The Ballybunion thread

Cois-na-Feile

Cois-na-Feile wrote: »

John in Gods hands will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him

condolences to all the family

RiderOnTheStorm

Ballyb sure is quiet now. But if you look closely, and keep your ear to the ground...... there is more going on than first appears! During winter all the locals come out after disappearing during summer, the limerick folk frighten them away ;-) and clubs / schools / committees get going again.

RiderOnTheStorm

Red Sky At Night in BallyB:

RiderOnTheStorm

The Beach (again!)

RiderOnTheStorm

the sports centre is going full belt now, and has been all summer. a few teething probs with water quality in the pool, but all is grand now. I posted a pic of the building under constructuion some time ago, but I dont think I posted one of it complete.


yes, those are solar water heaters on the roof!

snow scorpion

I meant to wander down to the sports center when I was there but never got around to it. The website makes it look pretty cool.

Aero

AnBealBocht wrote: »

To all who have expressed condolences on John Sheehy's untimely death here on the Ballybunion thread, his three brothers & I thank you.
John loved BallyB almost as much as he loved Listowel.
Marty.

Hello to all on the thread. Have just logged-in after many months and very sorry to read of John's passing...may he rest in peace...

snow scorpion

Another video:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1rtEzgCYi3g

BillyGoatGruff

RIP Sandhill.




Just found this

snow scorpion

I met Molly Miller last summer.

She has a clothing shop on Main Street, I think.

RiderOnTheStorm

yes, Molly has a clothes shop on Main St. Its beside the Golf Hotel, where I believe she was manager for many years.

She still has a lovely Belfast accent :-)

RiderOnTheStorm

snow scorpion wrote:

She (Molly) was a singer back in the 1950s?

Yes, she was a talented singer and well known for it. Everyone in town knows wee Molly.

snow scorpion

My cousin introduced us. My cousin, my brother, and I were eating lunch across the street from the clothing shop ... I forget the name of the pub. Anyway, we were eating lunch and my cousin sees Molly and calls her over. The two of them begin talking about Molly's career and all along Molly was eating the chips of my plate.

BillyGoatGruff

She is a brilliant singer. Lovely woman. I have to say that though. She is my Gmother:D All true though

AnBealBocht

BillyGoatGruff wrote: »

She is a brilliant singer. Lovely woman. I have to say that though. She is my Gmother:D All true though

Beginning in 1959 through 1964 I worked as a barman at the Central Hotel for the summers where I answered to Matt Sullivan & Mollie [ Mrs. Matt Sullivan] nee Miller ( &, later, Matt's son by his first marriage, Kenneth.) I have fond memories of those summer days. I invariably drop in to say hi to Mollie ( &, as well, many of my & John's---who owned ' Aisling ' house down Sandhill Rd. briefly after our aunt's { Josie Madden-Flynn} death in 1981--- & my other younger brother's old neighbours ( my mother had owned St. Martin's &, later, Villa Maria down Sandrill Rd.) when vacationing in Listowel each year.
With some sadness, I will look forward to next summer's visit.
--- Marty Sheehy.

snow scorpion

Another video:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QoYF-bFS8O8

BillyGoatGruff

Ken is my father. Remember the summers going down there with my sister, to the beach and merry-go-round or the one arm bandits and and dodgems.:)Oh them were the days. Have not been down for ages but would love to go down and visit the place again. Bring beck the memories.

snow scorpion

The dodgems are gone. It's amazing how small the place seems now. When I was small the casino was big; now I got big and the casino got small.

BillyGoatGruff

I'd love a few photos of the casino as it is now and also of the old dog track if anyone has any.

snow scorpion

With a little luck, someone will take the hint.

Searching for pics on the net gets very frustrating: so many pictures of the golf course and so few pictures of sights around the town.

RiderOnTheStorm

yeah, the dodgems or 'bumpers' to give them their correct name ;-) went last year (or year before?) A couple of the casinos have gotten face lifts too. I will try and get pics at the weekend.

