The month of September recalls the birth of the late Michael O’Donohoe, creator of this collection, who would have this year – on the 26th of the month – celebrated his 80th birthday.1 Michael was born in Tralee in 1936, the eldest of three children of Matthias O’Donohoe (1898-1995) and his wife Catherine…… Continue Reading
Tralee Board of Guardians
The hive contains more than it can support … the excess must either perish of famine or be destroyed by internal contests for food – Robert Torrens, 1817 An assessment of the level of poverty in pre-Famine Ireland can be made in the writings of nineteenth century political economist Colonel Robert Torrens. In 1839, he…… Continue Reading
The Seigniory of Castleisland
Michael O’Donohoe studied Rev James Carmody’s essay, Castle Magne, from which he created a summarised account of the last moments of Gerald, 16th Earl of Desmond.1 Michael’s account commences with the Earl’s concealment at a place called Glounaneenta2 (Glen of the cattle sheds) in March 1583, to the severing of his head –…… Continue Reading
Samuel Murray Hussey
Nineteenth century land agent, Samuel Murray Hussey (1824-1913), finds a place in the collection. Michael O’Donohoe studied Hussey’s memoir, Reminiscences of an Irish Land Agent and created his own index to the work.1 Michael made notes on the book and on Hussey genealogy, including Clarissa Hussey of Dingle, ‘a most beautiful benefactress to the religious and…… Continue Reading
Cromwell in Kerry
The glories of our blood and state Are shadows, not substantial things; There is no armour against fate; Death lays his icy hand on kings. Lines from Death, the Leveller by James Shirley, said to have chilled the heart of Oliver Cromwell A chronology of the life of Oliver Cromwell from his birth in…… Continue Reading
Castleisland Church of Ireland
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
They Hanged John Twiss
St Cyprian says that we are born with a rope around our necks, and as long as we live on earth we hourly approach the gallows Liguori, Meditation IV The O’Donohoe Collection contains research notes on John Twiss of Castleisland, who was hanged in Cork County Jail on 9 February 1895 for the murder,…… Continue Reading
Castleisland Schools: Convent Boys
In his role as principal of the Boys’ National School, Castleisland, Michael O’Donohoe appreciated the value of school records. He dedicated a considerable amount of time to copying, by hand, a number of school registers. An admissions register for Convent Boys’ School Castleisland appears in the collection. It covers the period 1872 to 1951.…… Continue Reading
Castleisland in 1882
A number of charts displaying a variety of subjects form part of the O’Donohoe Collection.1 One chart contains a month-by-month summary of events in the Castleisland district in the year 1882 during the turbulent years of the Land War. The calendar is a remarkable illustration of the level of unrest in this year…… Continue Reading
Charles Bianconi
‘At school Bianconi was noted as a stupid dunce’ – Obituary to Bianconi, ‘the great pioneer of passenger traffic in Ireland’1 Michael O’Donohoe’s attention was drawn by Italian born Charles Bianconi’s lease of land at Main Street, Castleisland. Bianconi (1786-1875), founder of a public transport system in Ireland in the early nineteenth century,…… Continue Reading