Writers 1

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May 2021

The Way I See It

By Domhnall de Barra

I wonder if we truly appreciate the type of government we have and the freedom we enjoy in this country. We live in a democracy that lets us choose our own leaders and replace them after a term in office if we don’t like what they are doing. We have political parties that range from the left to just right of centre representing different ideologies and we are free to support them or criticise them as we see fit. We have a free press that is not slow to highlight perceived wrongdoings in political circles and journalists rights are protected by law. We have a fair and impartial justice system and a police force that serves the public well. Education is free to all and, though it has its problems, our health service is available to those who can’t afford to go private. Freedom of religion is guaranteed even though, up to recently, the population was mostly Catholic. Despite that fact, we have voted for the right to abortion in certain circumstances and legalised same sex marriage so, all in all, despite its many faults, we live in a free, tolerant society. Contrast that with the situation in Belarus, which is in the news at the moment, where sham elections were held to give the impression that it was democratic. The results were rigged so that Alexander Lukashenko could continue in office despite the fact that the dogs in the street knew that the vote against him was overwhelming. This resulted in street protests last year but the government cracked down on them and showed no mercy. Any opposition was seen as treason and all the media who weren’t pro state were closed down. The people have no rights and are kept in line by the secret police and the army. Opposition leaders have had to flee the country and try to have their voices heard from abroad. People are regularly arrested for having anti-establishment views and sentenced to very long jail terms. Torture is widespread and the death penalty still exists. The government acts with impunity because they know they have the backing of Russia, another dictatorship. This way of controlling people started with the Bolkovich revolution that replaced the royalty in Russia about 100 years ago. They were supposed to free the people from the tyranny of the monarchy but actually ended up treated them far worse. Anyone against the revolution was an enemy to be taken out of society. The KGB have great powers even to this day and now the people of Belarus are suffering. Lukashenko has become more daring but last weekend’s hijacking of a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania, so that a journalist on board could be arrested, may be one step too far. The plane was contacted telling them of the possibility of a bomb on board and ordered it to land at Minsk Airport even though they were almost at the Lithuanian border and were closer to their destination. To ensure compliance a jet fighter escorted the plane to the airfield where the journalist and his girlfriend were arrested. The rest of the passengers were put back on the flight but there were five people who stayed in Minsk. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that these were secret agents who had shadowed the journalist from Greece. This is an outrage and a blatant act of aggression that cannot be ignored. Condemnation is coming from the western world and the EC but words are not sufficient in this case. If they are allowed to get away with this, what next? The free world has a duty of care to its citizens and no country should be allowed to hijack an airliner for its own dark purposes. Further tough sanctions have been announced but I wonder what effect they will have. There have been sanctions against other countries, notably North Korea and Iran, that don’t seem to be having the desired effect and it is usually the ordinary citizens who suffer most. Whatever it takes this blatant act of aggression cannot go unpunished.

Talking of dark purposes, the hacking of the HSE records by international criminals shows how dangerous modern technology can be. We have no option but to trust that information we freely give to hospitals, banks, online companies etc is safe but we now know that we are at the mercy of skilled hackers who seem to be able to get into any system. I had first hand experience of the chaos caused to the health system over the weekend when Noreen was sent to the hospital in Limerick for tests. She had to have x-rays and a cat scan which would normally be done by a technician and the results would be online. Now she had to be accompanied by the doctors who had to monitor and physically write down the results as they happened. It made everything slow and painstaking but, thank God, everything was ok and she is back at work again. It is easy to point the finger at the HSE and say they did not spend enough money on security but the truth is that the hackers are ahead of the game all the time. The biggest problem with these hackers is the fact that some of them are state sponsored and are conducting a type of warfare. North Korea and Russia seem to be the main culprits but it may be more widespread than we think. It is time for the world to unite in getting rid of this menace once and for all. We know who they are and where they are. All that is needed is the political will to root them out. Knowing the way the world is, I won’t be holding my breath..

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https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/28683

Aibidial Gaoidheilge Agus Caiticiosma, First Book Published in 1571, in Irish, in Ireland Acquired by Trinity College Dublin, 1995, TCD Hurling Team Photo, 1880. One Time Member Sir Edward Carson (Lord Carson).

Nov 2020

BOOK: Michael Guerin is a native of Listowel and was a member of the FCA - new Book " SOLDIERS WE WILL BE" is now available.

Military History Book - Buy Now at a Limited Pre Christmas Launch Price of €12.99 (€20 later) 192 pages . Including many years of Military History Research.

Available Now in Woulfe’s Bookshop –Listowel 06821021 and O’Mahony’s Bookshops & 0nline- Tralee 0667122266 - Limerick 061 418155. And other shops.

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Wolfe Tone’s retreat to the Shannon Estuary on a French ship in 1796

The British response in fortifying the Shannon Estuary during the Napoleonic period

Military History from Church of Ireland records

The story of Horatio Kitchener and Those that answered his call to arms WW1

The War of Independence & the Civil war in North Kerry

The Emergency 1939 to FCA Days in Kerry

The Building of Fort Shannon 1942 (near Tarbert )

Using material researched from contemporary sources,

step by step we witnessed the unfolding drama and birth pangs of Ireland’s nationhood

Included are over 400 photographs some unique of the Civil War, Emergency Period and from my camera taken of FCA days in Kerry from 1960’s to 2003, plus many more.

This book is about Soldiers that answered various military calls in the period.

It is presented without judgement or reason for becoming a soldier.

But I do hope the reader will get a better understanding of the motivations behind soldiering and the life of a soldier.

Michael Guerin is a native of Listowel and was a member of the FCA

( Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil – Local Defence Force) from 1962 to 2003.

He previously published the “The Lartigue Listowel & Ballybunion Railway”

and “Listowel Workhouse Union”

==============================

November by Edward Thomas

November's days are thirty:

November's earth is dirty,

Those thirty days, from first to last;

And the prettiest things on ground are the paths

With morning and evening hobnails dinted,

With foot and wing-tip overprinted

Or separately charactered,

Of little beast and little bird.

The fields are mashed by sheep, the roads

Make the worst going, the best the woods

Where dead leaves upward and downward scatter.

Few care for the mixture of earth and water,

Twig, leaf, flint, thorn,

Straw, feather, all that men scorn,

Pounded up and sodden by flood,

Condemned as mud.

But of all the months when earth is greener

Not one has clean skies that are cleaner.

Clean and clear and sweet and cold,

They shine above the earth so old,

While the after-tempest cloud

Sails over in silence though winds are loud,

Till the full moon in the east

Looks at the planet in the west

And earth is silent as it is black,

Yet not unhappy for its lack.

Up from the dirty earth men stare:

One imagines a refuge there

Above the mud, in the pure bright

Of the cloudless heavenly light:

Another loves earth and November more dearly

Because without them, he sees clearly,

The sky would be nothing more to his eye

Than he, in any case, is to the sky;

He loves even the mud whose dyes

Renounce all brightness to the skies.

Closing the Circle (2015)

John McGrath

Ar Scáth a Chéile a Mhaireann na Daoine.

We live within the shadow of each other

Bang! A finch against my window.

I felt the shudder as its world met mine,

Rushed to where it fell.

Sapped of sense and movement,

Eyes glazed, grey, lifeless,

Wings splayed, stone still.

