Edward Creighton: Leader of Men, Irish-American Hero

Creighton reached Salt Lake City with 25,000 telegraph poles standing behind him   Castleisland man Peter Browne is the current owner of the Telegraph Field at Foilhomurrum, Valencia Island, Co Kerry, from where in 1866 was established the first wholly successful telegraph link across the Atlantic.[1]   The O’Donohoe Archive, Castleisland, has met with another…Continue Reading

The Twiss Family of Ballahantouragh, Co Kerry

Has justice been done? Well, a day shall come When a different judge shall try … Ballahantouragh, a townland in Kerry, lies near the village of Scartaglen, a few miles outside Castleisland.[1]  John Twiss of Cordal, Castleisland, hanged in 1895 for the murder, in 1894, of James Donovan, was descended from a branch of Twiss…Continue Reading

Oileán Chiarraighe – Castle of the Island: The Album

Castleisland contains a parish-church, the Roman Catholic chapel, a sessions- house, a prison, several schools, two inns, a dispensary, and an old castle – Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland, 1844-5[1] Castleisland’s post-classical history begins with the most significant ‘old castle’ – Castle of the Island – which gave the town of Castleisland its name.  It was…Continue Reading