Millstreet.ie

Meeting with author Tom Grainger (on right) at the Wallis Arms  Hotel today.   Tom’s excellent book “A War Baby – Rags to Riches” (See Tom’s splendid website  www.tomgraingerbooks.com ) is now in its second edition and will soon be available at “Wordsworth” Bookshop, The Square, Millstreet.   Tom has many wonderful connections continue reading…

Pure Irish Literature, For Your Pleasure…

Based in Kilcorney, Poetry Gifts Ireland will help you to write a poem, a verse or a song for a special person, an occasion or for any reason at all.

“Here at Poetry Gifts Ireland I use my gift of crafting words so you can own or give one of my poems to someone special. A guaranteed original poem from the land of saints and scholars.
A true taste of Ireland.”

Visit the website at www.poetrygiftsireland.com

Like his brother Andy, Timmy Duggan was a barber in Millstreet Town a good and decent man
He lived for eighty nine years in time a lengthy span
From Lisnaboy near Cullen at West End Millstreet he spent most of his life
Where he lived with Bina Creedon his soulmate and his wife
In his barber shop to his customers he had great stories to tell
A character in his own quiet way he could spin a yarn well continue reading…

There is far more to Millstreet and to Millstreet Town
Than show jumping or elite sportspeople who brought to the place renown
In Duhallow near Sliabh Luachra it is known far and wide
For it’s hospitable people in a scenic countryside.
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When people ask me what part of Ireland I come from to them I always say
From Claraghatlea near Millstreet Town far north and far away
In view of Clara Mountain overlooking Claramore
Though I’ve not seen the old homeplace for three years with a score.
continue reading…

Hello there
I’m currently writing ‘Haunted Cork’, to be published by The History Press Ireland early next year. To date I have collected 72 stories from all over the county, but I am still on the lookout for more! However, I appear to have a lack of stories from in and around Millstreet, and as an online central hub for the town, was curious whether you have anything on file or personally know and stories concerning myths, legends and ghosts concerning Millstreet?
All the best and many thanks for your time
Darren

From legends to hauntings to poltergeist, have a look at some of the other stories on the Paranormal Database, but if you have a story of your own, send it to Darren.

A banker in Millstreet Town many years ago
Where into young adults his children did grow
And though he is remembered in Millstreet today
Distant from Duhallow his last remains lay.

The words of a wise one for us to recall
There is a last day and last night for us all
Seamus Maxwell one devoted to his family and wife
But sad to learn he has lost his gift of life. continue reading…

Ann Lane (formerly of Ballinatona, Millstreet) has spent four years and traveled over 14,000 miles on an odyssey to catalog the country’s main pieces of public art. She said it was her initial encounter with Capall Mór, the ferro-cement over a steel structure, near Tralee, that depicts a Celtic war horse with broken chains around its forelegs, signifying freedom, which inspired her to undertake the task of cataloging the works …

This is from an article in the Irish Examiner today(5th Aug) describing her passion for public art, and her journey to this stage.

She featured on RTE Radio 1 yesterday morning (4th Aug) on the Kathryn Thomas Summer On One show, which can be heard in the podcast at the top of this page.  (from 9:13 to 11:10 – starts just before the middle of the audio).

Ann’s passion was featured in an article on the Global Post from September ’09, and it shows some of the wonderful photography she has taken.

Ann Lane’s photographic journal of public art will be published this autumn by Wordwell Books.

with thanks to Kevin for the info on this article

continue reading…

This is a story about a baby who was born in to poverty in a back street area of Birmingham, just before the outbreak of World War II.

He suffered with ill health during the early part of his life and had little education leaving school at age of fifteen.

But with the help and determination of his mother, whose unceasing belief in him, drove him onwards and upwards and a chance meeting with an Irish colleen from Millstreet, County Cork who brought with her the luck of the Irish.

Tom Grainger was recently featured here on millstreet.ie raising money for the Baby Jacob Fund selling pieces of wood-turning art in SuperValu. His website is tomgraingerbooks.com and the books cam be purchased there. Tom himself says that the books feature many Millstreet people.

Sráid an Mhuilinn [Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland] A History of its people by its people for its people.
Part 1. Arranged and published by Timothy Broker, Millstreet, Co. Cork., no date, c.1930s.

The museum currently has a copy of this publication, but it is currently on auction on eBay if you’d like a copy for yourself.

Between Millstreet Town Bridge and Feirm where my life’s journey began
Where I went to school from and I grew into a man
The changes keep on happening there or so I have been told
But everything it changes and we grow frail and old.
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In the early thirties when my dad returned from the U S he hailed from Lisnaboy
He bought the farm at Claraghatlea off of Cashmans it was his pride and joy
Before marrying Mary Agnes Dinneen she was from Rathmore
I am going back in time now fifteen years with the three score. continue reading…

If you ever go across the sea to Ireland and ask the people of West Cork where Millstreet is, they will tell you it’s in North Cork. The people in North Cork will tell you it’s in West Cork. Some humorists will tell you it’s in East Kerry. The truth of course, Millstreet is a small country town in North-West Cork close to the Kerry border. It’s origin dates back to antiquity. If you ever go there visit the graveyard!