I saw its small beak quiver,

Move as if to speak.

A tiny pulse throbbed in its downy throat.

Cupped in my palm,

I felt the soft, warm beat within,

Willed life into stillness.

Restored by simple touch

It stirred, fluttered, faltered, flew

And healed the poet too.

=================================================

The late Madge Mullins from Glenville Ardagh, who died on November 22, 1984, wrote the following lines about All Souls Day, November 2, 1973.

Today is All Souls Day

And we think of our loved ones, who’ve passed away

Perhaps they are waiting there, in a queue

For just one prayer from me or you.

The Golden Gates are open

But they cannot enter in,

Until their souls are clean and pure

And free from mortal sin.

So, let’s all pray for them today

For God to speed them on their way,

To his heavenly home above

Where he’ll gather them around him with love.

=============================================================

JAMES F NOLAN

Jimmy Nolan as he was generally called was a man of many parts, a shopkeeper, photographer and a writer. Many newspapers and magazines have published his work. He was always a good man to seek out a suitable photo to publish. He knew the type of material that suited each publication. If he gave a photo exclusive to a newspaper it would have a better chance of been published. Other things Jimmy had to watch was writing something that could cause offence. There are always self-appointed censers, just waiting for the opportunity to show their authority. The revenue commissioners were said to read the parish notes in the "Kerryman" where they got the names of people who worked abroad and return with a "nest egg". When a concert or a dance was advertised through the notes, unless you worded it very carefully it would be omitted, unless there was an advertisement that week in the advertising column of the newspaper for that dance or the concert. Often the name of the play or sketch would not be mentioned because the performing rights people would be alerted the collect there few pounds. Jimmy has left us a valuable insight into what was happening in the parish through the "Kerryman" notes column. Where he added a bit of history here and there, most notes recorded weddings, deaths and who went abroad and came home for holidays he also wrote for the Shannon Side Journal on the tragic drowning on the Shannon in 1893. Jimmy says while an article in 1946 for the "Cork Examiner" he interviewed closely many who were connected with the disaster of 1893. Many remember how Jimmy would climb on a chair steady himself with the support of a bystander. He would a just his camera many times to get what he considered a proper shot. He was always in demand for every occasion where a photographer was needed. Often travelling long journeys which were no problem to him as he enjoyed been driven to occasions, where he would get a photo and bits and pieces for his next weeks notes.

AUGUSTA; Remember 9/11; The keys to his car and a handful of pictures are some of the only mementos Joanna Kennelly has to remember her brother.

"When I saw the towers fall, my heart literally fell," she told News 12.

She was in Augusta at the time, but her brother, New York City firefighter Paul Tegtmeier, was there at Ground Zero to help save innocent lives during the event that changed the world forever.

In an Age of Fops and Toys

By: Ralph Waldo Emerson

In an age of fops and toys,

Wanting wisdom, void of right,

Who shall nerve heroic boys

To hazard all in Freedom’s fight,—

Break sharply off their jolly games,

Forsake their comrades gay

And quit proud homes and youthful dames

For famine, toil and fray?

Yet on the nimble air benign

Speed nimbler messages,

That waft the breath of grace divine

To hearts in sloth and ease.

So nigh is grandeur to our dust,

So near is God to man,

When Duty whispers low, Thou must,

The youth replies, I can.

Gerald Griffin 1803-1840

Gerald Griffin born 12th Dec 1803 died Christian Brother Cork in 1840 son of Patrick Griffin and Ellen Geary of Limerick .His grandfather James Griffin died 1798 aged 68yrs .It is claimed that his Great Grandfather was Francis Griffin who married Nora Fitzgerald and lived at Glenalappa , Newtownsandes .Gerald Griffins sister Lucy Sr Evangelist born 1806 died 1844 .Joined Presentation Convent Youghal in 1837.Her sister Anne Sr Baptist 1805 -1878 Entered Sisters of Charity, Superior Clarinbridge 1844 died there 1878 . Three of their cousins joined The Mercy Order in Limerick . The first Ellen Entered 1840 , Bridget Entered 1852, Maria Entered 1853 she died 1908 .Several of their nephews joined the Priesthood , Rev Frederick died 1902, Rev Carroll Nash died 1889, Rev John died 1939, Rev Gerald died 1940 .Another cousin Sr Mary Westropp Brereton a Mercy Sister Limerick. Gearld Griffins sister Bridget married Mr. White. They had five daughters in religion in the USA. His brother Dan had a daugter Alice born on the 22rd of February 1847. She was known as Sr. Magdalen F.C.J. She died in Canada on the 30th of April 1901. She was of the order of the Faithful Companions of Jesus. She made her vows in Brittany in France on the 28th of July 1872. The order had a house in Clarendon Street, London.
More Writers .

Sr Evangelist Curtin .

Sr Bridget Moloney .

Michael Reidy, Cordal .

Denis Brosnan , Kilsarkin .

Con Houlihan .

Moss Connor ,Kielduff .

John Francis Broderick, Knocknisnaw.

Fr M J Moloney, Abbeyfeale.

Fr Pat Collins, Moyvane.

Cannon John Begley, b 1863.

Sean Histon,Athea .Folklore .

O Connell . Mountcollins .

Sr Cusick.Nun of Kenmare .

Henry Aloysius Stack ,Listowel .

Dan O Connell ,Liberator .

Robert Leslie Boland .

Martin O Sullivan ,Athea&Ballyduff .

Charlie Linihan .

Padraig Kennelly .

James Clarance Mangan .

Fr Gaire, Duagh

Andy Mc Mahon, Moyvane .

Michael Taylor , Knockanure .

Brian O Dalaigh, Ennis .

Dick Stephenson,Piper.d1897.

Tomas Rua O Sullivan .d1848.

Charlotte O Brien, b1845.

John Downey ,Vales Direen .

Tim Costelloe ,Glin .

Audrey de Vere,b1814.

Michael Scanlon,Castlemahon.

Tim Keating, Local History.

Michael Mc Peadair O Longain .d c1770 .

Andrias Mc Craith, Maigue Poet.

Michael Og Langan. D1837 .

Pat T Ahern . d1989 .

Tim Leahy ,Clounmacon.

Eitne Strong .Glensharold

Muiris O Riordan, Abbeydorney .

Ryle T Dwyer.

Mick Mc Carthy

Sean Mc Carthy.

Fr Padraig O Fiannachta.

Fr Kieran O Shéa.

Tom Ashe, Piper.

James Gandsey Piper, born C 1770.

THOMAS MOORE

Thomas Moore his ancestors are said to have come from Newtownsandes. Tom Moore Poet born Dublin 28 of May 1779.He died 26th of Feb 1852 in his 73rd Year buried at Bromham near Devizes in Wiltshire England his Father was a Grocer till 1806 he later became a barrack master. It is thought his Mother had a great Influence on Him. After the Relief act of 1793 Catholics were allowed to enter TCD but were denied Degrees. Mr Whyte Teacher of Tom Moore Entered him in TCD at the age of 15 as a Protestant. He left TCD in 1798 to Study Law in London. He Never Practiced Law writing was his Passion so in 1801 he Published his first Poems under the pen name of Thomas Little. Thomas Moore was Welcomed Everywhere he could Sing his own songs and Entertain in any Society. In 1803 he was Appointed as Registrar of the Admiralty Court at Bermuda. He stayed at his Post for a short while. Then put his Deputy in Charge while himself toured the U.S.A and Canada. More Poems were Published in 1806.Irish Melodies were Published in 1807.200 years Later his Irish Songs are still Popular all over the world. Actress Bessy Dyke Married Tom Moore in 1811.''Lalla Rookh'' was Published in 1817.Longmans Paid the Highest Price Ever for the Copy Right .About this time his Deputy in Bermuda Caused a huge loss and Moore was Liable to avoid Arrest he went to Paris and his Family Followed Him there. C 1822 he made a Bargain where the Claim Against him was Reduced to one sixth of the Original Claim which he paid he was now free to come home again.

