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
Visitors’ Comments on Castleisland
One of the earliest descriptions of Castleisland was given by Gerald, fourth Earl of Desmond who almost sang it as ‘the sweetest island of Kerry’. A more contemporary description came from the pen of Castleisland’s Con Houlihan, ‘Not so much a town as a street between two fields’. Michael O’Donohoe was interested in…… Continue Reading
Castleisland on Record
Michael O’Donohoe made great use of statistical material in his research. He consulted Griffith’s invaluable records, the Census of Ireland (1659, 1901 and 1911), data from the register of electors and records of rates. Today, with much of this material accessible online, it is important to acknowledge that sourcing information was far more time consuming…… Continue Reading
Castleisland Workhouse 1849-1852
Michael O’Donohoe’s research material relating to Castleisland Auxiliary Workhouse reveals he tried to source records of those who were confined to the institution during its brief existence in the post-famine period, 1849-1853. An idea of the appalling conditions in the country at this time can be discerned from Dr George Alfred Walker’s Lecture…… Continue Reading
Castleisland Railway
As Michael O’Donohoe understood well, railways hold a wealth of history. His research papers include notes plotting the history of the Castleisland line from the incorporation of the Castleisland Railway Company in 1872 to the opening of the line in 1875, its suspension in 1947 and absolute closure in 1975. Another document records the…… Continue Reading
Castleisland streets, lanes and houses
Castleisland was central to Michael O’Donohoe’s historical research. He studied the buildings in the town and vicinity and compiled notes about businesses and proprietors from Griffith’s Valuation and other sources. Michael’s study included Barrack Street/Lane, Limerick New Road, Spout Lane, Main Street, Church Lane, Tralee Road, Chapel Lane/Street/Quarter, New Line and Pound Lane. …… Continue Reading
Castleisland in Sport
Michael O’Donohoe was a keen sportsman. In the 1950s, during his college years, he played football for Erin’s Hope (the St Patrick’s Training College team). Later he participated in local and county sports, playing for Castleisland Desmonds and the Kerry football team.1 Michael was just as keen a spectator, as evidenced by a quantity…… Continue Reading
Romantic Hidden Kerry
Michael O’Donohoe studied T F O’Sullivan’s Romantic Hidden Kerry (1931), a rare find on the second-hand bookshelves today, and wrote his own useful index to its content. In this document are entries such as Ginkle besieging Limerick in 1691, and Capt John Zouche at Dun an Oir in 1580. The collection also contains a small number…… Continue Reading
Browne, Poff & Barrett
Michael O’Donohoe’s papers include notes on the murder of Thomas Browne, shot dead on 3 October 1882, and the subsequent conviction and execution of his neighbour, James Barrett and Barrett’s cousin, father of four Sylvester Poff, for the murder. Both men were widely believed to have been innocent. Poff and Barrett were hanged…… Continue Reading