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
Kerry Elections
The Castleisland Collection holds material pertaining to two nineteenth century elections in the county – the Kerry Election of 1835 and the Kerry ‘Home Rule’ By-Election of 1872.1 Michael O’Donohoe observed how in those years, ‘everybody had to go to Tralee to vote’. In 1835, Daniel O’Connell urged that: Deputations be…… Continue Reading
Animal Sports in Castleisland
Castleisland has a great tradition in animal sports. As far back as 1747, Castle-islanders got behind a five day horse-racing event for prizes of up to a ‘purse of 30 shillings’. Day two of the event was to be run by ‘real hunters’ who had been at the death of two brace of foxes…… Continue Reading
Houses of Castleisland
Michael O’Donohoe studied the historic houses of the Castleisland area. One source of reference was Historical Genealogical Architectural notes of some Houses of Kerry (1994), the work of the late Valerie Bary. Michael created, in essence, a Houses of Castleisland. Michael’s study caused him to take up correspondence with New Zealand born Valerie Bary…… Continue Reading
Dromultan or Fagan Estate, Castleisland
There is an anti-Irish feeling so predominant among the English members [of parliament] as to render them totally unfit to legislate for Ireland – Daniel O’Connell to William Trant Fagan, 26 October 1833 Michael O’Donohoe’s innocuous note on Dromultan Estate opens up volumes in Irish history. The name associates with Thomas Browne,…… Continue Reading
Hotels in and about Castleisland
Michael O’Donohoe plotted the development of hotels in the town of Castleisland from the late eighteenth century. Among the earliest inns documented are Bailey’s Hotel and Meredith’s Hotel. Others named include Brandon Arms Hotel, Chute Arms Hotel, Castle View Hotel (or Scannell’s/Hartnett’s Hotel), Coffey’s Commercial Hotel, Brosnan’s Temperance Hotel, Fitzgerald’s Imperial Hotel, McCrehan’s Star…… Continue Reading
Castleisland and the Herbert family
Michael O’Donohoe created a useful reference to names and places of local interest found in the 1963 edition of Herbert Correspondence (edited by W J Smith).1 Smith’s introduction to the Correspondence explains its relevance to the Castleisland collection: The letters printed in this volume constitute all the sixteenth and the greater part of the seventeenth…… Continue Reading
Castleisland Fever Hospital & Dispensaries
A fever hospital operated in Castleisland during the Famine. At a meeting of the Tralee Union in December 1847, Captain Fairfield of Mount Eagle raised concerns about its management.1 Research material in the collection relates to the fever hospital at a later period, 1878 (in which year a temporary hospital was erected) to 1894,…… Continue Reading
The Moonlighters in 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 Moonlighters. The Moonlighters, transcribed below, provides an informative sketch of the organisation from…… Continue Reading
Creamery Lane, 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, the Moonlighters, the House of Progress, Sir Richard Griffith and Creamery Lane.1 Creamery Lane, transcribed below, is an affectionate reminder of times…… Continue Reading