In 1823 he visited Ireland with Lord Lansdowne after which he wrote a history of Captain Rock and His Ancestors which was well Received. He was a friend of Emmet and Remembers him in ''O Breathe Not his name''. Other Historical works of Tom Moore, Life of Sheridan Published in 1825 it took 7 years to write, Life of Byron Pub 1830. Life of Lord Edward Fitzgerald Pub 1831.Travels of an Irish Gentleman in Search of a Religion. Published 1834 also the History of Ireland was Published Later.

In 1845 all his Children and Sisters were Dead he said that he did not have a single Relative left in the world.

NEWTOWNSANDES Index

More Notes on Writers
Some Books
www.geocities.com/dalyskennelly_2000

VALLEY OF KNOCKANURE
by Brian McMahon

You may sing and Speak about Easter Week or the Heroes of Ninety Eight
Of the Fenian Men who roamed the Glen in Victory or defeat
Their names are placed on History's page their memory will endure
Not a song was sung for our darling sons in the valley of Knockanure

The Raid on Knockanure by Willy Finucane
Have you ever been to a Pub me Lads or have you felt that way
Tis nice to have a pint or two to pass the time of Day
O if at night tis a sure delight you bid your thirst to cure
But watch the clock or you'll see the dock like the night in Knockanure

THE HILL IS ALIVE

for Mary O'Carroll

Amused among the gusts of grass and stones,

You played here as a child. You loved to peep

Around the doors of tombs, primed for skeletons--

But counted on the dark in which they sleep.

You come here often now to feel the valley spread,

To soften in the gray rain and listen to the scoop

Of Kerry's wind, to dream among the dead.

You dipped us gently on our fathers' sleep.

We spread like rivulets, meandering down,

Then wound our way back, poling the deep

Grass around islands of lichen-laced stone.

The hill rolled slowly, singing in its sleep.

John found it first, all teeth intact, white, occult

Survivors nestled in a refuse heap

Within the abbey walls, the vestige of a vault

Collapsed upon its coffins in their sleep.

I watched you turn it slowly in your hand

And scan it with a thoughtful fingertip.

You mused as you returned it to the mound,

"This might once have robbed me of my sleep."

Below, the cows fanned out down through the town,

Herded from their fields, their udders ripe,

Their low mooing mixing with the wind.

The hill rolled lightly, singing in its sleep.

Karen Marguerite Moloney

The poem was published in BYU Studies 23 (Fall 1983), 417-429, as part of a longer series of poems entitled A Milesian Tel in Southern California. The series draws upon my genealogical research in the Listowel area (including Moyvane, Knockanure, Ballybunion, and the Gale churchyard).

Karen Marguerite Moloney has just published a book on Seamus Heaney's poetry: Seamus Heaney and the Emblems of Hope (Columbia: University of Missouri, 2007).

Our Moloneys came from Coilagurteen,

Sincerely,

Karen Marguerite Moloney, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

More Writers .

Sr Evangelist Curtin .

Sr Bridget Moloney .

Michael Reidy, Cordal .

Denis Brosnan , Kilsarkin .

Con Houlihan .

Moss Connor ,Kielduff .

John Francis Broderick, Knocknisnaw.

Fr M J Moloney, Abbeyfeale.

Fr Pat Collins, Moyvane.

Cannon John Begley, b 1863.

Sean Histon,Athea .Folklore .

O Connell . Mountcollins .

Sr Cusick.Nun of Kenmare .

Henry Aloysius Stack ,Listowel .

Dan O Connell ,Liberator .

Robert Leslie Boland .

Martin O Sullivan ,Athea&Ballyduff .

Charlie Linihan .

Padraig Kennelly .

James Clarance Mangan .

Fr Gaire, Duagh

Andy Mc Mahon, Moyvane .

Michael Taylor , Knockanure .

Brian O Dalaigh, Ennis .

Dick Stephenson,Piper.d1897.

Tomas Rua O Sullivan .d1848.

Charlotte O Brien, b1845.

John Downey ,Vales Direen .

Tim Costelloe ,Glin .

Audrey de Vere,b1814.

Michael Scanlon,Castlemahon.

Tim Keating, Local History.

Michael Mc Peadair O Longain .d c1770 .

Andrias Mc Craith, Maigue Poet.

Michael Og Langan. D1837 .

Pat T Ahern . d1989 .

Tim Leahy ,Clounmacon.

Eitne Strong .Glensharold

Muiris O Riordan, Abbeydorney .

Ryle T Dwyer.

Mick Mc Carthy

Sean Mc Carthy.

Fr Padraig O Fiannachta.

Fr Kieran O Shéa.

Tom Ashe, Piper.

James Gandsey Piper, born C 1770.