The Millstreet Graveyard

All stones marked to speak
in time will not.
I have seen the work of process,
the normal course will run.
The work will be done on the stone
as it is done on the flesh. continue reading…

A daughter of Denis and Elly Murphy of green and high Claramore
Many years have passed since Nora sailed for Australia’s southern shore
For Victoria’s biggest City Melbourne where she became John Bredhaeur’s wife
Where she gave birth to and raised their children and lived out her long life.
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It must have been at least a decade since by phone to them I spoke
A warm and lovely lady married to a friendly bloke continue reading…

Here we share a selection of pictures from the very successful Book Launch of Gerard O’Meara’s “Magic Moments” which took place at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow on 14th July 2010.   The book was officially launched by Paddy Carleton in the presence of a capacity and very appreciative audience.

On Wednesday,  14th July 2010 (Bastille Day),  supreme photographer Gerard O’Meara’s fascinating book of enormously interesting photographs of the 1960s, ’70s and 80s relating mainly to the Mallow area, will be launched after 8.00 p.m. at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow. In a splendid foreword to Gerard’s book, the renowned Declan Hassett writes: “There is an innate sense of decency about Gerard O’Meara. He brings to life, and to his chosen profession, photography, that natural awareness of the importance of those with whom he comes in contact in his work as a “recorder of local history” through the camera lens.” The superb book is available in Mallow at Philip’s Bookshop, Katie’s and Monument House. We wish Gerard every success with this highly significant publication – guaranteed to be in huge demand and a best seller.

Gerard O'Meara, Photographer, Mallow with "Magic Moments"

In the family home in Murphy’s Terrace he lived his last night and day
And his last remains rest in St Mary’s from there about a mile away
He was a good man Charles Barry of life he had a lengthy span
He will be missed by his family and many friends this well liked and honourable man.
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One of the senior citizens of old Millstreet the famous Town by Clara Hill
The Seasons and years do pass quickly and for anyone time doesn’t stand still
One might say he had a good innings but he had the will to live on
When most of those he went to school with were to the forever long gone.
continue reading…

I knew him in my school going days a few years younger than I
With foxy hair and fairly tall he was a hardy boy
In Cockhill he grew into a man two miles from Millstreet Town
Yet the undulating roads he walked on before he’ll never again walk up and down.
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From that green countryside by the Boggeragh hills his journey through life began
John Ryan went to live in England when he was a young man
The wanderlust was in him and as many others had done before
He left for to seek his fortune on the big sister shore. continue reading…

Connie McSweeney was a good hard working fellow devoted to his family and his wife
He was well liked and he formed many friendships and he made the most of his great gift of life
He did not live on for to become an old man perhaps just a few years with the three score
He will be missed by all in Ballydaly in Millstreet Parish and his old homeplace in Cloghoulamore
He will be missed by his family and everyone who knew him a friendly bloke not hard to get to know
One can only hope he had a peaceful ending that death for him was not painful and slow
At least his suffering is now behind him his friends and family for him left to grieve
His mortal remains are in Nature’s bosom the earth that feeds us our remains receive
His bones at rest by Cashman’s Hill forever where many of the dead of Millstreet lay
The Reaper does not spare the life of any for all of us a final night and day
But what matter most Connie he was a good man I only say of him what is his due
The World was better for him living in it to the higher self he was one who was true
Young enough to die perhaps in his early sixties his bones in St Mary’s Cemetery forever lay
In life he was a good and decent person what more of him can anybody say.

by Francis Duggan

The girls I knew from the Bush bar where might they be today?
Perhaps some might be living now in cities far away
Whilst some found love with local men and in Duhallow stay
And in the backyards of their homes their children romp and play.
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The Murphys Mary and Eileen and their friend Catherine Moore
Where these three women live today can’t say that I feel sure
And blond haired Rita Murphy from the road by Mushera hill
Did she find love near to her home and live near Aubane still?
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The O Brien sisters from near Rathmore they lived in Millview Lane
They found true love in the Bush bar and the memories remain
Of Breda Tarrant with the sweet singing voice she has a heart of gold
I keep on going back to the past back to the days of old
continue reading…

A sketch of Clara View Holiday home by Andrés, one of the places to stay in the Millstreet area, and is listed in our accommodation page.

Denis Corcoran

Denis Corcoran as a young man left Kilmeedy and he went to live in the U.S of A
And there he earnt his living as a Fireman he was a big and brave man on his day
But as the years went on he thought of Millstreet and of the fields by Clara far away
He visualized the bohreens and the hedgerows and the hawthorns in their white flowers of the May.
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When Denis Corcoran came home to live in Millstreet he met and fell in love with Miss Maud Brown
And they lived at Claraghatlea north by the old stream about a mile and a half west of the Town
They lived there for a few decades and were happy till they sold and bought a house on the Clara road
But since Denis and his wife went to the reaper a lot of water down Finnow has flowed.
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He was a very tall man and broad shouldered and he stood over six foot without shoes
And one might say quite a commanding figure and people listened when he aired his views
In his prime he led a life of adventure and of his stories one could never tire
He once showed us the medal that he won for bravery when he rescued a young baby in a fire.
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He lived his twilight years in his old homeplace the man who earned his fortune far away
The job he worked in was one fraught with danger and he was one who earned his every pay
We marvelled at his stories of adventure and he was one who could not tell a lie
And he became a hero far from Millstreet when he risked his life to save a baby boy.

by Francis Duggan