The death has occurred of Betty O’Connell, Knockatee, Cordal and formerly of Adriville, Scartaglen and Kearney’s Bar, Castleisland.
Betty (56) passed away peacefully on the 25th of June, 2024 in the excellent care of the staff in the Palliative Care Unit, University Hospital Kerry, surrounded by her loving family.
Betty is predeceased by her father Paddy, infant sister Eileen and brother David.
She will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by her family; her mother Mary, sister Mary, brothers Den-Joe, Fred, Patie, Danny, Willie, Eddie, Johnny, Timmy, Mike, Niall and Ger, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, uncle, aunts, cousins, relatives and friends. Rest in peace.
Betty Dreams Came True in August 2015
On an evening when the pub would normally be thumping with the sound of traditional music from the Tuesday weekly session, the black bordered note pinned to the door told the world that the landlady at Kearney’s Bar had passed away.
Scartaglin native Betty O’Connell realised a lifetime’s dream when she opened the doors of Kearney’s Bar under her management on Castleisland’s Main Street on August 15th 2015 at 5pm.
Shoving on for 8pm that night Betty reported that they were flying since the doors opened earlier in the day. And she was delighted to report that she filled the first pint of stout for Michael Herlihy – a fellow Scart native.
Apart from its significant place in the folklore and history of the town, Kearney’s holds a special place in Betty’s heart. It was there, as a 17-year-old, that she first stepped behind a bar counter and it was there she learned her trade in all its implications.
Worked All Over
She has worked since in many other establishments such as: The Poets Inn; The Shoemaker’s; The River Island Hotel; Castleisland Rugby Club; The Brandon Hotel, The Gleneagle Hotel and Connie K’s – along with stints at Killarney, Tralee and Listowel Races and at festivals and Fleadhanna down throught the years.
Part of the folklore of the house – and it has been Kearney’s Bar since 1963 – is that is was originally owned by T.W. Wrenn – a name that will resonate with historians because of the photographic collection he left behind. His name can still be seen on photographs he took which survived and were published in various books.
However, many of his glass-plate images were lost to posterity unfortunately and we can only sigh at the loss.
The Castleisland Medium
During its time in the hands of the Wrenns, the photographers, bicycle shop, grocery and public house became famous as the birth-place of the Castleisland Medium or ‘Meejum’ as it’s pronounced locally.
The measure applied to stout only and was at the discretion of the woman or man at the pumps. That it was a talking point is beyond doubt – and it was also the cause of many an argument. It was filled in a pint glass and the froth or head rested about the black of your nail from the rim.
It was the height or thickness of the head which most often caused the friction. “Take another sceilp off that Roman Collar,” the server would be told and so it went on. Festivals lately have been hung on lesser pegs.
Tradition Adopted
I presume the tradition was adopted in other places and I came across it in Castlebar in McHale’s lovely little pub there some years ago. The Castle Island Meejum Festival – it has a ring to it.
Someone told me that the measure was all the go on the night of a budget when the price of the pint would go up and the Meejum was your only man for the ministers for finance of the day.
Her friends and relations from all over wished Betty everything good for the future in 2015 when she stepped behind the bar at Kearney’s.
Bouquets of flowers were dotted along the counter earlier as the final, frantic bits and pieces were being put in place for her dream opening.
A Friend to Local Charities
Betty will be remembered as a decent, honest hardworking landlady and one with whom you knew where you stood and if you didn’t she wouldn’t delay in telling you.
Local charities found a friend in Betty also as the profits from teas and coffees went into a jar and, when full, the total was handed over. May God be good to her.
Betty’s Funeral Arrangements
Reposing in Tangney’s Funeral Home, Castleisland on Wednesday evening from 5pm until 7pm.
Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday at 12 noon in the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Scartaglen. Burial in Scartaglen Cemetery.
Requiem Mass will be live streamed and can be viewed on this link: https://sites.google.com/view/life-is-a-river/home
At Betty’s Request, house private please.
Date Published: Tuesday, June 25th 2024. Date of Death: Tuesday, June 25th 2024.
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