Church history forms part of the O’Donohoe archive and includes Michael’s impressive 39-pg study of the Church of Ireland in Castleisland. It commences with the division of land following the death of Gerald, 16th Earl of Desmond, in 1583:1 From 1587c onwards, the seigniory of Castleisland was owned by the Herbert family, apart from…… Continue Reading
An Spailpín Fánach
Two versions of the song, An Spailpín Fánach (The Roving Spalpeen) are held in the collection, one from Munster and the other from Connemara. The song dates to circa 1797: The Irish Spáilpin fánach , the ‘Roving Spalpeen’, designates one of the flock of migratory labourers once so common when tillage was more used in…… Continue Reading
Kerry Historian: T M Donovan
Michael’s collection contains many references to A Popular History of East Kerry (1931) by T M Donovan and includes Michael’s own handwritten index thereto (IE MOD-74-74.2), notes on the content of the book, genealogical notes on Donovan and a copy of an article by Donovan (IE MOD-74-74.5) published in the Westminster Review in 1902. It is clear Michael…… Continue Reading
Streets and roads in the town of Castleisland
Street names are wonderful caretakers of history, as shown in Michael O’Donohoe’s essay on Creamery Lane, published in a separate post.1 Barrack Street was of particular interest to Michael as number 11 was his family home. The area takes its name from the military history of Castleisland. Michael published an essay on the…… Continue Reading
Barony and Civil Parish Maps of the Castleisland district
Michael O’Donohoe approached the ordnance survey map of the Castleisland district in a creative way to help discern, at a glance, who owned what and where in the nineteenth century. It is a very useful guide for anyone interested in history and genealogy or for those new to research who want to understand the…… Continue Reading
Bank of Ireland, Castleisland
On Sunday December 1 1878 a meeting was held for the purpose of discussing the erection of a new church in Castleisland. The meeting was attended by the then Bishop of Kerry, Most Rev Dr McCarthy. Redmond Roche, JP, played a prominent part in the discussion. Introduction of Railway, Telegraph and Bank During…… Continue Reading
The House of Progress – 91 Main Street, Castleisland
A number of pithy essays by Michael O’Donohoe sit among the vast quantity of papers in the collection. Topics covered are wide in variety, for example, the GAA, Lord Headley, local streets and lanes, Sir Richard Griffith and The House of Progress.1 The House of Progress, transcribed below, provides an informative sketch…… Continue Reading
Cordal GAA Wild Rovers
As a keen sportsman, it was a matter of course that Michael O’Donohoe should take an interest in the history of sport, most notably in his own vicinity. The following essay bears this out. Cordal GAA Wild Rovers On a frosty afternoon on Sunday January 19, 1879, the first football match that I …… Continue Reading
The Diary of Robert O’Kelly
A Diary of Items of Interest A copy of The Diary of Robert O’Kelly is held in the collection.1 Robert O’Kelly was born in Castleisland on the 18th June 1835. He described himself as ‘no sort of scholar’ and acknowledged that his memoir was ‘imperfectly written’: If I was or had any sort…… Continue Reading