Wrenboys return to huge crowds

The All-Ireland Wrenboy Competition returned to a huge crowd in Listowel Town Square on Friday night last keeping up an age-old tradition during Race Week.

For generations, the Friday night of the Listowel Races has been ‘Wrenboy Night’ when groups of wrenboys take to the stage in the Square enthralling the crowds with performances of traditional Irish music, singing, dancing and storytelling.

It all started in the late 1950s and in its heyday the competition drew participating groups from all over the country from Kerry to Cavan and beyond.

In recent years, the number of groups has declined but after a hiatus last year thankfully the Wrenboys returned with aplomb to entertain the masses.

Two groups contested the prestigious competition this year, namely Ballydonoghue, who emerged as the eventual winners on the night, and Brosna. 

Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.

Vincent’s 50-year career in spotlight at St John’s event

Well-known local historian and author Vincent Carmody will discuss his 50-year-long career in the next instalment of the historical talk series at St John's Theatre & Arts Centre in Listowel.  

Vincent will sit down for an in-depth interview with the theatre's artistic director Elizabeth Stack  to reflect on his journey documenting the history of his native town and the wider region over the decades.

The evening promises a detailed look into his remarkable career, which includes decades of meticulous research and the publication of 11 celebrated books. 

From his early work documenting Listowel Emmets GAA Club to his historical anthologies like 'Listowel: Snapshots of an Irish Market Town 1850–1950' and 'Listowel, A Printer’s Legacy', Vincent has spent a lifetime rescuing social history from obscurity - sometimes literally from the rubbish skip.

Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.