Danny Houlihan‘s Irish Experience

Samuel Lewis Visit to Ballybunion 1837 Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

In this episode Danny Houlihan explores once again the old faded articles and periodicals of bygone days to find out more history in relation to seaside resorts in Ireland, when they started and the people that made up these special places after all seaside places were their homes and lives and life ways.

Using his home place again as a starting point on his journey Ballybunion as a village became internationally known for its beach, cliff walks and caves in the early 1800s, during this period we can find the sea side village of Ballybunion welcoming visitors in the early year of 1837 when Samuel Lewis arrived in the place and described what was there, at the time and its surrounding countryside which was approaching a serious point in its history. 

Samuel Lewis Visits Ballybunion in 1837

One document that gives us an insight to the area was Samuel Lewis Visit To Ballybunnian in 1837 unique in its description.

Samuel lewis visited Ballybunnian in the year of 1837 during the process of the writing of his famous work Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis which is used as a reference by historians and a very important historical document.

Danny Houlihna retraces the foot steps of Samuel Lewis adding in more history to enhance the description given at the time. A unique view of the start of a famous bathing place in 1837.

Gale Graveyard & Abbey Listowel Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

In this episode Danny Houlihan Wild Atlantic Way Champion travels out onto one of the arteries of the Wild Atlantic Way to a graveyard called Gale Cemetery about 5 kilometres from Listowel County Kerry Ireland. Today only a grave yard marks the area where once in bygone times there was a settlement possibly Culdees/Hermits, church and abbey within its confines flourishing among the high trees that once covered the landscape near it.

In this quiet countryside grave yard with the singing birds in the nearby trees lies hundreds of our ancestors that died in the Great Irish Famine or Holocaust of 1846 and Black 1847 many of these forgotten people descendants are living now in America, Australia England Canada and other destinations. Danny Houlihan in his research goes micro into this site to link up the past life ways and evidence of a place today only locals who's people are buried there visit.

Monuments inside the entrance commemorate the famine but when Danny Houlihan peels back the pages of its history a light is thrown on this special place and its past life ways this again is another Experience on The Wild Atlantic Way.

Kilnaughtin Church Tarbert Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

Wild Atlantic Way Champion & Podcaster Danny Houlihan explores more of the rich heritage and culture which is North Kerry Ireland.

April 16th Danny Houlihan traveled from his base in North Kerry out on a very sunny blue sky day along the Wild Atlantic Way North Kerry just beyond Ballylongford on the outskirts Tarbert County Kerry Ireland. A special place and another place Danny recommends all to see and soak up and experience Killnaughtin Church and its ancient history on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Kilnaughtin A Feast To The Senses Part 1 in the series.

Killehenny Ancient Parish 1 Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

Killehenny Ancient Parish is today located south of the seaside town of Ballybunion North Kerry its history and culture in the area stems back to the dawn of time to 7000-4000BC.

Pre Christian Settlements, Viking Raids, and Ancient Shore Dwellers along with legends and more are covered in this but a first in the series of podcasts under the title Ancient Parish.

Wild Atlanticway Champion and podcaster Danny Houlihan travels back through the pages of its history and plots a unique course of discovery into this ancient Parish this is only part one. Thousands of people around the World claim ancestry to area are of modern Ballybunion today but way back in time the name of the place they left from was called Killehenny or Cill Eithne.

During the Great Irish Holocaust or Famine in 1845 - 1846 and Black 1847 thousands died and many more had to leave the area along the Cashen Estuary this episode will be of interest and debate for those who's people were from this area and shine a light of a place long forgotten.

This is only one of the many Ancient Parishes that Danny Houlihan will cover in his unique series.

If you would like to support my research which is ongoing and podcast episodes, why not Buy Me a Coffee this will be used to update my research and equipment, I will give everyone who contribute a shout out in my series. Just click on the link below to support in any way big or small thank you.buymeacoffee.com/yxqdanny

Ballybunion Races 13th June 1888 Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

In this episode part 1 of our sporting section which will cover other areas in the country, Danny Houlihan will take a look back at an event the Ballybunion Races that were held in the area of the town in the year June 1888 and details the from the Kerry Evening Post and other old faded local historical sources which Danny has consulted and its ironic that this June the Ballybunion races will be held once more in Ballyeagh Strand. So I hope to get down there and sample the atmosphere and report back in another episode.

If you would like to support my research which is ongoing and podcast episodes, why not Buy Me a Coffee this will be used to update my research and equipment, I will give everyone who contribute a shout out in my series. Just click on the link below to support in any way big or small thank you.buymeacoffee.com/yxqdanny

The Spirit of The Irish Alder Tree Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

In this short episode, I take a journey back into the past to our ancient Ogham Calendar and to another one of the famous Trees which are still here today on the landscape of Ireland and a link to our Ogham Past and Calendar.

