Formerly one of the largest landowners in the whole of Ireland, the Earl of Desmond’s territory was devastated by the English. At length, all his castles fell into their hands[1] By 1581, the Earl of Desmond had taken to the woods for protection from the Elizabethan forces. For a time, he maintained a considerable following,…… Continue Reading
John Twiss of Castleisland, ‘Mythical Clergyman’s Son’
Castleisland District Heritage awaits the outcome of its petition to obtain the Presidential Pardon of John Twiss of Castleisland, for which application has been made to government on behalf of his descendants. John Twiss of Castleisland, convicted in 1894 for the murder of James Donovan, was the subject of much discussion in the press…… Continue Reading
Secrets of a Haunted Ireland: Brendan Griffin’s Tribute to the men of 1921
His music aired across the fields, The constant hush that never yields Came through so crisp and sharp and clear As Christmas died into the year. From The Last Christmas Castleisland District Heritage has acquired a copy of Secrets of a Haunted Winter written by Fine Gael politician, Brendan Griffin, TD. Brendan, who served as…… Continue Reading
John Twiss of Castleisland: Family Links to the ‘New World’
Castleisland District Heritage awaits the outcome of its application for the Presidential Pardon of John Twiss of Castleisland, wrongfully hanged in 1895 for a murder he did not commit.[1] In the meantime, research into the family of John Twiss is ongoing. Research shows that many in his extended family left Ireland for the ‘New World,’…… Continue Reading
Puedes Creerlo! Campamento Memoir finds home in Castleisland
We didn’t choose which side to be on, as almost no one did in that war – Spanish Civil War Baby[1] Castleisland District Heritage is hardly the place where you would expect to find a memoir about the Spanish Civil War. A copy of the recently published Spanish Civil War Baby, however, has been kindly…… Continue Reading
Snakes and Shamarogs: St Patrick in History and Art
Castleisland District Heritage has recently acquired a set of photographs of the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Cahersiveen which date to circa 1998.[1] Among the clowns on bicycles, the village blacksmith and the parading musicians are floats promoting Iveragh Sports Complex, the Cahersiveen Celtic Music Festival and the Daniel O’Connell Walking Festival.[2] The…… Continue Reading
Scott’s Country to Tralee: Lives of the Chestnuts
Castleisland District Heritage has recently acquired a copy of The Chestnut Tree (1976), a genealogical work about the family of Reverend William Wallace Chestnut (1818-1888) the longest serving minister of Tralee Presbyterian Church.[1] Its author, Norah (‘Chuni’) Henderson, was granddaughter of Rev Chestnut. Norah records how her grandmother, Elizabeth, daughter of James Stewart, was…… Continue Reading
‘Go to bed, you fools!’ – A Tribute to Fr Patrick Joseph Hartigan (1878-1952)[1]
‘He is the right settler’s poet. If he has not yet been called the Australian Kipling, he will be’ – Montrose Standard, 1922[2] This year (2021) marks the centenary of Around the Boree Log, a collection of verse by Irish-Australian poet Fr Patrick Joseph Hartigan (1878-1952) parish priest of Narrandera, New South Wales, whose…… Continue Reading
Project Main Street, Castleisland: The Island Centre
Project Main Street is a collection of digital photographs of Main Street, Castleisland and its outskirts taken by Castleisland District Heritage on 6 July 2020 as part of an initiative to document the history of the buildings that line the famous ‘street between two fields.’[1] The project is a work in progress. In August…… Continue Reading
An overview of the ‘Castleisland District Archaeological Survey’ 1985-1995
In 1983, Castleisland & District Development Association, established in 1967, initiated a Job Creation Survey.[1] The purpose of the survey was to identify the extent of unemployment in the region, and opportunities available for job creation.[2] As a result of the survey, two projects presented, the Castleisland District Archaeological Survey and Job Creation and Enterprise…… Continue Reading