As 2024 draws to a close, Castleisland District Heritage looks back at what the year has given and, sadly, taken away. The year got off to a good start when the project was granted funds by the Heritage Council for a new (and soon to be launched) website, and assistance with the transcription of the…… Continue Reading
Frocks, Socks and Twilfits: Profile of Denis Guiney of Brosna
‘Buy in bulk with ready cash; sell at low profits but sell quickly’ Denis Guiney, a ‘Merchant Prince’ in the twentieth century business world, was born at Knockawinna, Brosna, Co Kerry on 9 September 1893, the eldest of seven children of farmer Cornelius Guiney and Julia Crowley. He was educated at Knockaclarig National School and…… Continue Reading
A Life in Pieces: William Twiss of Castleisland
John Twiss of Castleisland, wrongfully convicted of the murder of James Donovan in 1894 and hanged in Cork Gaol the following year, was Posthumously Pardoned on 16 December 2021 by President Michael D Higgins following a campaign by Castleisland District Heritage. In the wake of the Pardon, Castleisland District Heritage entered into a correspondence…… Continue Reading
Castleisland: Some Names and Associations from a Town Plan of 1822
Two hundred years ago, in 1824, The Castleisland Act was passed.[1] A map which dates to 1822 inscribed, ‘Plan of the Town and Undivided Lands of Castle Island County Kerry Part of the Seignory of Castleisland Island and Manor of Mount Eagle Loyal 1822’ was evidently produced for this act.[2] A brief survey of…… Continue Reading
News Flash: The Kerryman Celebrates more than Four Generations in Business
Congratulations are extended to The Kerryman newspaper which this year (2024) celebrates 120 years since its first issue was printed in Tralee on 20 August 1904. It remains a valuable resource for local news and a goldmine for local history. Its founders were Thomas Nolan, his cousin Daniel Nolan and Maurice Griffin.[1] Also…… Continue Reading
‘An Irish Nimrod’: Daniel O’Mahony of Castleisland
‘Donal O’Mahony stands unrivalled and unequalled in the fight for Irish freedom’ – T M Donovan In 1927, Castleisland historian, T M Donovan, described patriot Daniel O’Mahony of Castleisland as ‘An Irish Nimrod’: About forty years ago Mr Dan O’Mahony left his native Kerry for South Africa; and, after working his way through Cape…… Continue Reading
Only Falls and Causes: The Irish Wit of Comedy Genius John Sullivan
‘John Sullivan was the Dickens of our generation’ – Mark Freeland, BBC Head of Comedy John Richard Thomas Sullivan OBE, creator of the comedy sitcom Only Fools and Horses, was born in London on 23 December 1946, son of plumber John Patrick Sullivan (1908-1993) and charlady Hilda Clara May Parker (1907-1992).[1] His father was one of eleven…… Continue Reading
No April Fool: Hans Liebherr of Kaufbeuren and Killarney
‘Just a master bricklayer’ – Hans Liebherr’s description of himself[1] Hans Liebherr was born on 1st April 1915 in Kaufbeuren, Bavaria, one of three children (one boy and two girls) of Wilhelm Liebherr (1883-1916) and Matilda Arnold (1890-1969). His father was killed in the First World War and his mother remarried in 1922 to master…… Continue Reading
‘How are you at Climbing Fences?’ Beth O’Leary Anish finds her Castleisland Roots
In June this year (2024), Castleisland District Heritage was contacted by Beth O’Leary Anish from Massachusetts, scholar of Irish American literature, who was travelling to Ireland to attend a meeting of the American Conference for Irish Studies in Limerick. She was hoping to fit in a visit to Castleisland where her great grandfather, James Leary…… Continue Reading
‘Returning Ghosts’: The Unsolved Murder of James Donovan
‘Was it not the fact that the evicted tenant and the caretaker were on extremely bad terms, the tenant having on one occasion struck the caretaker on the face?’ – Arthur Smith-Barry, 1st Baron Barrymore, House of Commons, 1894[1] Castleisland District Heritage has acquired a copy of the travelogue, Now and in Time to Be…… Continue Reading