The Alder Tree can be seen in many parts of Ireland, on hillsides, and like other trees associated with the Ogham Calendar was located near places of worship and settlement, a throwback to a golden era in Ireland of Pre-Christian Settlements of Culdees holy men and holy women and ancient Irish rights and customs and not forgetting our Myths & Legends.

In the Ogham Calendar The Alder Tree or in its Irish name Fearan is a native Irish tree and in our past part of the Celtic Zodiac Ogham Calendar, Alder has been attributed to March 18 - April 14. 

If you would like to support my research which is ongoing and podcast episodes, why not Buy Me a Coffee this will be used to update my research and equipment, I will give everyone who contribute a shout out in my series. Just click on the link below to support in any way big or small thank you.buymeacoffee.com/yxqdanny

 

May Eve Sunset Lahardane Walk 2023 Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience

May Eve Sunset Walk Lahadane 2023 Danny Houlihan.

Welcome to the Wild Atlantic Way & Danny Houlihan's Irish Experience Show and our May Eve Sunset Walk Lahardane 2023.

I guided a group during the May weekend  to the top of Knockanore the hill of slaughter on May Eve, where once the might of the Fianna was tested against Tailc Mhic Treoin a noted warrior from Greece over the beautiful female Niamh.

Most of you will not be able to attend the walk on this occasion so I will just give you a taste of the sights we came across and its history and its people who are now long  gone as we proceeded up to the famous Hill of Slaughter at Knockanore. I have included a small portion of local Genealogy and history along the way to give an insight to the area which is rich in history and culture.

I hope you all enjoy this episode I did and the walk.

If you would like to support my research which is ongoing and podcast episodes, why not Buy Me a Coffee this will be used to update my research and equipment, I will give everyone who contribute a shout out in my series. Just click on the link below to support in any way big or small thank you.buymeacoffee.com/yxqdanny

 

 

Fr Mortimor O’ Connor Champion of The People Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience

In this episode which is a first in the series Danny Houlihan deals with historic individuals along the Wild Atlantic Way. In this episode Danny covers a brief history of a local Priest and Champion of the People the late Fr Mortimer O' Connor Parish Priest of Ballybunion who lived in the area in the  1870s.

This crusading Priest took on the power the money and the might of the Landlords to secure the small tenants their holdings and public rights in the area of Ballyeagh and Ballybunion and further afield.

In this episode Danny Houlihan has consulted old faded newspapers of the day old shop records and information both oral handed down and written by local people and historian's now gone to highlight a period and people now long and since forgotten consigned to a closed book. This episode is again but taste of a period in Irish History now long gone.

Tales from The Seaside 2 Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience Show

Danny Houlihan looks back at the old faded newspapers of the times in 1900s and comments it made on the developing seaside resort in Ballybunion North Kerry Ireland. Again after years of praise like other places which will be covered in the series Danny describes the town and what was ongoing and according to the press what was needed in improvements. In the 1930s there was a drive to light the seaside resort in the North Kerry town with local people promoting the idea of a locally built power plant this was achieved after many meeting and many funny stories told. Danny Houlihan once again weaves a unique tapestry on the subject adding history and humour to the forgotten of the place

If you would like to support my research which is ongoing and podcast episodes, why not Buy Me a Coffee this will be used to update my research and equipment, I will give everyone who contribute a shout out in my series. Just click on the link below to support in any way big or small thank you.buymeacoffee.com/yxqdanny

 

The Wireless Tower YXQ Ballybunion Palm Sunday 1914 Danny Houlihan’s Irish Experience

The sun rose over Knockanore hill as the local workers made their way by foot and bike to the 72 acre wireless station to finalise the last mast the 500 foot on the Universal Radio Wireless Station YXQ, located on sandhill road Ballybunion North Kerry Ireland. 

Morning tea was ready at the brown wooden buildings surrounding the site, in the months to follow the station would transmit morse messages to its sister station at Newcastle New Brunswick In Canada and intern would receive coded messages from Canada and monitor shipping activity on the Atlantic during World War 1.

The day would go down into history locally as a storm front closed in from the Atlantic on the massive 500ft Tower resulting in severe damage to the central tubular mast prior to first contact with Newcastle New Brunswick in Canada.

The station would later on the 19th of March 1919 with the Marconi Company using a telephony transmitter transmit human voice for the first time from East to West from Ballybunion to Louisbourg Cape Breton Nova Scotia. This episode Celebrates the 105 Anniversary of that historic event and our connection with Canada.

If you would like to support my ongoing research and podcast episodes, why not Buy Me a Coffee this will be used to update ongoing research and equipment, I will give everyone who contribute a shout out in my series. Just click on the link below to support in any way big or small thank you.buymeacoffee.com/yxqdanny