Writers and Poets
George Fitzmaurice 1877-1963.OfDuagh
Bryan Mc Mahon born 1909 .
Pat O Connor wrote for Magazines and Films .
John B Keane Listowel.
Maurice Walsh Ballydonoghue 1879-1964 .
Monsignor Edward Kissane 1886-1959
Fr Garrett Pierce Maynooth.
Monsignor Alfred O Rahilly 1884-1969.
Fr Anthony Gaughan born 1932 .
Fr Kieran O Shea ,PP Knocknagoshel .
Edward Lysaght Born Duagh c1918 .
Tom F O Sullivan 1881-1950.
E T Kane 1867-1945 .
Gabriel Fitzmaurice Born Moyvane 1952.
Dan Keane Born Knockanure 1919 .
John Mc Mahon 1908-1963 .
Dan Boland 1891-1973 .
Tom O Rahilly 1882-1953 .
Brendan Kennelly Born Ballylongford .
Dan O Connor Born Knockanure .
Dr Brendan Barrett , Poet .
Sean Mc Carthy ,of Rathea .
Padraig O Concubhair .Historian .
T F Culhane ,born 1891 -1969.
Michael Langan, Gaelic Scholar c1800.
Tom Moore 1779-1852 .
Richard Cantillon c1680-1734 .
Fr Michael Kissane Ord. 1946.
Garrett Barry 1847-1899 . Piper. Died in Ennistymon Workhouse .
Padraig O Keefe Died 1963 .Born Glauntane .
Mici Cumba O Sullivan .Piper .
Willie Finucane Born Knockanure .
Paddy Drury Born Knockanure .1859.
Fr Con O Keeffe .
Bernard Connor b c1666 died London 1698 Lecturer at Oxford .
Alice Curtayne md Stephen Rynne 1935.
Jer Curtin b.Detroit 1835 -d Vermont 1906 .
Margaret Ann Cusack b.1832 d1899.
Kevin Danaher b. Athea 1913 .
Mary Agnes Hickson .
Fr Edward Leen b. Abbeyfeale 1885.
John Lloyd b. 1741 poet Writer .
Edward Mac Lysaght b1889 .
Fr Francis Xavier Martin b.Ballylongford 1922.
Henry O Brien d.1835
Eugene O Curry b. 1796 .
John O Donoghue b. 1900.
Standish H O Grady b 1832.
Sean Long b. 1917 .
Sean O Sullivan b.1905 .
John Windele b.Cork 1801.
Sir Arthur Vicars b.1864 .
Peter O Connell 1746-1826 .
Thade Gowran b. Duagh 1868 .
Shane Nolan Lyre .
Frank Thornton Kilbaha .
T D Shanahan Newcastlewest .
Martin Sullivan NT Ballyduff .
Sean Quinlan Ballyduff .
Bertie O Connor Ballyduff .
William J Hudson Florida.
Dan Mc Carthy , Bishop of Kerry .b,1822.
Jerry Histon Clounmacon .
Brassil Ballylongford .
Cannon Brosnan PP.
Padraig O Cearuil Glin.
Michael Guerin Listowel .
Sr Pius O Brian, Ennis .
Fr William King .Kilflyn .
Seamas Goodman
Sr Philomena Mc Carthy , Kenmare .
Vincent Carmody Listowel.
Pat T Ahern ,d1989 .Carrigkerry .
Ned Buckley , b.1880 Poet .
Luke Keane Knocknagoshel .
Tom Sheehy Ballyferitor .
T E Stoakley , Sneem .
John Griffin , Tralee .
Bishop Lacey of Athea .Consecrated 1738 .
Nora Herlihy. Credit Union .
Nic Hayes ,Ballybunion .
Michael Harnett b.1941 Newcastlewest .
Seamus O Connor , Knocknagoshel .
S O Connor .
P S O Dineen .
Tom Mc Greevy.
Seamus Wilmot .
John Flaherty .
Tom Neville Stack .
Michael Mahony Asdee .
Fr Diarmuid O Shea Ballylongford .pre 1800 .
Washington Downing .
St Killian Martyred 689 in Wyrzburg .
Piper Mc Carthy Ballybunion .
Dore of Glin wrote in Irish .
David Bruadair old Irish Poet .
Monsignor Pat J Walsh wrote Biography of Archbishop Walsh .
Fr Woulfe ,Cratloe .
Fr Tim Leahy ,Woodview .
Gerald Griffin .
Sam Hussey d 1913 .
Jacko Lavery ,Tarbert .
Leslie ,Tarbert .
Rev Charles O Connor ,Tralee.
George Langan ,Gragra .
Paddy Faley .
Pat Brosnan .
M Mc Grath Athea.
Tom Donoghue .
Sean Og O Flanagan, c1750.
Con Costello .O Connell Memorial Church .
Rev Denis O Donoghue .
Jeremiah King .
Mrs P Hayes .c1880 poem on Ballybunion .
Owen Ruadh O Sullivan .
St Brendan , School Ardfert .
Mc Sweeney b1871 Vatican Library .
O Boyle .
Allman .
Fr Joe Walsh ,b1924 Moyvane .
Producers .Fr T Hickey and Fr P Ahern .
Shanahan Piper Ballybunion 1842 .
Dan Harrington d1915 .
Sr Dympna Godfrey ,Lixnaw .
Fr W Ferris ,Ordained 1906 .
Diarmuid Keane .
Mrs Beasley .
Michael Dore , Dore History .
David Larkin of Molahiffe early 1800s works in RIA.

Add on your Favorite Local Writer .

Tribute to Dad – Paddy Faley

By Peg Prendeville

Before we leave this Church today

A tribute to Dad I’d like to pay.

And though it may take a bit more time

This has to be delivered in rhyme.

After just ten years of married life

Our Dad he lost his loving wife.

But though he almost choked with grief

He brought to us some light relief.

He did his best though times were hard

And we were happy with Dad, the bard.

It was poetry and writing that kept him sane

When sadness threatened to cloud his brain.

We are left with happy memories

Of saying the rosary on our knees.

Listening to stories he told each night

When we were young, was a delight.

Cutting the turf, saving the hay

Going to concerts, acting out plays.

On Sundays going to the beach

Delighted with an ice cream each.

Planting the garden, sowing the seeds

Breaking our backs pulling the weeds.

But he was the rock to which we clung

He was all we had when we were young.

And as we grew we looked with pride

As he grew old just by our side.

The time it came when he needed care

But he knew that all of us were there

To help him when he broke his hip

And pick him up when he often tripped.

And though he sometimes drove us mad

We greatly admired this man, our Dad.

He passed each day in quiet and peace

With his radio and books he was at ease.

His grandchildren gave him lots of pleasure

His great grandchildren an added treasure.

But now the time for him has come

To leave us here and go to Mom.

She’ll greet him with a laugh and cheer

Saying “What kept you Paddy. At last you’re here.”

We’ll be Ok and we’ll thank God daily

For having a Dad called Paddy Faley!

We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another."
--- Luciano de Crescenzo

"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

From The Ohio Repository, (Canton, OH), 11 February 1841, page 1:

From the New Orleans Picayune.
EXTRAORDINARY RECOGNITION

A most singular and extraordinary incident took place in this city last week.---Two brothers have been living for twenty years within a hundred yards of each other in neighboring streets, and the consanguinity was never known until a most trivial accident a few days ago developed the story. The particulars are of too remarkable a nature to escape publicity, altho' the names we must withhold. The brothers were born in Paris, and were orphans at so early an age as to have no recollection of their parents. While children, an accidental explosion of gunpowder, with which they were playing marked an indelible scar upon the cheek of one, and rendered useless for life a finger of the other. They were separated while still infants and taken care of by strangers--one afterwards following the sea as a cabin-boy, when fifteen years old found himself in this city, and obtaining employment more to his fancy than roving the waves, he abandoned salt water and applied himself to another pursuit. Even at this time his brother was residing in the neighborhood, and they became acquainted and having conversed with each other daily almost from then until now. Both were industrious and have gradually improved their condition in life until now they are surrounded by the comfortable rewards of thrift. Each remembered the accident, which occurred during childhood and knew tht he had then a brother, but this was all. The other evening one of these brothers collected a circle of friends to witness the christening of his first grandchild, and his old familiar neighbor round the corner was among the guests. Accident brought the mutilated finger into notice, and the history of it was of course told, when the delight and surprise of the whole party may be imagined at the old neighbor abruptly giving the history of the scar on his cheek and claiming his long lost brother. Each had retained the original family name, but it had been altered in spelling, that neither detected the similarity. There was quite a dramatic denouement when the old friends mutually explained, became convinced of the relationship, and rushed into each other's arms as brothers.

From the Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, (Bangor, ME), 22 January 1900, page 3:
Hudson Ice Crop May Not Recover from Ill Effects of Recent Rain
Catskill, N.Y., Jan. 21. Yesterday's rain dealt the Hudson river ice crop a hard blow, from which it may not recover. The mild, spring-like weather the past week culminated Friday evening in a heavy fog, followed by 12 hours of warm rain. The ice at this point began breaking up Saturday morning and by night it was moving with the tide. This is discouraging to ice men. The harvest should be well started at this date, but thus far not a pound of ice has been taken from the river north of Poughkeepsie, and but a small amount from the creeks and still waters. Several hundred thousand tons of last winter's crop has been carried over, perhaps one-third of a supply.

