Millstreet.ie

Karen O’Connor, Poet supreme, (originally from Station Road, Millstreet) has just won the highly prestigious Single Poem Competition at Listowel Writers Week 2013. We thank Karen for the Press Release and the two pictures and we extend our heartfelt sincere congratulations on such a wonderfully significant recognition of Karen’s superb talent as a highly regarded Poet.     (S.R.)

Our pictures show Karen with John Bowman who opened the 42nd Listowel Writers Week at the Listowel Arms. And Karen with Noel King, Editor of Doghouse Books, a Tralee publisher.

The following is the Press Release outlining Karen’s achievements and journey to this magnificent continue reading…

He left old Duhallow before his life’s prime
And he has lived in Australia for four decades of time
But memories of what was with him does remain
And in fancy he’s back by old Clara again.

His wife and his children Aussie born and bred
And his best days behind him and old age is ahead
The boy of the fifties a grand-dad today
And Mick Kelleher from Clara Hill lives far away.
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Snow and bitterly cold winds were back here on Sunday evening & Monday. Photos below of the unseasonably cold snap are from Coolfield House B&B (Michael Thornton)  and by Fr James McSweeney in his blog TodayIsMyGiftToYou.ie

Snow In Millstreet Today

Two inches of snow today in Millstreet Town
Through the almost deserted Main Street cars slowly move up and down
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Niall Moynihan the eldest son of Michael and Margaret was born and raised near Millstreet Town
But far from there in the World of modern technology he carves his own renown
A genius in his own right in the bigger World he is widely known
But in Millstreet they feel proud of him and like to claim him for their own

Niall Moynihan the go getter in life great things does achieve
That from life we receive our due rewards i am one who does believe
People like him are not plentiful not in the majority anywhere
He has built a great name for himself in the bigger World out there
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1949 Cork Captain Johnny O’Keeffe shoots for goal in the 1949 All Ireland Semi Final

To sing his praises how could one begin
He Captained Millstreet Gaelic Footballers to their greatest win
He never did leave Millstreet or Cork down
Johnny Keeffe is a legend in Millstreet Town.A man who never bragged about his fame
He only played because he loved the game
Never found to be wanting when put to the test
A gentleman as well as one of Millstreet’s best.

Johnny Keeffe is a man who lived his dream
The Captain of Millstreet’s County winning team
And what a game against St Vincent’s he did play
His legend living on with him today.
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In Brian Sullivan’s Mal Paso Pub in Millstreet a cheque presentation was made
To the Canon O Donovan Centre such kindness from the memory will not fade
From The Boeing New Year Swim close to four thousand euros this is not bad at all
In anyone’s language of money such an amount is not small

The organizers and sponsors and swimmers of the Boeing New Year Swim of themselves can feel proud
Of the praises of their achievements we ought to sing loud
To swim in the Blackwater in the depths of Winter seems quite daunting to me
That these are quite noble people would you not agree?
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I was born and raised in Ireland in North Cork near Millstreet Town
And it has been awhile believe me since my hair it was dark brown
I have done a bit of traveling far south of Hibernia’s Shore
Far from where old Clara Mountain overlooks green Claramore
Many of those I grew up with I may never see again
But fond memories of old friendships till my end I will retain
We went on different life journeys in Duhallow some did stay
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I recall the poems of Dan O Horgan he was a renowned Duhallow poet
When i was a schoolboy in Millstreet he was one of literary note
He was famous Crinaloo’s old Dan O some of his poems living today
Perhaps it should go without saying that with words he did have a way.

Dan O penned some fine poems and ballads five decades back when i was young
On Winter nights around the fire grate i heard them recited and sung
It is a changed place now Duhallow from the Duhallow i once did know
And the poems and songs of Dan O Horgan a memory from Seasons ago.
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In Duhallow where i was born and raised many famous rally drivers, athletes and many great players of Gaelic football
Their achievements in sports Duhallow sports writers like to recall
And though out of sporting achievements legends are known to grow
For true greatness we look elsewhere this much i have come to know

Sister Mary Lucey in Pemba in Zambia miracle worker supreme
Far from her birthplace and first home one held in high esteem
She has helped to build homes for the homeless her life to the poor she devote
For her amazing achievements a woman well worthy of note

In South America Conor Hartnett from Millstreet helping those of helping in need
One of kindness and continue reading…

In our family Julia Mary and Sheila are one of the same
She is Duggan by birth and McCabe now by name
Kind and generous she would help you if she could
We feel proud of our Sheila in her so much good.