The old dog track is still there. Not many call it the dog track anymore. I am only a couple of doors away from it! Molly, the Hillards and I all live very close to each other. The dog track is Central Caravan Park now (has been for years). Lots of my friends have mobile homes there and come down to Ballyb for a month or two in the summer.... and every weekend while the park is open. I notice that more and more people are bringing their own generators now, and spending the weekend there in the winter too (generator needed as electricity is truned off over winter).

I will try and get some pics of other places arounb town. Main street has had lots of pics posted here, so its there any other place people would like to see?

BillyGoatGruff

I remember when it was the dog track and my granddad used to bring us down there to shop us his woodwork shed. Have loads of stuff in the home house that he made there. The name "hillards" ring a bell. If i remember corectly they live right next door to Molly. Used to know a few of the kids when i was younger. The main road along the back of the house didn't arrive until we had been going down there a few years.

Blackrocks

any of ye hear about the fire in Ballyb at halloween? heard a place on main street was badly damaged by fireworks or bangers?
why so much trouble now when it was always a great evening?? apparently there were a lot of groups throwing eggs etc.
must get some more photos and start putting them up here. Ballyb is so special - hopefully it will stay that way.

snow scorpion

Blackrocks, I've uploaded about a dozen videos of Ballybunion at YouTube. You can see parts of the village there.

snow scorpion

Knockanore - what it looks like from the bottom...






...and what it looks like from the top

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGzxyabdlnk

RiderOnTheStorm

Blackrocks wrote: »

any of ye hear about the fire in Ballyb at halloween? heard a place on main street was badly damaged by fireworks or bangers?
why so much trouble now when it was always a great evening?? apparently there were a lot of groups throwing eggs etc.

Halloween was fairly quiet here in Ballyb. There were a few eggs thrown and some fireworks set off. There was a fire, in the back yard to the souviner shop beside Danas. The gossip says it was caused by a firework thrown over the back wall. But all in all, it was quieter than other years (imho).

Beezer19

Hey Rider, glad to see the regulars are still around. I have been busy busy, adding a new business on top of one that allready consumes me, but thats the American dream right?

Sure could use a week of fireside Guinness in Bally B.

Blackrocks

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

Halloween was fairly quiet here in Ballyb. There were a few eggs thrown and some fireworks set off. There was a fire, in the back yard to the souviner shop beside Danas. The gossip says it was caused by a firework thrown over the back wall. But all in all, it was quieter than other years (imho).

Hi Rider Storm
just heard half the house was burned down by bangers in that shop and there were 3 fire brigades and ambulance and investigation is ongoing as other houses got bangers in back gardens!!

snow scorpion

Ballybunion Golf Club has just been voted "World's Best Golf Resort 2007" in the renowned World Travel and Leisure magazine.

The award, which was announced in the past week, sees the Kerry course strengthen its already world renowned reputation, seeing off competition from hundreds of top class courses all over the world.

According to those who compiled the awards scheme, the award for Ballybunion "represents the preferences of passionate golf travelers who lead an affluent, active lifestyle and are in search of the very best experiences the game has to offer."

Ballybunion golf club secretary, John Eggleston, told The Kerryman that all at the club were thrilled with the award, saying that they are delighted to be recognised on a worldwide stage.

He said that while Ballybunion Golf Club has consistently been voted among the world's top 20 courses in a number of leading American magazines, reaching the top is certainly a massive boost to the club.

Mr Eggleston said that the award "pays tribute to the fantastic range of facilities on offer at the club, from the presentation of the course and customer service to the club's history and ambience.This is a massive achievement and is a testament to everyone involved in the club," he said.

http://www.kerryman.ie/frontpage/ballyb-golf-course-voted-no1-1239727.html

Aero

A few seasonal pictures of snow in Ballybunion...taken a decade or two ago...