In September 1840, the Castleisland correspondent of a newspaper recorded the accidental death in Canada, by a fall from his horse, of Lieutenant Robert Adolphus Lynch: His premature death, for he was yet unvisited with the hoar of age, will be a source of great and lasting regret to the circle of friends whom…… Continue Reading
Castleisland: Last Resting Place of Matchmaker, Dan Paddy Andy
In the days before Tinder or match.com, legendary matchmaker Dan Paddy Andy of Renagown had perfected the job of bringing people together in rural areas. The late and great Listowel writer, John B Keane, whose book, Man of the Triple Name is a tribute to Dan Paddy Andy, suggested that Dan did more for his…… Continue Reading
Manufactured in Kerry: From Handbags to Fluid Flow Gauges
Castleisland, with its array of clothes shops, has long been dubbed the fashion capital of Kerry. And so it is appropriate that the O’Donohoe Collection, Castleisland, contains a selection of images of ‘Nish Ireland’ handbags, a leather goods designer label manufactured at one time in Kerry.1 It was also in Castleisland that the company was…… Continue Reading
Stop Press: Michael O’Donohoe and the Kerry Newspapers
Michael O’Donohoe made great use of the local Kerry newspapers in his historical researches of Castleisland, most notably Tim Harrington’s Kerry Sentinel, printed in Tralee. In 1902, twelve newspapers were published every week in Tralee. These included the Kerry Weekly Reporter, founded in 1882 as an advertising medium for merchants and traders, the Kerry…… Continue Reading
Charles Bianconi and the Yorkshire Calendar
Entrepreneur Charles Bianconi, founder of a public transport system in Ireland, leased land in Main Street, Castleisland in the nineteenth century. The late Michael O’Donohoe researched Bianconi’s link to the town, as can be read on another page on this website. Recently, the O’Donohoe archive was contacted by a lady from Wexford who had…… Continue Reading
The Battle of Lixnaw
In the ‘Castle of the Island’ in the year 1422, an indenture was drawn up between James, Earl of Desmond, and Fitzmaurice, Lord of Kerry and Lixnaw. The document, witnessed and sealed by the Bishop of Ardfert, reveals how two powerful families engaged in a treaty for peace. Indenture of Agreement between the Earl…… Continue Reading
Last of the Earls of Desmond
With tract oblique, as one who seeks Access, but fears, side-long he Works his way – As when a ship, by skilful steersman wrought, Nigh river’s mouth or foreland, where the wind Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail: So varies he. – Compitum, book 4, p161 During the memorable and unhappy…… Continue Reading
Rosario and Roche: A Credible Union
A curious, handwritten document in the O’Donohoe Collection states: Around 1668, King Afonso of Portugal wrote to Charles II of England with a recommendation for John Roche, formerly assistant to Rosario O’Daly, to be given a post in the Queen’s Bedchamber.1 Rosario O’Daly, otherwise Daniel O’Daly, whose life has recently…… Continue Reading
Castleisland and the patriotic Sullivan Brothers of Bantry
“In his day he did something for Ireland.” – from My Ambition, A Young Man’s Song by T D Sullivan On the morning of Friday 3rd April 1914, the remains of the great Irish patriot, Timothy Daniel Sullivan, were interred in Glasnevin Cemetery.1 Among the many expressions of sympathy, one described ‘T…… Continue Reading
Mary Agnes Hickson and the Earls of Desmond
Nineteenth century Kerrywoman, Mary Agnes Hickson (1825-1899), is perhaps best known for her Selections from Old Kerry Records which she compiled from historical manuscripts inherited from her father.1 The volumes served to establish her reputation as a genealogist and historian. This was underlined in the first volume of her subsequent work, Ireland in the…… Continue Reading