From The Ohio Repository, 29 January 1819, page 3:

Polar Expedition
The vessels composing this expedition has returned to Brassa Sound, Lerwick, without the loss of a man. They have succeeded in exploring every part of Baffin's bay, and of ascertaining that no passage exists between the Atlantick and Pacifick oceans; through Davis's Straights and Baffin's bay they found the whole to be surrounded by high land, extending to the north as far as lat 77, 55, and long. 76 W; and in the 74th degree of latitude, stretching westward as far as 84 W. long. ---They made many curious observations and discoveries, of which, perhaps, will not be considered as the least interesting, that of a NATION being found to inhabit the Arctick Regions, between the latitude of 76 and 78, who thought the world to the south was all Ice; that generation had succeeded generation of a people who had never tasted the fruits of the earth---had no idea of a Supreme Being---had never had and enemy, and whose chiefs had hitherto supposed themselves the monarchs of the universe.

From The Ohio Repository, 18 December 1817, page 2:

GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE

Gentlemen of the Senate, and House of Representatives,

No extraordinary occurrence has taken place since the last session of the Legislature. We have a continuation of peace on all our borders, with a time of general health throughout the state. The earth has been uncommonly fruitful the last season, and besides supplying our own wants, will leave a large surplus for exportation. . . . .

Whilst in the enjoyment of these extraordinary blessings we should not forget that we are accountable for their abuse, and that it is our duty to use all the means in our power to perpetuate the blessings of a free government to those who may come after us. This is the duty of all, but more especially of those to whom the people delegate the power of government.

With a view to the fulfillment of the duties assigned me, I shall recommend for your consideration such subjects as are deemed most important for the promotion of this great object, as well as the present comfort and convenience of our fellow-citizens:--and first, as I consider it most important, I recommend to your particular attention, the education of the rising generation. . . . .

With a view to aid in effecting this desirable object, I recommend to the consideration of the General assembly, the propriety of establishing at the seat of government a free school at which shall be taught the different branches of an English education at the expense of the state, to such number of boys the children of parents unable to educate them, and no others: as the legislature may deem proper. That whenever young men thus educated shall become qualified for that purpose, they shall, when proper salaries are furnished them, have the preference of employment in the publick schools of the state, and shall be obliged to serve as teachers of schools until they are twenty one years of age, and afterwards so long as they may conduct themselves well, have the preference of employment.

Newtownsandes

The Vales of New Dirreen

Fare well, fare well, my native land farewell forever more,
I now must leave you far behind and seek a foreign shore,
For very soon the ocean wide between us will intervene,
In that dear old home its mine no more, in the vales of New Direen.

At home in dear old Ireland I fain for ever would stay,
But fate it has compelled for to wander far away,
From these native hills and valleys fair where blooms the shamrock green
In that dear old home its mine no more in the Vales of New Dirreen

In cold dark waves and Saxon lands we have known great joys and woes
And in that far off ocean wide where the stately Hudson flows
In Ireland too we have cherished hopes but seas are placed between
From that dear old home its mine no more in the Vales of New Dirreen

The sandowen seas I have crossed before and sought a foreign strand
But still I thought I soon would see again my native land
Its like John Mitchell in his cell where something tells unseen
Which makes me roam from my dear old home in the Vales of New Dirreen

When last I looked upon that place it was with a mournful eye
The tears fell trickling down my face and loudly I did cry
The pale of night it soon came down and that was the last I had Seen
of my dear old home its mine no more in Vales of New Dirreen

Now to Conclude those enfin lines fearing I should be late
The Mourning Train from Adagh starts at twenty five past eight
O God be with you Ireland your the starlight ocean Qeen
And a Fond farewell to all who dwell in the Vales of New Dirreen.

An old Ballad

DAN Keane

The bells of St. Bartholomew's rang in the morning air,
The mission bells were pealing to summon souls to prayer,
Three rebel sons of Ireland their fear of danger shed,
To kneel before God's altar and receive eternal bread.
Paddy Walsh and Paddy Dalton and their companion Dee,
Because they loved their Motherland they strove to set her free,
They little knew that morning what they shortly would endure,
As they took the road towards their last abode in the Valley of Knockanure.

The sun of May was rising, casting shadows to the west,
On a bridge in Gortagleanna those men sat down to rest,
They chatted there with Jerry Lyons their comrade from duagh.
But, alas! Too late to make escape when the Black and Tans they saw,
From lorries three in fiendish glee the Tans did leap and roar
With rifle-butt, with fist and foot they beat their prisoners sore,
Nought could they gain, the poured in vain rough language and impure,
No fear they showed in their last abode in the Valley of Knockanure.

They put them in the lorries and travelled towards Athea,
But there, again, they turned west and went the other way
Beyond the Gortgleanna cross a fort came into view
The Black and Tans hatched evil plans in a field behind Lisroe.
Again, their captives gave their names but nothing more they'd tell
Within their breasts beat hearts as brave as e'er for Ireland fell,
The tans foul breath or threats of death could nothing more procure,
For valour glowed in their last abode in the Valley of Knockanure.

With love undying they stood in line, clasped hands and said goodbye,
They shouted prayers for freedom when they knew they were to die.
No order had been given,they fired in random glee,
One dared to dash for freedom; a rebel called Con Dee.
In that lonely dell three comrades fell their tortures were all o'er,
In tale and song they still live on and will for evermore.
They met their God on their own green sod with stainless souls and pure
And their red blood flowed in their last abode in the Valley of Knockanure.

The Tans were raging furious as Dee kept gaining ground,
The hills around re-echoed the rapid rifle sound.
Though wounded early in the chase he held both head and feet
On towards the wild wide mountain where green and purple meet.
He prayed to those he left in death that they his life would spare,
God bless the hands that found him and took him in their care.
They nursed the worn weary limbs that bore him o'er the moor
As he fearless strode from death's abode in the Valley of Knockanure.

The bell of St. Bartholomew's still speaks in solemn tone,
The Patriot hearts who gave their all are still in memory known.
The graves that hold their fleshless bones a veil o'er life has drawn
But their souls have flown to that bright home of God's eternal dawn.
May they look down from Heaven's crown on the land they died to save,
God grant that we might ever be as fearless and as brave.
There's a cross to tell where those men fell our freedom to secure
And the sun of May shines bright today o'er the Valley of Knockanure.

By Dan Keane who was born Sept 17th 1919.

Walsh, Lyons and Dalton were shot by the Tans at Gortaglanna on May 12th 1921.

Con Dee escaped.

'

My Own Newcastlewest
By Garry McMahon

To a town in County Limerick where the river Arra flows,
My heart takes flight, each day and night, at work or in repose,
Cross sundering seas, fond memories of the place that I love best,
To roam again each hill and glen, round my own Newcastlewest.

From Barnagh Gap, spread like a map, I see Limerick, cork and Clare,
The Ashford Hills and Phelan's Mills, the verdant Golden Vale,
I hear the sound of the beagle hound, put fox and hare to test,
And in reverie I can clearly see my own Newcastle West.

And often in the evening when the summer sun went down,
With rod and reel I fished the Deel, a mile outside the town,
Through salty tears and lonely years, my heart ached in my breast,
As I laid my head on a foreign bed, far from Newcastle West.

