Fr Michael Leahy was appointed curate to the parish of Castleisland by Bishop Eamonn Casey in January 1971 where he served for four years. He set about forming the Castleisland Youth Club, and a committee to build a Community Centre in the town. He is particularly remembered today for his role in organising the…… Continue Reading
Poff and Barrett, and the ‘Gallows Government’ of Lord Spencer
Shortly before the December 1882 trials of Sylvester Poff and James Barrett, Earl Spencer, the newly appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, acquired another ‘title’ – The Gallows Earl. It seems to have been ‘created’ soon after his official entry into Dublin on 6 May 1882 – evidently in the wake of the hanging, in September…… Continue Reading
‘This is it, chaps’: A Kerry Tribute to Paddy Finucane
He was one of the greatest heroes to ever come out of Ireland[1] This year (2022) marks the 80th anniversary of the death of Irish Second World War RAF hero Brendan Eamonn Fergus Finucane, DFC, DSO, otherwise ‘Paddy’ Finucane. The Dubliner, son of Thomas Andrew and Florence Louise Finucane, shot down thirty-two enemy planes…… Continue Reading
Listen Unto Me: The Trials of Sylvester Poff and James Barrett, in Word and Song
Sylvester Poff and James Barrett were tried twice at the Munster Winter Assizes of 1882 for the murder of Thomas Browne of Dromultan. At the end of the first trial, which took place on 14 and 15 December, it was shown that there was ‘not the slightest chance’ on the jury agreeing. The following week,…… Continue Reading
Kerrymen Down Under: The Cullity Diaspora
Following the publication on this website of ‘Castleisland’s Best’: Mundy Prendiville (1900-1968), Archbishop of Perth, Castleisland District Heritage was contacted by Catherine Giles, a descendant and researcher of the Prendiville family.[1] Remarking on Archbishop Prendiville’s departure to Australia in the footsteps of his siblings, Catherine wrote: The siblings were following Maurice Prendiville, their…… Continue Reading
‘Heed Your Mother’s Counsel’: Victorian Values in a Castleisland Loft
Painting the cheeks may be appropriate enough for an Indian squaw, but no young lady possessing a well-regulated mind will fancy her attractions enhanced by the use of rouge Castleisland District Heritage is an unlikely repository for two nineteenth century issues of the London Journal, a literary periodical published from 1845 to 1928. They were…… Continue Reading
John Twiss of Castleisland: A Postscript
In May 2019, Castleisland District Heritage contacted the National Archives of Ireland in respect of material held there relating to the case of John Twiss. At that time, application had been made for the Presidential Pardon of John Twiss. However, due to Covid-19 and a series of unfortunate events, information about the material was…… Continue Reading
Literary Kerry: Recent Donations to Castleisland District Heritage
Collected Essays of Con Houlihan More than a game Selected sporting essays (2003), which includes the article ‘Knocknagoshel has its own Place in Racing History,’ and A Harvest New, rare and uncollected essays (2005, 2007) by Castleisland’s Con Houlihan number among recent literary donations to Castleisland District Heritage.[1] The books contain reproductions of…… Continue Reading
‘Castleisland’s Best’: Mundy Prendiville (1900-1968), Archbishop of Perth
Redmond Garrett Prendiville, otherwise Mundy Prendiville, was born on 11 September 1900[1] at Glanlarehan, Cordal, Castleisland.[2] He was the youngest of sixteen children of Garrett Prendiville and Hannah Sullivan.[3] He was educated at the local National School and St Brendan’s College, Killarney, subsequently at All Hallows College, Dublin from where he was expelled for…… Continue Reading
Annals of Kerry BC 1695 to AD 1668
The Manor de Insula (Castleisland), 1299 Extent of the lands of Thos FitzMaurice, who died June 4 1298. The manor is surrounded by a stone wall, and there is in it a hall constructed of pales with an earthen wall and thatched, a kitchen of planks, a chamber with a cellar built of stone and…… Continue Reading