More than four decades ago she married Myles McCabe from Monaghan in New York far away
From her Hometown of Millstreet and her Homeplace of Claraghatlea
A good mother to John, Mary and Catherine and to Myles a good wife
We feel proud of our Sheila and her achievements in life.
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She was born as Betty Conway, Fitzgerald was her married name
An attractive looking woman in her young years though she never yearned for wealth or fame
A good mother to her son John and to Jim her husband a good wife
So sad to read the news of the passing of one who led an honorable life
With dark brown hair the young Betty Conway looked beautiful in her life’s prime
When she was one of Millstreet’s finest going back some four decades in time
A charming and kind hearted person one unaffected by conceit
She will be missed by friends and family in Murphy’s Terrace and the Town of Millstreet
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One of the last if not the last donkey derby to be held in the Town park in Millstreet
In the late fifties when young bare back jockeys for glory on their mounts did compete
When donkey racing was popular in Ireland at Autumn carnivals in every country town
Back then to ride the winner of a Donkey Derby transcended one to above local renown

Hopes of a Millstreet win depended on a young teenager who at gaelic football would know of greater fame
From the nearby Tanyard tall and sturdy Humphrey Kelleher his was to become a very famous name
Riding Paddy Den’s black stallion donkey a powerful beast with a mind of his own
One who often kicked and bucked and threw his rider for such behaviour he had become known continue reading…

I cannot say i ever see Sean Radley for  Millstreet playing hurling or gaelic football
His  gift is in making other people happy perhaps the greatest human gift of all
His thousands of images on the Millstreet Web Site viewed by Duhallow people Worldwide
That he is a living North Cork cultural icon is something of him that cannot be denied

To say the least a rare sort of public figure in his words to controversy he never gives rise
He is what is known as a people’s person in the ways of people he  is worldly wise
In his images and words  he has  made so many happy i have never heard him put anyone down
He is  indeed a role model to many and is loved by everyone in Millstreet Town

To have the gift of making others happy to say the least is a rare gift indeed
Those who make others happy are successful people and  at continue reading…

In Mushera valley they do not have a wailing wall
And few things in life seems to phase them at all
Even when St John’s lose in gaelic football
They laugh and sing as they dance in Aubane Hall

The Irish economy is not going well
Though on such a matter they refuse to dwell
In Aubane Hall they dance their cares away
Worry it can wait till another day

For to enjoy your night out you do not need booze
Many healthier and less expensive forms of enjoyment for one for to choose
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Memories of him bring me moments of joy
He was a young man when i was a young boy
When he left Claraghatlea for the U S of A
Where he is living and growing old today
Dark haired and handsome not hard to recall
Patsy the Master quite dashing and tall
Claraghatlea’s loss is America’s gain
But good memories of him in Millstreet do remain
with those who grew up with him and in Millstreet did stay
They have fond memories of Patsy today
One who could tell or laugh at a good joke
Patsy the Master a memorable bloke
The years would not have changed him he would be the same
He had a spirit that time could not tame.

Posted by Francis Duggan

James Manley was a likeable fellow as the many who knew him recall
In his prime years in the green and gold of Millstreet a great player of Gaelic Football
In Kanturk where he lived with his wife and children a drapery business he did own
His fame it spread far beyond Duhallow he was one who was widely known

In gaelic games and coursing circles James Manley was known far and wide
Good memories of him live in those who knew him though the breath of life in him has died
The day the dog he trained Peadar’s Prize won the North Cork Cup in Millstreet the applause was deafeningly loud
As the first trainer of a Duhallow dog to win this prestigious coursing trophy James Manley felt happy and proud continue reading…

The years go by quickly as some like to say
One of the strong boys of the Millstreet Primary School of the late fifties the young Billy O’ Shea
Deceased in his mid sixties news of his passing quite sad
He was such a good person in him nothing bad

Born and raised in Cockhill where he lived most of his life span
Quite shy in his ways he was such a nice man
As good a person as one could wish for to meet
He will be missed by his family and his friends in Millstreet
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The fields by the Blackwater River from overnight frost looking gray
And heavy low clouds tell rain not far away
The salmon are swimming up river to spawn
In the chilly silence of an October dawn
Though Winter to Duhallow is drawing near
The weather quite chilly for the time of year
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In my flights of fancy the memories come back
To me of when Connie Kelly the dog man ran the Millstreet dog track
And Morty Cronin the hare driver drove the lure around
May they rest in peace now in dead people’s ground.

The last men to run the Millstreet greyhound trial track to the reaper have gone
The well known and well loved characters Morty and Con
The Millstreet greyhound trial track is now a thing of the past
And only the memories of what was does last.
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Of years of life she did live a lengthy span
Noreen Murphy the wife of the late Johnny Dan
Loved by all of the people to whom she was known
Of her one can say one of Millstreet’s own

One of the Hickeys of the old Town of Millstreet
As nice a person as one could wish for to meet
A good mother to her children and to her husband Johnny a good wife
In Inchaleigh she lived for most of her life
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