Once more the clash of hurley ash re-echoes in my ears,
As I recall my comrades all, when I now roll back the years,
On the playing field we ne'er would yield and we always gave of our best,
To bring honour bright to the black and white of our own Newcastle West.

Through Nash's Land to the old Demesne, where my love she gave sigh,
In the grove of oak her voice it broke, as we kissed our last goodbye,
A stor mo chroi no more I'll see, you're going just like the rest,
And you never will return again to your own Newcastle West.

So I'll say slan to fair Knockane, Gortboy likewise I'll greet,
To Boherbee and sweet South Quay, Churchtown and Maiden Street,
But God is good and I' am sure he would grant an exile's last request,
And let me die ‘neath a limerick sky in my own Newcastle West.

Paste links to see four thousand local pictures.

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http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee287/Newtownsandes/?action=view&current=PIC_1671.jpg

http://s234.photobucket.com/albums/ee122/Knockanure/?action=view&current=PIC_1659.jpg

SUMMER 2007 / VOL. 7 ISSUE 4
Poetry Corner
Patricia Kennelly

RELICS
In a shadowy studio
I immortalize you
in a cedar frame
so
your religious relics
won't be lost
as you were

your spirit
tied only
to dried roses
now powdered
are said to have touched
the coffin of St. Theresa

splinters of a cross
that once lay
across a Holy man
still wrapped
in a faultless square of
waxed paper

a scapular, the backdrop
like a poorly hung drape
in the aged confessional
where you felt coerced to
admit your sins
this promised you salvation

tokens of these
like
wasted
lullabies
of your silenced voice

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STONE HOUSE

at the stone house
you will find
grenadine geraniums

beneath the kitchen window

spicy-sweet
they spill out of a
window box
abandoning
their summer petals

a warm breeze brings in
the honeyed air of
ambrosial autumn clematis
eager to waft
and wave at passersby

at the stone house
you will find
me

gazing out the kitchen window
on a scarce sunny September

where I sit
in silky silence
considering a cup of Ceylon tea
and saying good-bye

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KILTOMEY CEMETERY

the Celtic tiger didn't roar on our trip
which began and ended at the cemetery
kneeling down to
peer into the crumbling open grave
uneven sacred ground

jutted stones like concrete waves
fetid smell of bog and damp grey
we can just
make out a skull or bone
brought forward by an animal
sealing a young man's promise
now witnessed
he did
dance on your grave
his heels bruise the earth

afterwards there is only
the hum of the pub
and hot whiskey
where cloves cling to lemon slices

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE UPPER ROOM ENTIRELY

Beyond the front hall,

where worn Wellies

countless times

have found their way home

Open the door now,

where the sitting room

fire gives

some warmth to your hands

Walk through the hallway,

where their pictures

hang in

gilt-edged frames

Don't open that door,

that leads to the fields

It's as old as the county

it sticks a little

go past the parlor; much

quieter there,

though the mantel clock

ticks loudly

to the upper room,

where you sleep

next to

cold plaster walls

the paisley

wallpaper

wears past rainstorms

one single bed

you are home

in the upper room entirely

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THEY LEFT THE HOUSE

They left the house
to squatters and animals

it sat lost
on the hilltop
disintegrating

they tell me of
days when
apple trees lined the hill
when antiques graced
the rooms
brought back
from London or Dublin
by a wealthy priest
his brother
a misguided man
wandered the streets
with tattered Dylan Thomas
and his rantings

they tell me this
this is your family

they say "when are you leaving?"
the day your arrive
you find no warm embraces
only the constant reminder
of whom they think you look like
maggie, adrian, donal ...
to prove to themselves
you are not a stranger
but a long lost
member of the
yellow kennelly's clan
whose pallor
is well known
in the county

you just might be the last
of the bad blood
but you're ok
if you can
hold your own
at The Railway Bar

- Patricia Kennelly

Patricia Kennelly is a first-generation Irish-American who spent many months during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s exploring her heritage at her father's house in Lixnaw, Co. Kerry. She is a freelance writer/editor and poet who currently lives in Colorado Springs, Colo. Her work has appeared in many publications including Springs Magazine, Artella, The Pointed Circle, Alembic, Pikes Peak Writers NewsMagazine, italianvisits.com and

Athea?s Great Seanchai
In Memory of Mickey Liston
The Rambling House is silent now on the
Knocknagorna Road,
Where Mickey Liston used to live in his pleasant
Neat abode.
A farmer and a storyteller, his like no more
We?ll see,
For he has died and left us sad, Athea?s great
Seanchai.

Great yarns and amusing tales he told on many
A night.
In that Rambling House upon the hill by
Knockfierna?s sloping height,
He was known all over Munster from
Kilmallock to Tralee,
And from Freemount back to Tarbert town,
Athea?s great seanchai.

At Creedon?s bar, Newcastlewest his stories
Won great fame,
Likewise in Carrickerry too sure they often
Spoke his name,
Many Comhaltas friends will think of him as
Will those of Ceol Luimnight,
Sure he was admired by one and all, Athea?s
Great seanchai.

Those who frequented his Rambling House will
Miss him most of all,
Also his friends and neighbours when old times
They will recall,
Mickey?s kindly hospitality will live on in
Memory,
As will the wit and humour of Athea?s great
Seanachai.

Much interest in his land he showed and he
Travelled here and there
To attend a livestock mart and sales, or a horse
And cattle fair.
Throughout his stories he would tell of how
Farming used to be,
?Before restrictions were imposed?, said
Athea?s great seanchai.

His funeral was the finest seen in Athea for
Many years,
With a guard of honour formed by his faithful
Friends and peers,
He is laid to rest in Knockanure but his spirit
Now is free.
May the Lord grant him eternal peace, Athea?s
Great seanchai.

By
Pat Brosnan

The Vales of New Dirreen

Fare well, fare well, my native land farewell forever more,
I now must leave you far behind and seek a foreign shore,
For very soon the ocean wide between us will intervene,
In that dear old home its mine no more, in the vales of New Direen.

At home in dear old Ireland I fain for ever would stay,
But fate it has compelled for to wander far away,
From these native hills and valleys fair where blooms the shamrock green
In that dear old home its mine no more in the Vales of New Dirreen

In cold dark waves and Saxon lands we have known great joys and woes
And in that far off ocean wide where the stately Hudson flows
In Ireland too we have cherished hopes but seas are placed between
From that dear old home its mine no more in the Vales of New Dirreen

The sandowen seas I have crossed before and sought a foreign strand
But still I thought I soon would see again my native land
Its like John Mitchell in his cell where something tells unseen
Which makes me roam from my dear old home in the Vales of New Dirreen

When last I looked upon that place it was with a mournful eye
The tears fell trickling down my face and loudly I did cry
The pale of night it soon came down and that was the last I had Seen
of my dear old home its mine no more in Vales of New Dirreen

Now to Conclude those enfin lines fearing I should be late
The Mourning Train from Adagh starts at twenty five past eight
O God be with you Ireland your the starlight ocean Qeen
And a Fond farewell to all who dwell in the Vales of New Dirreen.

