Michael O’Donohoe’s detailed study of Timothy Charles Harrington’s nineteenth century newspaper, the Kerry Sentinel, might be described as the heart of the O’Donohoe Collection.1 It is, essentially, an A-Z of Castleisland-related people and subjects in the nineteenth century.2 The subjects, which run over many hundreds of pages, are varied and numerous. By…… Continue Reading
Military Record of Castleisland
It was inevitable that Michael O’Donohoe, son of Castleisland Garda, Matt, and a former resident of Barrack Lane, should take an interest in the military history of the town. The collection holds material on the general development of law and order in the Castleisland district including notes on the barracks, bridewell and courthouse and…… Continue Reading
Michael O’Donohoe Collection: Accessions
During the process of cataloguing the Michael O’Donohoe Collection, additional material was acquired by donation and purchase.1 This material, which included books, documents and photographs, was catalogued separately. Among those who contributed were Breda Brooks (sister of the late Michael O’Donohoe); Johnnie Roche, Tomo Burke and John Reidy (committee); Jan Wesley, Peggy Reidy, Dave Geaney,…… Continue Reading
Rates Records of Castleisland
Data from rates and census records of 1853, 1885, 1897 and 1911 collated into useful booklet form is held in this series of the Castleisland Collection. The result is a magnified glimpse of town and inhabitant in the second half of the nineteenth century. IE MOD-59-59.1 Thirteen page record of names (Ahern…… Continue Reading
Landlordism in Castleisland
‘Forfeitures of Kerry lands have been taking place since 1200’, observed Jeremiah King in his History of Kerry, describing the occurrences as ‘systems of robbery’.1 Within the ‘systems of robbery’, King identified the period of landlordism as 1710 to 1921. Michael O’Donohoe took a particular interest in this period. The collection contains…… Continue Reading
Michael Collins and the apple woman
Politician Michael Collins and the Civil War period find place in the O’Donohoe Collection.1 About one week before Michael Collins was shot, he won the blessings of an old apple woman. It occurred on 14 August 1922, just two days after the death of President Arthur Griffith, when ‘the responsibilities of controlling a…… Continue Reading
County Kerry Elections past and present
Michael O’Donohoe’s interest in psephology and political history is borne out in the quantity of collection material relating to elections and electors in the nineteenth century and in modern times. Indeed, in 1982, Tom McEllistrim, Minister for State at the Department of Finance, wrote to Michael, ‘You mentioned that you were interested in the…… Continue Reading
James Fitzmaurice, Bishop of Ardfert
A mid-nineteenth century discussion about the Reformation, the marriage of priests and the interregnum of Roman Catholic bishops of Kerry, revealed – indirectly – the genealogy of the Geraldines of Clanmaurice:1 John Florence Purdon Macarthy, who initiated the discussion, quoted from the fifth century doctrine of Saint Patrick:2 Any cleric, from…… Continue Reading
Reverend Devereux Spratt of Castleisland
Reverend Devereux Spratt ministered in Castleisland in the seventeenth century.1 He was born on 1 May 1620 in Stratton-upon-the-Vosse in Somerset. His father was Rev Thomas Spratt and his mother, Elizabeth, was daughter of Rev Robert Cooke, rector of the ‘Island of Kerry’ (Castleisland).2 Devereux’s father died in 1634 following which Devereux accompanied his…… Continue Reading
Nineteenth Century Education in Castleisland
The subject of education naturally drew the attention of former principal, Michael O’Donohoe, who studied the role of the Kildare Place Society in the teaching of the young: On 2 December 1811 The Kildare Place Society was founded in Dublin to promote the education of the poor of Ireland. From 1815 onwards they received…… Continue Reading