraldine O’Sullivan, Bantry, Co. Cork.
10K Men - 1st John Neville, Ballylongford in 39.00. 2nd
Jason Galvin, Lixnaw and 3rd Aidan McCarthy, Tralee.
This year’s Festival drew people from far and wide. Apart from
exiles returning home from as far away as Melbourne for the
occasion we had visitors from many parts of England, from France,
Germany and Spain and from many parts of Ireland including Wicklow,
Carlow, Tipperary and of course many people from Limerick and Cork
as usual. Thanks to everyone who helped out, especially in our
inaugural Dan Paddy Andy 5K/10K and to our sponsors for the
Run/Walk and Festival we say thanks once again.
Timber!!!
Good to see the dangerous trees overhanging the road and grotto
cut down. Interestingly, the trees seem to have been there
for longer than the grotto. The grotto was build in 1954 but a
count of the tree rings shows that the trees were about seventy
year old.
Scouts Open Day
Waltzing at the Dan Paddy
Larry O'Connor, Maurice Dowling and Tom O'Connor viewing the
Silverware. The lovely trophies for the Dan Paddy Andy Festival
Waltzing Competition have once again been kindly sponsored by
O'Connor Hardware and Farm Supplies, Duagh. Maurice is known to
be taking extra lessons in preparation and we hear he is being
described as a good outside bet in the competition. The Waltzing
competition is on Saturday night, August 5, during Marquee
dancing to Mike Condon. The judge is Mike Murphy and there
are trophies for first, second and third places. In the meantime
the best of look to Tom O'Connor who will be competing in cycle
racing in Donegal.
Festival Programme 2017
Fun Day in Lyreacrompane