Newtownsandes Famous People:

Thomas Moore his ancestors are said to have come from Newtownsandes.Tom Moore Poet born Dublin 28 of May 1779.He died 26th of Feb 1852 in his 73rd Year bured at Bromham near Devizes in Wiltshire England his Father was a Grocer till 1806 he later became a barrick master.It is thought his Mother had a great Influence on Him.After the Relief act of 1793 Catholics were allowed to enter TCD but were denied Degres.Mr Whyte Teacher of Tom Moore Entered him in TCD at the age of 15 as a Protestant.He left TCD in 1798 to Study Law in London.He Never Practiced Law writing was his Passion so in 1801 he Published his first Poems under the pen name of Thomas Little.Thomas Moore was Welcomed Everywhere he could Sing his own songs and Entertain in any Society.In 1803 he was Appointed as Registrar of the Admiralty Court at Bermuda.He stayed at his Post for a short while.Then put his Deputy in Charge while himself toured the U.S.A and Canada.More Poems were Published in 1806.Irish Melodies were Published in 1807.200 years Later his Irish Songs are still Popular all over the world.Actress Bessy Dyke Married Tom Moore in 1811.''Lalla Rookh'' was Published in 1817.Longmans Paid the Highest Price Ever for the Copy Right.About this time his Deputy in Bermuda Caused a huge loss and Moore was Liable to avoid Arrest he went to Paris and his Family Followed Him there.C 1822 he made a Bargain where the Claim Against him was Reduced to one sixth of the Original Claim which he paid he was now free to come home? iifig .....
In 1823 he visited Ireland with Lord Lansdowne after which he wrote a history of Captain Rock and His Ancestors which was well Recived.He was a friend of Emmet and Remembers him in ''O Breathe Not his name''.Other Historical works of Tom Moore, Life of Sheridan Published in 1825 it took 7 years to write, Life of Byron Pub 1830. Life of Lord Edward Fitzgerald Pub 1831.Travels of an Irish Gentleman in Seach of a Religion.Published 1834 also the History of Ireland was Published Later.
In 1845 all his Children and Sisters were Dead he said that he did not have a single Relative left in the world.

Tom Neville Stack
Information from Miss Mai Quillinan .
Tom Stack was married in Carrueragh Kilmorna , to Mary Neville of Carrigkerry . They had three sons the eldest born on christmas night 1849 was called Thomas Neville Stack . The second son Maurice Tom Stack married Mary Goulding their children were Tom Maurice and John Maurice Tom inherited the farm while John went to America . The third brother of Tom Neville Stack was called William he got a farm in Carrigkerry .
Mai Quillinans mother Ellie Stack was daughter of Maurice Tom Stack a brother of Tom Neville .
Mais father Michael Quillinan of Blossom Hill Rathkeale , Co Limerick . Tom Neville Stack Founded The Finance Union Journal in 1877 .It is reported that three generations before Tom Neville a member of the Stack family was a Butter Merchant in Cork who had a brother a Banker .
Another Stack Nicholas Moore Stack a man of culture and an actor taught at Maynooth and Carlow College .
Tom Neville himself was a Journalist a Financier and a Poet his second wife was a daughter of Mr Andrew Thunder of Dublin .
Mr Thunder went to Clongroves Wood College . He died aged 45yrs .
Mr and Mrs Stack were married for over 20yrs and had five children.
In 1895 Tom Neville Stack was one of the Founders of the British Homes Assurance Corporation Ltd. .
He was also an Officer in the 2nd London Rifles which was founded by Prince Albert .
Tom Neville Stacks views on Irish Banking are contained in the Blue Book which was issued by a committee of the House of Commons

Here are 50 ways to save an extra $1,000 a year:

Dine in. Eating out costs big bucks. Fatten your wallet by eating home cooked meals and you may just slim your waistline while you’re at it. Try these Cheap, Easy, and Healthy, Family Dinners for $5 to kick start your savings.

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Raise Deductibles. Get out your policy and raise the deductibles on your car and home insurance. You’re not likely to claim the small stuff so choose a $5000 over a $500 deductible to cut your insurance costs by about 40 percent.

Buy a Cheaper Car. Pimping in a flashy vehicle? A smaller or less expensive model can save you big bucks and still get you from point A to point B in style.

Lose the Extra Car. Get creative and optimize the usage of a single family car to save huge money on insurance, gas, and car payments. You may be surprised how much money can be saved by reducing the number of cars parked in your driveway.

Ditch the Car. Buy a Bike. Ride the Bus. Carpool. I did this years ago and lived to tell the tale. I guesstimate I’ve saved at least 5K a year by riding my bike to school and work. I tend to carpool or ride the bus on rainy days. Since I’ve been car-free for 12 years, that’s 60K saved! Ka-ching!

Expunge Extended Warranties. Don’t buy extended warranties on inexpensive products like cameras and kitchen appliances. The only time a warranty makes sense is if a repair will devastate your budget.

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Avoid Whole Life Insurance. Whole life policies are expensive for the policy owner and lucrative for the policy seller. Term policies, which cover you for a set period, are FAR less expensive. Here’s How to Buy Life Insurance Without Getting Screwed.

Don’t Insure Your Kids. I love kids, but insurance for children makes no financial sense. Buy life insurance to replace the income of the family breadwinner(s), those you are dependent on. Not your dependents. Here’s why your kids don’t need life insurance.

Get a High Interest Savings Account. Switch your savings account to a high interest account, like those offered through ING Direct. You can make 3-4 percent MORE on your savings a year, rather than the pittance most checking accounts offer.

Pay off Your Credit Card. Stop paying the bare minimum on your credit cards. Paying just the minimum (usually 2-3 percent) only prolongs the agony and increases the amount of interest paid to the bank. Save yourself over 20 percent in interest charges by fully paying off your credit card debt. Depending on your debt, you may add thousands to your wallet.

Get a Better Credit Card. Not all credit cards are created equal. Choose a credit card with no annual fee, understand your credit card’s benefits and risks, know how your issuer calculates interest charges, and learn how to benefit from introductory rates. Reading the small print will help you to make the most of your credit card and keep fees and charges to a minimum, saving bundles of bucks every year. Try these Four Steps to Choosing a Credit Card for help.

Watch Investment Fees. There are costs to investing your hard earned dollars. Learning how to minimize these costs can save you thousands in management expense ratio fees (MERs), trailer fees, and broker fees. Always read your investment fund prospectus to better understand how these hideous fees can eat up your fund portfolio returns year after year. If you’re investing in high fee mutual funds, consider a portfolio in index funds or exchange traded funds (ETFs) to better increase your returns and minimize your costs.

Look at Laundry Costs. Washing clothes is a repetitive task which can cost big bucks over the span of a year. When I stop to calculate the cost of laundry detergent, the power usage of clothing dryers, and the water consumption of washing machines I shudder at the total cost of cleaning filth. Learn How to Save Money on Laundry to minimize the expensive impact of filth.

Banish Bank Account Fees. Minimum balances, withdrawal fees, checking fees, paying bills fees, fees, and more fees. Why are you paying so much for banking? I dare you to add up all those tiny little dings you don’t want to look at and see how much you pay for banking. Compare your banking fees to other bank accounts and switch banks. I’ve been using a no fee checking account with President’s Choice Financial for years, and love it. Find a no fee checking account in your state, province, or country and live bank fee free already.

