Less than a mile outside the town of Kenmare, on the road that leads to Kilgarvan, the passer-by might glimpse the ruin of a building set low in a field close to the river. It was built by Sir William Petty as a residence for his agent, and was known as The White House. …… Continue Reading
The Eagar Family of Kerry: A Penny’s Worth of History
Russell Walker, a postal history collector in Glasgow, recently acquired a document relating to journalist and founder of The Tralee Chronicle, James Raymond Eagar Esq of Tralee. The document, with stamped addressed envelope, related to a life insurance sought by Eagar from the Albion Life Insurance Company, London. In this document, dated 9 November…… Continue Reading
‘Why Make a Long Story of it?’ The Publisher’s Writer’s Tale
‘A pilgrim in whose heart God had set eternity’[1] Frederick Joseph Harvey Darton was born on 22 September 1878, eldest son of Joseph William Darton (1844-1916) of ‘Lacklands,’ Beckenham, Kent.[2] He was educated at Sutton Valence Grammar School, Kent, Dover College and St John’s College, Oxford. While at St John’s, he joined reading parties…… Continue Reading
W B Yeats and the Story of a Castleisland Curate
In 1892, a correspondent of The Academy, writing under the concealed identity, ‘A Lover of Originality,’ complained that the newly published Book of the Rhymers’ Club contained a plagiarism. The offending composition was ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ by W B Yeats: Will you allow me to point out what appears to me a…… Continue Reading
A Short Tribute to Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II
Today, 19 September 2022, the UK more or less shut down to give its monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, a Funeral of Funerals. The occasion was remarked on as ‘a brilliant blend of ancient and modern,’ and ‘an embodiment of greatness.’ It was a spectacle most fitting for a strong and tolerant woman who…… Continue Reading
Fr Michael Leahy’s Tops of the Town, Castleisland
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