The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
WHAT NOW FOR THE HOUSE THAT CON WAS BORN IN?
‘YOU are but a heap of stick and stone: a new house has no sense of the havebeens.’
The above line is from a poem written by one of Con Houlihan’s favourite writers – Thomas Hardy - which relays the conversation between an old, decaying house and a newer, more structurally sound one. It’s a fitting allegory given the house where Con Houlihan was born and raised on the outskirts of Castleisland is nearing destruction, and with it one of the last physical reminders of Kerry and Ireland’s most colourful writers.
Hidden away behind a wall of summer greenery, the old house stands at the mercy of time and the decaying cottage was brought to the public’s attention by Irish Times journalist, Ian O’Riordan, on a recent visit to Kerry.
“I would have known Con well over the years and I was coming home via Castleisland when I just pulled in to see it. As the pictures show, the house is about to disintegrate,” Ian said.
Ian recalls being inside the house about three years ago when some items belonging to Con, such as old books, were strewn on the floor. Ian described the house’s decay as a victim of circumstances given that no one had come forward to live in it during the years.
“Con took great pride in this part of Kerry and it’s just sad to see. I suppose I just wanted to put it out there as to how easily things can be forgotten for in another year or two it will be gone given its state. Con was a great friend of mine,” Ian concluded.
Writer and cousin of Con Houlihan, Tommy Martin, also recalls many fond memories of the house as a child saying it would be lovely to see it preserved in some shape for the arts, and in a way that would perpetuate Con’s memory.
“I recall my father taking me to the house as a child and Con’s father was a lovely, quiet man also. There was always books, letters, postcards and newspapers from all over the world in the house and you could tell it was a cultured house,” said Tommy.
“Learning was definitely encouraged and for what was a humble home there was certainly some unusual books there that many people at the time wouldn’t have heard of. It’s sad to see the house decaying, but it’s not done out of any intention or anything like that. It’s just a bit far out from the town.” said Tommy.
Con Houlihan died aged 86 in August 2012 in Dublin where he lived since the early 1970s. Con was laid to rest in Kilbannivane Cemetery, a short trip from where his old home now stands. Con loved and deeply appreciated the culture of the Sliabh Luachra area and one wonders if this building’s decline should be halted as a fitting gesture to Con’s memory.