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Eat Less Meat. Where’s the beef? To save thousands in groceries try eating less meat in your family meals. You don’t have to go vegetarian, just try some meatless dishes a few times a week. Switching from animal protein to bean protein is a wonderfully frugal way to add some dollars to you bank account. Try soaking dried beans to become the ultimate money saving bean counter.

Pay Down Student Debt. New graduate? Finished your degree decades ago? Paying off your student loan is a sure fire way to reduce interest payments, saving you thousands. Try these 5 Tips for Paying Off Student Loans.

Manage Extra Mortgage Payments. For most of us, the mortgage represents our biggest debt. If you can manage, try making an extra payment to help end the loan sooner. Use the Loan Amortization Calculator to see the impact of how much loan interest can be reduced by paying down your mortgage sooner.

Cut the Cable. Television is expensive. Especially if you have special packages, customer loyalty bundles, and fee hungry features. Cancel the unneeded extras to save, or just cut the cable completely to maximize savings. Television may seem like a nominal monthly bill, but try adding up this expense over 12 months.

Cancel the Cell Phone. Roaming fees, text messages, minute overages. Cell phones can cost you big bucks over a year. Reevaluate your cell phone plan to save, or cancel your cell package to maximize savings. Should you cancel your cell phone?

Rent Less Apartment. Downsizing your rented apartment could save you money over time. Try renting a unit on a lower floor without a view, move to a building with fewer perks, or rent a basement suite. Renting a smaller place can also save you on energy costs.

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Reconsider the Landline. If you have a cell phone, do you still need your landline? Many cell phone users work on the road or away from the home. Perhaps it’s time to ditch the landline to save on utility costs.

Maintain Your Car. Routine maintenance can save you a bundle by preventing major automobile repair costs. Follow your car’s user manual to keep up-to-date with oil changes, new air filters, and regular tune ups.

Save Money on Gas. Gassed by the high prices at the pump? Try these 10 Ways to Save Money on Gas to cut your fuel consumption.

Buy a More Fuel Efficient Car. Perhaps it’s time to trade in the gas guzzling clunker for a more fuel efficient automobile. Try the Should You Buy a More Gas Efficient Car Calculator to determine the break even point of a new car based on gas consumption.

Pass on Pets. I love my dog. But our fine furry friends can cost us a small fortune in food and veterinarian bills. If you need the extra stash of cash, it may be best to pass on pets. Learn about Annual Pet Costs before bringing fluffy home.

Use Condoms. When it’s time for sexy time, consider condoms. Health costs and babies are expensive. Preventing sexually transmitted infections is key to keeping yourself healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Negotiate Your Mortgage. Never settle for the bank or mortgage lender’s first offer. Always ask mortgage brokers for the best fees, terms and mortgage rate. Save thousands in interest costs. Try the Loan Amortization Calculator to see your savings.

Negotiate Your Salary. Getting a job offer is fun and thrilling. But settling for your first offer may be a mistake. Companies exist by keeping their costs down, hence paying employees as little as possible. When you get an offer, try negotiating for a little bit more. Try these 10 Tips for Salary Negotiation.

Plan a Staycation. Stay at home for your next family vacation and save on lodging, dining out, and traveling costs. Staycations involve visiting local attractions like museums, parks, festivals, and play grounds. Get to know your area and neighbors better by vacationing near home.

Switch to Exchange Traded Funds. When investing in your retirement, consider switching your mutual funds to Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). ETFs have lower management fees than mutual funds. The less money you spend in management fees the more you keep in your portfolio. Try the Portfolio MER Calculator to calculate your total investment costs. You many just be surprised how much these fees eat into your returns!

Grow a Garden. Cut some cash from your grocery bill by growing your own food. Planting some common veggies can help save a bundle. Want some hard numbers? Follow J.D. Roth at Get Rich Slowly in his series: How Much Does a Garden Really Save? Don’t have space for soil? Here are 12 Vegetables You Can Grow in a Pot.

Switch to Cloth Diapers. The number of diapers a baby and toddler uses until potty trained is staggering. Calculate the cash spent on your baby’s poopy disposable diapers and you may just s$it yourself. Consider switching to cloth diapers to save some bucks. The biggest money savings can be found if you plan to have multiple children or can buy used cloth diapers. Trent at The Simple Dollar discusses his cloth diapering thoughts.

Buy Used. Need some furniture, books, or car? Why not buy used to save! Buying used goods not only saves on taxes, but saves you from spending top dollar on retail. Most of my furniture and nearly all of my books were bought used. It’s astounding the quality available if you’re willing to wait and buy used. Try these tips for shopping second hand.

Quit the Gym. Go for a Walk. What’s up with fitness club initiation fees, contracts, locker fees, and monthly rates? Joining a gym can be an expensive relationship, especially if your membership or contract is hard to break or goes on for years. Know your rights before joining a gym, be aware of the pitfalls, and do the math. Before paying a gym, consider these 10 Free Ways to Get into Fitness to save a bundle.

Love the Library. I love reading books. I love not paying for books even more. Save yourself on Amazon bills by going to your local library and signing out your books for free. Besides, the library offers more than just free books! Get access to videos, CDs, and audio books. Be sure to watch out for due dates and fines.

Get a New Job. Changing careers or finding a new job can pay dividends in the size of your paycheck. Boost your earnings to save more bucks.

Make a Shopping List. Curb impulse grocery spending by downloading the Printable Grocery Shopping List. A shopping list can help you stay on the frugal track and avoid expensively packaged foods, save time at the store, and helps you remember what healthy foods to buy. Easy.

Switch Home Heating. Is heating your home burning a hole in your wallet? If you heat with oil, perhaps it’s time to switch to electric? Your state or province may offer rebates and incentives for switching to more energy efficient forms of heating.

Sell Your Stuff. Are endless racks of CDs, videos, books, sports equipment, and stuff cluttering up your space? Consider selling some of your stuff to raise some funds and clear some space. Try selling through garage sales, local swap meets, and online through craigslist, Kijiji, and eBay.

Stop Buying Crap. Do you really need the latest gizmo or gadget? Resist the marketing muckity muck when advertisers launch crap, unveil crap, and convince you to upgrade crap. Crap is expensive. Learn to Just Say “No” to Crap before your wallet gets whacked by needless crap.

Leave the Liquor. Spirits can be fun. But lots of liquor can leave your pocketbook dry. Try drinking less alcohol to help boost your savings.

Shop Out of Season. Save some serious dollars by buying goods out of season. Buy winter boots in the spring, get wrapping paper after Christmas, and buy a bike in the fall. Buying goods out of season means finding end of season sales, reductions, and clear outs.

Shop In Season. Buying broccoli in January is crazy expensive. Buying fruits and vegetables in season keeps grocery costs down. Try shopping at local farmer’s markets and freezing perishables for the winter. Besides, food just takes better when it’s in season (source).

Use Your Benefits. Does your employer’s compensation package include medical, dental, chiropractor, massage, and other physical therapies? Since you’re probably paying a fee for this health care you’d be silly to squander the benefit. Be sure to visit the dentist and fix all your ailments by using your benefits. A healthy smile is priceless.

Claim Your Tax Credits. When doing your yearly taxes, don’t forget to claim your health expenses, child credits, and education amounts. Missing an exemption could cost you thousands. Collect all your receipts during the year so you’re not scrambling to prove your costs come tax season. I store my receipts in simple envelopes to help tame the clutter and confusion throughout the year.