Among the extensive papers in the Michael O’Donohoe Collection is an interesting note on the ‘Reid Prize’. In 1899 it was awarded to David Reidy of Knockeenahone Male National School, one of many Kerry boys who benefited from the Reid Bequest. More than one century on, the school is no more but the award…… Continue Reading
Rev Thomas Radcliff’s Agricultural Survey of Kerry in 1814
Michael O’Donohoe’s papers include an extract from Rev Thomas Radcliff’s agricultural survey of the Castleisland district conducted more than two hundred years ago. The extract, transcribed below, captures social as well as agricultural change. Kerry in 1814 At the commencement of this Barony, in its nearest approach to Killarney, is an extensive tract of…… 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
The Earls of Desmond in Castleisland
The Erl of Desmond and his kin hath of lands under him 120 miles. Four hundred horse, eight battles of Galoglas, 1 battalion crossbow men and gunners, three thousand kerns. His country is long, and so environed, and hateth the kings laws, so they give none aid. A part of Burghs, called the Bourgh country,…… Continue Reading
The RIC resignations at Castleisland
O’Donohoe’s research includes material on the RIC resignations in Castleisland in 1887. In April of that year, thirteen RIC constables, stationed in and near Castleisland resigned from the force. The immediate cause was Conservative government’s introduction of the Criminal Law and Procedure Bill which allowed the police to deal summarily with conspiracies to withhold rent, …… Continue Reading
The Castleisland Act 17 June 1824
In a letter to his wife from Tralee dated 25 March 1824, Daniel O’Connell wrote, ‘I came here yesterday about one o’clock to attend a consultation with Lord Headley, etc, on an act of parliament for dividing Castleisland among the six gentleman of whom Lady Headley, his mother, is one’.1 A nineteenth century correspondence…… 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